ANGEL'S WRATH by SK (SIN CITY HEAT) (21 page)

 
 
 
 
"When is this going to be over for you? When are you going to put this behind you? Behind
us?
"

 
 
 
 
"It
is
behind me…"

 
 
 
 
"It's not! How can you even say that when not even five minutes ago you were ready to fight Angel over this same shit? I'm tired of it Darrell, do you understand me? If you want to fly off the handle every time something comes up that has to do with that period in your life, then you'll be doing it alone. I'm at my breaking point with this entire mess, do you understand me?"

 
 
 
 
"Jerra…"

 
 
 
 
"No! I mean it! How did Angel put it, 'you were like a kid in a candy store’? All you had to do was say the word and she would've gladly opened her arms and her legs to welcome you back," Jerra spat out. "You swore to me she wasn't who you wanted, that you wanted to be with me. You said she or no other woman would ever come between us. Is this how you show me that?" She brushed past him to the door, slapping his hands away when he tried to grab her around the waist. "God, I've had enough, do you hear me? Enough!"

 
 
 
 
"Where are you going?"

 
 
 
 
"I need some air...a minute to think. I'm asking you to at least respect that and don't follow me."

 
 
 
 
Darrell's stomach twisted up into a thousand knots as he watched her walk out the door. He had to fight the urge to stop her, keep her there with him, love her in a way they both understood that would show her exactly what she meant to him, but he instinctively knew this was not the time to push. Darrell walked out the bedroom and stood at the railing, following her with his eyes as she hurried down the stairs to the front door.

 
 
 
 
"Jerra." Darrell called her name softly.

 
 
 
 
With her hand wrapped around the doorknob, Jerra paused but didn't turn around.

 
 
 
 
"Baby, I love you."

 
 
 
 
Jerra's shoulders dropped slightly before she squared them with determination and walked out. The minute the door closed behind her, a tear then another lost the battle they valiantly fought to stay at bay and ran down her cheeks. She swiped them away with angry motions on her way to the beach. She refused to cry over Darrell any more than she already had. After everything they'd been through, she couldn't believe they'd taken such a huge leap back and ended up right where they started off.

 
 
 
 
 
Standing in the powder soft sand, Jerra gazed out at the darkness of the water. The moonlight reflected the gentle ripple the soft wind created as it skimmed against the surface. She was lost in her thoughts, oblivious to the beautiful scenery in front of her and didn't notice the figure walking towards her until he spoke.

 
 
 
 
"Jerra..."

 
 
 
 
Blinking she turned her head and found Angel standing a few feet away, barefoot and staring at her with his hands in the pockets of his cream linen colored pants. The black t-shirt he wore hugged his torso like a second skin.

Jerra's eyes went to the cigarette he held in his right hand and absently commented, "You shouldn't smoke, you know. It's not good for you."

 
 
 
 
A wry smile crossed Angel's face as he glanced down at the cigarette. "Yeah, I know. It's not something I do very often, but it is a habit I'm trying to break." He bent down and ground it into the sand then brushed his hands off. "How are you?"

 
 
 
 
A self-deprecating snort escaped without her even realizing it. "You mean other than the fact that my husband is obviously hung up on a woman from his past? I'm great. Peachy."

 
 
 
 
Angel went to stand beside her and stared out at the water as well. "Can I be blunt?"

 
 
 
 
"I'd rather not talk about it with you, Angel."

 
 
 
 
"Too bad."

 
 
 
 
Jerra's neck snapped around to look at him sharply. "Then why did you ask me."

 
 
 
 
He shrugged, his eyes studying her attractive face. "Trying to be polite. But see, this is exactly why politeness isn't my forte. Why ask and tiptoe around something when I know I'm going to do as I please anyway?"

 
 
 
 
They stared at each other until Jerra shook her head in resignation. "I'm surrounded by alpha males who think they have a license to do whatever the hell they please just because they can."

 
 
 
 
The tiniest of smiles whispered against Angel's lips. "It's done with the best of intentions. The men in your life care about you, Jerra, none more so than your husband."

 
 
 
 
"I know he does. I don't doubt that in the least. The problem comes in when I have to mentally share him with another woman and that's something I just won't do."

 
 
 
 
"Is that what you think? That you're sharing him with Roni?"

 
 
 
 
Jerra winced at the sound of the other woman's name. "You saw what happened tonight when he found out you helped Bryan. Anything having to do with
her...
" Jerra refused to utter the name again. "He immediately reacts to it. He still cares about her. Even you won't stand there and deny that to me. If I can't be the only woman in my husband's life, I'd rather not be in his life at all."

