Page 82 of The Price of Mercy
“Sam,” she breathes, blinking back a fresh wave of tears. “Did you—was this—” She clutches her brother’s hand tighter. “How?”
Malachi has been denied leave from school—or more accurately, the asylum he’s been imprisoned in—for years. If I’d been paying attention sooner, I would have noticed and got him out a long time ago. It was yet another one of my father’s schemes; keep the boy under lock and key in case he needs leverage.
Bringing him home now is meant to prove Vinicius’s incompetence with his own family and how superior my father is, since he’s taking credit for my idea. I don’t give a damn so long as we ensure that Malachi is here to stay.
Rather than answer Mercy’s question, I brush a stray tear off her cheek. “Please don’t cry,” I murmur, breathing in her every exhale. God, I needed to see her. To be with her. A huge weight is lifted off my shoulders by simply standing in her presence.
“These are happy tears,” she laughs, smiling easily. “I can’t believe you’re here.” She hooks her arm through her brother’s. “Either of you.” With her other hand, she reaches for mine and squeezes my fingers. “Thank you, Sam. This is the best gift I’ve ever had.”
Anything for you.
Zane appears by Mercy’s side and steals her hand from mine, lacing their fingers together with an ease I never imagined I’d see between them. “Let’s go find Granny. She’ll have a heart attack.” Although he’s taller than Malachi, they match in appearance, wearing only black. But where Malachi is full grunge, Zane has opted for a softer approach, wearing a button-down with his skinny jeans and canvas shoes. Except?—
“Are you wearing eyeliner?”
Mercy glances up at Zane fondly, and they share a subtle smile that makes my heart quiver. That’s a look of endearment, and it’s new, much like the hand-holding.
Lifting an eyebrow, Zane challenges me with that simple of a gesture. “You got a problem with it?”
Hooking my hands in my pockets, I hold his gaze. “No.” I’m just wondering how much I’ve missed over the past few weeks. Apparently, a fucking lot. Even his injured arm hangs by his side, still wrapped in a soft cast, but a small heart has been drawn in permanent marker over his thumb. The break must not have been as bad as it looked when I saw him wearing a sling the other day. “Glad to see you’re healing.”
He nods. “Can’t stay down forever.” Tugging Mercy’s hand, he leads their band of goths to the back to find Grandma Star, leaving Kane and me to stare at each other.
Nudging my arm, Kane walks with me to admire the tree. “You ready?”
I don’t see how that’s relevant. “Are you?”
He takes a sip of his drink, something clear and fizzy. Soda? Is he not drinking tonight?
Seeing the unspoken question in my eyes, he offers me the plastic cup. “Not good to drink on the job. Don’t want to carve my own finger off.” He tries to get me to take the drink. “You, though. You need to relax. Hold this while I get you something stronger.”
“No, I’m okay.” I want to be clear-headed for this. “I’ll have water.”
Kane clicks his tongue. “Your dad will be suspicious if you don’t have a drink.”
The bar is in the back, so we take a detour to mix a virgin cocktail. I hear Mercy’s laugh from another room and turn in that direction.
“She’s fine, Sam.”
I can’t help but frown. “That’s not what Zane told me.”
“Yeah, well, Zane’s a bit pessimistic. Glass half empty, and all that.” Kane swirls the ice in his cup. “She’s been stressed, but we’re helping her relax.” The smirk he attempts to hide behind his cup is incriminating as hell.
“Helping her relax,” I repeat, crushing my plastic cup. The liquid sloshes over the side and drips onto the floor. As long as Mercy is happy, that’s what matters. I know this,I accept this, and yet my jealous heart twists in silent agony.
I want to be there with her, no matter what it is the three of them are up to together.
Kane hums in the back of his throat. “Mhm.” Clapping me on the shoulder, he grins. “But don’t worry, Wright. We’re taking good care of her until you get back, but that’s the thing. Youwillbe back. You standing here is proof of that. She hasn’t given up on you, so don’t give up on her.”
I wouldnever.
Dumping my drink into the sink, I grab a new cup and fill it with ice water. “Once this shit with my dad is over, I’m not leaving again.” I meet Kane’s eyes. “If you’re here to stay, you’ll have to get used to having me around. I won’t compromise my feelings for her to make you comfortable.”
With a grin, Kane chuckles under his breath. “So long as you get used to sharing, Sam, I don’t give a damn if you stick around or not.”
“Whatever makes her happy.” I drain my cup to drown out whatever lingering jealousy stirs inside my heart. If I’m going to survive sharing Mercy’s bed with two other men, I need to remember the reason we’re all here. “Do you love her?”
“Absolutely,” Kane answers immediately.
