Page 107 of Wolf

Shuddering helplessly, I heave into the sink before turning on the water and washing the evidence away.

When I feel a breeze at my back, I stiffen, but when I look up, I’m alone.

I’d like to hide in here forever, but we have to go, which is why I march back into that room militantly and falter because they’re both gone. I have no explanation, but I’m not about to look a gift horse in the mouth and turn when Mercy busts through the door.

Her sad smile is back in place, and I try to explain what she already knows but she stomps past me.

In the room, she won't look at me and I’m too weary to argue.

Miriam is waiting by Maddox’s car to say goodbye.

After another tearful series of hugs, we leave. The closer we get to the park, the more my urgency grows. If our parents stayed until the end, we should be fine, but if they didn’t…

I’m creating excuses in my head when Maddox stops at the curb by the park.

“Thanks,” I say and pull back the seat for Mercy to exit.

She keeps going without waiting and I call out, “Mercy!”

Which she completely ignores. Shoot.

I go to close the door and Maddox says, “Lilli?”

When I lean down and look inside, he holds out an envelope. “What is it?”

”Just take it,” he says, and I grab it from his hand before stuffing it in my bra. I’m uneasy about Mercy walking through the park alone and waving my thanks, I rush after her.

We make it home with plenty of time and I retreat to my room where I’m dumbfounded to find that Maddox gave me an envelope of money. A lot of money.

Wolf

The party is in full swing when I walk away. If I stay any longer, I’ll just be a buzz kill and that’s the last thing I want for Duke’s special day.

When Lilli arrived earlier with Mercy in tow, I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was already a risk allowing Lilli but to bring the youngest Abernathy girl was foolish.

Despite my antipathy toward the lot of them, Mercy with her pretty blue gaze and mischievous smile brought a twinkle to Miriam’s eyes.

I don’t pretend to understand these women, but I acknowledge that there’s is a rough road and sometimes when you have few choices, the ones you make are the worst of all.

For the first time since I met Lilli, the vibrant innocence was gone, and her wide-eyed look of wonder replaced by a weariness that pinched my chest. Further, she looked tired.

Perhaps living the safe, clean life she insisted upon wasn’t all that she hoped for.

On the way back to my room, I grab a bottle of whiskey. At the base of the stairs, I pause when Maddox says, “You’re a real fucking tool. You know that?”

Clenching my jaw, I stare at the wall. Don’t do it. Do not fucking do it.

“Big fucking man taking it out on her. You don’t deserve her, man,” he sneers.

Dropping the bottle, I spin around and shove him back. He smirks, raising his arms wide, and I bark, “Oh? Who does deserve her? You?”

Maddox cocks his head, his brows slam over his eyes and he growls, “Well, it sure as shit ain’t you.”

That’s when I rush him. He grunts when I tackle him and wraps his arms around my waist. We roll on the floor while I pound my fist anywhere, I can make contact. Returning the favor, his fist rebounds off my jaw and I grunt.

If this fucker thinks he can take what’s mine…fuck.

When I rear back, I take another blow to the head before Joker roars, “What the fuck are you doing?”

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