Page 133 of Mercy & Her Devils

We’re wearing heavy raincoats, and in the silence apart from the sirens, Kai moves to pull up Lark’s hood and mine, after his own.

I peer out at Kai.

It must be almost time to set the plan in motion.

“Give it a few more minutes,” Kai says. “We don’t want the rain to entirely wash away your scents.”

“Are you certain that your dad won’t simply stick to protocols? Anyone chasing us will have to come through the house, but what if it’s a whole team of cops?” Lark asks.

I shake my head, feeling sick. “Dad loves a hunt. The only time Dad really talked to Thomas and me, when I was growing up, was when he wanted to boast about how he’d brought down one of his enemies. He gets a twisted thrill out of ruining people. So, he does it personally.” Then I pale. “Shit, what if he drags Thomas along with him to try and teach him the business?”

“Would Thomas be part of something like that?” Kai’s gaze darkens. “I’ve heard about him from my solider. He sounded like a good man. But then, he’s an Alpha—”

“My twin has no choice about working for the Mayor and his pack.” My eyes smart with tears. “And he’s the man who taught me how good an Alpha can be. He hates everything that Dad does. But he’ll be sent back to the Alpha Center, if he stands up to him again. What if it breaks him?”

“Being in the Institute didn’t break us.” Lark’s voice is low and earnest. “Your brother survived once. If he’s anything like you, then he’d survive again.”

“We’ll get him out too, lass,” Kai promises. “When this is over, we’ll try and extricate your twin from that toxic pack.”

My throat is thick with tears. “Thank you.”

“He’s your brother and that makes him pack to me. I love my Omega brother. If he was in danger, then I’d do anything for him. Now, tell me more about your bastard of a da. Will he definitely chase us by himself?”

“He’ll be watching.” I steel myself. I’m certain of this, and it scares me that when I analyze it, the pack that I grew up in is more criminal than my new pack of actual outlaws. “When he thinks that it’s a single Alpha and two Omegas, then he’ll chase us himself with only Thomas and Fletcher. I doubt that he’s told more than a dozen of his corrupt men about this op. He won’t have contacted other law enforcement with the leaked information that Antonio’s contact gave them. This is personal for both the Saint and Ace packs. If I’m captured here by anyone else, then I could tell them about Fletcher’s mistakes. It will ruin the packs’ reputations.”

Both Lark and Kai growl.

“You expect them to try and kill you.” Lark turns to me, snatching my gloved hands in his. “Why didn’t you…? I’d never have agreed to…”

“I expect them to try,” I say, softly. “I don’t expect the Devils to let them succeed.”

“Well said, lass.” Kai’s gaze is thoughtful. “Since they’re hunting us, there’s only one route out this way. That’s why we’re taking it. They’re going to think that we’re cornered. But when would they try to strike?”

I furrow my brow in thought. “Fletcher sees Omegas as all the same: pretty but dumb. In his studies and training manuals, he didn’t think that we were good at being outside.”

Lark snorts. “Not entirely wrong in my case.”

“He’ll see us and think that we’re in a total panic. As you’re the Alpha with us, you simply need to look like you’ve lost control over us.”

“In this storm,” Kai points out, “that won’t be hard to do.”

“Leave the door banging in the wind,” Lark adds. “Then it’ll be their Alpha brains made dumb with the aggressive instinct to hunt us.”

And not in a sexy, primal way.

“Shouldn’t we at least take a weapon?” I bite my lip.

Kai crosses his arms. “I am the weapon.”

Except, he’s more of a bookworm than a warrior. I don’t want to hurt his feelings by pointing that out.

Kai beckons Lark and me toward the exit. Then he cups both of our cheeks for a moment.

“I love you.” There’s a fierceness to Kai’s words that catches me off guard and makes Lark blink. “Whatever happens today, beloveds, my life and Soul has been enriched more than you will ever know for having met you and the blessing that was sharing your heat.”

“We’re not going to die.” Lark bares his teeth. “We’re going to win today.”

“Aye,” Kai agrees. “But know that I would die to make sure that you win.”

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