Page 51 of No Mercy
I can’t helpbut stare at the man lying next to me, the man who’s haunted my dreams nearly every night. And now, he’s here, in front of me.
I should be completely in this moment, letting the peace of the flowing river and rustling leaves seep into my soul. But there’s a nagging feeling I can’t shake, an itch in my mind that won’t go away.
“Where are you in that beautiful mind of yours?” Axel’s voice is low but soft, drawing me back to him.
I glance at him, hesitating before I speak. “I never imagined my life would turn out like this. You changed it, Axel. You changed me.”
He doesn’t open his eyes, but a small smile plays on the corner of his mouth as he listens.
“Do you regret it?” he asks quietly, careful not to disturb the tranquillity around us.
Do I regret it? The answer is easy, yet the worry pressing at the back of my mind won’t let me rest. “No. Not a single bit.”
I try to believe it, but my thoughts keep drifting back to Mandy. Her words echo in my mind, a fragile reassurance I can’t seem to hold onto.
I’m fine, Eva. I promise I’m safe. I’ll be back soon, okay? I just have some things to finish.
I told myself I’d trust her, but something doesn’t feel right. We’ve always done everything together, told each other everything to keep each other safe. And now? I can’t shake the feeling that she’s hiding something.
From the corner of my eye, I see Axel turn his head toward me, his gaze steady. “There’s something else bothering you,” he says, his tone gentle but knowing. “Is there anything I can do to help?”
I force a small smile and shake my head. “It’s just someone I care about. I’m worried about them.”
His mouth opens, like he wants to ask more, but he changes his mind and lets the conversation drop.
My thoughts drift to earlier, back to when he found me in the forest, ready to claim his prize. I never intended to remove his mask then. I told myself I didn’t want to see him again. But when I saw him clearly for the first time in weeks, something shifted. Like a page turning to a new chapter I’m not sure I’m ready to read.
How can someone I’ve met only once have such a hold on me?
And now, here we are, lying side by side as though we’ve known each other for years.
I glance at Axel again, my heart aching at the sight of him. The way the setting sun filters through the trees, casting golden light on his face, softens his features. He looks so peaceful, so at ease.
How can I leave him?
But how can I stay?
The thought fuels the frustration already simmering inside me. Sitting up abruptly, I wrap my arms around my knees. Themovement catches Axel’s attention, and his eyes flicker open, narrowing slightly as he watches me.
“You’re thinking about it again, aren’t you?” he says, his voice calm but certain. “The thing that’s worrying you.”
I hesitate, then nod. “I can’t help it. I need answers. I need to make sure everything is okay.”
Axel sits up beside me, mirroring my posture. There’s a tension in his body now, something flickering just beneath the surface. “Then let me help.”
My head snaps toward him, startled. “No. I have to do this alone.”
His jaw tightens. “I get that you’re worried, but think about it. If somethingiswrong, wouldn’t it be better to have someone there with you? Someone who can help if you need it?”
I shake my head, anger rising. “It’s not about needing help, Axel. I’m more than capable of?—”
“Protecting yourself,” he interrupts sharply, his tone losing its softness. “You think I don’t know that? Trust me, Eva, I know.”
His words catch me off guard, and for a moment, I don’t know how to respond. He leans closer, his eyes locking onto mine, holding me in place.
“I know you think you have to do this alone,” he continues, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “But you don’t, Buttercup. Let me be there for you. Let me help.”
Part of me wants to believe him, to trust him with this. But the way he’s looking at me—like he’s holding something back, like he knows more than he’s saying—makes my chest tighten.
