Page 112 of Mercy (The Sins Trilogy 3)
“Blackwood,” I say, standing up and pacing, my voice a bit colder and harder than I’d like, ugly, old resentment and awkward hope still churning in my gut.
“This is Byron Pearce.”
“How the hell did you get my number?” I demand, the ragged edges of my emotions ready to rip at him.
“Does it matter? Now stop emoting and listen. I have Marty at Julie’s apartment.”
“What?” I couldn’t have heard that right.
“Marty Peacher. Rizzy’s cousin.”
“I know who that fucker is,” I snarl. “But what do you mean you ‘have him’? And why are you calling me about it?”
“I caught him hiding in Julie’s apartment. In her bedroom closet, to be specific.”
What the hell? He’s a greedy idiot, but a Peeping Tom? Really? “Is everyone okay?” Marty could’ve done something to Julie and Ivy and everyone else who went out for the fitting. On the other hand, maybe not, because Bobbi’s with Ivy. And Byron’s far more physically competent than Marty will ever be.
“Why wouldn’t they be?”
I can hear a careless shrug in his voice.
“He ostensibly came here to get ‘what belongs to him.’”
“What? Did Julie borrow mon—” Wait. Ivy told me Marty demanded she hand over something Sam gave her. Does he think Julie’s the one who has this thing now? “Did he say what it is?”
“No. But I figured you might want to ask a few questions. I don’t like the way he lurked in my sister’s closet. For all we know, he could’ve been the driver in the damned SUV that almost ran you and Rizzy over.”
The same anger and rage storm through me at the mention of the fucking driver. Byron doesn’t say it, but I know anyway. He cares about Ivy, and he’s doing it for her.
“I’m coming right now,” I say, and hang up.
As I grab my keys, I consider calling TJ in, but change my mind. He doesn’t get that many days off, and he’s going to be even busier than usual over the next two weeks until our honeymoon at a private villa in Mexico. He deserves a day to fully decompress.
Outrage builds quietly but steadily as I drive my blue Audi to Julie’s apartment. Just what the hell is Marty’s game now? I know Peacher & Son isn’t doing well with Sam gone, but breaking and entering? Or did he think he would surprise Julie and…what? Play “I have a hostage” with Ivy?
I park my car and go up to her unit. I take a moment in the elevator to bury the anger deep inside, where it’s cold and controlled. Not making any hot-headed mistakes, not when Ivy’s safety is concerned.
Byron opens the door and lets me in. He’s dressed weekend-casual in a button-down shirt, collar undone, and light summer slacks. There seems to be some kind of red stain on his shoe.
“Where’s Julie? Is everyone okay?”
“You asked that already.” Byron gives me a funny look. “She’s out with Rizzy. Didn’t you know?”
“Then what are you doing here?” Byron has his own place.
“Mom asked me to drop off some special pancake mix after breakfast. She thought Julie could lose some weight before the wedding, especially with Ryder Reed attending.”
Geez. And I always thought Mrs. Pearce was sensible from the stories I’ve heard from Milton. “She knows Ryder’s married, right? With a kid?”
Byron snorts. “She’s hoping Julie hooks up with one of Ryder’s single friends or cousins or something.”
“I don’t think he has any single cousins left,” I say distractedly. I’m not here to talk about Ryder and his family tree. “So where’s the bastard? And is that blood on your shoe?”
“Yes. And the bastard is upstairs in Julie’s bedroom.”
Unbelievable. I shoot him a reproachful look. “You left him up there alone?”
“What do you think he’s going to do? Jump out the window? Besides, Julie doesn’t keep anything that can be used as a weapon. And I broke him pretty well already.”
