Page 54 of The Merciless

“But a place where the world no longer fears the Lions.” Noah murmured. He was perched on the couch beside Neera, his hands laced as Micah brooded beside him silently, watching them all with guarded eyes.

“A place where her son no longer works with them.” Sorin added and Ray sighed, putting her face back in her hands again,

“And a world where her husband no longer lives.” Neera completed, setting them in an uncomfortable silence. Ray squirmed in her seat, her imagination runningwildat the mess she’d have to handle when Maya woke up. The messKylecould create now.

“Howdidhe die?” Christina asked, her question soft but loud enough for all of them to hear. She was sitting on Akash’s kitchen counter, Jack standing right beside her as she stared straight at Ray, “I thought no one knew where they were.”

“That’s what we thought.” Ray answered, lifting her face from her hands to return her stare, “And no matter what you think, I have enough dignity to not kill a man when he’s grieving.”

Christina’s gaze flared at her response, and Ray knew by that response that she’d caught the meaning behind her stare correctly. It was obvious to assume that the Nameless – thatthey– would be behind his death. Hell, the entire world was probably preaching that it wasthemwho’d killed and brought the Lions down. And while Ray had played an important role in bringing them down, she hadn’t had a hand in killing Alessandro Larsen.

Especially considering his throat was slit when he was asleep.

“This isn’t time to fight amongst ourselves.” Angel’s voice rose above Ray’s thoughts, “Quit glaring at each other.”

Jack smirked from behind a chip, “Says the whipped boy.”

“Says the whipped boy.” Angel echoed with a solemn nod.

Ray ignored their presence altogether.

“What do we do now?” Cameron signed, and Ray’s jaw ticked at his question, her brows furrowing in thought.

“I think we can step into the trap now.” She said, her mind racing even as their eyes rose to hers in surprise, “Killing Alessandro was like a favor on their behalf. They did the same thing with June,” she turned to look at Ira, who stiffened beside her, “It was a gift that removed any unnecessary obstacles for me.”

“Ironic considering they want to kill you.” Luke murmured from beside Angel, sharing a glance with the other boy. Ray scoffed at his words, agreeing with them completely.

“Anyway, now that Alessandro’s out of the picture, it’s safe to assume Maya’s going to be out of it for a while as well. So as long as we go ahead and step into the trap no one else is bound to get hurt.”

“Why do you care?” came Ira’s sudden quiet words, startling Ray. She turned to face the younger girl and balked at the sheer rage in her eyes, “Why do you care about what happens to Maya Larsen? She whipped me. Whippedyou–”

“It isn’t because I care.” Ray responded calmly, and Ira turned to look at her, her shoulders drawn tight, “It’s because when she wakes up and realizes no one in the world is on her side, she’ll raise a hell that would be too dangerous for any of us to live in.”

“Maya’s a snake.” Irene continued just as calmly, “She will do everything in her power to ruin all of us.”

“And if by then we haven’t gotten rid of these new players,” Ray continued, “Then it’ll become all the more difficult to deal with them together. We can’t kill Maya, but we can’t have her waking up to a world wherewehold no power either. I’mnotputting your life at risk.” She blinked at Ira, “Makes sense?”

“Makes sense.”

“So, what do you do now?” Micah’s voice was another surprise that jarred her. Ray turned to face him, making sure to keep that surprise off her features as he dug his fists through the pockets of his jacket, “Go in search of their facilities, and what? Walk into a trap?”

Ray shrugged, “It’s the only option we have left. We move quickly from this moment forth. Let’s take today to gather supplies.” She turned over her shoulder to look at Angel, “You have your contacts?”

Angel nodded briskly, “We can get you almost everything you need.” He answered and Ray shook her head,

“I’m not asking about us. I’m asking aboutyouand your people. Do you haveenough?”

“We do.”

“But what are you going to do about Martin?” Luke asked, “I thought it was part of your plan to get rid of us as well.”

Ray shared a questioning glance with Angel, who crossed his arms and raised his brows. Her question was relayed between them,you or me? Which one is it going to be?

His lips split into a grin in response.

Me.

“Martin’s connected to these new players,” Angel started without breaking away from their stare. They’d decided not to tell everyone about the possibility of it being the rise of someone the two of them had ruined a while back. When the perfect time came, they would be quick in doing so. But not today. Not when none of them were sure about who could betray them, “So when we take them out, I’ll work on disbanding our businesses as well.”

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