A/N: I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for the reviews! I really appreciate the feedback and it just fuels me for this story! Hope you enjoy the next installment!

"I got something for you," Angel whispered into Ailee's ear as she sat in between his legs on his bed.

"I hope its food," Ailee teased making Angel laugh.

The two were currently hanging out at Angel's place, enjoying their time together while she was at home for Thanksgiving break. She basically lived there, but they still weren't official. Being in Maquina was becoming more difficult for Ailee, at least when it came to lying to Angel. She couldn't keep doing it, but it was for his safety. They've been doing this whole thing for 1 year now, but if she was honest, it's been going on longer. For once, they weren't naked and just hanging out like they normally do. With Angel's MC duties and Ailee's job, the two barely had time together, but since Ailee took a break from work, they were able to enjoy each other much more.

"Later," Angel chuckled as he reached under his pillow. He leaned forward, his chest was against her back. He brought his hand around her and he was holding a small box. Ailee eyed it curiously as she waited for Angel to explain the box to her. It was a velvet box. She didn't expect Angel to be proposing to her, but she was definitely intrigued by the box. "Aren't you going to open it?"

"What is it?"

"Why won't you open it?"

Ailee laughed and took the box from his hand. She sat up, feeling Angel resting his chin against her shoulder. Opening the box, she gasped as her eyes landed on the necklace inside the box. In the box was a necklace that had a pendant of the letter 'A'. But it wasn't whole, it was just one half of it.

"Am I supposed to look for the other half?" She teased.

"No smart ass, I have the other half," he held out his half.

Ailee smiled and took the necklace out. "Mind putting it on for me?" she held it out for Angel.

"Not at all," Angel took it from her and put it on her.

Once he was done, Ailee turned around and placed a kiss on Angel's lips. "I love it Angel, thank you. But it isn't my birthday, why did you get me a present?"

"We're apart more than we're together, I guess I just want you to know that you'll always have a piece of me with you." Angel softly caressed her cheek. "You're one of the most important people to me and I just want to let you know that."

"You're important to me too, Angel." She replied.

It was the words unsaid that really meant something. The words they couldn't say were being masked by other words. They were just both afraid to say it, but they both knew it.

Ailee held the necklace in front of her, a rare smile gracing her face. She did miss Angel, more than she would care to admit. Guess the other contract was a blessing in disguise and she'll be able to spend some time with him before she decides to actually kill him.

Sounded sadistic, but it was the reality of the situation.

"You sure that's what you want to do?" Jennifer questioned as she sat on the seat beside Ailee.

Ailee placed the necklace back in her pocket. She didn't liked admitting it but she took the necklace everywhere. It was the connection she still had with the life she once had.

"Are we talking about the plan?" Ailee questioned.

"No, I'm talking about this whole plan to kill Angel." Jennifer frowned. "I know you don't like hearing about it, but Ailee, you can't ignore the connection you and Angel had."

"I'm not, but that's not the issue here."

"That is the issue here. I know you haven't stoop this low. What would this even do for you?" Jennifer questioned.

"Jen, honestly, this is our job. Personal relationships are checked at the door."

"But you love him."

"Loved, it's loved." She corrected her.

"What you're doing right now, aren't you protecting him?"

"I'm protecting my interest, yes, it has nothing to do with him."

"So you're going to pretend you're not making excuses about not killing him?"

"I'm not, we just had more important matters to take care of." Ailee reasoned. "Jennifer, what are you trying to accomplish with this?"

"I'm not trying to accomplish anything, I'm just pointing out that this is absolutely ridiculous. This isn't a stranger. Most of the people we've eliminated are strangers who do bad things in this world. What has Angel done to have such a fate? Yes, I know he's in a biker gang, but who gives a shit? We're not the best people either."

Jennifer left Ailee to let her think about what she said. They weren't going to let Ailee kill Angel. If they had to tie Ailee up or other drastic matters, they'll do it. And they had faith Ailee won't kill Angel. Ailee's plan to reach out to Angel was brilliant. Maybe spending time with him will break her out of this sadistic streak she's had.

At least that's what they were all hoping for.

