Page 11 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
Chapter Four
Ivy
Something definitely happened between Tony and Byron. Tony’s wound up so tight, the lighter mood from earlier gone.
What did Byron say?
He could’ve mentioned our kiss yesterday, but why? It not only went nowhere, it made me see that there’s zero chemistry between us. Heck, it’s one of the many things that tipped the scale in Tony’s favor, because I realized there won’t be anyone like Tony in my life.
Definitely not the thing Byron would want to flaunt if his goal was to upset Tony.
Regardless, it annoys me Tony and Byron are being so difficult and tense around each other. They couldn’t pretend to be civil. Does this mean I should slowly distance myself from Byron?
He’s been an honest friend, even if he does want “benefits” too. He accepted that I want to keep it platonic between us, but I wonder if he’s really okay with my decision. To be honest, I’m feeling awkward about the kiss. The fact that he wants me that way alters our friendship and how he’s going to interact with Tony, the one he might blame for keeping me away from him.
I steal a glance in Tony’s direction. His jaw’s still set tight. If this was before I learned about my true identity, I might’ve just sidled up and kissed him until he got over his crabby mood. But now… I’m not sure if I’m ready to be that playful and intimate with him.
Which means…I need to figure out where I’m going to put my things and sleep once we get home—the master bedroom Tony and I shared…or a guest room?
If I return to the master bedroom, then there’s the bed…and what it means—sex. Lots and lots of sex. Tony’s insatiable in bed and loves to lose himself in me as I do the same in him. Part of me misses that and wants to reclaim it.
But there’s another part that isn’t sure if I can just…get naked with him. It isn’t a question of attraction, because I am still painfully attracted to him. But fear and uncertainty drag at me every time I think I’m taking another step back toward full vulnerability and intimacy.
He lied about who you are.
To keep me safe.
From a danger that hasn’t manifested in the last nine years.
My mouth tightens at the thought. Sam lied about who I am too, and he sure as hell didn’t do it for my wellbeing. It’s too confusing to wrap my mind around the fact that two people did the exact same thing to me, but had very different motives.
At the same time, going to another bedroom would feel like a huge barrier to what we’re trying to accomplish. If I were in Tony’s place, I’d absolutely feel rejected. It seems like a shitty thing to do after telling him I’m back to make our relationship work.
Tony takes the suitcase from me as the hatch opens in the back of the Escalade. I stand next to him and watch him put it in. His expression is still serious.
I know he’s going to try his best. He said he would, and I don’t think he was lying. He was so broken up about the state of our relationship. I can’t hold his lie over him forever…or make him jump through hoops to prove himself. It would not only be awful and manipulative, but not what I wanted when I came back to him.
What I want is for us to get back what we had before Marty told me who I really am. If Tony and I are meant to be, surely, it’s possible.
Tony frowns and glances over his shoulder. I become aware of the sound of an engine growing closer.
It’s an SUV, and it’s accelerating, which is stupid. The driveway in front of Julie’s apartment building is one-way and circular. You have to slow down or you’re going to spin out.
Something’s wrong, though. And it occurs to me the car doesn’t have any lights on, even though it’s after nine in the evening.
“Shit!” Tony tackles me, away from the Escalade. The sudden yank is jarring, but he twists and wraps around me, cushioning me from most of the impact when we hit the ground.
Immediately behind us, metal smashes against metal. My whole body stiffens at the horrible sound, my skin prickling like a million ants are crawling over me.
We roll a few times. The world spins, air frozen in my lungs. We finally stop.
Adrenaline is pumping in my veins. I lift my head. The dark SUV is backing up, making a small arc. Its front grille is crunched, and the back of the Escalade isn’t looking so great either.
Rage erupts. Idiot! Probably drunk or texting! He better not run. He’s going to pay for—
The SUV shifts into a forward gear and shoots straight at us.
Rage turns to terror. There’s no time, no way, to get up and run. Tony covers me, his hand over my head protectively. I swing my gaze to his fierce eyes.
