Page 82 of Mercy & Malice

“She’s gone. The others will be behind her.” Julian lowers the pistol.

Blaine says, “You’re fucked. Montclair isn’t going to let this go.”

“He’ll get over it,” Julian snickers. “Plus, he’ll never know. They’ll all just think she ran away like the pathetic bitch she is.”

He hauls me with him. I can’t go anywhere with them. I won’t. I’d rather die.

We’re almost at the edge of the cemetery, and I see his car ahead.

Bracing myself, I jerk my arm away from Julian, shove against him, and stumble forward as he releases me. The gun he has is lifted and pointed at me.

“Do it,” I tell him.

Julian grins, keeping the barrel aimed at my head. “That’d be too easy for you. And I’ve waited and watched too long. It’s my turn to enjoy the effort I put in. You won’t take that from me.” He swings his arm out and the butt of the pistol cracks against my cheek.

I’m stunned by the searing pain when he grabs my arm, hauling me back. Caught off balance, we both tumble to the ground. Hope blooms in my chest when he releases me.

That’s when I see Luca struggling with him. Luca disarms Julian quickly while Troy grabs Blaine as he attempts to run. Someone grabs my arm, and I jerk away, not realizing it’s Ivy until she says, “It’s me.”

She helps me to my feet, ushering me away from the brawl. Luca kicks Julian, who rolls into the fetal position on the ground. In an attempt to dodge Troy, Blaine shouts, “This was all him.”

Troy shoves Blaine and he tumbles onto Julian. “You joined the party, you pay the price.”

“Julian is the Collector. It was them.” My voice cracks as I speak, but I manage to add, “He admitted it.”

“No, I didn’t have shit to do with that,” Julian yells.

Luca ignores him and looks to Troy. “Get Brooke and Ivy home and don’t let them out of your sight.”

“But it’s over. They’re the other two Keepers, right?” I mutter, knowing deep down that Blaine isn’t the third one. He isn’t anywhere near Judge’s height and build, so someone still has to be out there.

Luca aims Julian’s gun at him as he hauls him to his feet and Blaine stands. Then he leads them away as he grabs his phone and holds it to his ear.

“Come on. We’ll go to my house for the night.” Ivy places her arm around my shoulder as we walk out of the cemetery.

“But it’s over, right?” I repeat the unanswered question that doesn’t get a response. No one wants to lie to me even though I’m trying to lie to myself. There is still one more person out there.

When will it be over?

45

MICAH

The fight is over. I won. It was barely a contest. All my rage escaped once I let it. Now, I stand, hearing the cheers and shouts around me. But all I want is her. And I can’t find her. Luca isn’t here either. They were all here when the fight started.

It’s Cain that I spot on the edge of the crowd, waving me over. Motherfucker. I don’t want to deal with his ass right now. He’s in front of me as he says, “Luca is trying to reach you. We need to go meet your brother.”

The hasty tone and tightness in his face don’t leave any room for me to question him, so I follow him outside. He whispers, “They’re in the mausoleum.”

I figured as much when he headed that way, but when I get to the final step and spot only Luca, I ask, “Where’s Brooke?”

He’s edgy as he explains. “She went to Ivy’s. She’s okay. Troy is with them.”

If she’s okay, why is he so fucking tense? “What the fuck is going on?”

“Brooke suspected Julian was one of the Keepers involved in the abduction. He made a reference to her that clued her in. So, she asked me to look into it.”

“You. She went to you. Why the fuck didn’t she tell me?” I shout.