 
 
 
 
"Yes, he cares for her but..." When Jerra turned away, Angel placed a finger underneath her chin and brought her face back towards him. Tilting his head in order to look her in the eyes, he continued. "There's a difference between caring for someone and loving them. I've spoken to Roni several times since she saw Darrell. I won’t lie to you, she still loves him. She told him this, but Darrell never attempted to exploit her feelings once and he could have easily done so. And do you know why he didn't? Because he cares about her too much to give her false hope when he knows his heart belongs to you."

 
 
 
 
Jerra sniffed and wiped at the stubborn tears that were determined to make an appearance. "Then why did he get so upset tonight?"

 
 
 
 
Angel dug into his pocket and pulled out a handkerchief to give to her. Even in the dim light from the moon, Jerra could see his eyes twinkling. "He's an arrogant ass who thinks I deliberately made a fool out of him, that's why."

 
 
 
 
Through watery eyes, Jerra couldn't help but laugh. "That's
exactly
what he said."

 
 
 
 
Angel smiled. "I'd never admit it to him, but I understand. There's nothing a man hates more than to think another man played him. Men like me, Darrell, my brother, and Marcus? It's even worse for us."

 
 
 
 
"Tell me about it. When his temper gets the best of him, he acts first and thinks later."

 
 
 
 
"Again, I understand that."

 
 
 
 
Jerra sighed and twisted her lips to the side. "Of course you do."

 
 
 
 
Angel's mouth curved up. "I'm just trying to help you to understand things a little better. I would hate to be the cause of tension in your marriage. I truly believe Darrell loves you, Jerra. I never doubted he would choose his marriage, and he didn't disappoint me."

 
 
 
 
Jerra's expression turned thoughtful for a few minutes as silence fell between then. "Thank you."

 
 
 
 
"No need to thank me. As my future wife pointed out, we're all, more or less, a blended family, as dysfunctional as it might be. Besides..." He glanced down ruefully, rubbing his chin. "She asked that I make this right so that's what I'm doing."

 
 
 
 
A smile broke out over Jerra's face. "Ahhhh, so that's it. You're in the dog house just as much as Darrell and you have to dig yourself out. I admit you've done a great job. You're getting the hang of this marriage thing already."

 
 
 
 
Angel gave a casual shrug. "If it means keeping Nikki happy."

 
 
 
 
"That is so sweet."

 
 
 
 
A mock scowl slashed across his face. ”Sweet?” The word was said with great distaste. "Jerra, do me a favor. I'd prefer if you didn't use the word 'sweet' when referring to me."

 
 
 
 
Jerra gave him an exaggerated wink. "Of course. It'll be our little secret. Blackmail info."

 
 
 
 
"Really. See, that's what I get for trying to be nice. You turn on me and threaten to use it against me, eh?"

 
 
 
 
Jerra laughed, but before she could respond, she heard Darrell call her name. They turned around and saw him staring at the two of them. The smile fell from her lips for a moment, but the earlier anger she felt towards him had subsided somewhat.

 
 
 
 
"You were gone so long, I started to get worried." He shifted guarded eyes towards Angel. "Are you okay?" he asked her while looking at the other man.

 
 
 
 
"Yes, I'm fine. Angel and I were just talking." She smiled up at Angel. "Thank you again. And it did help." She reached up and kissed him on the cheek before walking towards Darrell who was still watching Angel with a look of suspicion. "Ready?"

 
 
 
 
"Actually, Jerra, if you don't mind, I'd like to talk to Darrell." His and Darrell's eyes continued to battle, neither of them dropping the stare. "I won't keep him long."

 
 
 
 
Jerra hesitated, remembering the hostile atmosphere she'd walked into a little while ago. Still looking at Angel, Darrell addressed his response to her. "It's okay, baby. I'll be inside in a minute."

 
 
 
 
"O-okay." Giving them one last probing glance, Jerra headed back towards the villa.

 
 
 
 
Angel gave Darrell a dismissive once over which Darrell bristled at. "Let's take a walk."

 
 
 
 
"Why, so your goons can jump out at me from the cover of darkness and throw my ass in the water for the sharks?"

 
 
 
 
Angel tilted his head as if thinking about it. "Nah. I've fed them for the night. You're good."

 
 
 
 
"Aha. Funny."

 
 
 
 
Angel jerked his head and started walking without checking to see if Darrell was following. "Come on."

 
 
 
 
Darrell frowned at Angel's retreating back, but fell in step with him. After a while Angel started to tell him about his history with Roni's deceased husband. Come to find out, Frank saved Angel's life one night and Angel never forgot it. The two forged an unlikely friendship that lasted throughout the years. When Frank met Roni and broke away from the Sicilian syndicate, Angel made it clear that if anything happened to him or Roni, the truce the two families had declared would be null and void. It wasn’t that they were afraid of Angel any more than he was afraid of them, but they could do without the trouble bad blood between them would bring.