Page 21 of The Price of Mercy
But what she’s doing to my relationship with Kaneispersonal… and unforgivable.
I won’t let her take him from me.
The front door to Mercy’s house creaks open, and my world narrows to the two square feet where Mercy is standing. If it weren’t for the all black ensemble and the way she’s tucked delicately beneath Sam’s arm, I might not recognize her. The bold, black eyeliner has been washed away and replaced with puffy, pink rims around her eyes. The platform from her combat boots is missing, leaving at least an inch or two off of her normal height. Her raven hair is down but damp, clinging to her shoulders like vines inked beneath her skin. Sam releases her while another man—Mercy’s father—slips her arms into a knit sweater. A scarf dangles from her neck, resembling a noose that’s been cut free, while an invisible one tightens around mine.
I can’t breathe.
Something sharp digs into my chest, radiating pain throughout my body. I gasp in a breath, but it does nothing to ease the hurt. This feeling is different than the burning I’ve grown accustomed to whenever Mercy is around. It’s almost… cold. My head hurts as I try to dissect this new discomfort. What is it? What’s the trigger?
And how the hell do I make it go away?
Kane’s iron grip suddenly clamps onto the back of my neck. His breath is warm on my cheek as he steps in front of me and blocks Mercy from view. “Get in the car, Zane.” Not giving me time to protest, he pushes me away from Sam’s truck and to my car, nimbly pulling open the passenger door and pushing me down into the seat. Once the door slams shut, he presses the lock button on the key fob and walks away.
My heart sinks, joining the rest of my body in silent agony.
It’s rare for Kane or I to upset each other. If anything arises, it’s quickly resolved on account of how easily Kane forgives and forgets. He doesn’t like to live with regrets or pent-up frustrations, so he lets shit go and moves on. But the flip-flopping between passive and active aggression is new. He’s not normally one to hold a grudge, especially if whatever is wrong can be resolved.
We’re in new territory, and I don’t like it.
Not one bit.
Chapter 9
Sam
Ice cubes crackin my glass as Kane pours me a drink at the bar overlooking the lake. The room, which I assume used to be an office or library on account of the built-in shelves, has been transformed into a full-service drinking den, equipped with enough liquor and seats to support a family of alcoholics. My stomach growls, but I clink my glass against Kane’s and drown my hunger in booze.
Today’s been fucking weird.
I glance at the lump of fabric nestled into a window nook. Wisps of Mercy’s dark hair peek out the top of the blanket, and she’s kicked her boots off and left them on the floor behind her. She hasn’t said a word since we stepped outside her front door. I was hoping that a change in scenery would help.
“This was a bad idea,” I mutter, unstopping the bottle and pouring myself two fingers as soon as I down the first. I’d known about the cabin vacation since I’d read Mercy’s text messages, but I hadn’t expected her to want to go after everything she’s been through. Everythingwe’vebeen through.
I’m ready to strangle Zane every time I see him.
Kane groans. “Don’t start that shit. You and Zane are killing the vibe.”
“He didn’t want to come either?” I scoff. Yeah, of course he didn’t, the fucking coward. “What exactly did you say to him when you left last night?” All I’ve gotten from Kane today is a quick text sayingpack a bagandno phones.Mercy didn’t have a phone to relinquish since hers disappeared at the party, but I’ve left mine in my glovebox. There’s no way in hell I’m traveling anywhere with these men without a fucking cell phoneora gun, but Kane didn’t mention anything about firearms. I’ve got one stashed in the middle console of my truck and another in my bag. I convinced Mercy to carry a switchblade in her boot.
Not that it does her any good when it’s out of reach on the floor.
A glimmer appears in Kane’s icy blue eyes. “That’s confidential.”
Leaning in, I glance at the doorway to make sure Zane isn’t eavesdropping. Even if I can’t see him, the clang of pots and pans in the kitchen assures me that he’s still cooking dinner. I meet Kane’s eyes. “Nothing is confidential when it comes to Mercy’s safety. What did you tell him? What did he say?” There’s no excuse for what he tried to do to Mercy, but I still want to hear what reasons he came up with, no matter how pathetic.
I’ll ask the psycho himself if I have to. Get him alone. Fuck him up a little. Make him talk. I clench my fist as frustration hits me in waves. It’s one thing to attack Zane when his back is turned, but if Kane is here, I doubt he’ll let me wander off with his brother. Hell, Zane wouldn’t go anywhere with me voluntarily. Getting a punch in—much less answers—will be impossible unless Kane cooperates.
“I said enough.” Kane claps a hand on my shoulder. “Relax, Wright. Have another drink. No one’s holding a gun to your head.” He busies himself with making a cocktail, something fruity red on ice, and brings it to Mercy. He leans over her andwhispers something to get her to take it, smiling as she plants the bendy straw between her lips.
Her meds don’t mix well with alcohol. She knows this. I know this. Kane, however, might not. I spin the bottles on the bar around and read the labels for what he put in her drink. The most damning ingredient is sparkling wine. I’m checking the alcohol content when Kane returns, a smirk playing on his face.
“Spying on me now?” He tuts. “I thought we were almost friends.”
I say the most obvious truth that comes to mind. “You want to kill me.”
Kane hums. “Don’t hold it against me, Sam. There are only a few people I wouldn’t kill.” His gaze wanders back to Mercy as she puffs on the window and draws a spider in the condensation with her fingertip.
“What would it take?” I stare at the amber liquid in my glass so that I don’t have to watch Kane go soft. It’s subtle, the way his posture shifts. He does the same thing when he’s near Zane, relaxing his shoulders, turning his torso in the other’s direction, stealing glances whenever he isn’t looking. Kane gets this goofy little smile on his face, and his eyes turn into liquid silver.
