Page 48 of Mercy

My mind races, trying to process what she's saying.

Leave?

Start fresh?

Away from the club?

Away from me?

The thought of losing her makes my blood run cold.

"If you’ve already made your decision then fine," I hear myself say, surprising us both. "but I'm going with you."

Meghan's eyes widen in disbelief. "What?"

I lean in closer, my voice low and intense. "I'd give up my whole life for you, Meg. All of it."

She shakes her head, a bitter laugh escaping her lips. "You're crazy, Tor. The clubisyour life."

I cup her face in my hands, forcing her to look at me. "No, Meghan. You’re my life. The club, the brotherhood, it all means nothing without you."

As I stare into her tear-filled eyes, I know with absolute certainty that I mean every word.

For her, I'd walk away from everything I've ever known.

CHAPTER NINE

Meghan

The espresso machine hisses and sputters as I tamp down another shot, the rich aroma of freshly ground beans filling my nostrils.

It's been three weeks since Tor and I arrived in Atlanta, and I've settled into a routine at this quaint little coffee shop.

It's not exactly glamorous, but it pays the bills.

"One vanilla latte for Sarah!" I call out, sliding the steaming cup across the counter.

As I wipe down the milk frother, I catch a glimpse of my reflection in the polished chrome.

My ashy blonde hair is pulled back in a messy bun, a few strands escaping to frame my face.

The light sage green of my eyes seems dulled by the fatigue of early mornings and late nights.

Tor's voice echoes in my mind from this morning: "You don't have to do this, Meghan. We can figure something else out."

I shake my head, pushing the thought away.

This job might not be perfect, but it's mine.

Hell, it's normal, it's safe.

"Hey, new girl!" my coworker, Jake, calls out. "Can you handle the register for a bit? I need a smoke break."

I nod, forcing a smile. "Sure thing."

This asshole takes a smoke break every fifteen minutes.

As I move to the front, I can't help but think about how different this is from my life back in Tallahassee.

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