Page 89 of Mercy & Her Devils

“You may be a trained soldier, and we’re only Omegas,” Lark says with mocking emphasis. “Yet we’re the ones who were locked inside the Institute. If this revenge includes taking down that terrible place (and I truly hope that it does), then we’re the ones with the knowledge. We’re your secret weapon.”

“Plus, I know Fletcher better than anyone.” Excitedly, I squeeze Gabriel’s hand. “Everyone underestimates an Omega. That’s going to be their fatal error.”

Almost no one respects my input or opinion

Thomas and Gabriel were different.

We lay together dreaming of a future, when we could be in a pack of equals.

Please let him want that still, now that he’s a man.

I bite my lip, looking at him expectantly.

Gabriel’s lavender eyes brighten. “Smart thinking.”

I let out a breath of relief.

Gabriel hasn’t changed. He still respects me.

“You’ve seen the Sheriff in a way that not even a spy could have,” Gabriel continues. “The authorities don’t know that Antonio is part of the Devils. Even if they guess that he is, they’ll imagine that you’re shattered by the broken bond. They won’t know that we have inside knowledge. But you’re still the strong woman who dreamed of being an astronaut. We’re going to fly to a new world together. Because you can tell us about the Sheriff and your dad, the Mayor. They think that they’re hunting us, but we’re going to hunt them.”

“I may have a new kink for military men.” Lark smirks.

Gabriel’s eyes blaze with fire, as he lets go of my hand and turns to Kai. “I’ll check the security systems, while you finish breakfast.”

Then a thought strikes me, and I become ashen.

When I snatch at Gabriel’s sleeve, he turns back to me. “Wait! They are hunting you. Toni said that your name’s meant to be a secret, right?”

Gabriel’s brow furrows. “I deserted. I’m in deep shit with the military. If they also knew that I was the leader of the Devils, then I’d be on FBI’s most wanted list. Plus, using the mysterious Lucifer as a cover works well on social media because it stirs up theories on either side, and that gets everyone debating about who I am and why we’re doing this. It’s a culture war. Young people are arguing all over the country that we’re justified to fight back. Some of them think that I’m a secret rock star, politician, or even Anonymous.”

“But you’re going to be executed,” I burst out.

“Wow, I didn’t have you pegged as a pessimist,” Antonio says.

I stroke Gabriel’s sleeve, trying not to lose myself in his warm cinnamon scent that’s like life. “It’s why Fletcher broke the bond. He was talking cruelly every day about the Brok, and I just snapped. I knew that I had to do something. So, I looked in his classified files, which he keeps on his bedside table. He thinks that I’m a stupid, pretty Omega. He never dreamed that I’d try to help the resistance. He spent a long time conditioning obedience into me, but I stood up to him.”

Gabriel cards his fingers through my hair, before tightening his hold. “It seems that you’re already a resistance member. We should have secret handshakes or something. I’m so fucking proud of you. But I’m not surprised. You were always the strongest out of Tom, me, and you. I don’t know if you realize it, but you could lead armies.”

Me?

I flush because Gabriel has no idea about my panic attacks or how close my legs are to buckling just from standing here.

He doesn’t know the damage that Fletcher and Broken Bond Syndrome have done to me.

Can I be the woman that he used to know?

I can try.

I will be.

Because all my childhood, I wanted to protect Gabriel and my brother.

All my childhood, I wanted to prove that Omegas could achieve anything that they set their mind to.

They could even fight dragons.

And now’s my chance.

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