The room is quiet for half a minute before Jim pipes in. “Mercer complicates shit, but he’s a friend to the club.”
Damn straight he is, Uncle Jim! I can’t say I have any personal positive stories about Harry Mercer, but Holly loves him, and he’s been fiercely protective of Mindy since her attack. Dad says he can respect a man who guards his kid like Harry’s been doing. The club barely got to see Mindy after she was released from the hospital, and even then, it was a short visit. I managed to get it out of Holly that she was allowed more time with Mindy but that Harry thought it was enough for the day when he and Ian had some words. But that was a while ago. Nobody’s said a word about Mindy in weeks, and it’s starting to worry me. Out of nowhere, a hand wraps around my face and seizes my mouth, clamping down and suppressing my scream. My stomach lurches, my heart beats frantically, and I desperately try to breathe, but the hand not only covers my mouth but my nostrils as well. Before I can kick at the door to signal someone that I’m in trouble, I’m dragged backward down the hall as my lungs fight for air.
CHAPTER 18
February
14 months to Mancuso’s downfall
I kick my feet in the air in a pathetic attempt to free myself but can’t make contact with anything. The hand at my mouth moves slightly, allowing me to suck in a ragged breath through my nostrils. I’m assaulted by a familiar masculine musk that I know all too well. My body relaxes instantly as it recognizes his scent. It takes my mind an extra moment to realize who it is.
Jeremy.
Shit. This is so not good, but I guess being busted by the brand-new boyfriend is better than being busted by anyone else. Snooping on Church won’t just get me grounded. It’ll get me in hot water at a club level. I knew I was asking for trouble when I walked down that hallway. I knew the risk and decided it was worth it. But now, after having gotten very little information, I regret my choice. Knowing that Darren is awake and recovering doesn’t do much to help me. I mean, I guess I could go talk to him. But then I risk exposing myself if he’s not cooperative. Either way, I fucking blew it. I can’t take another chance to listen in on Church.
“Keep your fucking mouth shut,” he whispers in my ear. His hand slides away from my mouth. I take a deep breath and let myself feel the stress of the situation. I’m still hauled up in his arms. There’s a creak as he walks us through the now open door. The palace. I hate this room.
Once inside, he sets me on my feet and reaches past me to close the door. I don’t dare turn around for fear of seeing the angry look on his face. I’m trying really hard, as I take one deep breath after another, to not act like the baby that everybody still thinks I am. I’m an adult, and I can accept responsibility for the things I’ve done—but that doesn’t mean it won’t suck to be yelled at.
“What the fuck were you thinking?” he hisses in my ear. The pure disgust in his voice makes my stomach churn.
The tension in the room is so thick it’s uncomfortable. Too thick. I fold my arms over my chest and focus on the doorknob in front of me. If I thought he was mad the last time he caught me somewhere I shouldn’t have been, then I was dead wrong.
The clanking of metal objects sounds behind me, and a child’s voice whispers something inaudible. I spin around to find Chel and her son, Xavier, on one of the long couches. Xavier has a pair of toy metal motorcycles in his hands that he’s clanking together in his lap. He’s still little, just barely three. He’s got naturally tanned skin and jet-black hair. His brown eyes shine as they land on me. He smiles wide and waves a motorcycle at me. I like the kid well enough. He’s always been easy when I’ve babysat him, and until last month, his mom was always good to me. Not that she knows she did it, but girl did me wrong.
My attention redirects to Chel, who has a textbook in her lap. She’s nervously tapping a pencil on a notebook that hangs off the side of her textbook. She’s studying to be a nurse, and I’ll give her credit for that, but for the time being, she’s just a whore. I let my inner bitch rage and think over the fact that I’ve never heard her give mention of Xavier’s father—that is assuming she knows who that even is.
Chel gives me a tentative smile that falls the longer I look at her. I turn my attention to the wall of mirrors to my side. The expression on my face is clear as day. I’m not happy. My mouth is turned down in the corners, and my eyes are narrowed. My jaw is set in a hard line, and my nostrils are flaring just like my dad’s do when he’s mad. Seeing a miniature female Sterling in the mirror is almost enough for me to force a fake smile to my face. Almost.
“Everything okay, Jer?” Chel asks. Her eyes shift to Jeremy, which just raises my hackles even more.