Page 60 of The Price of Mercy
I shake my head. “Daddy issues aside, we gotta go.” If I could snap my fingers, I would. “The Box. Now.” The longer we wait to set Zane’s break, the worse shape he’ll be in. “Someone drive.”
Mercy tears her gaze off Sam and nods at me. “I’ll drive.”
“Keys are on the nightstand in the master.” While she disappears to grab Zane’s car keys, I stare at Sam. “I don’t blame you,” I say honestly, “but it’s not fucking okay, either way.” Zane had warned me that Sam’s dad was a dick, but I didn’t anticipate Mega-Dick levels of cuntiness. I hadn’t expected to run into the man at all, truth be told. He was supposed to be the boogeyman: scary in your head but harmless in reality, not a psychopathic control freak.
Zane growls in frustration. “Iblame you, asshole!” Glaring at Sam, he huffs. “How did your dad find us, huh? What tipped him off?” His gaze travels down Sam’s body like he’s looking for a tracker. “What did you do?”
Sam’s jaw clenches. “I already told you. I didn’t answer his calls.”
“Bullshit.” Zane spits the word like venom. “There’s something else; another reason why he’s so pissed off. I’m alive after cutting his face, which means that he’s playing with us. It’s not efficient. He should have killed us and dragged you back with him.”
I say the first thing that comes to mind. “He’s a sick bastard who gets off on inflicting pain.”
Zane huffs as he considers this. “Then why did he go after Mercy’s family?”
“To hurt her.” I roll my eyes. That’s fucking obvious. “You’re thinking too hard.”
“You’re not thinking hard enough.”
“Sometimes,” I rumble, nipping Zane’s jaw, “you piss me the hell off.”
He purses his lips. “The feeling’s mutual.” After a moment, he sighs and rests his head on my shoulder. “But I’d really appreciate if we could leave. Take me to the car?”
Little moments like these remind me that Zane, for all his posturing about the magnitude of his inner strength and intelligence, likes to be taken care of as much as the rest of us. “You got it, babe.” I kiss his cheek. “Let’s get you patched up.” I glance at Sam before leaving. “What are you gonna do, Sam?”
Avoiding my gaze, Sam glares at the floor. “What I have to.”
Right.
I nod. “Okay. Call us once you know something.”
“Or have a plan,” Zane mumbles, “for killing your father.”
We don’t need a plan for that, but whatever. I’ll let my lover have something to focus on during our car ride across the city. Murder is a perfect distraction from his injury.
After spending the past week with Sam and arguing with him about Mercy for an entire month, walking away suddenly feels strange. My chest tightens like we’re friends going through a breakup, and I don’t exactly like it. Clearing my throat, I glance over my shoulder at him. “See ya, Sam.”
He blinks, coming out of a fog to return my gaze. “Um. Yeah. See you.”
Mercy appears right on time and falls into step behind me. “The roads should be clear because of the holiday—” She trails off once she realizes that Sam isn’t following us into the hall. “What’s wrong?” A divot appears between her pinched eyebrows as she takes a few steps back. “You’re not coming with us?”
Sam looks damn near mournful as he rushes forward and sweeps her into his arms. “I need to find out what leverage he has on your family.” Pressing his forehead against hers, heexhales slowly. “As soon as I do, I’ll run back to you, I promise.” Before she can protest, he slants his lips over hers and silences anything she’s about to say. They linger in this stolen moment for what feels like eternity, each beat of my heart ticking like a clock. He’s gentle when he touches her but no less insistent, determined to pour every ounce of himself into her body.
This isn’t a short goodbye to last a few hours. It’s meant for much longer—as long as it takes for Sam to complete his task.
When he comes up for air, he whispers something that I’m sure is meant for Mercy’s ears only, but Zane and I hear anyway.
“I love you, Mercy Morningstar. I won’t let anyone hurt our family.”
He has the balls to say what I can’t, and all of a sudden, I’m watching him run right past me to claim the final piece of Mercy’s heart.
The game is over.
Samson fucking Wright has won.
Chapter 24
Zane
