Page 15 of Begging for Mercy
“What, you don’t think I can handle it?” Pretty Boy tosses his hand out towards me. “Mercy, I can handle him, trust me. I’ve taken on bigger bastards than him.”
Chuckling, I resist the urge to grab my crotch and show him what he canreallyhandle. “As touching as this is, I’ll have to decline. This is a solo operation.”
Pretty Boy’s eyes snap to me. “You have a partner. She deserves one too.”
So shedidtattle. I can’t be too upset about it—I’m loving this new side to her. “As long as you know what’s at stake…” I trail off, wondering just how much he knows. “But she did promise to fall in love with me.”
She gasps, having the audacity to look scorned. “I did not!”
A shadow crosses Pretty Boy’s face. “Tell me the rules of the game.”
“No, you’re not joining?—”
“Mercy.” He turns away from me to grab her chin and force her to meet his eyes. “Let me help you.”
I watch their interaction with keen interest. What’s their relationship? Friends? Exes? Lovers? Whatever it is, his tactic works. She nods at him and wraps her arms around his neck to pull him closer. Then, she whispers in his ear.
My cell phone burns my thigh, overheating from the length of the call or, more likely, from Zane’s fury. He may act calm and collected on the outside, but he’s a ticking time bomb waiting to explode. I haven’t been able to light the fuse after all these years, but if he’s as interested in Mercy as I think he is, this could be what pushes him over the edge. We’ve never done a double-homicide, and that could be enough to force his hand. He’ll have to join in on the fun.
I’m just not sure how Pretty Boy will change the terms of the game.
At any rate, he’s clearly displeased by the time Mercy’s done sharing secrets. He’s boring a hole in her head with the intensity of his stare. To her credit, she’s unflinching despite the pressure.
“You can still back out,” I offer. “I’m more than happy with Mercy as my only prize.”
“Shut up.” He finally breaks Mercy’s gaze to glare at me. “And let me in on the deal.” Stepping in front of Mercy, he pushes her behind him. “If I get Mercy to fall in love with me?—”
Zane curses loudly from my pocket.
“Then neither of you can touch her.” He lifts his chin. “That’s my win condition.”
I stare at Mercy’s wide-eyed shock, enjoying the way she freezes on the spot. “So it’s a race?” I shake my head, knowing that Zane is going tohatethis. “And what about you?” I nod towards Pretty Boy. “Shouldn’t we have a little fun with you, too?”
“Not interested.” He clenches his jaw. “I’m only here for Mercy.”
“Fine,” I concede, sighing. “Whoever gets her to fall in love with them first has the honor of deciding her fate. But when you fail—because you will, or you’d already have won her heart?—”
Pretty Boy flinches.
“You both die.”
Chapter 6
Sam
The entire driveback to Mercy’s house is silent. Neither of us speaks. I can’t say what’s on her mind, but I know what’s on mine.
Mercy lied to my face.
She told the truth, sure—eventually.But if we hadn’t run into Reaper in the cemetery, I doubt she would have come clean. She would have let me go on believing that all she had to do to win this twisted game was figure out some psychopath’s real identity, when in reality, she’s supposed to make him fall in love with her.
I don’t know who’s more fucked in the head: Reaper for toying with her, or me for thinking I have a chance at beating him.
There’s no way that Mercy will ever fall in love with me. But damnit—I have to try, don’t I?
We agreed last year that we were going to remain friends. Not friends with benefits, not emotional rebounds, butfriends.People who look out for each other. Who stick around to let them know when we’re being assholes or when we need to stand up for ourselves. To tell the truth, no matter how much it hurts.
And Mercyliedto me.
