Page 98 of The Price of Mercy
The six of us pass through the gate to the city cemetery, and my father hands each of us a flower from the bouquet. Walking the stone path reminds me of a night not too long ago when someone glimpsed a grim reaper stalking his prey, and a girl stumbled into a grave and fell into his arms.
I slip free from my brother’s arm and leave him to walk with my father to our family crypt. We moved my mother onto our property as soon as the ice melted, but our ancestors are laid to rest here. It’s good to pay our respects to the dead.
Matching my pace to my men, I hook one of my arms in Zane’s and another in Sam’s. They both slide their hands into mine, but Sam’s the one who kisses my knuckles. “Congrats, baby.”
“Wait until you see your present,” Kane murmurs, wrapping his arm around Zane’s shoulders. “You’re going to love it.”
“Don’t tell her.” Zane glares at our boyfriend. “You’ll ruin the surprise.”
I pull our foursome down a separate path. “Before we celebrate our future, I wanted to honor our past.” Sam quirks an eyebrow but doesn’t comment, while Kane and Zane quickly pick up on our destination. We round the bend and walk a waysbefore we come across the Carrera family plot. I lay my flower against a familiar tombstone. “Rest in peace, Alejandro.”
Sam squeezes my hand before laying his flower over mine.
But it’s Kane that surprises me, dropping to one knee in front of the grave and laying his palm flat to the earth. “Alejandro, I know you don’t need to hear this, but look after Maria. Treasure your time together, wherever the fuck you are. You deserve happiness.” He digs a hole with his fingers and sticks the stem of his lily upright so that, with a little effort, it stands straight. “I’m sorry if I took any from you.”
Zane helps Kane to his feet and kisses him softly. “You’re both happy now, and that’s what matters.” He tears off the long stem and tucks his flower into Kane’s shirt pocket. “He’s with the people he loves, and so are you.”
They share a moment that brings tears to my eyes, and Sam cups my cheek as he wipes them away. “What’s wrong, Mercy?”
I shake my head. “No, it’s… nothing’s wrong.” I laugh a little, feeling foolish for getting so emotional about people I never met. “I just wish that everyone here could be happy, too.”
“Who says they’re not?” Lacing our fingers together, Sam presses a kiss to the corner of my lips. “If what Grandma Star says is true, people hang around after they’re gone.”
“When the veil is thinnest,” I clarify. “I didn’t realize you’ve been taking notes.”
He puffs out a breath as he fights a smile. “Well, if I want the honor of your hand in marriage, Mercy, I should pay attention to the things your grandmother says. She could curse our union, after all. I’m still convinced that she’s part witch.”
“You—” My eyes widen. Nervous tingles trickle down my arms. “What did you say?”
“Your grandma. She’s a witch.”
“No, not that part. The other part.” A blush dusts my cheeks as warmth fills my heart. “What you said first.”
The corner of his lip twitches. “Oh, you mean the part about marrying you?” His emerald eyes sparkle in the flickering lamplight. “I already got your dad’s permission, so all I need now is your grandmother’s blessing. Do you think she’ll say yes? I didn’t get her anything for her birthday last year, so I don’t know if she still likes me?—”
I leap into Sam’s arms and squeal as he spins me around. “You can’t be serious!Sam!”
Kane’s voice rumbles nearby. “What did he say?”
“He said that he’s going to marry her.”
“Oh,hellno.Not without fighting me for it.”
Zane scoffs and grabs Kane by the nape of his neck. “You know the only person putting a ring on your finger is me.”
“Look at what you’ve done,” I gasp, smiling against Sam’s lips. “You’ve started a trend.”
“A bad one,” Zane grumbles, fighting to hold Kane back. He’s glaring daggers into the back of Sam’s head. “He’s gonna wanna marry both of us.”
“You’re damn right, I am!”
I double over with laughter, unable to stop the flow of tears. My heart soars as the three of them crack smiles, with Zane breaking first. He laughs as much as me, grabbing my wrist and stealing me away from Sam. “Mercy.” Once he catches his breath, he tucks a strand of hair behind my ear and pulls me in for a hug. “Congratulations. Although, I’m not sure what to congratulate you on anymore: a degree or a wedding.”
I bury my face in Zane’s chest and let him hold me. The steady beat of his heart quiets mine down. “I haven’t said yes yet.” I haven’t eventhoughtabout marriage before. I was never one of those girls who made finding love a priority.
Zane hums softly. “I guess we’ll see who the winner is. My money’s on Sam.”
Sputtering, Kane throws his arms over both of our shoulders. “Hey! Whose side are you on?”
