THIRD PERSON'S POV
The air was thick. Not with smoke or perfume or even the scent of blood—but with the weight of knowing everything was about to shift.
Roman hadn't given her a time until this morning.
Just a cryptic text: "4PM. The back room at Larkin's."
That was all. No pleasantries. No preamble. Just instructions. Very straightforward.
Now, as Angel stepped through the side door of the abandoned bar known only to those deep enough in the life, her heart raced like it had something to prove. And it really did.
Her palms were slick with sweat, and her chest felt too tight for the air around her. She had chosen her outfit deliberately—something simple but strong. Nothing flashy, nothing loud. Just enough to say, "I'm here, and I won't be shaken."
Except she already was.
Because in the back of her mind, she still felt Samuel's hands on her skin. His mouth on her neck. The way he whispered her name like it was the answer to every prayer he'd never said aloud. That morning, she'd finally let herself fall. No more holding back. No more pretending. And it made everything now feel a hundred times more real—and terrifying. She couldn't afford to lose him.
At the back room at Larkin's.
Roman sat at the head of the long, battered table. He looked calm, but not relaxed.
Alert.
His fingers tapped an inconsistent rhythm against a bottle of dark liquor, his eyes scanning the room without resting too long on anyone.
Six others were seated around the table, most older, two younger. All deadly in their own way. And all very interested in why she was standing in front of them like this wasn't insane. Like the whole idea of walking unscathed was even an idea.
"You're late." murmured the one with the scar above his right brow. He was big. Broad shoulders, thick voice. Roman called him Kane once, during a job.
Angel didn't flinch, replying instantly not showing fear. "I was on time. You just started early."
A few chuckles slipped through the room, but not enough to soften the edges.
Roman motioned with his chin. "You asked for this. Tell it to them yourself."
Silence....
Angel swallowed once. Twice. And then let the words fall like stones from her mouth.
"I want out."
Deathly silence.
Then movement. A scoff from the far right. One of the younger ones—light-skinned, twitchy, too eager. She didn't know his name, and didn't care to. He wasn't important anyways.
Kane tilted his head. "You think it's that simple? You make a few deliveries, take a few hits, and then decide it's all too much and you just leave?. If you thought you could have it easy, you shouldn't have joined!"
"I've done more than deliveries and I've done more than any of y'all here. Apart from the Boss himself." Angel snapped before she could stop herself. "And I didn't join cause I wanted a thrill like y'all"
Roman's brow arched. That was bold, she knew that but she didn't backtrack. If she was here, she might as well say it straight.
"I did everything that was asked of me. I've bled for this crew. I've earned the right to leave and now I want to leave." She said locking eyes with each and everyone of them not too long but enough to make her point!
The tension in the room thickened like a storm cloud. The twitchy one muttered, "Bet she thinks sleeping with the pretty boy makes her special now."
Angel's eyes snapped to him as her stomach dropped, but Kane was quicker. He barked a low laugh. "Oh, you thought we didn't know? Samuel, right? The boy with the soft eyes and putty dreams."
A cold dread coiled in Angel's stomach.
" You kept tabs on me?"
"Why won't we?, you were acting suspicious and we needed to know you won't betray us. Who knew we'd find a landmine of gold instead." Kane smirked.
"Leave him out of this" she said quietly but firmly.
Kane leaned forward, eyes glittering. "Why would we? He's the reason you're here, isn't he? You want out so you can play house and braid each other's hair?. Maybe get married and start a family too right?" He asks sarcastically and condescendingly.
Roman didn't move, but his silence was deafening.
Angel clenched her fists. She could feel her body trembling—shaken, yes. But not shattered. If anything, she was livid.
"I want out because I've served my time. Because I want peace. Because I deserve it. And yes—because of Samuel. Because for once, I want something good. And you either accept that fact or I make you accept it" She finished, locking eyes with Kane.
The room sat with that for a long beat.
Roman finally stood, his chair creaking behind him. His voice was calm but carried weight.
"You all know what she's done for us. You know her record. You know the loyalty. I've called this meeting to settle it clean. No blood. No threats."
"No promises." Kane muttered.
Roman turned to him. "But a choice. We give her the out, or we turn this into a war. And none of you here wants to start a war with her —not over one guy. I promise you."
The younger ones shifted uncomfortably. Kane looked like he wanted to spit nails out if his freaking nostrils, but even he knew when to stop pushing.
"We won't touch her" Roman said, looking around. "And we won't touch him. Anyone who does answers to me."
The room muttered low agreements, a few mumbles of protest, but no one stood to argue.
Angel exhaled slowly, feeling like she'd been holding her breath since she walked in.
Roman turned to her then and spoke just loud enough for everyone to hear. "It's done. You're out. Don't come back."
Angel nodded once. "I don't plan to."
She turned, legs a little shaky, heart pounding so hard it felt like it might rip through her chest. But she didn't stop. Not until she reached the door, pushed it open, and walked out into the fading light of day.
And there, leaning against Samuel's car, arms folded, was the boy with the soft eyes.
He looked at her—really looked—and the moment their eyes met, she knew everything had changed.
She wasn't theirs anymore.
She was free.
And she was his. And she loved it.
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