Page 19 of Mercy

A few miles fly by before we pull up to a diner on the corner of two state roads.

As I dismount, I pull off my helmet, shaking out my hair.

It fans around my face, and I can't resist giving it an extra little toss.

Tor's eyes darken as he watches me. "Damn, that was hot," he growls.

I laugh, a mix of nerves and genuine amusement.

"What, this?" I do it again, hamming it up this time. "According to you, everything I do is hot."

He grins, reaching out to tuck a strand behind my ear. "Well, I'm not wrong, am I?"

We head inside, choosing a booth near the window.

I'm still riding the high of the motorcycle ride when a familiar voice breaks through my reverie.

"Meghan? Is that you?"

I freeze, my eyes snapping up to meet a face I haven't seen in years.

My cousin, Lily, stands there in a waitress uniform, pen poised over her order pad.

"Lily," I manage, my voice strangled. "What are you doing here?"

She laughs, but there's an edge to it. "I work here, obviously. The real question is, where have you been? How come you never come around the family anymore?"

I feel Tor's eyes on me, curiosity burning in his gaze.

But I can't look at him right now.

I can't let him see the darkness that's threatening to swallow me whole.

"That's rich," I say, my own laugh hollow and bitter. "As if you don't know exactly why I stay away."

Lily's smile falters. "Come on, Meg. It wasn't that bad?—"

"Wasn't that bad?" I cut her off, my voice low and dangerous. "They're dead to me, Lily. All of them."

A heavy silence falls over the table.

I can feel Tor's concern radiating off him in waves, but I keep my eyes fixed on Lily.

"What are you even doing up here?" I ask, desperate to change the subject. "Last I heard, the whole clan was still down in Orlando."

Lily shifts uncomfortably, her eyes darting around the diner. "Things... changed. We all moved up to Tallahassee a while back."

I narrow my eyes, suspicion coiling in my gut.

There's more to this story, I'm sure of it.

But before I can press further, Tor clears his throat.

"How about we start with some coffee?" he suggests, his tone light but his eyes sharp as they flick between Lily and me.

I nod, grateful for the interruption.

As Lily walks away to fetch our drinks, I exhale slowly, trying to shake off the ghosts of my past.

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