“Elizabeth,” Angel says.
The syllables of my name rolling from his lips sends more warmth through my body, something catches in my throat. I can’t do this… I can’t be in the same room as him… it’s too much.
“I… uh… I have to get to work,” I say.
They’re blocking the doorway to the stairs, so I have no choice but to try and squeeze by them. They both move to the side, but as I reach the stairs, Angel says, “You’ve got the week off, I arranged it with Brian.”
Anger builds in my stomach. We’re not even together and he’s fucking up my job, calling my supervisor behind my back, losing me money…
“You don’t have the right to involve yourself in my life anymore,” I say, “and you’ve just lost me nearly four hundred dollars.”
“I’ll pay you back,” he says, still no expression on his face.
I scoff. “That’s not the point.” I cross my arms and glare at him. “Why?”
“Why did I arrange for you to have the time off?”
“Obviously,” I say, letting myself be as sarcastic and rude as I’m feeling right now.
“Because we need to talk.”
“Well that’s very presumptuous of you, thinking I’d want to waste a week talking to you.”
“Guys,” Slim says, “why don’t we start with the good news?”
“What news?” I ask, hating that I’m curious.
“Come on,” Slim says, moving into the living room and gesturing to the sofa before going to get us beers.
I make my way towards the chair that’s separate, not wanting to be anywhere near Angel right now. Mainly because I’m furious, but also because his scent is overpowering me and just being near him makes me want to throw myself at him. No… stay strong.
“The club agreed to try your plan,” Angel says, “with Diablos Rojos.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, narrowing my eyes at Slim, who I’d told to take ownership of the plan.
Angel chuckles, and Slim just shrugs.
I roll my eyes. “Fine, so I gave Slim some ideas. I’m glad the club is going to try it, and I really hope it all works out for you—are we done?”
“No,” Angel shakes his head, “we’re not done yet, princess.”
Heat flashes in his eyes and I feel it down to my core. Fuck, I’ve had dreams where he calls me princess, and I’ve woken every morning feeling so fucking horny it’s embarrassing.
“So?” I ask, gesturing for them to continue.
“We also took another vote tonight,” Slim says, “and it was unanimous. We’re going to abolish any shitty rules the club still has from when Frank was El Jefe.”
My heart lifts. “Slim, I thought you said you were going to wait until this business with Diablos Rojos was over before taking it to the club?”
Slim shakes his head. “It wasn’t me.”
He turns to look at Angel, who is completely focused on me. Instead of his cold closed-off look, his eyes are raw with emotion; they’re pleading with me, begging me, telling me he’s sorry, that he loves me… I want to talk but can’t seem to form words, so I just stare back at him.
“And on that note,” Slim says, “I’m gonna go and stay at the clubhouse tonight, it’s time for you guys to figure your shit out.”
Chapter 28
Diablo
