Page 93 of The Verdict

That lip quivered again, but this time I could tell it was for a different reason. She took a step back. Not so far that I couldn’t touch her, but far enough that all I wanted to do was pull her back.

“I’m sorry,” she murmured, and it was the tear that slid down her cheek that opened a pit in my stomach.

“Merritt…”

Her tongue dragged over her bottom lip like she was trying to soothe it, but it didn’t work. The full flesh still trembled as she started to speak.

“Mercury brought me to Jupiter to give him the drive. After I did, I told Mercury about Jupiter killing his brother.” She shivered against my hands. “And then I ran. I’m sorry?—”

“Jesus, Merritt.” I hauled her back to my chest and pressed my lips to her head. “Don’t fucking apologize. It doesn’t matter. Ramos, Morte—none of them matter. We’ll find another way to get Morte—to get to Ivans?—”

“Ivans was there tonight—in the room with Jupiter and Mercury.” Her brow creased.

“Did you see him?”

“No.” She sighed in frustration. “I only heard him. I was just coming to after Mercury knocked me out and everything was still foggy, but Jupiter was speaking to a man he called Ivans?—”

“It’s okay,” I said, seeing how it hurt to try and remember. “We’ll find them. Morte, then Ivans?—”

“No, Rhys.” She shook her head, and this time she moved completely out of my hold in order to face Harm. “I know where Mercury—Sergio—is going.”

My head started to tip.

“You do?” Harm asked with a low voice.

She nodded and replied, “I told them where I’d hid the diamond. A gym locker down by the pier. Elite Fitness.”

“Okay, you stay here?—”

“No.” She pushed back. “I’m going with you. I have to.”

My ears started to ring. My heart thumped like a war drum in my chest, the beat poundingno, no, no.

“Merritt…”

“If we don’t leave now, he’ll take the diamond and disappear,” she said insistently. “I need to do this. After five years, I need to make sure this all ends.” Her palm moved to my chest, right over the beat in my heart. “Trust me.”

Trust her.

My arms tightened, and in spite of my fears, my chin lowered slowly in a nod.

Harm made the call. “Dare, take Ty and Talon,” he ordered. “Merritt, you and Rhys are with me.”

The commotion blurred the next several minutes. Weapons. Gear. Single file to the elevator in silence. When we reached Harm’s SUV, he ordered us both in the back, mumbling something about keeping an eye on my shoulder, but I think he knew.

I needed to talk to her.Alone.Even if just for a few minutes.

“I thought I lost you,” I said hoarsely, taking her hand and bringing her knuckles to my lips.

Her eyes glistened. “I wouldn’t let him hurt you. I couldn’t.”

Air hissed through my lips. “I was following the two of you; I didn’t realize how many men Ramos has working for him. The guy came out of nowhere behind me, it was like…” I gritted my teeth.

“Like he was looking for you?”

How did she know?

“Jupiter was there that night—the night we met. He cameup to me at the bar just before you did,” she revealed. “I guess he wanted to see if I’d recognize anything about him when he was standing right in front of me.”

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