Page 73 of Begging for Mercy
One of the freshmen ladling the drinks takes offense and tosses a full cup at me, unaware that I’m an upperclassman in his own frat. The alcohol arcs through the air, but the man’s aim is shit. Bright red punch splashes over not one, not two, butthreegirls in the room. One of whom being my date.
“Shit! Sorry, bro!”
The two regulars smack him hard on the arm and back of his head, but Mercy stands there like a deer in headlights. Anger pulses through my veins as I walk over to him and smack the cup out of his hands. “Apologize.Now.” Grabbing his shirt collar, I drag him in front of my girlfriend and push him down onto his knees. “Tell her you’re sorry for being an idiot.” I don’t even know this kid’s name, but he damn near soils himself.
“I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you.” He glances at the red stains on her skirt. “Or ruin your dress.”
“That’s coming out of your wallet,” I tell the Freshman, smacking his shoulder. “Get a mop and clean up your mess.”
“Yes, sir!”
While he runs away, I rub Mercy’s ruffled skirt between my fingers. The punch is sticky as it dries. “I have something youcan change into upstairs.” Regret hits me square in the chest, and I realize how foolish I was to bring her here. “I can take you home.”
Mercy hooks her arm over my shoulder and drags me down to her height. Brushing her lips over my ear, she murmurs, “The last place I want to be right now is home. I’m fine.” She presses a quick kiss to my cheek. “It’s just a dress.”
“A beautiful dress,” I counter, hauling her against me. “I hate that it’s ruined. I’ll buy you another one.”
“It’s one of a kind.”
That’s even worse.
She lingers near my face, blushing as she glances at my lips. “Take me upstairs?”
Gladly.
Lifting her into my arms, I grin as she squeals, clinging to my neck as I carry her across the house. We catch eyes all around the room, a few knowing frat members lifting their drinks orwhoopingas we pass, while some of the women whisper amongst themselves and glance around the room. One of them waves her hand overhead, but I don’t speak girl code, so I shrug it off and keep moving.
Despite people parting the sea for us to pass, it takes a while to reach the stairs. By then, sweat trickles down my back, sticky with beer, slick with sweat, but I hardly care because of how lucky I am to have Mercy in my arms. I take the stairs two at a time, eager to lock her away in my bedroom for the night.
“Can you reach the key in my pocket?”
Mercy pats my pockets and shoves her hand inside one of them, but she comes up empty. “You don’t have a key.”
I definitely had one earlier.
Frowning, I set her down on the floor and gently push her aside. “Someone might be in there,” I admit slowly, hating the way Mercy’s face falls. “Don’t worry, I’ll check. Wait here.”
She grabs my arm to stop me. “What if it’s dangerous?”
I blink at her. “This is a frat party, baby, not a horror movie.” Cupping her cheek, I press a gentle kiss to her lips, sighing at how soft and sweet they are. Damn, I’m gonna need another taste. “But I love that you care.”
A chorus of shouting echoes from downstairs, with a group of men chantingReaper, Reaper, Reaper!
Mercy’s eyes widen, and she glances over her shoulder at the stairwell, likely thinking the same thing I am. If Reaper is here, there’s only one person he’s looking for, and it sure as shit ain’t me.
“Hide,” we both say in unison. I grab Mercy’s arm and start to open my bedroom door, only to pause partway inside. A group of girls giggles as they bound up the stairs, heading for the upstairs bathroom. I don’t have much of a choice; we either step inside my bedroom and face whoever is in there—not Reaper, clearly, so chances are, I can take them in a fight—or we head back downstairs and try to sneak out the back.
“I’m looking for a girl named Mercy!”
My blood runs cold as a chorus ofupstairs, man, go get her!clashes against,she’s with someone! I’m free, Reaper! Pick me!
Heavy footfalls sound on the stairs seconds later, and I push open my bedroom door. Hands grab me from inside, and I’m pulledhard,stumbling blindly into the darkness.
Mercy shrieks, clawing at my arm as we’re suddenly pulled apart. “Sam!”
A girl I don’t know laughs behind me in the hallway. “We’ll take care of her, honey!” Shoes scuffle across the floor, and Mercy’s muffled screams fill my ears.
“Yeah, we’ll make sure Reaper breaks her in real good.”
