Page 4 of Shades of Mercy
An alarm went off inside her head.
It was truly the first time she regretted coming, however, remembering that the man—snake—who stood in front of her allowed women, underage girls, to be terrorized for his monetary benefit stiffened her spine.
“Drink?”
“No, thank you.” She wanted to keep her wits about her.
He strode over to the minibar and poured himself a drink while he stared at her for a moment, as if he were searching for any sign that she wasn’t who she was supposed to be.
“Do you prefer the name 'Diamond?”
“Excuse me?” she said.
“That’s the name on the invitation, but I like the name Mercy better.” He tossed back the contents of his glass.
Shit.“That was quick,” she said.
One corner of his mouth lifted as if she humored him. “I like a woman with guts.”
“I can see that. You have a club full of them.” Logic warned her to tread carefully, but this man made her sick.
“Each one of them is happy.”
“I have plans, so I must be running along.” She took a step toward the door, but the bodyguard opened the door and blocked her path, clapping his beefy hands on her shoulders and turning her around.
His gripwaslike claws burrowing in her skin.
“Did you get the information you were looking for?” Cross asked.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said through clenched teeth.”
“Of course you do.”
“Are you getting some power trip over this?” She didn’t turn her gaze away from Cross.
“You’re a feisty one. Is there any chance you could see yourself here in the club,entertainingthe guests?”
“Over my dead body.”
“That’s what I thought. That can be arranged.” He jutted his chin, and the bodyguard roughly dragged the purse off her shoulder. A thought came over her:the man who is his own lawyer has a fool for a client. The saying seemed fitting. For hersituation, what had she been thinking—that she could pretend to be a field agent?
Cross had the purse, opening it and looking inside.
Mercy hoped that Howie or McKinley would realize something was wrong if she didn’t come out of the club soon.She should have left by now. By the time they realized she was in trouble, it might be too late—she could bedead.
He took out the invitation, examined it, then laid it aside along with the lipstick. He peered inside the purse and found the hidden pocket where the camera was stored.
“Now we have a huge problem.”
Chapter Two
Well, this wasn’t how she’d envisioned this would go.
She’d walked right into Cross’s web, and the chances of getting out were slim.
He’d found the camera, knew her identity, and she had a feeling he’d killed people for far less.
Her team wouldn’t let her down, though.
