Page 18 of No Mercy
A fake giveaway for a two-week luxury spa retreat? She fell for it immediately. The moment we told her, she started squealing and jumping around like a kid who just unwrapped the perfect gift. Carter was the only one who let her kiss him in gratitude, though. Always the soft one, that guy.
But even with Rachel out of the way, there’s a heaviness sitting in my chest. The kind that no amount of planning or execution can shake. I need to get to Providence, but the thought of Eva… of what I might face when I finally get close to her again… it churns in my gut like a storm.
I tap the comms button on my helmet, letting music flood into my ears.Heat Wavesby Glass Animals kicks in, grounding me in the here and now.
Turning the key, my bike purrs to life, its steady hum vibrating through me. It’s a comfort I’ve come to rely on—one of the few things that can quiet my mind. I pull away from the curb, the city lights blur into streaks of gold and red in front of me while I weave through the streets, letting the rhythm of the engine and the music sync with the beat of my pulse. Approching the freeway, I push harder, the wind whipping against me like a challenge.
A pack of bikers flies past me, their engines roaring in unison. For a second, I hesitate. But then a grin breaks across my face, and I shift gears, the adrenaline surging through my veins like fire.
“Game time,” I mutter, chasing after them.
I catch up easily, sliding into the pack. One of the riders nods at me, a silent acknowledgment, and I nod back. For the moment, we’re brothers of the road, tearing through the night as one. But even as I lose myself in the rush, my thoughts circle back to her. To Eva. To what’s waiting for me in Providence. The road is mine for now, but she’s the destination. She always has been.
The hours blur together as I race through the city streets and freeways, the adrenaline fuelling every sharp turn and burst of speed. The pack of bikers I’d joined earlier has thinned out, some peeling off while others continue the thrill ride. I nod to the last rider, signalling my exit, and their engines roar in response, a deafening farewell.
Taking the next turn, I head back to the safe house. Ant should have something on the guy Eva was talking to by now. The image of him wrapping his arms around her still lingers, clawing at my chest like a splinter I can’t dig out. Whoever he is, I’ll make sure he knows not to touch her again.
I barely have time to think when flashing lights appear in my rear view mirror. Police. The sirens are faint against the music in my helmet, but the red and blue glow grows brighter.
Shit. Not tonight.
Leaning forward, I push the bike to its limit, the speedometer climbing past 140. My focus narrows as I weave between cars,the engine’s growl echoing in my chest when I push the bike to its limit. I quickly glance back trying to see if I lost them, but instead, I turn to see two cruisers on my tail. Great.
The freeway exit looms ahead. At the last second, I veer off, the bike skimming the barrier as the road curves sharply. The city lights fade into shadows, the quieter streets offering a chance to lose them.
For the next ten minutes, every turn feels like a gamble, my pulse pounding in sync with the engine.
Finally, I pull into the safe house garage, the heavy door sliding shut behind me. Killing the engine, I sit for a moment, letting the adrenaline drain away. My hands tremble slightly as I remove my helmet, sucking in a deep breath. Pulling out my phone, I check on Eva. The tracker’s red dot blinks steadily at her new location, and relief washes over me. She’s safe. At least for now.
The sound of running footsteps snaps me back to reality, and the garage door flies open.
“Welcome home!” Carter yells, leaping onto me like a damn linebacker.
“Fucking hell, Carter!” I shout, stumbling back into my bike. I barely manage to catch it before it tips over.
“Sorry, Axel,” he says, grinning unapologetically. “Did you bring food?”
I can’t help but laugh at the absurdity. “No, I didn’t bring food. But we can order something.” By the time I grab a beer from the fridge and turn back around, Carter’s already gone. Typical. He’s probably upstairs, spreading takeout menus across the table like a kid on Christmas morning.
In the living room, my suspicions are confirmed when I spot Carter buried in menus, muttering about what he wants from five different places. Flynn’s passed out on the couch, snoring loud enough to rattle the windows.
My eyes scan the room and I notice Ant isn’t here but my bedroom door is wide open. I peek inside and find him at my computer, headphones on, completely engrossed. Creeping closer, I glance over his shoulder. He’s battling a blue dragon inRunescape. Seriously?
I tap his shoulder and immediately step back, hands raised in surrender. Last time I startled him, I ended up with a broken nose. He whips around, glaring at me as he tosses his headphones aside. “Well, aren’t you a ray of sunshine,” I tease, pulling a chair up next to him.
Ant sighs, his expression screamingannoyed younger brother energy,and turns back to the monitor. With a few clicks, the Government Database pops up on the screen. He pulls up a file, the nameAdam Jennersonstaring back at me. “Good work,” I say, scanning the details. “Can you check when Adam started working at CRB?” Ant’s fingers fly across the keyboard, and within seconds, the information pops up. “Knew you were my favourite brother for a reason,” I joke, nudging him lightly.
A faint smile flickers across his face before he slips his headphones back on, shutting out the world again. That brief moment of connection, however small, eases some of the weight on my shoulders.
A loud bang from the living room snaps me out of it. Gunnar’s voice booms, followed by Carter shouting something incoherent.
Great, what now?
“Chinese for dinner?” I ask Ant as I stand. He nods without looking up, already lost in his game again.
Back in the living room, I find Gunnar and Carter locked in an arm wrestling match at the table. The wood creaks under the strain, and Gunnar’s gritted teeth tell me he’s not letting up anytime soon.
“Yes!” Gunnar roars, slamming Carter’s hand down.
