Page 19 of No Mercy
“Rematch!” Carter yells, his face flushed with determination. Gunnar shakes his head, smirking. “Three wins in a row, Carter. Give it up.” But Carter doesn’t give up. Instead, he launches himself at Gunnar with a war cry, sending them both crashing to the floor.
Shaking my head, I grab the Chinese takeout menu from the table and dial the number. The woman on the other end recognises me immediately.
“Yeah, it’s Axel Ashford,” I say. “The usual, please.” After confirming the order and address, I drop onto the couch next to Flynn, who’s now awake and watching the chaos.
“Twenty bucks says Gunnar wins,” Flynn says, not taking his eyes off the wrestling match.
“You’re on,” I reply, tossing a twenty onto the table. We both laugh as Carter lands a punch to Gunnar’s ribs, only for Gunnar to flip him onto his back with a triumphant shout.
It’s chaos, sure, but it’s our chaos. And for now, it’s enough
CHAPTER 11
EVA
After three hoursof wrong turns, bathroom stops, and fast-food runs, we finally pull into the driveway. Mandy passed out halfway through the trip, the mix of greasy fries and vodka knocking her out cold. That left me alone with my music, a couple of Red Bulls, and the endless stretch of highway scenery.
Now, staring at the house in front of me, I feel a strange mix of exhaustion and awe. It’s… breathtaking. Trees line the long driveway, their branches arching overhead like a natural tunnel, shielding us from the outside world. The house itself is a vision—red brick with an old-world charm that reminds me of something out of a storybook. Soft lights illuminate the exterior, casting a warm glow against the night sky and guiding us to the front door.
For a moment, I forget everything. Why we’re here, what we’ve left behind.
Next to me, Mandy stirs, her eye mask sliding off as she blinks at the scene before us. “Are we here?” she whispers, her voice groggy but laced with curiosity.
“Yeah,” I reply softly, still taking in the sight. She squints at the house, scepticism tugging at her tone. “Are you sure this is the right place?”
“I’m sure,” I say, more certain than I feel. My voice comes out quieter than I intended, heavy with the exhaustion of the past few days.
I shut off the engine, and silence floods the car. It’s unnerving, making the air between us feel too thin, too exposed. “Alright, let’s go,” I say, pushing open the door and stepping into the cool night air. The chill jolts me awake, a sharp contrast to the stale warmth of the car. I stretch my legs, wincing at the stiffness from the hours of driving.
Behind me, Mandy groans as she gathers herself, her movements slow and reluctant. “I swear, next time I’m navigating,” she mutters, shooting me a sleepy half-smile. I laugh, shaking my head. “Sure, Mandy. Like you’d do any better.”
I pop the trunk and grab our bags while Mandy takes in the house, her hazy expression giving way to something softer. “It’s… kind of beautiful,” she says, her voice quieter now, like she doesn’t want to disturb the moment.
“Yeah,” I agree, slinging a bag over my shoulder. “Let’s just hope it’s as nice on the inside.”
Locking the car, I lead the way up the path to the front door. The closer we get, the taller the house seems, looming above us like it’s sizing us up. “Is this the part where we get murdered?” Mandy whispers, her voice so sudden it makes me jump.
“Jesus, Mandy!” I hiss, clutching my chest as my heart races. She giggles, bumping her shoulder against mine. “What? It’s got that wholecreepy mansionvibe going on.”
Rolling my eyes, I watch as she pulls the keys from her pocket and unlocks the door. It swings open with a low creak, revealing an interior that takes my breath away.
“Holy shit,” Mandy gasps, stepping inside.
I rush in after her, curiosity getting the better of me. The sight that greets me is straight out of a movie. The grandentrance hall stretches before us, dominated by a sweeping staircase that splits at the top into two separate wings. Above us, a chandelier sparkles like a cluster of captured stars, its light reflecting off the polished marble floors. Shadows dance around the room as the cold night air seeps in through the open door.
Mandy and I exchange a look, both of us wide-eyed. The weight of disbelief hangs heavy between us—this place is more than we ever expected.
Before I can say anything, Mandy grabs her bag and bolts toward the stairs. “I’ve got dibs on the master bedroom!” she shouts over her shoulder, her excitement echoing through the grand space. “Are you kidding me?” I call after her, but she’s already halfway up, her footsteps a rapid sound against the marble. I sigh, shaking my head as I watch her vanish at the top. Of course, she’d claim the best room without even pretending to ask.
Standing alone in the entrance hall, I take one last look around. The house feels massive, almost alive with the way its shadows shift and its silence hums. For the first time in days, I feel something close to peace, a small pocket of calm in the chaos of everything we’ve been running from.
It’s fleeting, but I’ll take it.
It took me 30 minutes to find the room I wanted, Mandy claimed the left wing of the house to herself, leaving me with the right. Pushing open the door at the end of the corridor I’m greeted with a bedroom that resembles the same size of our apartment back home, immediately stopping me in my tracks, my breath catching in my throat.
The master bedroom is absolutely stunning. A massive king-sized bed sits against the far wall, covered in white sheets. I walk towards the bed, slowly running my fingers over, admiring the bedroom in front of me. Pillows line the top of the headboard just waiting for me to dive into them right there and then. Thesoft light fills the bedroom with warmth as they hang from the arches, high above me.
I glance toward the windows at the far end of the room, and I can’t help but stare. A wall of glass opens up to the most incredible view of a park below, its lush green trees and winding paths stretching out in every direction as the lights along the path twinkle, giving it a sense of mystery against the darkness.
