Page 10 of The Merciless

And he knew he didn’t really have an option anymore.

The Reconciliation

“Falling – the easy part was over. Now came the difficult part.

Staying fucking alive.

Together.”

3

His eyes opened just barely. A wave of agonizing pain washed over him before he could understand where he was. Kyle Larsen squinted in the dark and let out a muted groan. The wind hustled in with a loud howl, and he turned his head, wanting to feel it brush his skin.

His eyes were only barely open when he saw the curtains flutter. His vision blurred for a second. And suddenly, it was clear.

Because there, sitting on the windowsill with a gun in her hands, satRaylene Walker.

Kyle screamed, but it was muffled by the oxygen mask on his face. Shit, shit,shit,he couldn’t help but swear as his fingers twitched uselessly. Here, he was a prey. He was a dead man. Because Raylene was looking at him with murder in her eyes.

“Shh,” she whispered, and a tear seeped out of the corner of his eyes, “Quiet Kyle. Let’s not ruin this.”

It was the first time he’d ever regretted waking up.

* *

Her phone vibrated in the pocket of her jeans for the fifth time in the past fucking hour. Ray silenced it and adjusted the sunglasses on her head before stepping out of the bustling airport. The sun shone down on her face, all warm. So different, so muchbetterthan that cold, cursed island. And with half of her deeds completed, there was some time she could spend in peace–

Ring!

Ray growled out loud this time, scaring the people who were walking beside her as she suddenly dropped her hands to her sides. She didn’t care, just fished her phone out of her pocket and answered the call aggressively,

“Yes,”she began before the person on the other end could speak, “He’s alive. Yes, I interrogated him and found no problems.No, I didn’t fucking leave him, he’s on a flight here right about now.And for the last timeSorin,he’s ALIVE!”

She panted as she finished her rant and looked up to find the crowd of people steering clear of her, their glances half terrified. Ray sighed as Sorin Ardeleancleared his throat from the other end,

“Thanks for that.” He said, “But that’s now what I–oh shit,”the voice cut off abruptly and Ray’s brows furrowed as a series of muffled yells echoed from her phone, “…Ray?Ray, you there?”

“Yes–”

“Get the hell herenow.”Sorin snarled and grunted, “Your boyfriend’s here and he’s about to kill Akash.”

God damn it.

Ray huffed but hung up immediately, rushing ahead to find a taxi. Her brunette wig swayed roughly against her shoulders as she extended a hand to call for the first taxi she saw. She was dead to the world, toeveryoneexcept the very handful of people who knew. That was why when a taxi finally screeched to a stop before her, she increased the pitch of her voice and made it unrecognizable.

“Hi,” she said and the man who lowered the window visibly flinched at the voice. She didn’t blame him. She did too. Ray attempted a small smile and lowered her sunglasses to reveal a pair of blue contacts. She was wearing a white crop top that hugged her body sleekly over beige, baggy denims.

It was the perfect outfit for the summer of the city, especially when she wanted to pose as a rich city girl. The man seemed to notice as she recited her address and saw him nod his head vigorously. Ray let out a breath of relief and pulled the door open.

The car ride to her place was meant to be silent. Was meant to pass by in a moment’s breeze with her worrying about Angel not killing Akash before she got there. But then she’d sighed deeply, and the older man had looked at her from the rearview mirror in slight concern,

“You alright Miss?” he asked, a hint of accent hidden in his words as he brushed a lock of grey hair off his forehead and placed his hand back on the steering wheel. His deep voice was enough to jar her out of her thoughts enough for her to go erect and stare straight ahead,

“Yes,” she replied in a smooth voice, schooling her emotions back into nonchalance, “Why do you ask?”

She hadn’t expected the man to bark out an amused laugh at her words. But he did, and her brows scrunched nonetheless, “Is something funny?” she asked, forcing the bite out of her voice. The man shook his head, his shoulders shaking as he drove,

“Miss, I have a daughter your age. Evenshecan’t change her expressions as quick as you did,” he said in a loving voice, his eyes straying to a picture hanging up ahead. Ray’s gaze softened as she eased back in her seat,

---