Page 36 of No Mercy
His voice drifts back to me—thick, commanding, a little rough around the edges. He’d whisperedgoodnightin a way that made it sound like a promise. I didn’t notice the accent at first, but when he said my name, there was no mistaking it.
How could I forget a voice like that?
Shaking off the thought, I head to the living room, flipping on the TV. A cheesy Christmas movie greets me, ‘A Christmas Prince.’ I smile, reminded that the holidays are around the corner. They’re my favourite time of year. Mandy pretends to hate it, but she always gives in when I insist on decorating the apartment. The tree goes up December 1st, no exceptions.
The movie ends just as a loud crash from upstairs shatters the calm.
A scream quickly follows.
My blood turns to ice.
“Mandy!” I scream, bolting off the sofa. The blanket falls as I sprint up the stairs, cold air biting at my skin, but I don’t stop. Her door is open. “No, no, no, please be there,” I whisper, my voice cracking as I burst into her room.
Her bed is empty, the sheets tangled and abandoned. The faint scent of her perfume lingers, sharp as if to mock me.My knees threaten to give out, but I force myself forward, my trembling hands gripping the door frame.
“Mandy!” I call again, my voice desperate as I move toward the bathroom. Grabbing the nearest object—a lamp—I hurl it around the corner with all my strength, bracing for impact.
Nothing.
It crashes to the floor, glass scattering like tiny shards of failure.
I let out a scream of frustration, spinning back toward her bed. My hands press against the sheets—they’re still warm. My eyes dart to the balcony.
The glass door is shattered, jagged pieces glittering across the floor.
Adrenaline surges through me, burning away the fear and replacing it with cold, focused determination. My heart pounds, not with panic but with resolve.
I step onto the balcony, the chill biting into my skin as I look out at the empty landscape. My fists clench.
Whoever took her… they’ll regret it.
They can run. They can hide.
But I’ll find Mandy. No matter what it takes.
CHAPTER 20
ANT
I pace my room,my thoughts heavy and tangled.
Axel’s plan hit me like a gut punch. When he first told me, I grabbed him without thinking, slamming him against the wall. I wanted to yell, to make him see how wrong this was, how much it would cost her. But no words came. They never do.
He didn’t fight back, just stared at me, calm and resolute, like he always does when he’s made up his mind.
I let him go, my hands trembling. He didn’t need my approval. Axel never does.
Now I’m alone, fists clenched, jaw tight, frustration clawing at me. I can’t explain what I feel, can’t argue or plead. I can only stand here, trapped in my own head, wishing my silence didn’t feel so suffocating.
The house is too quiet, the kind of quiet that tightens your chest.
I knew I wasn’t going to win the battle with him. He confirmed that when Carter and Gunnar arrived. As soon as it hit four AM, the front door swung open, and they both stumbled through, trying to be the first one in.
It didn’t take long for Axel to start pushing Gunnar away, dismissing him to the room next to mine, demanding he getsome sleep after the long journey. I watched as Gunnar walked toward me, heading for his room, fists clenched at his sides, but his chin held high. He gave me a quick nod before disappearing around the corner, shutting the door behind him.
The others try and believe he doesn’t know what goes on, but I’ve lost count of how many times he’s crept into my room after our meetings, demanding to know what was happening.
He knows we used to have a different life, but we’ve never told him the full truth.
