Page 40 of Begging for Mercy
“I’m here,” I reply, running a hand through my hair. It’s not too late to back out, but I’ve come this far already. “I want you to look into something for me.”
“Little Wright. Rock on. Always wondered when you’d call.” Grey chuckles. “What’s daddy got you into?”
“I’m not—he’s not—” Sighing, I pinch the bridge of my nose. “I just want you to find out everything you can about a set of brothers. They go by Kane and Zane, but Kane also goes by the name Reaper on campus. He’s a fifth-year and up to some shady shit.” I know that Mercy doesn’t want me to go to the police, so I’ll use the other channels I have to dig a little deeper into Kane and Zane’s lives. “Cross reference a man named Alejandro Carrera or any other missing persons within the past decade.”
“Got it, Boss. You wanna pick up or order delivery?”
“Delivery.” I won’t have time to venture across the city with the championship game around the corner. “I need this fast, Grey. As soon as possible.”
“That’ll cost double.”
“Add it to my tab.” Depending on what info Grey digs up, I’ll be calling him for a follow-up job, anyway. “And hey, tip yourself generously.”
Although I can’t see Grey’s smile, I can hear it in his voice. “Happy to be of service. Anything else ya need, kid?”
“Yeah.” I pray that my mom covers her ears for this. “I need a gun. Something easy to hide. Have it delivered to the house overnight.”
“I’ll throw in some ammo,” Grey muses, grunting. “And a spare. Didn’t Samuel give you one years ago? I’m surprised you don’t have an arsenal.”
We do, in fact, have a gun safe that might as well be a walk-in closet. But I don’t want my dad to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong, and if I take one of his guns—even the one he gave me when I turned fifteen—he’ll have an excuse to breathe down my neck.
Grey’s pitch lowers. “If you’ve got a problem, kid, I can send someone to handle it.”
“That won’t be necessary.” I glare into the darkness, picturing Reaper’s smug smile. “I’m a good shot.”
By the time the sun rises, I’m locked and loaded and practicing my aim in the range hidden beneath my father’s ground floor. I skip morning football practice intentionally, knowing that I won’t be able to focus, and give up my chance of playing Saturday’s game. For something I’ve worked so hard for, I’m not as upset as I imagined I would be.
All I can think about is keeping Mercy away from those men.
With my father’s resources, I could spirit her away. Go into hiding. No one would be able to find us. We could disappear today without a trace. Be free from all of this bullshit.
I could have Reaper killed. Zane, too, if he becomes a problem.
And Mercy would be mine.
I put a few more bullets into my target as I mull the idea over. I’ve never been a man for extremes. Pissing my father off by ignoring his life plans for me has been fun, but I’ve never wanted to go nuclear. I’ve merely wanted to be left alone to live my life the way I want. Money or no money. Wright legacy or no legacy. None of that shit has ever mattered to me.
But if that’s the only way I can keep Mercy safe...
I could always lean into becoming Samson Wright, heir to the Wright family fortune. I might not be happy about it, but if I can come home to Mercy every night, if she’ll be happy to see me and run into my arms, then maybe?—
Maybe the rest of it doesn’t matter.
As much as I hate being under my father’s thumb, I stay in his house for the rest of the day to get a feel for what my life could be like if I stay. My skin crawls every time I imagine my dad walking into the room to lecture me or order me to join him in a business meeting. But when I picture Mercy swinging her legs on a stool in front of the kitchen island or sketching in the sunroom, the tension roiling in my gut dissipates. I like the idea of having her around.
If I’m honest about how bad Kane and Zane are for her, I don’t think she would run away from me. Especially if she has nowhere to run to… The only hitch in the plan is her family, but I could house Grandma Star and her dad somewhere safe. We could visit. I doubt her brother is coming back anytime soon, so he’s a non-factor as long as he’s out of town and out of range. Lilith will throw a fit if I take Mercy away, though, so she’s anissue to deal with. I don’t want there to be collateral damage if I can avoid it.
I guess we’ll see what Grey digs up first and go from there.
I’m running on next to no sleep and a gallon of caffeine, but I get ready for my date with Mercy with meticulous care. Hair slicked back. Rolex in place. Cologne dabbed on my wrists. A white button-up I know she likes and a pair of form-fitting jeans that are easy to take off. If she wants. If sheasks.My dick hardens at the thought of her touching me again, and I quickly tent hard enough for my dick imprint to show. Groaning through my teeth, I try to think of something else. Anything else. But imagining Mercy’s hands sliding down my chest to grab my cock?—
Fuuuuck.
The gun strapped to my thigh is gonna have to go. My muscles bulge as I remove the holster and toss it onto the bed. I need to keep it on me in case Reaper shows up to collect Mercy’s life early.
Or mine.
It hasn’t slipped my mind that I’m in on this, too, but thankfully, he doesn’t seem too interested in my life. It’s only Mercy that’s caught his eye. As I grab my swollen dick and beat off, I can’t keep my frustration under wraps. I picture the two of them together—his mouth on her throat and his hands roaming her body—and I see red. With a hiss, I slam my fist into the wall and grit my teeth. Ihatepicturing the two of them together. It doesn’t matter that Kane can probably get her off with his pinky finger—I can do better.
