Before they even got Anhalt on the pew, Bishop allowed Angel a few minutes alone with him. Angel knew he couldn't really unleash, not yet at least, but he was able to get some minor satisfaction. After a number of solid kicks and furious punches, Angel grabbed a bloody Anhalt by the shirt and threw him roughly onto the pew.
"You good?" Bishop asked Angel quietly as Nestor, Miguel and a few Galindo men strolled in. "Can you keep your shit together."
"I'm good," Angel said through clenched teeth.
He knew Zara was okay. He told himself he was overreacting, that their relationship was still too new for him to be so upset in order to keep from lashing out again.
"Angel," Miguel said cordially. He extended his arm toward Angel and the two men shook hands. "I'm glad Zara's okay. My wife is quite fond of her."
Angel nodded. "Yeah, thanks. I know Z feels the same about her."
Miguel smiled and nodded before turning to Anhalt. "Principal," he said with a dark look. "I'm trying to figure out if you're stupid enough to sell on school property, to a student, and attack a teacher," he paused, "Or if you think I'm stupid enough that I wouldn't find out."
"You're not stupid," he said quickly. "I was. I was desperate and I freaked."
"You freaked," Miguel shook his head. "Was that before or after you laced my heroin with fentanyl?"
"I needed more," he whinnied. "I needed to make it last longer to make more money."
"Oh, do you not make enough money selling to teenagers?" Miguel asked him with a hint of dark sarcasm. "Maybe try a higher clientele?"
Nestor was on the phone now, whispering in the back of the room, no one really noticed but Angel though.
"This was a one-time thing," he said backpedaled quickly. "That kid, he found out I was selling, I had to shut him up."
"So you tried to kill him?" Miguel growled. "On school property, during parent-teacher conferences?"
"That...that wasn't the plan," he sputtered.
"Then what was the plan?" Miguel snapped.
"I'm sorry," he said, tears and snot running down his face. "Please don't kill me."
"Kill you?" Miguel laughed heartily. "Of course I'm going to kill you, Randy. I have to."
"I fucked up," he pleaded, "I'm sorry."
"Do you have anyone working with you?" Miguel asked while Nestor whispered something in his ear.
"No," he stammered, "Just me."
"And the money you owe?" He asked with a knowing grin.
"We're good," he shook his head, "I'm paid up."
Miguel shook his head. "Now you're lying again. You were upcharging, using the fentanyl to stretch my product and charging more," Miguel explained as he slowly strolled back and forth in front of his prey. "Let me make you an offer, Randy."
"Anything, I'll take it!"
"Get me my money, every cent you made off my heroin, and I won't kill you." Everyone was surprised, everyone but Nestor, by Miguel's deal.
"I have a couple thousand," he said quickly. "It's in a lockbox in my hallway closet."
"Wonderful," Miguel smirked. "Nestor, Angel, why don't you two accompany Mr. Anhalt to retrieve my money." Noticing his apprehension, Miguel leaned in close to him and spoke softly. "We don't want you running off, now do we?"
"No, no, I know, I won't, I understand," he uttered through sniffles and tears. "Thank you, thank you, Mr. Galindo."
While Miguel's men freed Anhalt's wrists and ankles, Miguel spoke quietly to Nestor and Angel. "Get the money, bring him back here and deal with it," he said casually. "I told him I wouldn't kill him and I don't intend to go back on my word, but I want him dead," Miguel then looked at Angel. "I'm assuming you're happy to deal with him?"
"More than happy," Angel said firmly.
"Good," Miguel smiled. "I'm sorry this was one of my guys, what happens here will set a fresh example for the others."
Angel nodded. "We're good, this isn't on you."
Miguel nodded and the two shook hands once again before Miguel left the basement of the dress shop without another word.
"Ready?" Nestor asked Angel coolly.
"Yeah, let's go," Angel said with a nod as he followed Nestor out.
"You trust that shit?" Coco asked Bishop quietly.
Bishop nodded but gave Coco a shove toward the door. "Watch his back, just in case."
—
The police showed up at Principal Anhalt's not long after Angel and the club got him. Luckily, by the time Nestor and Angel returned, they were already gone again. There was no warrant for the house so the police simply left to try other known locations to have their chat with him.
