Page 45 of Turn That River Red

It’s about ten minutes until midnight. Mercy told me that the church’s paramilitary is patrolling the campus, so I went sniffing around earlier today to find out more from Deacon Price, the one who’s supposed to be in charge. He let slip that they’re keeping to the periphery of the compound since they assume it’s an outsider coming in. Still, I keep some feelers out for the guards, but they aren’t nearby.

Movement from Mercy’s cabin. A shadow passes by the window, dark on dark, and I drift forward, moving with my light predator’s steps. I have my switchblade tucked into my pocket, just in case, but I doubt I’ll need it. This isn’t a killing night, assuming I keep my wits about me.

I move up to the little plastic picket fence that wrapsaround Mercy’s postage stamp yard, still keeping to the darkness. Her heartbeat thuds through the walls. She’s nervous. Excited. Frightened, too. My cock twitches, eager to be inside her.

A whisper of footsteps; Mercy steps out of the house through the front door, dressed in a black dress like I told her to wear, her hair up in those braids. For a moment, she stands on the porch, sweeping her gaze around like a frightened rabbit. She doesn’t see me even though I’m right in front of her, watching her, but I bet her skin prickles and the soft downy hair on her arms stands on ends. That’s the effect I have.

I move forward, letting myself be known. When she sees me, she jumps and slaps her hand over her mouth, smothering a yelp of surprise. Then she scurries across the yard, her footsteps thunderous.

“You frightened me,” she whispers.

Oh, she only knows the half of it.

“There’s nothing to be frightened of,” I tell her instead. “But we don’t want to dally. Come along.”

I grab her hand, her skin cold and clammy with anxiety, and pull her forward, leading her on a path only I can see—one that’s marked by shadows and darkness. While my heart is as calm as ever, hers is as loud as a thunderstorm, and I find myself squeezing her hand, trying to soothe her.

What is it about this woman, that I want tosootheher as much as I want to terrify her?

We make it to the bunker without incident. I keep my senses on the guards pacing around the fence, which allows us to cut across the center of the compound without being noticed. Although I’ll admit, when I finally see the bunker’s big metal door, I do feel something like relief. I really want to protect my last few hours with Mercy.

Mercy’s relieved, too. She sighs next to me when we get tothe door. “I can’t believe that worked,” she whispers. “I wassurewe were going to get caught.”

The danger’s exciting her. I can feel it. I can see it in the glassy shine of her eyes.

“Told you,” I murmur back. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

I punch in the code to the bunker. A split second later, the keypad turns green and there’s a quiet, hydraulic hiss as the door cracks open. I glance over at Mercy.

“Good girl,” I tell her, grinning.

The way she flushes with pleasure absolutely perfumes the air.

I push the door open and let her go inside first, glancing over my shoulder to confirm, one last time, that there aren’t any humans around to see what we’re doing.

“You can close the door,” she says. “It doesn’t lock automatically. And besides, the code will work to get us out.”

I peer through the doorway to find her standing in a narrow, dimly-lit hallway. “You sure about that?”

She smiles a little. “Yeah. I’ve been down here before, remember? There’s also a phone. We’d be able to call for help. Not that—” She tucks her hair behind her ear, looking away from me. “Not that I’d really want to do that.”

I pull the door shut, the clang echoing around us. She’s right; the door doesn’t lock, which is a relief. I don’t really like the idea of leaving it shut, but leaving it open is inviting trouble, too.

“See?” she says.

“We should probably work fast,” I tell her. “Do you know where the files are?”

“Notexactly?” Mercy gives me a shy, sheepish look, which just makes me want to bend her over and smack her on the ass, punishment for not being prepared.

“Not exactly?” I stroll up to her and curl my hand aroundher throat like I did this morning. She stares at me expectantly, her lips parted and her eyes bright. “So we’re going to have to go looking?”

“I have a vagueidea.” Her eyes glitter mischievously, and my cock jumps.

I had planned to wait until we were back at my cabin, the file secured, before I fucked her. Now I’m not sure I can hold out that long.

“Well, let’s see it, then. Your vagueidea.” I slide my hand away from her throat. “Lead the way.”

She does, taking me down the narrow metal hallway, the automatic lights casting everything in an eerie, yellowish glow. It tilts down, taking us deeper underground, and I wonder what the hell Gunner thinks is going to happen, building a structure like this.

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