Angel walked out of his father's butcher shop, looking across the street. Ailee's coffee shop was booming. It was a new shop and everyone in town wanted to see what it was all about. He hasn't stepped foot inside. Coco and Gilly have, they told him as much. They said it was nice and they saw Xander there, whom he knew as Evangelina's boyfriend way back when, but apparently they're married now.

Their lives were so intertwined and Angel never truly noticed it till now. The MC knew all about her, after all, they all grew up with one another. But it still surprised him that Bishop seemed so, open to Maquina's presence. Regardless of the agency being underground, they still worked for the government.

Now, he was headed to the clubhouse after another meeting with Adelita. He had to admit, he developed feelings for the rebel leader, admiring her courage and strength. But with Ailee back in his life, whatever he buried a long time ago has made its way back to the surface.

At first, all he wanted was to help his former best friend's sister, his former lover. Now that she was in front of him, he was having a change of heart. He missed her and he truly didn't know how much till she was in front of him. But he was going to end it there. Angel didn't want to reel her back to Santo Padre. She had a life outside and it was much better than any life she could build in Santo Padre. He had to stay focus and not let his feelings deviate from the end goal.

He met with Coco, Gilly and EZ near the scrapyard, leading the way to the clubhouse. When they arrived, Riz opened the gate for them.

Though what surprised him was what was waiting for them. As he parked his bike, he watched as Ailee walked out of the clubhouse following after Bishop and her uncle, Jin.

Angel watched as Ailee spoke with Taza, letting out a laugh as Taza wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Marcus Álvarez walked along with Bishop and Jin, discussing something between themselves. The person he saw with Ailee walked behind along with Tranq.

"You guys ready to go?" Bishop questioned the youngest members of his club. He watched as Angel walked off to the side, most likely trying to avoid Ailee.

"Whenever you are Bish," Coco replied "Ailee, that you?"

"Hey Coco," she walked towards him, giving him a hug. She pulled away, patting his back. "Look at you, I've missed you." It was genuine, Ailee has missed the people she became so familiar with. She turned to Gilly, hugging just as she had Coco. Her eyes drifted towards to Angel, who was on the phone. She wasn't sure if he was trying to avoid her, but regardless, he stayed away.

"Look at you, Baby Cruz all grown up," Coco teased, calling her the nickname he gave her all those years ago. "How you been?"

"Good, just working," Ailee shrugged.

Angel joined them then. She felt all eyes on them as Angel stopped in front of her.

"Hey Lee," he greeted her.

"Hey Angel," Ailee tried to push down her nerves. She was better than this and should not be fazed with seeing him again. She never wanted to involve the club, but due to the new contract picked up on Angel, her uncle thought it was best to have them inform Bishop as the club could be compromised as well.

"How are you?" Angel's eyes traveled all over her body, definitely appreciating how much she's grown during their years apart. It was hard not to check her out, she was a beautiful young woman.

Before Ailee could reply, the man he saw with her a week ago came up behind her, whispering a few words in her ear. She gave them a smile before walking away with him. Angel instantly become more irritated than he already was. Who the fuck was this asshole?

"Who is that?" He heard Coco question.

"I don't fucking know." Angel watched as the two moved closed to the bikes, away from the rest.

"Angel, always nice to see you," Jin approached him, giving the young man he watched grow along with his nieces and nephew. "You're looking good son."

"Gracias tio," Angel wasn't certain if he should still call Jin tio, but he figured he should. In some ways, he blamed Jin as the reason why Ailee turned into an assassin. He knew Vince was really to blame, but Jin could have stopped this from happening. Maquina was basically a family business. "You're looking good too, doesn't look like you've aged."

"Doesn't look it, but I definitely feel it." Jin chuckled. "How's your old man doing? I'm going to his shop after this."

"He's good, I'm sure he would love to see you."

Jin nodded his head with a smile. He looked over at Ailee before he looked at Angel once again. "I hope you can help her." Angel wasn't surprised Jin knew all about this. No one could make a move in Maquina without Jin knowing.

"I'll try my best tio," Angel bit his tongue, knowing better than to call him out at his hand on turning her into what she was now.

He watched as Ailee, Ailee's companion and Jin walked out of the garage, heading over to the car that just arrived. Ailee looked back one last time at Angel, giving a smile before she slid in.

