Page 27 of Property of Mercy
I lift and sit her on the counter, forcing myself between her legs so she can’t hide from me.“Want to tell me what that was all about?”
The fight I’m coming to enjoy flares to life in her eyes.“What exactly are you referring to?”
“Do not fucking play games with me right now.I told you to be ready when I got back to go out and socialize, not to be in here getting giggly with one of my brothers.”I snap, placing my hands on either side of her on the counter to keep from strangling her.
“Well, when someone shows me some kindness in a place that seems to be full of asshats, I decide to take it,” she snaps.She crosses her arms over her chest and leans closer to my chest.“If you had taken a millisecond to pay attention, you would’ve seen that I am indeed ready to go out and socialize.So, the question now is, are we going out to socialize or are you going to continue to act like the previously mentioned asshat?”
Leaning so our lips are nearly touching, I say, “Like I’ve said before, one day that mouth is going to get your ticket punched.”
She shrugs at my words, not caring in the slightest, even though I can see her fear dimming the fire in her eyes.“Not the first time I’ve heard that and, as long as I’m here, it most likely will not be the last.So once again are staying or going?”
“We’re going.”I step back and pull her off the counter, then turn her toward the door.When she goes to step away, I wrap her long hair around my hand, halting her.“Try to remember, Little Lamb, that when I say it—it’s a promise for the future—not a threat.”
A shiver racks her body and for the first time I take in what she is wearing.Her jeans are so dark they are nearly black and look painted on, cupping her luscious ass.The tank top is cut to show the slightest amount of skin across her back.The bruising from her ordeal is still very present, but it doesn’t distract from the fact that this woman is truly beautiful.When she glances over her shoulder giving a small smile, I am slammed with a sense of déjà vu.
I’m looking over the pictures my contact at the college has sent of Jenny and her roommate Ainsley hanging out in the courtyard.Jenny has her head thrown back, laughing at something some dickhead beside her has said, and her roommate is looking over at her with a smile.In the next one, the roommate is looking across the courtyard with a faraway look and a small smile on her face.
I wait for the anger that always comes with memories of my sister.Only this time, the anger is there, but there is also a pain in the center of my chest with a feeling I don’t quite understand.Reaching up, I rub at the spot above my heart, trying to ease both the physical and mental pain away.Little Lamb's face scrunches in concern as she takes in my behavior.
Shaking off the odd feeling, I slap her on the ass.“Let’s go.I need a fucking drink.”
She swats at my hands as she makes her way out of the bathroom with me hot on her heels.
16
AINSLEY
Stepping into the great room, I’m immediately slapped with loud music, voices, and laughter.I stop dead in my tracks, causing Mercy to slam into my back and grab my hips to keep me upright.He grunts and nudges me forward toward the chaos.Looking up at him, I cock an eyebrow in question.
“Let’s get a drink.Then I’ll introduce you to people,” he says.His voice causing a calming effect, which I will not acknowledge at this moment.
“You lead the way.I don’t have a damn clue where I’m going.”
He points out in front of us.“Straight across.You see where Charlie is standing?”I give him a nod.“Head straight to her.”
I pick my way across the room and keep my head held high.I may not be a part of this life and hell, I’m flat out lying to them, which can andprobablywillget me killed.What I won’t do is cower from them.When we make it close to the bar, I spot an empty stool between what looks to be a bottle blondie and a very unhappy man who can’t seem to keep his eyes off Charlie’s every move.
Sliding onto the stool, I make sure not to touch either of the people.Mercy settles a hand on my lower back as he speaks to the man on my right.Charlie spots us from the other end and smiles, waving at us.When she does this, the man that can’t keep his eyes off her looks over and gives me a glare.
“Blitz, brother, if you want to keep those eyes you’ll cut the fucking glaring,” Mercy says so casually that you would assume this is an everyday conversation.
“This is a bad fucking idea,” Blitz barks before turning back to his beer and watching Charlie.
Charlie finally makes it over to us just as the blondie on my right notices me, and then Mercy.Her smile turns sultry—well, her idea of sultry—and her eyes burn with jealousy, but she dismisses me as a threat.I say nothing and decide I have enough shit to deal without getting into a battle of wills with a bitch.
“Hey girly, what’s your poison of choice?”Charlie’s smile is genuine, which pulls one from me.
“What’re my options?”I ask her.
“The basics.We keep some frilly stuff for the bunnies, but basically liquor or beer.”She smirks at the blond when she says frilly.
The blonde’s eyes narrow at Charlie before she cuts them back to me and Mercy.She takes in the fact Mercy has turned and is talking to someone else, yet has never removed his hand from my back.The tips of his fingers are just inside the top of my jeans.I look back at him and sit up, which catches his attention.His eyes slide to me with an eyebrow raised in question.I motion to Charlie, who is patiently waiting for our order.He looks up at her and gives her a nod before going back to his conversation with the guys he was talking to.
I turn to Charlie and lean forward onto the bar.“I’m guessing you know what that means?”
She nods her head, chuckling.“Scotch and a beer.What can I get you?”
“I’ll just have a Jack and Coke,” I order.
