Angel (Made Men 5)

“I just go by Sal.”

“That’s not what the rest of the world knows you by,” he said before Sal left the room, leaving them alone.

Turning back to Lucca, he couldn’t help asking, knowing he of all people had to know the truth, “Does he know?”

Lucca flicked more ashes to the ground. “Why don’t you ask him?”

“He’s better off not knowing, isn’t he?” It wasn’t much of a question but a fact between them.

Putting the cigarette out on the table, Lucca warned, “Be careful, Angel. Any little thing you do will be judged from here on out. There will be Carusos who will blame you for this, even if your name gets cleared.”

When Lucca began to walk away, Angel almost couldn’t believe it.

“So, you believe me?”

Lucca’s voice was deadly. “Do you think you’d still be breathing if I thought for a second you did it?”

Not for a second.

When Lucca left, Angel looked around at the disheveled room until his eyes stopped on the nightstand where the ring used to be. If they had found it, it could have been grounds for war. That brat had somehow saved his fucking life.

Well, shit.

Thirteen

Murder-y Different

Hearing the news broke her heart, shattered her. Tom had been watching over her and Lake for a while now, and now he was just … gone.

She had heard the whispered accusations toward Angel, but she didn’t think he did it. It wouldn’t make any sense. At least, she chose not to believe it until she could look him in the eyes again. Then she would know.

If I ever get to see him again.

She doubted they would let him step foot outside the casino hotel anymore.

When the car pulled up to take her to school, her jaw practically dropped to the floor when she saw Angel sitting in the passenger seat. She almost couldn’t believe it. It was definitely a good sign he was there, because it meant Lucca didn’t think Angel had done it. Lucca didn’t take chances with the girls. The ones who watched them were the Carusos’ most loyal. That was why she liked Angel although he was a dick to her, because she didn’t think Lucca would have picked him to watch her if he didn’t have a redeeming quality about him.

Sliding into the car, she took note of the driver. She had met him a couple of times before and remembered his name was Joey.

Seeing Joey as Tom’s replacement, it really hit her that he was gone.

“Morning.” She tried to keep her voice strong.

Not responding, Joey began to drive with a stone-cold look on his face.

Angel might not have looked at her, but he at least finally said, “Morning, Adalyn.”

Looking at him today, he seemed … different. Not murder-y different; just different. Like there was something behind his voice. That maybe he knew she needed to hear a ‘good morning’ after hearing about Tom.

He probably just wants the ring back.

The rest of the drive was quiet, all of them probably thinking the same thoughts. One thing was for sure, though; she didn’t want to know what Joey thought. He seemed different, too, but in his case, it was murder-y different.

Joey parked beside the Escalade that had the rest of the girls waiting for them to arrive. When they got out of the car to meet up with them, they all turned silent when they saw Angel.

“I’m surprised you haven’t been killed yet,” Maria spoke, not holding back.

Adalyn looked at the faces of the Caruso men, knowing what she meant and why Joey wore such a hateful expression. They all think he did it.

“I’m standing here because I didn’t do it,” Angel told not only her but Joey, the other Carusos, and a somber Lake and Elle.

“That’s what my brother says.” The tall, leggy blonde looked him up and down. “For now, anyway.”

The distaste on the Carusos’ faces only grew. You could practically feel the heat of their fury radiating from their bodies, while Angel somehow looked cool and calm.

Maria’s heels clicked along the pavement as she walked up to him. “God help you if you had anything to do with it. I’m sure Joey’s hands are itching to kill his cousin’s murderer.”

A low growl came from Joey. “I can’t wait.”

On Maria’s lips was a smile that was almost evil as she and Elle walked away, heading to their classes with their guards. That left the rest of them to walk to their first class.

She’s batshit crazy, isn’t she?

Starting to walk, she was slightly shocked when she was lightly pulled back by the arm to walk a bit behind Lake and Joey. Angel then pulled her in closer, whispering for only her ears to hear.

“I need to talk to you … alone. Say you want chicken nuggets from the food court and make sure your friends don’t follow.”