Novels by Angela Ray

Jack's blood turned cold as he remembered how Emily's scream cut the radio line. He stood on the tunnel exit, water still dripping from his soaked clothes. On the other side of the black Hudson River, the city lights were glowing. Darius's yacht moved steady, a white shape cutting through black water like a knife.Suddenly a new boat caught up to him. It was Mike with other legion soldiers.He climbed into Jack's boat despite the clear pain on his face. His brown eyes met Jack's for a moment. He operated the turret gun, hands steady on the handle even with the wound.The boat swiftly sliced through large waves. Their skin felt cold as the water shot high over the front. Under the salt, Jack's scar blazed with new rage.His gaze remained fixed on the yacht in front of him, gradually narrowing the distance.In their dark mansion room, the Harts watched from afar on a hacked feed.Victor sat with hands clasped tight in his lap. His fingers turned white from the pressure.His lips

With his back to the pile of rocks that had almost taken Mike, Jack turned away from the section that had crumbled.His eyes ached from the dust that was still hanging in the air. Water rose fast around his boots, cold and dark from Darius's sabotage.After taking a final glance at Mike, he proceeded on his own.His flashlight cut a thin path through the dark. The beam shook a little in his hand. Sweat trickled down his cheek like a tear, mingled with dirt on his scar.Jack's breaths came short, worried about Mike pushing him aside from the explosion.He didn't have time to wait for the entire team, so he went alone first. The water climbed to his knees, then his waist. He swam when he had to, his arms cutting through floating debris. The cold made his muscles burn, but he didn't slow down.The Legion ropes splashed down from above openings behind him.The soldiers dropped in, water spraying around them. They spread out quickly, their guns ready. Jack pointed directions, h

Jack hit the ground first, his boots thumping on concrete. Below, trucks waited with soft-running engines. He jumped in the front one, door slamming behind him.Tires squealing on curves, the truck raced through deserted streets. Jack's mind raced with thoughts of the Vault under attack. His shoulder from the fight hurt with each bump. He stared out the window, city lights blurring by.They arrived quickly at the Bronx subway entrance. Smoke curling out of the secret entrance. Gunshots echoed from below like thunder. Jack's stomach twisted with worry.With his gun in hand, he led the way down the stairs.The steps were slick and wet. At the bottom was a Legion soldier with blood on his uniform. Jack quickly knelt and searched for a pulse, but there wasn't one.Bullets bounced off walls like ping-pong balls as the siege raged through the corridors. With their weapons blazing, Darius's mercenaries charged forward. The Legion shot from behind corners, holding the line.Ja

Jack stood in the war room, the taunt video still playing on the big screen. It was filled with Darius's face and his teasing remarks about Emily's blood. Jack's hands clenched at his sides, his knuckles white. Mike entered with his face stern and his arm tightly bandaged.Jack turned off the screen with one push. The room went quiet. He looked at Mike, his scar pulling tight. "Find the captain. The one from the factory."Mike nodded once. There was no question in his gaze. He looked at a tablet and said, “He is hiding in Midtown, inside one of the high rise buildings."Jack grabbed his gun. He checked the video again."Get the team ready in five."They all left the Vault in one of the black trucks. The city streets are empty at that hour. The rain had stopped, but the air felt heavy.The high-rise building stood tall in Midtown. The glass windows are dark with few lights on top. The truck parked two blocks away and the legion soldiers got out quietly. Their ropes are ready.

Jack stood there on the dock, rain soaking his coat, his heart pounding from the chase. He looked at Mike, who gripped his grazed arm with blood streaming through his fingers. The name hung in the air like a bad smell, making Jack's scar itch under the cold night wind.Jack took Mike his unharmed arm and pulled him in the direction of the truck. Mike winced but did not pull away, his face pale from the pain. The door slammed shut behind them as they entered.Jack started the engine, his hands steady but his mind racing with old doubts.Back at the Vault, Jack locked every door with a loud click. He called all the soldiers into the main room, their boots resonating on the concrete floor. Mike sat on a bench, wrapping his arm with a dirty cloth. Jack's eyes scanned each face, looking for any sign of dishonesty.Mike looked up, his brown eyes meeting Jack's blue ones. "It's not me, boss. I swear on the brothers we lost, on the battlefield we fought together. We're relatives

The window glass shattered into tiny pieces as Jack's last shot hit the frame. With one hand clutching the skid, he hung upside down outside the whirling helicopter. His face was battered so violently by the wind and rain that it stung. His scar burned from the cold, and his fingers started to slip.Inside, Darius grabbed the dead pilot's seat and yanked the stick. The helicopter lurched sideways. He glanced at Jack through the broken glass. His eyes were wide with terror mixed with hatred.Jack used all of his strength to pull himself up. His boots found the skid. He reached inside and grabbed Darius by the coat collar. The chopper dipped low over the Bronx rooftops.Darius swung a fist. It caught Jack on the jaw. Jack's mouth was filled with blood but he did not let go.From the ground crew below, Mike's voice crackled in Jack's earpiece. "You're too high, boss! Jump, we have ropes ready!”Jack ignored him. Halfway out the door, he pulled Darius along with him. The