Page 57 of Mercy & Her Devils

“Let’s go, before we’re caught.” Lark meets Antonio’s gaze. He adds, more softly, “Thank you.”

Then he dives to kiss Antonio, brief and butterfly light.

Lark sweeps me up into his arms in a bridal carry. He climbs up into the dark interior of the van that stinks of motor oil.

I have one final glimpse of Antonio’s silver curls, as he turns to slam the van doors shut, then I’m surrounded by darkness.

CHAPTER NINE

Devil Estate

Iclutch onto Lark as the SUV lurches on the mountain road. Lark grits his teeth and hugs me closer.

We’re lying in the dark side by side on the black leather seat underneath the softest blanket that I’ve ever felt. It’s deliciously warm and smells of eucalyptus, added with a second scent: heather.

I keep rubbing my cheek against the blanket, and Lark is doing the same, although he’s trying to hide it.

A couple of miles away from the Institute, Antonio dumped the van, helped us to stagger down back alleys away from the sight of CCTV, before jumping into this second vehicle, a silver Rolls-Royce Cullinan.

Antonio wasn’t making empty boasts about his pack being wealthy.

Well, unless he stole the car.

I bet he stole it.

Then he told us to keep hidden underneath the blanket, while he drove us out of the city and up into the Blue Ridge mountains.

Bored, Lark shifts on the seat. “Are we nearly there yet? Wherever there is?”

“Almost,” Antonio’s cheery voice calls back. “Are you thirsty? Do you need a juice box as well, little Omega? But I don’t want you asking us to pull over again because you can’t hold it, until we get home.”

I try not to laugh.

“If you weren’t driving, then I’d show you who was little,” Lark growls.

“Looking forward to it.”

I blush at the image that conjures.

So does Lark.

“You know, you could have chosen a less conspicuous car for our rescue,” Lark grumbles.

“Take that back.” Antonio lowers his voice, and I’m certain that he’s talking to the car. “The mean but adorable Omega didn’t mean it, baby.”

Lark rolls his eyes. “I did.”

“Look, my baby is flashy but like me, she both looks good and has hidden depths. She’s armored with bulletproof glass and can withstand grenades. All the best mob bosses have them. Also, I didn’t wake up this morning and know that I was rescuing you. Snatching you was one of those impulsive, opportunistic things like betting my Alpha brother that I could beat him at MMA, hacking into the FBI database, skinny dipping, or cock warming both my Alphas at once. You know what it’s like.”

“Both your Alphas?” I gasp.

Also, is he trying to make me wet?

“Did you beat your brother?” Lark asks, focusing with an insane level of willpower on the MMA and not the cock warming.

Antonio chuckles. “My brother wiped the floor with me, but in the mafia, you need to show that you have balls. Betas are normally bottom of the pack, you know? But after that, I was allowed to train properly. There was respect that a thirteen year old had done that.”

Thirteen…?

---