Page 59 of The Merciless

Ray blinked down at the message. So, whoever this was, hadn’t realized she was already here. But also, could have sent the message as a way to distract her. Ray grit her teeth and stopped in her tracks. The shadows masked her movements as held her gun between her armpit and cracked open her phone to remove the chip.

She should’ve done this way before, but her mind had been a blubberingmessuntil now. Ray snapped the chip into two pieces, making sure it emitted no noise, and threw it out the window she’d jumped in from.

Tohellwith this person. This fucking group.

She didn’t make the mistake of throwing her phone. Couldn’t risk making any noise. Just placed it in between the two boxes to her right and left it there to rot. Ray balanced her gun again, seeking some comfort with the knife tucked in the denim she’d borrowed from Angel. She wasn’t wearing a vest, astupidmistake she’d made before getting here.

But it didn’t matter now.

Ray strode ahead, tracking her movement by the shifting shadows up ahead. As far as she knew, she was walking between a wall and a tall shelf filled with cardboard and wooden boxes on her left. Judging by the structure of the metal and the way it was coated in rust, however, one wrong move, and they could all come tumbling down on her.

The storehouse had looked timid from the outside, but stepping in now, she saw the rows and rows of endless boxes stuffed closely enough to leave only a small pathway that led down to a bunch of steps at the far end. The rotten stench of the damned boxes did no good either, but Ray had been in these situations too many times now. She knew how to lock away that nausea that rose with fear far away.

She willed her heart to calm as she reached the very end of the storehouse, ending up at a greased wall up ahead. Ray turned to her left, her gaze narrowing as she saw a narrow path for her to take. The same one that led to the stairs that led underground.

That led to a place that for sure had someone waiting for her.

Ray didn’t wait to reconsider. Just slipped through the narrow path and walked as close to the greased wall to her right as she could until she reached the unguarded stairs.

Her heartbeat increased to dangerous levels as she braced her back against the wall and grimaced at the stench of oil and rotten wood that filled her lungs.

She kept a lookout on both her sides as she descended the stairs, her gun aimed and shifting from one direction to the other as she climbed down sideways.

Ray was expecting a door. Was expecting people waiting for her in the shadows. But was greeted by another underground storage area, filled with similar rows of metal shelves and boxes. The only change was the smell. It was no longer rotten. Was fresher, as though these boxes had been brought here recently. As soon as she reached the end of the stairs, she whipped to the side, hiding herself within the shadows cast by the boxes, and stilled. Listening.

Pretty stupid of them to call her in a place like this.

Ray peeped to the side, trying the catch a glimpse of what was happening up ahead when she saw the faint flickering of yellow light. She ducked back immediately, her heart beating wildly as she took a few steps back into a corner. She could hear the wind whistling by, and the faint sounds of cloth rustling. But other than that–

“LET ME GO!”

She stilled, her blood runningcoldat the familiar voice that echoed through the storehouse. It was followed by a loud curse and another scream.Too familiar,she thought as a wave of fear crashed over her,that voice was too familiar.

“She’ll come for you, you know,”

Oh gods.

“And she’llfuckingrip you apart.”

That was Ira.

Ira was here.

A laugh followed her words and Ray moved swiftly, running as she was before as a loudbang,probably from someone slamming something metal into a wall. It ricocheted all across the room.

“Stop screaming youleech–”

“Stay thefuck away from her!”A male voice roared, making Ray almost freeze in her tracks again.

Shit, Micah was here as well.

This had gottensomuch worse. Too many betrayals, Ray thought with clenched teeth and silently wove through the darkness,toomany fucking rats. She followed that faint yellow light that peeped from below the shelves, hiding her steps as she did so.

“What have youdoneto him?” Ira's voice was a soft cry, shaking with fear. The amount ofragethat rose in her mind wasungodlyas she gripped her gun harder and neared the nook of the place. If there was even ascratchin Ira’s face–

She would lose her fucking mind.

“That’s none of your concern.” A female voice said cruelly, and Ray had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep herself from screaming in frustration.Fucking Ciera.Could she trustno one?

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