Page 43 of Property of Mercy
“Listen, I know you’re fucked up in the head.I also know that if you were to see a professional that she would say you are a psychopath with some sociopathic tendencies.Meaning, I don’t know if you will ever truly feel more than a need to protect or being obsessed with Ainsley.You have to face the fact you feelsomethingfor her.”Terro smirks when he sees that his words take root.
I think about his words, playing them over and over in my head.My inability to take her out, my need and want to get back to the clubhouse to see her and to make sure she was safe …
“I see that you’re considering it.I want you to think about this …” Terro backs away from me toward his bike.“Let’s say that someone tries to hurt and or kill Ainsley?What would that look like?”
As soon as the words leave his mouth, the monster roars to life and I lunge at the man.The mere thought of someone hurting my little lamb makes my need to kill come alive too fast—all I see is red.This feeling coursing through my veins is like a fire I’ve never felt before.Even the loss of Jenny didn’t cause the monster to come alive like this.Terro dances out of the way as I lunge for him once again.And once again, he dances out of my reach.
“Why are you lunging at me?I’m not the one who left his woman in a location we all know has at least one trader in it—unprotected.”Terro shouts, still dancing out of my reach.
I stop mid-lunge as his words sink in deep.“Motherfucker!”
I spin around, making a beeline for my bike.I left my little lamb to the wolves.If something happens to her, I will kill everyone in that clubhouse and not lose any sleep over it.I jump on my bike, firing it up and tearing off onto the road, spraying gravel behind me.Terro stays tight on my rear tire as we race back across town.
24
AINSLEY
The sound of the door opening wakes me with a start.I sit up and look at the man who stands in the doorway, and my blood turns to sludge.Relic stands there, his face a mask of evil satisfaction.I look around the room for anything I might be able to use to protect myself.Not finding anything, I pull my legs up to my chest and watch him.
“Looky, looky, who we have here?If it isn’t our little lamb left all alone.”His tone is flat and chilling.
Despite the fear clawing away at me, that damn filter malfunctions once again.“And what exactly can I do for you?Here to run me over with the bus again?”
Relic throws his head back in dark laughter.“You know, it was too easy to get those fucking dumbasses to place all the blame for Jenny’s death and the sex ring at your feet.They took it and believed it so they wouldn’t have to deal with the fact they failed her.”
He steps into the room, hands behind his back, and looks around as if this is the first time seeing the room.I watch him with my arms wrapped around my knees, trying to make myself as small as possible.Relic finally makes it over to the bed.Taking a seat, he leans his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands.
“Can I tell you something?”he asks, sounding sad.
“Is that really a question?”I snap, not in the mood to deal with his bullshit.
Relic looks over at me.“I was trying to be nice, but if you want to be a bitch, then fine.You see, you’re not going to make it out of here still breathing.Even if you try to tell them anything I tell you, we both know that they will think you're just trying to save your ass.”
“If you are aware of all of this, then tell me why the fuck you’re in my cell with me?”Frustrated, I release a sigh and point to the door.“If you don’t mind, I would like to wait for my torture appointment alone.So, if you will kindly fuck off.”
A dark look falls over Relic's eyes and before I can process what happens, he backhands me, causing me to fall over on the bed.I lay there, moving my jaw, trying to make sure that it isn’t broken.
“Don’t you want to know why we’re letting you take the fall for the brothers?”Relic asks, leaning back as if he didn’t just nearly knock me out.
I sit up so that I’m not even more vulnerable to him than I already am.His eyes scan my body, making my skin crawl with revulsion.I try to put some space between us.My instincts are screaming to run like the hounds of hell are chasing me.Relic catches the shift in my body and places a hand on my knee to keep me still.
“Aww, don’t play shy now.”He leans closer to me.“Around here we enjoy sharing.”
“That’s great for you, but I’m not like that,” I snap, glaring at him.
“Not even if it meant saving your own skin?”he tries seductively.
That statement is the final straw.This camel’s back is official broken.I surge to my feet, pointing my finger at the man.
“I wouldn’t need to save my own skin if you had just done what you said and kept my identity to your damn self.But no, you couldn’t.What I can’t figure out is why you did it.”Now I pace back-and-forth trying to figure it out, but nothing makes sense.
“You told me that as long as I did exactly what you asked, you wouldn’t say anything.That’s what I don’t get—you haven’t fucking asked me to do anything.So why?Just tell me that because we both know I’m not making it out alive, thanks to you, asshole.”
Relic stands to his feet and backs me against the wall.“Because they were supposed to fuckingdie.Those motherfucking self-righteous assholes were supposed to die on the trip.But they didn’t, so the next best thing was to take out the guard dogs.And how best to do that than to flip his switch so he kills you.Then I make sure he and Blender go down for it.That’swhy.”
Shaking my head back-and-forth I can’t believe what this man is saying.“Why do I have to die for whatever master plan you have?”
“Why not you?You’re the only connection these men have to the sex ring that is lining my pockets so well to turn a blind eye.I will not let them put an end to my gold mine or having whatever flavor of the night I’m feeling at my fingertips.So, if the Enforcers are arrested and being tried for murder, the others will continue to run our businesses—both legit and not.They’ll have to once again put the search for sweet little Jenny’s killer on the back burner, and my side project gets to thrive.”
