Page 41 of Mercy & Her Devils

Lark — almost — smiles. “It was worth a try.”

“Hey, I get it. Trick the newbie. I’m an intern…probationer…shit, I don’t know or care. Just call me the new guy or yours.” The Beta straightens, before slinking another step towards us in a way that’s sinful. My stomach flutters on the yours. I can’t tell if he’s joking. “If you want my official name, then it’s Antonio. But my friends call me Toni.”

I stare at Antonio, trying to take in his sunny babble.

If the bars weren’t in the way, I’m pretty certain that he’d have offered his hand like we were co-workers on his first day in a cubicle office job.

No one’s spoken to me — like I’m a real person — since I was bonded to Fletcher.

I’m not sure anyone apart from Lark has ever spoken to me like that.

Even Thomas and Gabriel always treated me like I was precious or treasured, an Omega to be protected and sheltered.

As an Omega, part of my dynamic loves that shit. On the other hand, there’s also part of me that’s brought to life by this golden retriever of a Beta, who talks about MMA in one breath and in the other introduces himself, as if we’re friends.

Lark looks like he’s struggling not to laugh. “You do realize that we’re prisoners. Just a small pointer to help you out, since you’re a newbie. Another pointer, we’re usually, as a guideline, meant to call guards either sir or by their surnames.”

Antonio scrunches up his nose. “Pfft, fuck that. I’m nobody’s sir. What are you, like thirty-five? I should be calling you sir.”

Now, it’s my turn to smother my laugh on my palm, as Lark splutters in outrage.

“I’m twenty-nine, pup,” Lark hisses. “But by all means, call me Sir.”

I don’t expect the way that Antonio blushes, ducking his head.

Then he glances underneath his lashes at me. “Are you okay, mia amata?”

Lark pointedly steps in front of me. “She’s fine. She has me. Now, are you simply here for your school work experience or…?”

Lark is good at revenge.

I grin, when Antonio’s head snaps up.

He pushes his silver hair back from his eyes. “I’m twenty-one. Well played, old man.”

Lark growls, but I can tell that it’s playful.

Apparently, so can Antonio because he winks. “Who wants some treats?”

Confused, I watch, as Antonio drops to sit cross-legged on the other side of the bars. Then he gestures at Lark to join him.

Lark shakes his head, crossing his arms.

Antonio sighs. “In case you haven’t worked it out, there are hidden cameras in the cell to monitor you.”

Startled, I stare around at the cobwebs that hang from the ceiling and the grimy concrete corners of the cell. I can’t see anything but then, it wouldn’t be difficult to hide the cameras amongst the dirt.

I tell myself that I don’t care.

But I do.

Lark’s jaw clenches. “I hope that the bastard has enjoyed watching me piss and oh yes…” He looks up at the ceiling. “…kiss your ex.”

So, Lark is possessive.

Antonio snorts. “That whole badass sticking it to the Man thing you just did, while totally hot, was wasted because I know how to hack in and put the cameras on a loop. Nobody can see what we’re doing now.”

Why would Antonio do that?

---