Page 25 of Shot For Mercy

I watch as Cole takes his sharp scalpel and cuts off the tip of another one of the cop’s fingers. This is number three. Which means something is wrong with Cole. He’s laying it on thicker than usual. Maybe it’s got nothing to do with me, or maybe it has everything to do with me, but he looks like he’s going to fall over from exhaustion at any moment.

Cole looks my way, holding his scalpel up in offering, and I shake my head. I use all my strength to keep myself from floating over to him. Refusing to gravitate toward him like my body is screaming to. But my body doesn’t know what’s best for me, so instead, I use my brain to stay put.

He’s speaking Italian to the cop, who probably doesn’t understand one word coming out of his mouth, which means he’s becoming unhinged with every passing minute. I need to put a stop to this and take Cole home. He needs to sleep this off. I haven’t seen him this way since Matteo was shot.

“Stop!” I growl when Cole slices off the next fingertip. He tenses at my words, dropping his scalpel onto the small table he requested earlier. The cop isn’t even screaming anymore. He’s passed out cold. “Kill him.”

“No,” Cole snaps, refusing my demand to kill the cop. “I’m not done yet.”

“The fuck you’re not.” I get closer to him, and a desperate part of me wants to close the distance between us completely and take him in my arms. “You’re done when I say you’re done.”

Cole throws his head back and laughs. “That’s rich coming from you,” he grits out, and I raise an eyebrow.

“You sound a little crazy, Cole?—”

“Oh, you think this is crazy?” He chuckles, the sound deep and growly. It lights up my insides, even though I know it shouldn’t. “You haven’t seen shit.”

“I’ve seen enough.” I sigh. “Come on, let’s just get out of here.”

“No.” Cole’s shoulders slump, and I know he’s probably about to give in. “He has to die.”

I pull out my gun, cock it, aim, and shoot the man in the head before Cole can even speak again. He gasps and turns around stiffly, eyes narrowed on my face.

I shrug. “We’re done here.”

“So, that’s it?” he growls. “You just call the shots, and I have to do whatever the fuck you want?”

I chuckle, but it holds no humor. I’m trying to be gentle with him; instead, he’s being a dick. I know he’s upset with me but now is not the time to deal with it. “I’m Don, Cole. You’ve never had a problem following orders before. What’s so different now?”

“I’ve swallowed your cum—that’s what’s different.” I narrow my eyes on him as he stalks closer. But even now, I see how drained he is. The fight is leaving him soon.

“Plenty of people have done that.” I look right into his clear-blue eyes as I say it. “If they can get over it, then so can you.”

“Give me a name.” He grins, and I can see how that would be a horrible idea. They’d probably end up at the bottom of the Hudson River.

“Fuck off,” I tell him. “Don’t be a dick and let’s go home.”

“I’m not going anywhere withyou,” he replies, raising his chin defiantly. “I’m going upstairs. Don’t expect me to come home tonight.”

I. See.Red.

Yet I take in a shaky breath and try to keep my wits about me. Somehow, I manage it. “Oh?” I chuckle, grabbing onto his arm and tugging him toward me. “And where will you go then?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Cole mutters.

“You can’t leave like this.” I try to get through to him, but even I see how futile that is. “You’re tired.”

“Nothing a dick in my ass can’t fix.”

My eyes blur with anger for a brief moment, and he looks triumphant. Like my jealousy brings him happiness. “Fuck?—”

“Anyone’s dick will do,” he whispers. “Just not yours.”

A stab to the gut would’ve been more pleasant than those words, but I know I deserve them. I’ve been an asshole, and the only thing I care about right now is getting him home safe. Which is why I nod and grip his arm harder, all but dragging him up the stairs.

The sound of the music intensifies as we open the door to the basement, and Cole immediately tries to give me the slip. Except I’m onto him, and now I have two bouncers redirecting both of us to the back entrance, where my driver is waiting for us in the blacked-out SUV.

We drag Cole into the vehicle, and I instantly relax when he lies back against the seat. His eyes close, and his lips part as the softest of snores come from him. He’s covered in blood, his entire face red, and when I look down, I can make out his shredded knuckles in the darkness.

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