Page 54 of Burned in Stone
“Let’s go home,” I say.
As we get back on the bikes, I catch Bones watching me.
“What?” I ask.
“Just glad you didn’t do anything stupid.”
“Day’s not over yet,” I mutter, but I’m already feeling more in control.
We ride back to the clubhouse in formation, and this time when Mercy’s arms wrap around me, I can breathe again. Gabriel can play his games, make his threats.
But at the end of the day, Mercy comes home with me.
And that’s all that matters.
19
MERCY
Back at the clubhouse, the main room looks like Christmas threw up everywhere—boxes stacked haphazardly, tinsel already escaping from containers, and Tank wrestling with an inflatable Santa on a motorcycle.
“That thing’s not coming inside!” Ginger’s voice carries from across the room where she’s directing chaos like a drill sergeant. “I don’t care if Duck bought it for Emma, it’s terrifying!”
“It’s festive!” Tank protests, the Santa’s head stuck in the doorframe.
Cash guides me toward the women, his hand a constant pressure against my spine. Poppy’s on the couch with Rose sleeping against her chest, while several hang-arounds are pulling decorations from dusty boxes. Andi’s twins are ‘helping’ by pulling tinsel out faster than anyone can hang it, and Adam is toddling around with a strand of lights draped over his shoulders.
“Ginger,” Cash calls out. “Need you to keep Mercy close for a bit.”
Ginger takes one look at my face and her expression shifts from playful to protective. “What happened?”
“Gabriel showed up at the lawyer’s office,” Cash says quietly. “With backup.”
“That fu—” Ginger catches herself, glancing at the kids before turning to one of the hang-arounds. “Can you girls take them out of here for a while? Give us old ladies a minute to talk?” The girl scoops up the twins with practiced ease, bribing them with the promise of cookies in the kitchen. Adam squeals and charges after them, lights trailing. The moment they’re all gone, Ginger turns back to us.
“Tell me,” she says, voice low so only we can hear.
I breathe once. Twice. “He was waiting outside the attorney’s office.”
“Fucking asshole. He still breathing?” She nods at Cash’s still-healing knuckles.
“Didn’t touch him,” Cash says, but his jaw is tight. “Wanted to. Bones and Steel stopped me.”
“Smart men. With everything going on lately, we don’t need to give Summit or the city any more ammo,” Ginger says, leaning in. “No matter how satisfying a broken nose might be.”
“I’d like to give that guy a hell of a lot more than a broken nose.”
Ginger presses her lips together in understanding before she shifts her attention back to me. “You OK, honey?”
“I’m fine,” I lie. Because I’m not fine. I’m rattled. Gabriel called me a whore in front of everyone, and for a second—just a second—I was right back there. Back in Ailington, apologizing for things that weren’t my fault, shrinking myself down to fit into whatever box he needed me in that day.
But then Cash kissed me. Claimed me right in front of Gabriel, made it clear whose name I’m wearing and why. And the difference between being Gabriel’s wife and being Cash’s old lady has never felt more stark. One made me small. The other makes me brave.
Still doesn’t mean I’m fine. Just means I’m learning that ‘not fine’ doesn’t have to mean ‘falling apart.’
Cash turns to Steel, who’s been keeping busy untangling Christmas lights. “You’re staying here. If anyone so much as looks at her weird, you let me know.”
“Yes, sir.” Steel straightens, suddenly all business despite the tinsel in his long hair.
