Page 16 of Shades of Mercy
“That it does,” Jag said, looking toward the occupied truck. He guessed that in good time, he’d find out who Mateo had brought with him.
“I can’t say thank you enough for coming.”
“It seemed important.” Jag leaned against the front of his truck and hooked his thumbs into his front pockets. The tense vibe warned him there could be deeper trouble than he first suspected.
“Important enough that I needed to keep things on the low down. You’re the only one I know I can trust.” He glanced back at the truck’s window and shifted his boots. “This requires the utmost care and discretion.”
“Fill me in,” Jag said.
“There are some details I’d rather keep to myself, but does the name Jules Cross ring a bell?”
“Big business guy up in Denver?”
“What I’m going to tell you has to be kept between us.” Mateo scrubbed his whiskered jaw.
“Noted.”
Jag listened while Mateo described what he’d been doing—chasing the evidence to put Cross away for his crimes. Jag nearly chipped a tooth when Mateo explained what happened to Mercy earlier that evening.
“We have a lot of high-powered people involved,” Mateo said. “So you see how Mercy’s life is in danger.”
“Is she okay?” Jag flicked his gaze toward the truck's window.
“Feisty as ever.” Mateo chuckled. “Took my best argument to get her to agree, but she’s smart. She knew this was the best option to keep her safe and out of sight.”
Jag couldn’t see a damn thing in the truck. Mercy was here. Feet away. Why did he feel a brick in the center of his chest? His mind wandered to that one night they’d shared. He wanted to regret it, but he’d only be lying to himself. She’d been a giving lover, and he’d found himself wanting more. A man like Jag, burdened by his demons, didn’t have the right to ask for more from someone who deserved better than he could offer. Relationships were a foreign word to him. And a woman like Mercy deserved that house surrounded by a picket fence and an Enclave in the two-car garage.
“How did you manage to get her here?” Jag asked. He knew how hard-headed she could be.
“Telling her the truth, at least as much as I could without jeopardizing my case.”
“How’s Adriana?”
“I can’t answer that. She’s in Paris, last I heard?”
“Have I missed something?”
“Missed it or I’ve just done a damn good job hiding that she and I are separated.” Mateo’s mouth thinned.
“Sorry, man. I had no idea.” Jag felt like an ass for mentioning her.
“Please, just do me a favor and keep Mercy safe. I can’t predict how far that bastard Cross will go, but I know I’ll be able to concentrate if I know she’s with you. It’s my fault she’s caught up in this mess. I shouldn’t have involved her in this case.”
“I can promise you she’ll be safe with me. I’ll protect her with my life if it comes to that.”
Mateo knocked on the hood of the truck.
The passenger door opened, and Jag waited in anticipation.
Mercy approached the front of the truck and laid her hand on her tilted hip. “Did my brother here tell you the good news?”
Jag stared for a solid ten seconds. A funny pressure filled his chest. Mercy was petite and cute, but also smart and sassy. Her hair was longer than the last time he saw her, but still jet black. “It looks like you and I are going to be joined at the hip for some time.”
Chapter Six
Mercy sat quietly, listening to the men discuss how to keep her safe.
She shook her head.
