Chapter 62
LUCA
Stopping in the driveway of her place, I shift the car into park and wait until she’s ready. Her eyes scan over the house before she asks, “Could it be a trick? Was Remy the Deceiver maybe, and he’s trying to get ahead by making us think he’s gone?”
I know she’s grasping for straws and something to hold on to. But I won’t give her false hope. “No.”
“That’s great.” She shoves the door open and bails out of the car. Even after she enters her house, I remain parked in the same spot for over an hour before I drive home.
When I step into the shower, I turn the water as hot as possible and let it pelt against my back, trying to relieve some of the tension. It’s not helping as I feel the strain in every muscle. But I can handle it. Ivy is alive, and we made it off the rig. We’re the lucky ones. And Remy is dead.
It’s only been a few hours, and the news has already spread.
However, the spin is he was in a boating accident.
The initial reports claim that he went out alone while intoxicated and fell overboard.
They’ve completely—and easily—covered it up, even supplying a boat that I know for certain wasn’t Remy’s.
How would his family not realize that? I believe they will. They’ll know it had something to do with Mercy and look the other way. It’s what we’ve always done. The Keepers of Mercy get to play God, and we have to go along with it.
Cain barges into my bedroom, his fists in my shirt as he yells in my face, “They fucking killed him. All for some stupid fucking game.”
“He knew what he signed up for,” I repeat Decider’s logic. “He wanted to play and understood the risks.”
His grip tightens as he states, “Remy didn’t understand shit. The guy couldn’t take anything serious. And now he’s dead. How many more have to die before it’s enough? His blood is on your hands, along with every other person who has died or will. Can you live with that?”
“I don’t have a choice.” About any of it. “I have to finish Mercy. If I don’t, I lose everything. I’ll lose her.”
“You’re going to lose her anyway.” Cain releases my shirt then turns his back to me and walks out.
He’s right. I’m going to lose her either way. If I win, I still lose. I’ll never be free from Mercy. Yet, I still want to hold onto her as tight as I can.
Walking to her house, I forego the front door and enter through the side gate using the same code as it was for the previous owners.
When I reach the back door off the patio, it’s unlocked so I slip inside. I notice Chad nearby as I make my way down the hallway, but he doesn’t notice an uninvited guest in the house. The man could get hit in the face with a baseball bat and still miss the fucking point.
Once I reach the staircase, I see Anthony on the landing. “I’ll leave if she asks me to.”
He nods as I climb the stairs and go past him. He’s protective over her, so I won’t even fault the man for the side-eye he’s giving me.
Opening her bedroom door, I find her curled up in bed.
But I know she’s not sleeping. I slowly lift the comforter, and I slide in behind her.
She relaxes against me, and I take the moment to loop my arm around her, pulling her closer.
My lips brush over her shoulder. She’d given up.
I saw it in her face. Her accepted fate was defeat.
Pulling her tighter to me, I bury my face in her hair. I’m going to hold onto her as long as she’ll let me. And when she doesn’t feel like fighting, I’ll do it for her.