Page 19 of Mercy & Her Devils

Suddenly, Fletcher’s gaze slides over my shoulder, catching on something on the floor. Then he lets out a gasp, and dread curdles through the bond.

“Fuck, no, tell me that you didn’t.” He lets go of my arms and runs to his side of the bed.

He ducks down to rifle his hands desperately through his files, before his eyes land on the photograph of Gabriel that’s lying face up and staring at us both like an accusation.

I take a hurried step backward and can’t hide my guilty expression fast enough.

It’s more frightening than anything else, when Fletcher’s face crumples. “You looked at them.”

It’s not a question. It’s a statement.

“You left them out,” I reply. “Why would you leave out confidential files?”

“Because I trusted my Omega.” He’s gone unnaturally still now, and it’s freaking me out. “In an entire year, you’ve never broken that rule. If I’d remembered that these were here and hadn’t been in such a damned mess when I left the house, then I may have thought that tonight was the night you would.” He slams his fist against the bed with a howl. “Fuck.”

“I’m sorry.”

I’m not.

But I’ve had a long time to think and scheme, alone here in Ace Hall. I know the words that Fletcher wants to hear and I know where I always planned to run, if I truly needed to.

I stealthily glance around to the bedroom door, edging toward it.

In his rage and distress, Fletcher didn’t lock it behind him, when he came in.

Can I reach it, before he catches me?

Are any of the Beta servants still up to help Fletcher, or do I have a chance to make it out of the house and across town, even though I’m only wearing this nightie and no shoes?

Can I reach the Omega Society?

I take another step.

One more.

A floorboard creaks.

“I can’t hide this like everything else,” Fletcher’s head is still twisted away from me as he mutters to himself. “If it’s discovered that I have, then... I’ll probably lose my role at the Institute. Mother will…well, you know. The President is paranoid. If he knew that there’d been no consequence to you from your pack…then he’d execute you. It’s treason to look at these files.”

Treason?

Execute me?

In my panic, I can hardly draw in a breath. My vision is blurry and spotted with gray.

Yet I don’t regret looking at that file. I don’t regret my first rebellion and mission.

Even though it was an epic fail.

Yet I’ve learned that Gabriel is in danger. Whatever happens to me, I must be able to use that information to help him.

This has to all mean something, right?

I take a third step, even though my knees feel like buckling.

Almost there.

Please…

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