“Yeah.” He gestured at the room. “Like everyone else.”
“What’s this for?”
Morse seemed surprised by the question. “Christmas parties for two local preschools. One is Bold Beginnings.”
I probably should have known that, so I blurted out the most obvious question that came to mind. “You collected donations for the kids?”
Now he was looking at me as if I were slow. “Yes.” He studied my face. “What’s wrong? Does that fuck with your preconceived judgmental notions about us?”
His blunt question deserved a direct answer. “A little. Yeah.”
He smirked, as if I’d gained a point or two.
Then an awareness tugged at my attention. I followed it to find a familiar face. The face I couldn’t seem to get out of my goddamn mind. Mercy stood at a table, pen in hand, talking to a couple of bikers as they pulled items out of a box.
“Mercy’s here?” I asked.
“Why wouldn’t she be?”
Annoyed with him, I crossed the room as Mercy stopped writing and spun to face the men.
“Wait. Did you say there are two of those Spiderman beanies?” she asked.
“Yes, ma’am,” one said.
“Yes!” She made a note on her sheet. “I know exactly who those should go to.”
“Minion gloves?” the second guy asked, and I didn’t care for the way his eyes kept landing on her chest.
Mercy was too busy writing to notice. “Got ‘em. Thanks.”
He gave her a smile that made me want to bash his teeth in, but I held back and breathed. Honestly, I couldn’t blame the dickhead for checking her out. Mercy wore a figure-hugging sweater dress over Christmas-themed leggings and knee-high boots. Forget presents, she was exactly what I wanted under my Christmas tree. As usual, her hair was up in a ponytail that made me want to pull it down. I just couldn’t get enough of the woman.
A massive hand clapped my shoulder, and Havoc said, “Good. You’re here.”
I’d been so focused on Mercy, I hadn’t even heard the big man approach.
Raising his voice, Havoc called out, “Mercy. Link wants a minute.”
She spun around, and shock froze her features as our gazes met. Emotions I couldn’t decipher flashed in her eyes before her attention shifted to Havoc. “But we’re assigning the gifts.”
“It’ll be a quick update,” Havoc said, adding, “You’re comin’ too.”
No one in their right mind would argue with the man, so I nodded.
Mercy gave her crew an apologetic smile as she joined Havoc and me. He turned and started walking, and we followed.
She elbowed me in the side and asked, “What are you doing here?”
“That’s all I get?” I asked. “No, sorry, I neglected to call and let you know I wasn’t murdered on my way home?”
A smile tugged at her mouth. “Have you been worried about me?”
“You have a propensity for finding trouble.”
“I do not. I’m the safest person I know.”
I barked a sarcastic laugh, but arguing with her further would have to wait until later.