"Get in, get the money, and get right back out," Nestor ordered Anhalt.
Anhalt agreed and went in the back door with Angel following closely. The lockbox was exactly where he said and within minutes they were heading back down the steps to leave, box in hand.
Pounding down the steps, Angel looked around the house and caught a picture on the wall that was taken outside the school. He stopped, scanning the faces in the crowd, and saw Zara standing on the edge of the group.
"Did you know it was her?" Angel asked him.
He nodded shamefully. "I did. I freaked out. I sent her flowers, I wish I could apologize."
"I'll let her know you're sorry," Angel growled.
"You know her?" He asked, suddenly putting the pieces together. "Romero Brothers, she went there," he sighed. "It's tied to the Mayans."
"Yeah," Angel huffed. "Go. We gotta take that money back."
"Then he'll let me go? Is...is he true to his word?"
"Galindo ain't gonna kill you, man. Relax." Angel smirked as he followed Anhalt back through the house.
They forced him back into the van and casually drove back to the dress shop. Angel was purposely lighthearted, Nestor joining in, to keep Anhalt at ease and unsuspecting.
"Is he still here?" Anhalt asked as they parked again.
"He is," Nestor huffed. "Give me the cash."
Anhalt nodded and halted over the entire box. "That's everything. All of it."
Nestor gave Angel a look and left the van, heading over to the luxury sedan a few feet away where Miguel sat waiting. They had plans for the money, of course, and immediately drove off leaving Angel to deal with Anhalt.
"Come on," Coco said, pushing Anhalt out of the van, "Fucking move."
"Where are we going?" He asked, his anxiety suddenly spiking again.
"Go," Angel ignored the question and gave the man a hard shove, "Walk."
"This wasn't the deal!"
"This is exactly the fucking deal," Angel growled as he pushed him down the steps into the basement.
"Please," Anhalt sputtered. "I'm sorry. I gave you the money. Is this about ?"
"This is about Galindo," Angel started as he pulled his gun from the holster. "This is about that kid you left brain dead, and yeah," he aimed directly between Anhalt's eyes, "This is about Zara. Galindo said he wouldn't kill you, but I'm gonna. Nobody rips off the cartel and nobody fucking touches my girl."
Angel pulled the trigger three times as if the first shot wasn't enough, and Anhalt collapsed in a bloody mess of skull fragments and grey matter.
It was by far the cruelest and most cold-blooded act he'd ever committed but he felt fine with it. Anhalt was dead the moment he broke Galindo's rules, even if Zara had not been injured as a result, and three bullets to the head was a blessing compared to what Nestor would have done to him.
"Shit," Coco said from a few feet behind him, "Prospect ain't here. We gotta clean this shit up now."
Angel shook his head. "You're good. I'm going to Zara's now, I'll send him back to deal with it."
—
One movie turned into multiple and before long EZ was listening to the girls as they talked over the dialogue of Raiders of the Lost Ark.
"Young Harrison Ford," Zara sighed, "Seriously so hot. He's still hot but in the 80s, good god."
"Right?" Emily laughed. "I think Indiana Jones was my first crush."
There was a knock at the door that startled both the girls and EZ as he sat in the kitchen. He got up and headed for the door authoritatively, checking out the peephole to see who was there.
"It's your husband," he said quietly to Emily.
Emily sat up, surprised by the news. "Oh."
"Do you think everything's okay?" Zara asked nervously. She had no idea why Miguel would
be at her door unannounced.
"I know EZ is inside," he said, "No need to spirit him away." When he said it, Emily huffed and nodded for EZ to open the door. "Thank you," Miguel said as he stepped inside. "I'm just here to see Zara."
"Me?" She asked with surprise as she stood up from her chair.
Miguel chuckled, "Yes, you." He made his way over to her. "I'm sorry about what happened, Zara. I hope you heal quickly and there are no lasting issues from this horrible incident."
"Oh, Jesus, Miguel," she said nervously, "Thank you." Zara could feel her cheeks burning as they turned red.
"I know the district doesn't have the best benefits for the teachers and staff. Please, take this to help with whatever your insurance doesn't cover." He offered her Anhalt's lockbox.
