Page 20 of No Mercy
“Oh you’ve got to be kidding me!” I whirl round to see Mandy standing in the doorway staring at the bedroom around me, a look of disappointment on her face as she storms towards the bed throwing herself on top of it. “AND THE BED?!” She shouts shortly followed by a groan. “Hey, that’s my bed. Move it,” I say, scooping up one of the pillows that had fallen onto the floor and tossing it at her. She snatches it out of the air before it makes contact, a mischievous grin spreading across her face. “Can we switch?” she asks, pouting her lips dramatically. “No way. You picked first. No backing out of it now.” I cross my arms, standing firm, even though I can’t help but smirk at her exaggerated plea.
She sighs, rolling her eyes but scoots over to make room. I move toward the bed, feeling the mattress instantly give beneath me as I lay down next to her. It cradles me, sinking me further with each breath, causing a wave of exhaustion to consume me. “Oh yeah, definitely no backing out now,” I mumble, my eyes already starting to close as the weight of tiredness settles in. I hear her soft laugh beside me, but it’s distant, like it’s coming from somewhere far away as sleep quickly pulls me under.
I wake up to sunlight streaming through the windows, its warmth creeping across the bed, and the faint smell of coffee drifting into the room. Blinking against the brightness, I spotMandy perched on the edge of the bed, scrolling through her phone. She’s already dressed, her hair wrapped in a towel. “What time is it?” I mumble, my voice groggy as I sit up, my muscles protesting every movement.
She glances over her shoulder with a grin that’s far too cheerful for this hour. “Good morning, sunshine! It’s 7:38 a.m.,” she announces, her voice filled with energy. I groan and rub my eyes, wondering how she manages to be this lively in the mornings. Mandy points toward the bedside table, where a steaming mug sits waiting.
“Coffee’s ready. Come on, get up. We’ve got things to do, people to follow!”
Reluctantly, I reach for the cup, the warmth seeping into my hands and filling me with a small sense of peace. “Yeah, yeah,” I mutter, taking a sip. The rich taste jolts my senses awake, even as my body remains sluggish. Mandy disappears from the room, leaving me to finish my coffee in silence, reminding me that I have just 40 minutes before we need to leave.
The soft chirping of birds catches my attention, drawing my gaze to the window. The view that had captivated me last night is even more breathtaking in the morning light.
The park sprawls out in front of me, bathed in golden sunlight. My eyes trace the path nearest to the house, leading to a white fountain where birds flutter and play in the cascading water. A man sits alone on a bench, facing the house, and I find myself wondering what’s on his mind. Beyond the fountain, clusters of trees frame the park, providing both privacy and serenity. To the right, a tennis court sits empty, while to the left, a small car park holds two cars and a black motorbike. Vibrant flower beds add splashes of colour throughout the landscape, each one more picturesque than the last.
I make a mental note to explore the park later before glancing at the clock on the window sill. Only 25 minutes remain.
The suitcase I abandoned last night lies by the bed, and I throw it open, rummaging through the mess in search of something to wear. Clothes land in every direction before I finally settle on a white flowy top and leather leggings, tossing them onto the bed.
“Makeup, makeup, makeup… where are you?” I mutter, my frustration growing as I dig through the pile. Nothing. “Fuck.” Time is running out as I pull on the clothes and gather my hair into a quick bun, digging back through my suitcase, I spot my sunglasses buried at the bottom.
“You ready?” Mandy’s voice carries from the doorway, where she leans casually, inspecting her nails. “Yes, I’m ready,” I reply, meeting her gaze. Her laughter bursts out before she can stop it.
“Well, thanks for the confidence boost,” I snap, grabbing my bag from the bed. “No! I’m sorry, it’s just…” she trails off, struggling to contain her amusement. Rolling my eyes, I shove past her, unwilling to entertain her teasing. Mandy scrambles to catch up as I make my way to the staircase.
“You didn’t let me finish,” she says, her voice almost pleading.
“Finish what? Laughing at me?”
She pulls out a small mirror, holding it up for me to see. My reflection greets me with smudged mascara, dark circles beneath my eyes that give me an undeniable resemblance to a panda. “Great. Panda eyes,” I mutter, slipping my sunglasses down to hide the mess.
Mandy’s heels click against the marble stairs as I head down, not bothering to wait for her. By the time she reaches the door, I’m already in the car with the engine running. “Alright, speedy, you could have waited,” she huffs, catching her breath as sheslides into the passenger seat and fastens her seatbelt. I glance at her with a smirk, putting the car into gear. The house shrinks in the rear-view mirror as we pull onto the main road while Mandy taps on the sat nav, entering our destination with ease.
“Dunkin?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“Always coffee first,” she replies with a grin. “You know the rules.”
CHAPTER 12
AXEL
After spendingthe evening with my brothers, I wake up restless, the weight of today’s plans pressing on me. The clock blinks 2:48 a.m. as I let out a sigh, running a hand down my face.
Today’s the day we track down Eva.
Ant follows me to the car, tossing his bag into the back seat before climbing in beside me. Another bag dangles from his hand, catching my eye. “What’s that?” I ask, pointing.
He gives me a sly smile, reaching in to pull out two masks. “The masks? We haven’t used those in years,” I say, grabbing one from his hand. The sight of it sparks a flood of memories. We used them during takeovers, jobs assigned by our father where we needed to stay anonymous. A surge of adrenaline courses through me at the thought of using it for Eva.
Images flash in my mind—her on her knees, lips wrapped around me, the mask hiding my identity. She wouldn’t even know who’s behind it. My stomach tightens, heat flaring through my chest.
A nudge to my shoulder snaps me out of it. Ant waits, his hand outstretched for the mask. Reluctantly, I shove it into his palm, my jaw clenching. As much as I want to keep it, my tendency to misplace things makes it a bad idea.
“Food first. South Street Diner?” I ask, needing the distraction. He nods eagerly, rubbing his hands together. At least someone’s excited.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, I connect my phone to the car, letting the music take over. Post Malone’s “I Fall Apart” booms from the speakers, setting the mood as we head to the diner.
Twenty minutes and several skipped songs later—thanks to Ant’s relentless DJing—we’re back on the road with full stomachs, heading toward Providence.
