Page 34 of No Mercy
Her lashes rest against her cheeks, a stark contrast to the faint blush dusting her skin. The gentle curve of her lips draws my focus, and I find myself wondering what dream would pull my name from her lips. Was it the memory of tonight? Or something deeper, something I’ll never truly deserve? I straighten, the battle raging in my mind. I should leave—leave before she wakes up and regrets everything that happened tonight. But a part of me, the part that’s always hoped for more, keeps me here, lingering in the quiet, savouring this stolen moment.
With a last lingering look, I grab my bag and head toward the balcony. The night air greets me as I climb over the ledge, the faint chill biting at my skin. My phone dings, breaking the stillness, and I pull it out to see a text:
Flynn: Ten minutes away. Mandy’s safe.
I let out a shaky laugh, relief washing over me. If Mandy’s home safe, I won’t have to face Ant tonight. And God knows, his “silent but deadly” demeanour could rival a damn assassin’s.
The climb down the tree is slower than usual, each step carefully placed to avoid snapping branches. As I reach the bottom, the low rumble of an approaching car draws my attention. I dart toward the tree line, hiding just as Flynn’s headlights cut through the driveway.
I watch as he circles the car to open Mandy’s door. Her laughter floats through the crisp night air as she slips her hand into his. My lips twitch into a smile despite myself. Flynn’s a good kid. Better than me, anyway. Their hushed voices are lost to the breeze as they walk toward the porch. I edge further intothe shadows, giving them their privacy. But when Flynn steps closer, his hand brushing Mandy’s cheek, I can’t help but mutter under my breath, “Come on, Flynn. Do it already.”
Finally, he kisses her, and I look away, letting them have their moment. Pride and an odd ache settle in my chest, twisting together as my thoughts drift back to Eva. She’s upstairs, alone, completely unaware of the mess I’ve made of myself over her.
A soft click signals the door closing, and I take it as my cue to leave. I follow the trees toward the road, sticking to the shadows until I spot Flynn’s car. It pulls up beside me, and he steps out, motioning impatiently for me to get in.
I climb into the passenger seat, glancing at Flynn’s grin. “I take it that things went well?” Flynn leans back against the headrest, still grinning like a lovestruck idiot. “Axel, man…she’s incredible.”
I smirk, starting the car and steering us down the winding road. “She’s really that great, huh?”
“She’s better than great,” Flynn says, his voice filled with something I can’t quite name. “She’s… she’s something else. I didn’t know someone like her existed.”
I chuckle, shaking my head. “Listen to you, all smitten—like a kid who just got his first Lego set.”
He laughs, giving me a playful shove. “You’re just jealous.”
The banter fades into comfortable silence, and Flynn glances over, his curiosity returning. “So, how’d it go with Eva?”
I raise an eyebrow, letting a slow smirk spread across my face. “That’s for me to know, brother. But let’s just say… she won’t be forgetting it anytime soon.”
Flynn groans, connecting his phone to the car’s Bluetooth. The opening notes ofMiss Meby Mohombi blast through the speakers, and Flynn starts singing along, his tone-deaf voice making me wince.
“Seriously?” I ask, but he just grins, turning it up louder.
It’s going to be a long drive home.
The moment we step into the apartment, Flynn starts stripping off his clothes, leaving a trail of chaos across the living room.
“Wow, who knew we’d be getting a privateMagic Mikeshow tonight?” I tease, leaning against the door frame with a smirk. He pauses mid-step, turning to flash me a cocky grin. “Oh, ha ha, very funny,” he retorts sarcastically, tossing his tie in my direction. “Joke’s on you—I’d make a fantastic Magic Mike.”
I scoff, crossing my arms. “You’ll have to compete with Carter first.” Flynn’s eyes narrow playfully as he steps closer, arms outstretched like he’s challenging me to a duel. “Compete with Carter?” he echoes with exaggerated seriousness. “Please. I’d out-dance him in my sleep.”
“Oh yeah?” I raise an eyebrow. “Care to prove it?”
He snatches the remote off the table and presses a button. The opening beats ofSexy Can Iby Ray J fill the room, and before I know it, Flynn is launching into a ridiculous dance routine. Somehow, despite the absurdity, he keeps perfect rhythm with the music, parading around the room like it’s his personal stage. I’m doubled over in laughter when movement catches my eye. Turning, I spot Ant standing in the corner, his mouth slightly open as he takes in the scene. He glances between me and Flynn, his stoic expression slowly melting into a grin.
“Don’t ask,” I say, shaking my head as Flynn continues his over-the-top performance. Ant chuckles quietly, his amusement showing in the slight crinkle of his eyes. I cross the room and shut off the stereo, cutting the music. Flynn groans dramatically, clutching his chest like I’ve mortally wounded him.
“Party pooper,” he mutters, reaching for his phone, probably to find another song. But the moment he looks at the screen, his laughter vanishes, replaced by a cold, serious expression. The shift is instant, the air in the room growing tense. “What is it?” I ask, stepping closer to him.
He doesn’t respond right away, his face pale as he stares at the screen. Peering over his shoulder, I see a photo—a shot of him and Mandy from earlier tonight, their hands intertwined and Mandy laughing at something he said.
Another message comes through before I can fully process the photo:
I hope you had a nice goodbye.
Rage ignites in my chest, and I snatch the phone from Flynn’s hand. “Who the hell sent this?” I demand, my voice sharp. Flynn stumbles backward, sinking onto the sofa. “I… I don’t know,” he murmurs, his voice barely audible.
Ant is beside me in an instant, drawn by the tension. His gaze locks onto the phone, his sharp eyes narrowing as he studies the screen.
