The Wildcard

5

"What the hell is his problem?" Raylene growled to herself as she slammed her doors shut behind her. She ripped the blazer off her shoulders angrily, "Qualified? Fucking qualified? I'll show him qualified–"

Raylene groaned and threw her blazer across the room, raising her hands to her hair. She gripped the strands and ran her hands through them wretchedly, her eyes wide as she replayed their conversation again and again in her mind. No matter how she played it, it started and ended with his need to provoke her uselessly. And her reacting like a damned idiot.

If she continued like this, she was going to lose her job. And then, she was going to lose her life. Her hands rested on the necklace on her throat, her eyes narrowing into a glare that looked into nowhere.

"I just have to control myself." She murmured to herself and shut her eyes as she ripped the choker off her neck and flung it across the room, "Just breathe when he's around and you won't kill him."

"You can't breathe when I'm around?"

Raylene moved so fast that the wind hustled around her in a whoosh. She grabbed the knife tucked in the pocket of her trousers, turned, and threw. Her other hand was already holding the gun she'd tucked in the waistband of her pants and was pointing in the intruder's direction.

The intruder had ducked away from her knife, and she was about to shoot when she saw those amber eyes glint. He moved as fast as she had, his movement blurred as he whipped out his gun and aimed it at her forehead. Raylene scoffed as he shut her door with his foot and took a step forward. She raised her chin and snarled,

"I will shoot, you know."

He didn't balk. Just strode in her direction until his gun was pressing to her forehead and hers pressed to his heart. Angel's hair was a complete mess, and his eyes were dangerous as he glared down at her,

"As will I."

Ray's eyes flashed, "I'm faster."

"Let's find out."

Click.

"Fine."

Click.

They paused for a second. Blinked once. Raylene pushed the hilt of her gun further against his chest, "Why are you in my room?"

"Because I felt like killing you today."

"That's a dumb decision."

"I'm not arguing about this with you." He snarled and Raylene rolled her eyes,

"I'm not asking you to."

"Dios," he spat, "Why are you this irritating?"

"Why don't you get the hell out of my fucking room before I show just how annoying I can get?"

He didn't respond. Just glared down at her with distaste before suddenly snapping his gun away from her. She raised her brows but didn't lower her hands. Angel scowled at her actions,

"Don't have sportsmanship?" he asked, his voice calmer.

"No." she deadpanned and pressed the gun further against his chest, "What do you want Santos?"

Angel blinked at her question and her eyes widened in surprise. He looked almost lost, with his wide amber eyes blazing and his outfit a rumpled mess. When she'd seen him in the hallway before, she'd almost slipped back into her own room. Angel De Santos, with his lean, almost beautiful body and his shirts–

God, it was a sight for sore eyes.

But then he opened his mouth, and everything fell apart. She was suddenly aware of him standing far closer to her than she liked. She could make out the faint scent of soap and coffee? Raylene shook her head and let her gun fall limp to one side as she cocked her head in his direction,