Page 32 of Property of Mercy
“Charlie,” I call shyly.
“I will not take no for an answer, Paisley,” she calls out, about to leave the room again.
Standing, I go after her.“Damn it, Charlie, I don’t have any clean clothes.This is Georgia heat and I damn sure am not hanging out outside in jeans.So, you going to share?”
“Fuck, you're right.Okay.You go take a shower and I’ll bring you something appropriate to wear for hanging outside.”Charlie smirks, walking away, then turns down a hall that I’ve only ever seen in passing.
Shaking my head, I go back to Mercy’s room and do exactly as Charlie instructs me.I stay in the shower as long as I possibly can.I finally get out, wrapping myself in a fluffy towel.Entering Mercy’s room, I find a pile of clothes sitting on the bed, just like the first time.Before getting dressed, I look through the clothes to see Charlie left workout shorts, a sports bra, and a tank top for me to wear.I towel dry my hair before braiding it down my back.
I’m not at all surprised to see Twitch standing across from me when I open the door to the hallway.He looks up from his phone and rakes his eyes down my body.
“Charlie is going to get someone killed,” Twitch whispers to himself, shaking his head.
Shrugging because I have not one damn idea what he is going on about, I fall into step beside him, going on the hunt for Charlie.We find her standing at the end of the hallway and she smiles at me.
“Let’s go have some girl time.I got her from here, Twitchy-boy,” Charlie says, linking her arm in mine.
“No can-do, Charlie-girl.I go where she goes,” Twitch tells her, then shoves his hands in his pockets.
“I swear, these men are overbearing assholes,” Charlie murmurs.“They might confuse you with their back and forth, but they mean well in the end.”
“You’re talking to an outsider that is only still around because they want something from me and believe I’m lying about it.I will not be here forever, but how I leave is solely on these men.”
“Oh Paisley, my girl, you have no idea what you’re talking about, but you will see.Until then, let’s not talk about assholes and instead have true girl time.”She laughs as we push through the backdoor and step out onto a covered patio with a large grilling area and tables and chairs dotted around.
We spend the day laughing, eating junk food, drinking, and talking about nothing and everything all at the same time.It is one of the best days I’ve had in a very long time.I relax letting my guard down just enough to truly enjoy the day.At some point, the rain starts falling, bouncing off the metal roof and lulling me to sleep.
I wake with a start and see the sun is low in the sky through the window.I find Charlie snoozing beside me, with Twitch kicked back at one of the picnic tables.He looks up from his phone when I stir.
“Sleeping beauty awakens,” he says.
Stretching, I smile to myself.“Yeah, sorry about that.Guess everything over the last week has taken more of a toll than I thought.”
“It’s all good.I’m being called away by Pres.So, I’m going to take you back to Mercy’s room and then come get you when I’m back for dinner,” he tells me, standing from the picnic table.
“What about Charlie?”I ask him, standing to my feet stretching once again.
“Pope will be out in just a moment to get her.Come on, I really need to get going.”Twitch guides me toward the door.
* * *
Over the next few days,Twitch is scarce, so I spend most of my time in Mercy’s room.Charlie comes and hangs out with me.It’s been nearly seven days since the men have been gone when the other shoe finally drops.I’m making my way to the kitchen for dinner when a hand darts out and grabs ahold of my arm, pulling me down the hall and into an office.When the door closes, I gasp as I slammed against the wall with Relic’s cold calculating eyes taking me in.He runs his hand up and wraps it around my throat, the way Mercy always does.
Relic’s hold is different, though.It’s like a shackle meant to cause harm and even kill.When Mercy provides the five-finger necklace, it’s a show of possession—to command and dominate.I know that his hold can turn deadly, yet it’s not his true intent.
“Aww, Little Lamb looks like she’s been caught by the big bad wolf,” he sneers down at me.
His fingers tighten around my throat, keeping me completely quiet.His grip is so tight that I know I’ll have a brand-new set of bruises.
“You will sit down and you will listen, because I have a lot to tell you about what Hermes and I have found.Do understand me?”The dead look in his eyes causes ice to dump through my veins.
I nod as much as I can, hoping that he’ll let me go because my vision is going hazy at the edges.
Suddenly he releases his hold on my throat.“Glad we can see reason.”
“And here I thought I wouldn’t be covered in bruises provided by asshats,” I sneer under my breath, trying to snatch my arm free of his bruising hold.
“What the fuck did you just say, you stupid bitch?”