Coco walked over to Angel, bumping his shoulder. "She looks fucking hot man."

"Don't even think about it." Angel warned.

Coco laughed. "Bro, you've had a fence around her since she was 13, what makes you think I would even try now?"

"Besides, it seems like Coco isn't the one you have to worry about." EZ added.

Angel walked away from the two, hearing their laughter behind him.

"Fucking assholes," he muttered under his breath.

Ailee dived into the pool, swimming her way across the pool she had in the home she shared with Jennifer and Michael. Initially, Michael was renting a room at Angel's apartment complex, but he ended up moving in with the two girls.

She needed to swim some stress away. Seeing Angel effective her more than she would like to admit. He looked so good, it was sinful.

Michael walked out of the house, watching Ailee swim her laps. He was definitely amused by Angel's affect on her. They always knew he had a hold on her, but to see it first hand, priceless.

He sat on one of the chairs by the pool, waiting for Ailee to stop. She didn't stop for another 35 minutes. Once she came out, Michael threw a towel towards her.

She caught it, running it against her hair.

"What's up?" Ailee questioned, sitting beside Michael with the towel wrapped around her shoulder.

"You know he was pissed to see me near you." Michael looked out at the mountains behind the home they shared.

"Who?"

"Come on Ace, you're not an idiot."

"Angel?" Ailee laughed. "You're imagining things."

Michael just chuckled. "Swimming again, what has you under stress?"

"I just want to know who picked up the contract." Ailee lied. Michael didn't need to know Angel was causing her stress. It was different to know they were in the same town, but to actually talk to him, to actually see him, it was something else all together.

"Arthur can probably trace it, isn't he doing that now?"

"Arthur is taking too long, he's usually faster than this," Ailee sighed. "Feels weird to be back in Santo Padre. There's too much emotions."

"Well would you look at that, your soul is still there."

Ailee chuckled. "Yeah, yeah," she stood up. "I need a distraction."

"I think Bryan is still in San Diego, maybe he can distract you." Michael suggested, making Ailee kick his shin. "Lee!" He grabbed his right shin, rubbing the area where Ailee's foot connected.

"Thinking more of gambling, maybe shooting the new weapons we received from main headquarters?" As much as Ailee wanted to release her pent up frustration with sex, she much rather use a gun. Bryan was a good fuck, but right now, all she could think about was Angel.

"Gambling? The Mayans are going to that casino, you really want to go to the place to run into the person you want to avoid?"

Before Ailee could reply, her phone rang. She walked over to her phone, looking at the caller ID, it read 'Baby Reyes'.

"Ezekiel, to what do I owe this pleasure?" She answered.

"You free tonight?"

"Should be, what's up?"

"Come over the house, we're having dinner. Your uncle is going to be there."

"Sure, I'll come by," she had to gain Angel's trust again. She had to protect him from whomever was trying to kill just so she can do the job she intended to do.

"Just don't bring your boyfriend, I don't want Angel to be pissed off." She could hear the amusement in EZ's tone and she wanted to slap the asshole.

"Don't have a boyfriend, not sure whom you're referring to."

"That Asian guy with you, Coco seems to think that's your boyfriend. Angel is a little ticked."

Ailee sat beside Michael, an amused smirk on her lips. "Very subtle way for you to try and get information. Michael isn't my boyfriend, just a friend."

"You don't have to lie to me, my feelings are not the one you have to worry about."

Ailee laughed. "Your brother's feelings isn't my concern either."

"Pretty sure that isn't true."

"Where are you finding the time to speak to me? Aren't you on club business?"

"Give Boy Scout a break Lee, he's just trying to look out for his brother." She heard Coco say.

"I know he is, but I don't see why this is a concern."

"You can't possibly think that old feelings have faded." EZ pointed out.

"It has on my end."

"Shut the fuck up Lee, we all know you can't get over Angel that easily, that's why you had to leave Santo Padre." Coco called her out.

"Is there a point to this conversation?" Ailee was slightly becoming irate. It was none of their business whether she still had feelings for Angel or not. She doesn't. Things were not as they were, everything was different.

"Just wanted to invite you for a family dinner."

"I'll see you then."