Page 11 of No Mercy

“No thanks needed, but you’re welcome.”

Gabriel’s attention to detail, his ability to know what I need before I need it highlights how far Austin and I have—had—fallen. He used to be the one to know what I needed when I needed it. But that was a long time ago. The man he is now is not the boy I fell in love with. I doubt I’ll ever see him again.

I drown my feelings in food and football until I’m too drowsy to keep my eyes open. Gabriel pulls me into his chest like it’s a normal occurrence. I go willingly. I’ll figure out my plan tomorrow. Where to go. What to do. “Tomorrow,” I murmur, my eyes already closed, sleep teasing my consciousness.

His chest ripples with a laugh as he softly rubs my back. “Sleep, Frankie. No more worrying tonight.”

BLARING MUSIC JOLTS ME AWAKE. “WHATthe—?” I scramble from bed as only a one-armed woman with a lame shoulder could—gracefully and without cursing. Hardly.

I stumble down the stairs, my heart beating nearly as loud as the music rocking the house.

“Gabriel, what the hell—?” My rant dies when I step into the den and take in a frantic Lili trying to silence the music as her daughter, Violet, sits on the floor, screaming with her hands pressed to her ears and tears streaming down her face. “I know how you feel, honey,” I say to Violet, knowing neither of them can hear me.

I pluck Lili’s phone from the dock, and the music falls to an acceptable volume, continuing to play “Cowboy” by Kid Rock on her phone. “What the fuck, Liliana?”

She scoops up her daughter. “It’s okay, Violet. Mommy is so sorry.” She silently apologizes to me with a quick glance as she soothes her whimpering daughter, who’s buried her face in her mother’s sizable chest—motherhood has been good to her.

I stop the song, my ears still ringing, and look up to find Lili on the couch with Violet attached to her breast, peacefully nursing. “Well, I wish all upsets could be calmed so easily.”

Lili smirks. “Believe me, I’ve soothed Donovan many times this way.”

“Uh, yeah, I didn’t need to know that.” I hand Lili her phone, not even missing mine one bit. I’m happy to be ignorant of any text or phone calls I might have received from Austin. Or worse, the knowledge he hasn’t even reached out at all. “What are you doing here, and what’s up with the musical-rock-the-house wake-up call?”

“Sorry. I was trying to find a new entrance song for Gabriel. His next fight is in a few weeks, and you know he’s a big Kid Rock fan. So, I thought…” she trails off, rubbing the tears from Violet’s sleeping face.

My heart pangs at the sight. That could have been me. Thatshouldhave been me with Austin’s baby. We’ve been together for nine years. We should have been married with babies by now. Granted, we were busy growing up. But still, nine years is a long time to find myself in the situation I’m in now. Husbandless and my arms barren of children. This is not the life I imagined for myself. It’s not the life Austin promised me.

Anger and regret try to fight their way to the surface. I can’t deal with this now. I stand and cringe from the pain. Meds. I need my pill. “Want something to eat? Drink?” I round the couch and head to the kitchen.

“Gabriel left breakfast in the oven.”

I stop in my tracks. “He cooked?” Again?

She slowly nods, surprised by my surprise. “He was finishing up as we got here.” She unhooks Violet, patting her lightly on her back. “He wanted me to tell you he’ll be training most of the day, but he’ll pick up yourthingson his way home.”

“Things?” I shrug and continue to the kitchen, knowing Violet still has another side to drain. And she will, sleep be damned. That girl caneat.

As I set everything on the kitchen table, Lili steps into the kitchen. “Have you never had Gabriel’s breakfast?”

I scoff, “No. He’d rather kill me than cook for me.” I regret those words the second I say them. He has been cooking for me. But I was referencing the man he was two days ago, before Austin went psycho on my ass and then AWOL.

“I wouldn’t count on it.” Lili sits, loading her plate with egg casserole, bacon, and biscuits. “Damn, that man can cook.”

“He makes a mean beef stew too… And an egg sandwich.”

“He’d rather kill you, huh?”

I point to my shoulder. “Before this? Yes.”

She sets down her fork, tenderness filling her eyes as she takes in my sling. “How are you? I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. Donovan convinced me you didn’t want any visitors, but when Gabriel called last night, I was all over coming over today to keep you company.”

“I’m fine.”

She shakes her head. “You’re a horrible liar.”

“I’m not a horrible liar.” I am. Unlike Austin, I’ve never been good at it. When I do, I feel guilty, and it must show on my face. It’s one trait I didnotget from my father.

“Yeah, you are. You’re not even good at lying to yourself, saying Gabriel would rather hurt you than feed you. I take this spread here and the food he made you yesterday as evidence to the contrary. Not to mention the fact he’s brought you into his home to care for you.” She takes a bite, then adds, “He even missed a day of training, and you know that man is hardcore when it comes to his training.”

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