The Angel Trumpet

29.

The atmosphere became stuffy with anger and confusion but from Pito? He was quiet as a mouse who was waiting for the story everyone was itching to know. When I walked back to see Rayne shaking hands with my acquaintance, Pito turned to me mouthing a few words to have me take him outside. "The Lee family? Estas loca?" I hold the bridge of my nose sighing, "Crazy? Maybe. But they helped me escape from Fernando and helped fake my death, all while keeping me safe." Pito shakes his head glaring at me, "We don't get ourselves involved with their type of business Aleya. You know all too well what they're about and what they can really do if you cross them." This time I glared at him with coldness making him stiffen a little.

"You don't think I know who I signed my soul away to? I needed help. They were in the wrong place at the wrong time and decided to give me a hand. What was I supposed to do? Tell them to leave me to get tortured for a few more months until that son of a bitch actually killed me?"

Pito sucks his teeth then holds his head turning looking at the guys from outside the window where we're standing.

"What is your relationship with him Aleya," he asks, scared of what the answer could be.

Scared myself but knowing it's what had to be done for all that I planned I say, "We're engaged to be married." Pito's eyes grow big with shock and tries to hide his jaw from dropping but just double backs on everything I just said. "Y-Your engaged to be married? To him? Into the Lee family?" When they said making a deal with the devil wasn't for the weak...they were right. I had to do what anybody in my position would have done and to gain more parameters around the empire I'm so determined to keep from crumbling.

"My parents weren't a typical couple. They were forced to get married to make what they had untouchable. That's what I'm doing to keep things running so that you guys can be set for life. Isn't that enough?"

Pito points his finger at me and says, "You lost the sense of what family really is and it shows by all this bullshit you're doing behind your real familia's back."

"Fine. I'm the bad guy? Happy?"

Pito brushes what I said off like a piece of dust that landed on his clothing and goes back inside with the rest of the guys.

Xavier looks to him skeptical asking what was wrong but he just leans back biting his knuckle in disappointment.

"Is the food almost here?" I ask serious getting antsy on how the other guys will react to the news of my unwanted but needed engagement.

"They'll be here in a few minutes."

Rayne scoffs, "For someone who's working with Aleya, you sure talk casually."

Pito goes to correct Rayne but I stop him by saying, "He's my fiancé, so show a little respect."

Leo, Xavier and Rayne all raise their eyebrows in sync looking to me like for real? Then look to Pito wanting to know if he knew and once Pito nods Xavier and Leo lean back in shock but Rayne locks eyes with me viciously, "Marriage?" He asks, still not believing it. The men come back with the food and I thank them, breaking eye contact with Rayne. I take the food and place it on the table. "Let's eat," I wait for them to get up but they just stay where they are. Taking a deep breath in and then out I hold my head and then slam my fist on the table making them look at me.

"You're mad, I get it. But I'm still me."

Rayne stands walking out and I almost go after him until my acquaintance grabs hold of my hand.

"Give it time."

Pito and the guy's start leaving too and I just sit holding my head knowing there is no winning in this situation. I broke their trust and it seems I broke the little bit of loyalty they had for me. Looking back up to my acquaintance I say, "Start moving Fernando and have the men guard him when they get to the new location," pushing out from being near the table I go up to my room and change but my acquaintance trails right behind me.

"If this is all too much we can call off everything."

Calling off everything implies reducing the amount of walls torn or built in the process, which I can't have right now. My priorities are failing to stick together and I'm being backed into a corner getting ready to lash out on anything and anyone. Zipping up my boots, tying my hair and throwing on a leather trench coat, I look to him with doubts. "When I came up with this plan...I didn't think it would hurt as much as walking away and protecting them from a distance did. I'm honestly reconsidering us." Just me saying that, a bit of emotion flickers in his eyes and the real him seeps through.

"It might just be a deal to you but I care about you Aleya...I care enough to do all that I've done for you with no hesitation."

Rayne's reaction keeps plaguing my mind to even care what was just said.

"Aleya," I feel his hand slip into mine and I look up from zoning out.

"Can you really say you love me enough to die for me?" I say without thinking and going off a memory me and Rayne had.

No words came out but an action, an action that I never saw coming.

He kisses me sweetly holding my face in his palm as his other hand softly guides my body closer to his.

I would be lying if I said I didn't find him attractive but as he's kissing me I see Rayne's eyes glaring down on me and move away touching my lips.

"Why'd you do that...?" I snap my head towards him.

"Don't go to him," he answers back, getting a feeling that the person on my mind is the reason for me pushing him away.

"It's not like th-"

Walking up to me more he holds my hand and places an engagement ring on my ring finger.

"Then actually give it a chance...give me a chance."

Forming an answer inside my brain, the door bursts open and one of the men breathes out that The Lee family themselves were there to see me and their son down in the living room making the answer I formulated disappear.