"I can't," she said forcefully as she handed the box back. "Really. Thank you but, no."
"I insist," Miguel said, placing it on the table.
"Take it, Zara," Emily said as she walked over to them. "Please, it's the least we can do."
"I...I," she sighed, "Okay, I'll take it. Thank you both."
"Angel's on his way back," EZ announced awkwardly from his little spot by the door.
"Well then, I guess we should give Zara some privacy," Miguel said to Emily.
"Yes," she smiled. "I'll be back tomorrow," Emily said to Zara.
"No," Zara said confidently. "I'm good. Really."
There was nothing Emily could do for her that she couldn't do for herself. All Zara needed was Angel, or EZ in a pinch, to help with the suffocating fear she was battling.
"I'll call you then," Emily said. "Just to check in."
"Thank you," Zara beamed.
While the women hugged Miguel looked at EZ with brooding eyes. "Prospect," he said with a disrespectful scoff.
EZ knew better than to say anything. He just nodded at Miguel and looked away.
The Galindos left and Zara immediately went to hug EZ. "Please don't go until Angel gets back.
"I'm here," he told her, wrapping his arms around her and squeezing. "I'm not going anywhere."
"Thank you," she sighed with relief. "I'm sorry he was rude to you, that was probably super awful and awkward."
"I'm a big boy," EZ joked, "I can handle it."
"Your arms sure as hell are big," she laughed.
"You okay?" He asked her as they finally separated.
She nodded, her way of making the lie more believable than she could verbally. "I would have expected to get cash from him in some classy leather briefcase," Zara joked.
EZ looked at the lockbox and nodded. He questioned it the moment he saw it in Miguel's hands but Zara's remark made even more suspicious. "Wanna open it?"
"I guess," she shrugged.
EZ and Zara sat next to each other on the sofa, the box on the table in front of them, and Zara quickly slipped the key in and turned. The box opened with a tiny creak but there was no bomb or powder or threat in any way.
"Hmm, boring," she sighed. "Wait," she laughed, lifting the stacks of cash up to reveal yellowed papers. "Where did he get this?"
EZ didn't know, truly, and he told her the truth. "I don't know."
"Randolph Tyler Anhalt," she read the name on the dogeared birth certificate. "That's my principal."
"Oh," EZ slowly nodded. "Is he...a dealer, Zara?"
"No," she laughed loudly. "He's not. He's a high school principal, EZ."
"Zara," he sighed, "Babe, I think that's what he's trying to tell you."
"Stop," she said angrily. "He didn't do this."
"Okay," EZ said, "Fine."
Zara got up and headed for the stairs. "I don't want that money. Just take it, please."
"Where are you going?" He asked, placing the box back on the table and following her.
"I want to visit Pete, my student," she explained. "He's not doing well, or so I'm told."
EZ shook his head, his mouth turning into a deep frown. "No, he's not."
"Wait here for your brother," she told him. "I'd really like to go alone."
"He's gonna kick my ass," EZ told her.
"Take the beating for me," she joked.
Sighing, EZ nodded as she went up the steps to get dressed. He hated that he still had feelings for her, although they were masterfully hidden, and seeing Emily only made his heart ache more. Spending hours with two women he couldn't have done a number on his emotional well-being. Maybe a solid fight would do him some good.
—
"I'm so sorry," Zara sniffled. "Pete is such a good kid, so smart, I hate that this happened to him."
Pete's mother, Mary, listened and nodded along with Zara's words. "Thank you, He was quite fond of you, Ms. Osbourne. I'm glad you weren't seriously injured."
Zara held back her tears and nodded, "Thank you."
They talked a bit more then shared a long hug before Zara left. When she turned from the doorway to the hall she saw Angel leaning against the chair rail waiting patiently for her.
"Hey," she whimpered.
"Hey," he hurried over and gathered her in his arms, "It's okay."
"It's not," she whinnied into his chest. "They're taking him off life support, donating his organs."
Angel closed his eyes, a sorrowful sigh escaping his lips, and held her as she cried quietly. "I'm sorry, Z."
"Me too," she sniffled, looking up at him, "Thanks for meeting me."
