AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That’s what it says on the patch.”
“Where’s Mercy?”
“She’s inside. I’ll walk you in.”
I head toward the doors, and she falls in beside me. Scope walks up on her other side. If I wasn’t paying so much attention to her, I might not have noticed how she inches slightly closer to me. Scope has that effect on most people.
“You have any plans for the weekend? We’re having a barbecue. I’m sure Mercy would like the company,” Scope throws out, making me look at him.
We are? That’s news to me.
“I’m not sure what I’m up to yet, but I’ll grab Mercy’s number and text her.”
He looks down at her, a surprised expression on his face. I’m guessing he expected her to fall in line. I could have told him that Jinx isn’t like other women.
I push through the door, holding it open for Jinx and Scope to walk through. She pauses, looking around until she spots Mercy talking with Wizz and Kaz in the corner. Jinx scans the room, taking everything in as she heads over.
Scope makes a hmm noise, but when I look at him, his focus is on Jinx. The expression on his face makes the hairs on my arms stand on end. The man is looking at her like he wants to dissect her.
With Jinx now out of earshot, I nudge his arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I’m just curious.”
“About?”
“You see the way she scopes out a room. It’s second nature to many of us here. A side effect from being a soldier for some and being in prison for others. I didn’t expect it from someone like her, though.”
I frown. “You think she’s done time?”
“Funny how that was what you went to and not that she was perhaps a soldier.”
“She doesn’t strike me as the type to follow orders,” I admit.
Mercy catches sight of Jinx and hurries over to greet her. Jinx stumbles when Mercy collides with her, her arms wrapping around Jinx’s waist as if she hasn’t seen her in days, not hours.
“Wow. It’s been a while since I’ve seen a smile like that on Mercy’s face,” Scope complains.
“You’re not going to be a dick because Jinx was the one to put it there, not you, right?”
He flips me off and stomps over to the women.
“Let’s go sit. It’s getting loud, and you won’t be able to hear each other in a minute.” Scope nudges Mercy back toward the table where Wizz and Kaz are. I step up beside Jinx and motion for her to follow.
Scope whispers something in Mercy’s ear, making her laugh as I pull out a chair and twist it around. Jinx takes a seat next to Kaz, which puts her back to the wall. When she scans the room again, I realize Scope was right. She does have the same instincts a lot of us do. The question is, why?
“Jinx, this is Kaz and Wizz. Mercy’s other men. Guys, this is Jinx.”
Jinx looks at Kaz and Wizz for a second with a frown before it smooths out. She holds out her hand to Kaz. “Nice to meet you,” she states when Kaz slides his larger hand into hers.
Wizz shakes her hand next, just as Scope takes a seat and drags Mercy onto his lap.
“I don’t think I’ve even sat in my own seat since I met you.”
“Babe, we both know you like it in my lap better.” He bites her ear, making her squirm.
“Behave. Jinx will think we’re a bunch of heathens.”
“Nah, you look like two virgins on prom night compared to the show going on behind you.” Jinx smiles, reassuring her.
