Chapter 26

Angel

I had slowly begun to make my journey down the steps to the first floor of the house where the kitchen and main room were stationed. A scent of fried chicken, macaroni, greens, and mashed potatoes waft into the holes of my nostrils instantly. As I was descending down the last step of the stairs, limping my way down more so than walking gracefully like any other person since I still wore a cast, I heard the doorbell ring throughout the interior of the house.

"Come in, the door is unlocked!"

My mother called from the kitchen. It was wide, huge in fact. It was decorated in black tile, from the walls to the floor. Most of the appliances that filled the kitchen were black as well. Like the dish rags, mittens for cooking, the oven and stove, and even the sink, pots, and pans themselves were black. It made me wonder how much Gray were truly in grace with the color black.

They wore black almost every day, it was a surprise to see them in any other color truthfully. So far, their homes that I've been into, just two, were customized in black painting and decorated head to toe in black appliances as if there were no other color in the world.

As my mom called out for the unknown knocker to enter the house, I grimaced instinctively. Picking up as much pace on my feet my cast would allow, I quickly made way into the kitchen. My eyes darting straight to my mother as my face only partly scrunched up in, what you could call 'disbelief.' "Mom! You can't just say come in, that could be dangerous! what if it's a bur-"

My stream of words had suddenly been cut off from a familiar voice, as multiple footsteps came into the kitchen behind me. Two strong hands grasped my shoulders, instantly making me think it was Gray who stood behind me.

"Don't be such a worry wort hermosa, there shall be no danger getting into this house without them having to face the wrath of your dark knight, darling." Said the familiar voice. It was Josh, and as I turned around, I was met with sparkling, pearly white teeth in a wide, ear to ear smile from them. My heart that had begun to race once my mother had called for them to come in, without us knowing who it may have been at the door, had calmed to a slow steady beat.

I was relieved to say the least, clasping a portion of my shirt in a palm of my hand over my heart, I breathed out heavily. Letting my relief that it wasn't some burglar, or possible assassin who had been on the other side of the door previously into the air. I was thankful, but obviously still traumatized. if you couldn't tell.

That entire situation that had even put me in this cast had me so jumpy, and by far more easily frightened. I should know better that by now, with Gray's men to guard the house, I was safe. Right?

"Angy, instead of worrying about burglars. You should be more worried about telling me the reason of why you have a cast on your leg. And why you didn't tell me about it first thing when we met up at the airport."

As I was about to reply to Josh's remark, I turned around at my mother's words. Witnessing her point a wooden spoon at my casted leg. I sighed, first I was trying to figure out a way to bluff my way out of talking about it. My mother would kill me if she found out there was a crazy woman out to kill me, her only daughter. But not only that, she would have Gray's head for it as well. Especially since they promised my protection above all else.

I decided to walk over to one of the bar stools that sat on the opposite side of the island table, which sat in the middle of the kitchen. My mom on the other side near the stove, a black cutting board placed neatly in front of her on the black marble surface of the island table. Not that it was in use of course, I assumed it had been there since our arrival. Maybe glued or nailed down for the aesthetic of the place, and to keep it from moving when in use as well.

"This old thing..."

I began, looking down at the cast on my leg.

"It's actually a funny story, really. You'll laugh at this one. So..."

That's when Josh started in a confident chuckle, taking up the bar stool on the right of me. In between their words they gave me one prolonged glance before their eyes met bak on my mother who only stared at him unamused. Seeing nothing funny about her child having a broken leg.

"Boss, I mean Scar has two large dogs. Cane Corso's. They are pretty playful, and only about one year's old if even. Scar had let them out of the house one day when, your Angel just so happened to be going on a walk about the yard, they happened to run her over. They only wanted to play but ended up being a little bit too rough with the rookie here."

Grasping my shoulder, they rubbed it in a reassuring gesture. If only for a moment, I myself believed their little lie. But my mom, she seemed as if she wasn't believing a word, not until she busted out into a belly laugh. Bringing the hand that held the wooden spoon in a tight hold over her belly.

"Dogs did always have a fondness of Angel. I knew one day it would turn out bad."

"Really mom? really?"

Was all I could say as I watched her laugh, a thin line on my plump lips as my eyes looked at her with utter un-amusement. "Speaking of Scar, why didn't they join us on this vacation? I never got the chance to ask before they left our home."

"Boss is just busy. they've got things to handle in New York, otherwise they'd be here sharing this vacation with Angel who they are so very smitten with and her family."

she smiled at the thought before a saddened sigh escaped the hole of her lips. Listening to Josh speak of Gray made my insides twist and churn. I didn't want to think about Gray, not at all. I didn't care whether they were truthfully smitten with me or not, that didn't matter. All that mattered was I was on vacation and didn't need Gray's name and them physically being what ruined it for me. For god's sake, I'm in Sedona.

"Dinner will be ready here in a few, I'd give it about an hour with it needing to cool down and all. So, you kids go busy yourself, I'll give a call once it's ready." My mother smiled once more, returning to the food on the oven and within the stove. The aroma of the food that filled the air smelled so delicious. It was beginning to make me drool, my stomach even rumbled once my mother had dismissed us. It pained me to leave such good smelling food in her hands without even scoring a single bite, but I could surely wait to eat. Not that I wished to wait.

"Hermosa, may I speak to you in private?"

Josh stood from their seat, holding out a hand to me. Which I took without hesitation. I was beginning to notice how so much alike Gray and Josh were. They were both Gentlewoman but gave off dominant characteristics. They both knew how to choose their words carefully when speaking to women it seemed, well not that, that is exactly surprising. Just by looking at them I could guess they were good with sweet talking their way into the bedsheets of another woman.

Then there was just this indistinct characteristic about the two. I couldn't exactly figure out what it was, but it was so alluring and intoxicating. If it weren't for me being head over heels for Gray, I'm sure just this little bit of tension that was evident in the air whenever we were near one another I'd be all for them.

"Sure, we can go out back since I've yet to go visit there."