"Of course," he smiled a little. "Let's get outta here."
"God, please," she groaned. "I'm so over this. I just want to hang out with you."
"I'm all yours," he said with a smile. "You got me all to yourself."
Heading back separately, Zara and Angel arrived at her place a few minutes apart due to some poorly timed lights. The last thing Angel wanted to do was run a yellow and have some overzealous officer pull him over. Zara waited for him on the porch, enjoying the fresh air after being in the house and hospital for the majority of the last 24 hours.
"Am I a lead foot or are you a slowpoke?" Zara asked as he slowly took the steps to her porch.
"Little bit of both, cariño," he said, offering her his hand.
Zara took it and stood, moving in front of him to unlock the door. Her eyes quickly fell on the box sitting, still open, on her coffee table.
"How did it go?" She asked him, tossing her bag down.
He looked surprised that she would ask. "Uh, fine, I guess." Seeing the expectant look on Zara's face, Angel went on. "It's handled. How much do you want to know?"
Zara watched as he kicked off his boots and left them by the door like usual before sitting. "Who was it?" Her voice was weak, volume low, but she truly wanted the answer.
"You already know," he said. Angel looked at her, head tilted to the side, and patted the spot beside him. "EZ told me."
"I know him," she said, standing a few feet away and refusing to join him on the sofa, "I know Randy. He's not a dealer, he wouldn't hit a woman, Angel."
"People aren't always what they look like, or who they want you to think they are," he said sadly. "Look at me, Z. You think I look like a-"
"You don't look like who you are," she sighed sadly. "You don't look awful but I never would have guessed you'd be such a dorky romantic sweetheart."
Angel chuckled a little and nodded. "That doesn't leave this room."
"Never," she smiled a bit.
"Whoever you thought he was, was a lie," Angel told her. "Maybe he wouldn't usually beat up a woman or lace a kid's hit, but he did.
"Yeah, so obviously he was capable," she mused. Zara dragged her feet over to Angel and sat beside him. "Am I an idiot?" She asked, settling in under his arm. "You, Miguel, Principal Anhalt," she huffed.
"Wait, Galindo?" Angel asked incredulously.
"Shut up," Zara said with red cheeks. "Emily said he went legit when his father died."
"Lie," Angel said somewhat harshly.
"I know that now," she grumbled.
"It's a good thing," he told her. "There's so much shit in the world, seeing it your way is better."
Zara smiled and nodded. "Yeah, I guess," she gasped and cursed under her breath. "Shit. I never called my mom back."
"You're grounded," he joked. "Just call her now. She's a mom, she's probably freaking the fuck out. I know mine woulda been"
"She definitely is. You don't mind?"
"Nah, go ahead," he said supportively.
"Thanks," Zara kissed his cheek. Grabbing her phone she called her mom but after a handful of rings, it went to voicemail. "Hmm, maybe she's not freaking out."
"No, she is," Angel said as he pointed to the phone. "She wants to see that pretty face."
"FaceTime," Zara groaned. "Do you want to hide?"
"You want me to?"
Zara shrugged and answered before it was too late. "Hey Mom," she said cheerfully.
"Oh, you look god awful," her mother said.
Angel stifled a laugh.
"Thanks," Zara huffed.
"You're beautiful, you know that," her mom added. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay, it's been a long day," she explained.
"Do you need help? You should have a friend stay with you, ZeeBee."
Zara's face went red with embarrassment. "I'm good. Not alone."
"Angel? Has that Angel boy been there?" Her mom's voice was higher, excited and intrigued by the man she'd been hearing about.
"Mom," Zara groaned.
"Hi, Mrs. Osbourne," Angel said, coming into view to the camera with a charming, bright smile.
"Oh, Angel," she giggled. "Please call me Holly."
"Okay, Holly," he said with a wink.
"Jesus Christ," Zara hissed.
"Don't take the Lord's name in vain," Holly scolded her daughter. "How are you, Angel? How is my girl?"
"We're both great," he said confidently. "I'm taking good care of her, I promise."
"Thank you, sweetheart," Holly said, her voice cracking slightly. "I wish I could be there, Zara, honey."
