Page 13 of Property of Mercy
Before she can process what just happened, I pull away, using my thumb to tilt her head back to the men at the table.I don’t loosen my hold on her, instead pulling back even tighter to my body so that she has no choice but to lean her whole body against me.Making sure she can feel my cock when she does.I finally look around to find most everyone glaring at me.I make eye contact with Blender, who looks more confused than anything.
“Okay, Paisley,” Pres starts again.“Now that we know everyone.Can you tell me what happened to you?”
The sound of Pres saying her name makes me want to cut his tongue out.The rational side of my brain, however small it is, keeps a tight rein on the impulse.I reach out with my free hand, sliding it around her waist, pulling her even tighter to my body.Paisley doesn’t make a sound and seems to hold her breath.
“Breath,” I grunt as I loosen my hold on her.
Paisley exhales.“What would you like to know?I truly don’t know anything!”
Hermes opens his laptop and starts tapping away before looking back up at Paisley.“Let’s start with a last name.Would you be willing to give us that?”
If it’s even possible, Paisley stiffens even more, her heart picking up when she whispers fearfully, almost unsure, “Larson?”
Terro tilts his head, catching onto the fact she didn’t sound so sure.“Are you asking us or telling us what your last name is?”
“Telling, but what does my name have to do with my story?”Paisley counters showing us that the little lamb does indeed either have some fight or a death wish.
I tighten my grip on her throat.“Are you wishing for death?Because that mouth of yours seems to be asking for it.Tell us what we want and to know—beinghonest—so we can move this along.”
Paisley gives me a nod and lets out a huff.“What I can tell you is whatever night it was that I went to the shithole bar—some asshole tried toshootme.I went with my roommate Gloria because somebody on Instagram told her she should go.She asked me to go with her so she wasn’t alone.I agreed to go even though I would have much rather been at home getting ready to start my new job.”Ainsley pauses when Hermes starts typing away as she talks.I swear I feel a tear run down the back of my hand as she hangs her head.
“Do you know who invited her to go?”Blitz asks.
I feel the slim column of her neck struggle to move under my hand as Paisley swallows.
“I don’t know.It was some people she follows on Instagram or something.I thought it was super sketchy, and we even fought about going inside while in the parking lot.She refused to leave, and I couldn’t just let her go in alone.So, we went in.I didn’t even have time to take but one drink of my beer when I heard an explosion and heat at my back.”She looks at me over her shoulder and I would bet my life that I see guilt shining at me from her, and it unnerves me.
“What else can you tell us about what happened?”Pres tries to encourage her to continue.
“After the initial blast, I woke up to a man standing over me.He had on one of your …” She waves a hand at the guys around the table.“Cuts, I guess is the word.Anyway … He made a statement likeit’s sure sad that such a pretty one has to die… or something.That’s not exact, but after that he pointed the gun at me.There was a loud pop and my head exploded with pain.The next thing I know, I’m here with you all.”She finishes and to my utter shock, she relaxes back against me.
Everyone watches with shock.I give a slight shrug, not understanding myself.Hermes is busy typing away on his laptop while we take in the information she gives us.The monster that thrives for death perks up wanting the blood of the man that hurt her.I suck in a breath, loosening my hold on her.The feeling hits me so hard taking my breath away.The monster has only ever taken an interest in my brother and sister.What is it about this woman that makes it want to protect and defend her?
Paisley tilts her head and the look of concern I see in her eyes pisses me off.
8
AINSLEY
The hold on my throat loosens just enough for me to turn my head and look back at Mercy.Seeing the look on his face go from shocked to murderous in a flash.I don’t even have a moment to process anything before he has us turned so that I’m against the wall and he is looming over me.I hear the sounds of chairs moving and voices shouting, yet I still can’t look away from Mercy.
His fingers flex around my throat once again, causing the most concerning mixture of feelings to swirl around inside of me.I want to look away and I know that if I do; he wins this game of wills.Mercy’s eyes narrow ever so slightly before he speaks to me.
“What are you hiding, Little Lamb?”
I try to shake my head in denial, but his hold is cutting off my ability to breathe, much less to move.
Mercy leans in close, running his nose along my jaw to my ear, “Just tell us what you’re hiding, Little Lamb.If not, I can think of some very interesting ways to get the information that we need.”
He nips my ear as he goes to pull away, causing a gasp to escape my lips.Mercy leans away from me and loosens his hold enough for me to not feel as if I’m suffocating.“I truly told you everything.So, are you going to kill me now?”
Mercy's cruel laughter cuts through the air.“Not today, Little Lamb.But that’s not to say that it’s not still a possibility.Pres, do you need anything else from our little lamb right now?”
“I don’t think I do, Mercy,” Relic answers him.“Why don’t we have a prospect to take her back to the room while we talk about some things?”
Mercy cocks his head to the side, watching me closely.“Sure, but I want her in my room.”
My eyes nearly fall out of my head at his words.“I can just go back to the room I was in before.I don’t want to inconvenience anyone.”
