Page 182 of Merciless

“Victor shot him?” I gasp. I know he’s a sick motherfucker, but Kane’s been one of his most loyal soldiers over the years.

Shit.

“Shoulder,” Reid says simply. “He’ll be fine. He’s upstairs with Letty and Devin.”

“You’ve left the two of them in the same room?” I ask, aware that they’re not the best of friends.

Reid shakes his head.

“Mav was with them,” he states. “I think Kane said something about Alana. He looked wrecked.”

“Shit. You think he knows?”

“No. Kane would never have done that. But I did tell him that he could use her for leverage if something were to go wrong with this shit with Victor.”

“WHAT?” I roar. “Why the fuck would you do that?”

“Because Kane needs everything he can get right now. And really, we have no idea how disposable Alana is to Victor. She could just be another one of his whores or—”

I act before I think, throwing my fist into his stomach.

All the air rushes out of his lungs as he bends over, bracing his hands on his knees.

I swallow nervously as I wait for him to return the blow. But when he lifts his head and his eyes find mine, all I find is my patient, mostly compassionate best friend staring back at me.

He’s the only one in the world who really understands me, and it’s moments like this I’m reminded of that.

“I won’t let anything happen to her,” he says, shocking the shit out of me.

“How can you prom—”

“Because I can. Trust me, yeah?”

He holds my eyes, begging for me to do just that.

I’ve no reason not to. All my life, Reid has been solid and followed through on every promise he’s ever made me.He’s been there through my darkest moments, and done everything he can to drag me back into the light.

“Yeah. Okay,” I agree.

“I need to—” He thumbs over his shoulder. “We’ll talk, yeah. I just need to—”

“Go. Go and make sure everyone is okay. The most important thing right now is Kane.”

He nods before disappearing up the stairs.

“Fuck,” I breathe, threading my fingers through my hair and pulling until it hurts.

I guess it’s inevitable that they find out where she is eventually, but we really don’t fucking need that happening now.

If Victor finds out that Reid is going against him, then we’re all royally fucked.

Voices rumble from upstairs as I make my way to the kitchen to make coffee. Something tells me that everyone is going to need some.

I make mine and Reid’s before footsteps get closer.

Glancing over my shoulder, I find a barely-restrained Devin storming toward me.

“You okay, man.”

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