“Look! There it is! Just up ahead,” I announce and point when I see the guard tower.
The armory will be just on the other side of that.
Unfortunately, slamming on he breaks doesn’t stop us aspromptlyas I’d hoped. The brakes lock up, and we go sliding.
Now it’s my turn to scream, too.
Angel and I are both screaming our heads off, eyes closed and bracing for an impact as the vehicle careens right toward the wall of stone…
Skidding to a stop just in time.
It’s gone silent inside the car. Nothing to be heard but our heavy breaths and the quiet purr of this luxury sport utility vehicle’s engine.
I pry my eyes open. The front bumper isn’t a half-meter away from hitting the giant stone wall.
“Phew.” I wipe the sweat from my brow. “That was a close one.”
I peek at Angel, who’s glaring at me. I bite my lip, giving him my most innocent,I’m sorry I almost killed uslook.
He cracks a small smile. Then he bursts out laughing.
The bloke really is unfairly good-looking.I’m glad I didn’t kill him, or mangle his pretty face.
“Chico loco, I’m telling you…” He sighs, wiping his eyes. “You are a trip. If I meet Byron, I’m going to convince him to take you back strictly out of necessity. You need someone responsible to keep you from unintentionally killing yourself!”
I laugh, killing the engine. We both hop out of the car.
“Here’s hoping he goes for that,” I sigh, the nerves suddenly booming inside me, a hundred times heavier than when I was speeding us toward sudden death.
Byron hates me so much he kicked the shit out of me. And now here I am, showing up unexpectedly, crashing his reunion with his mates. Whoknowshow he’ll react to this pop-in. Historically, he’s loved when I’ve invaded his space, but that was before I hurt him.
“Alright, I think the best course of action is for me to go first, alone,” I tell Angel. “Get eyes on the armory, verify that the coast is clear and make sure it’s just Velle and them inside.”
Angel is abruptly uneasy himself, but he nods, chewing intently on his lower lip.
“Stay with the car for a few minutes. So long as you don’t hear shouting or gunfire, follow in my direction, but stay hidden,” I tell him.
He nods again. “I know where the armory is.” My brows jump. “Like I said, I’ve been here a while. Don’t worry about me. I could navigate this crazy place in my sleep at this point.”
I tilt my head. “Oh. Brilliant. Well then, you just hang back a bit, and when I give the signal, come on out.”
I have to appreciate his confidence when I’m anything but.
“Okay.” He blinks this wide, doe-eyed expression at me. “What are you gonna say to Byron when you see him?”
I gulp, anxious and not hiding it. “I’m going to apologize and tell him the truth. It’s all I can do.”
Angel’s lips are a bit pouted. And before I know what’s happening, he launches himself at me, hugging on tightly.
“Thank you, Trevel,” he hums. “Thank you for… well, pushing me out of the nest, so to speak.”
Chuckling, I squeeze him back, hard.
I can only hope this plan works. And that my actions don’t get more people killed.
“I… I should let you know that I’m kind of… turning you over to the enemy,” I mumble to him remorsefully as we pull apart.
He smirks. “Yea, again, I know. Trust me, I’m way ahead of you on all this stuff.”