"I know, Mom. I'm okay, really. Please don't get too upset."
"I'm trying," she huffed. "You should see your father, he's furious. I can't get him to settle down."
"I'm sure he's as difficult as ever," Zara commiserated. "Keep him together."
"I'm trying," she said. "We're coming out soon, in the next few weeks, it's been too long."
Zara cringed inwardly but nodded. "Sounds great."
"I want a dinner date with Holly," Angel announced.
"Oh, Angel, I would love that!"
"Mom, I think you're going to steal my boyfriend," Zara joked.
"He's your boyfriend now? Last we spoke you wouldn't use that word."
Angel leaned into view again. "I'm her boyfriend. She can't get rid of me now."
Zara couldn't help the smile that spread across her lips. "You guys are killing me."
"Go," Holly said with a giggle. "Spend time with your honey. We'll talk later. I love you, Zara."
Holly hung up before Zara could reply. "Jesus. You didn't even charm me that quickly."
Angel smirked and winked at her. "What can I say?"
"That you won't break up with me for my mother," she laughed.
"Nah," he kissed her cheek. "I meant what I said, after today I don't think you'll get rid of me without a fight, Z."
"What's that mean?"
Angel turned his body toward hers and pinched her chin gently between his thumb and index finger. "I was pissed about what happened, real pissed," he shook his head. "Made me realize some shit."
"Yeah me too," she said with a small smile. "I'm sorry I got so upset about who it was."
"We're not saying his name?" Angel asked playfully.
Zara shook her head, "Not now."
"I'm sorry it was him," he sighed.
"Me too," she huffed. "How did you figure it out?"
"Rogan," he explained. "He's a friend. He knows you're with me so he gave us a heads up."
"So, what, you like, kicked his ass?" Zara asked, watching his face for tells or hints of the truth.
"I kicked his ass," Angel nodded.
"And then?"
"Z," he sighed.
"Okay," she said quickly. "Never mind."
"Trust me, cariño, you won't have to worry about that asshole anymore. Ever."
That was all she needed to hear. Zara knew then that Anhalt was killed and she wasn't really upset about it. Her ambivalence was more upsetting than the man's fate and she had no problem cuddling up next to Angel even after learning what he'd been involved in.
"Maybe sometimes we don't know ourselves?"
"I believe that," he said. Reaching for the remote, Angel looked at her. "You said 12 weeks?"
"Yep."
Clicking his tongue, Angel nodded. "We can do it."
"Oh yeah?" She glanced at him with a devilish look in her eye. "You wanna make it interesting?"
"How can we make that shit interesting?"
"Can you keep your own hands above your own belt that whole time?"
"No," he said bluntly. "I can fucking not."
"Boo," she laughed, "I was going to put some money on it. See who could last the longest."
"No money is worth that shit," he laughed. "Besides, they said the chances were pretty good that you'll be clear, right?"
Zara looked at him skeptically. "Yes, that's what they said."
"Well, let's see what happens," he said casually.
"Angel," she scolded. "It's a serious thing."
"I know," he kissed her temple and clicked on the TV, "Let's see how it goes. What are we watching?"
"I missed Riverdale last night," she said sheepishly.
Angel groaned. "How am I gonna feel about this shit?"
"Amused, at best," she giggled as found the show on demand. "Thank you."
"Don't say I never did anything for you," he joked.
"I wouldn't dare," she said with a dreamy smile.
The happy couple fell asleep right on the couch for a few hours before Angel awoke and carried her to bed. The next morning, during their homemade brunch using Emily's groceries, there was a knock at the door.
"More flowers," she said to him, catching sight of a delivery man out the window.
"Ah shit," he huffed. "I was supposed to get you flowers."
"Please don't," she laughed. "I'm over them now, I've gotten more this week than ever before." Zara opened the door and thanked the man, slipping him a bit of cash from Anhalt's lockbox. Bringing the flowers back with her to the kitchen she pulled the card out of the tiny envelope.
"Who sent em'?" Angel asked.
Zara shrugged and proceeded to read the card to herself.
"I heard what happened, I'm so sorry you had to go through that. Wishing you a speedy recovery. All my love, Campbell."
—
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