The thought pulled me up short, because what was there to figure out? I’d be heading to Africa soon, and her life was here in Seattle. In the best-case scenario, she’d be willing to screw around until I left. Maybe I could finally get my fill of her sweet pussy and perfect tits. If I got enough of her, perhaps it would ease the bizarre pressure building in my chest.
I needed to see her.
My skull tried to split open with every step I took, but I made it downstairs on determination alone. A bottle of ibuprofen was on the bar, so I helped myself to a glass of water and a couple of pills, comforted by the thought that I wouldn’t be the only one suffering this morning. Not after the absolute chaos I’d witnessed last night. The Dead Presidents knew how to throw a party.
I put my glass in the dishwasher and rounded the bar, almost running into Sage and a pale brother, who I’d learned was named Zombie. Zombie’s brows dipped into a scowl at the sight of me, but that was nothing new. He mean-mugged me all last night. I was beginning to think it was the only expression his face could make.
Sage gave me a nod and a smug smile. “Landon. I knew you’d come around.”
“I’m not… I was repaying a debt.”
His eyebrows shot up. “By partying with the club all night?”
The bastard had me there.
“I was convinced to stay.”
Zombie snorted like he had something to say on the matter, but the smell of breakfast wafting out of the mess hall was doing a number on my stomach. With a hasty goodbye, I hurried out to my truck. The stench of stale booze, cigarettes, and body odor assaulted me on the drive, so I made a quick pit stop at home to shower and brush my teeth.
Mom was knitting and watching Christmas movies, exactly where she’d been when I’d come in. As I approached, she lowered her needles and gave me her full attention. “You stayed with the Dead Presidents last night.”
I nodded, trying not to wince at the hope in her eyes. I wasn’t moving home, no matter how those assholes tried to rope me in, and I wished she’d accept that.
“You want to sit down? We can watch whatever movie you want. I’m not committed to this one.”
I glanced at the TV, but I didn’t know what “this one” even was. I’d watched more Christmas movies on this trip home than I’d ever watched in my life, and I still felt like a dick when I shook my head. “I have somewhere I need to go first, but I’ll be back. Then we can.”
By the time I finally reached Mercy’s building, it was almost mid-morning. The ibuprofen and the shower had me feeling almost human again, but something strange was still happening in my stomach. Taking a deep breath, I pressed the call button to reach her apartment and waited.
Nobody answered.
Annoyed, I tried the button again. Mercy hadn’t doubled back and stayed at the club last night, had she?
Even the possibility of her in some biker’s bed sent anger coursing through my veins. I mashed the button once more. When I still had no answer, I called Mom.
“Landon? Is everything all right?”
“Yeah. Everything’s fine. I just…. Will you send me Mercy’s number?”
Mom hesitated. “Why?”
I pried open my clenched jaw and admitted to what I’d been trying to avoid. “I’m at her building, and she’s not answering.”
“Is she expecting you?”
I wanted to strangle my phone. “No. But I want to check on her.”
“I’ll call her and let her know you’re there.”
Before I could argue, the line went dead, leaving me to sit with the realization that Mom was protecting Mercy’s number from me. Did she think I was going to stalk her?
Irritated, I tried Mercy’s button again. When there was still no answer, I stood aside and pretended to be finishing an email. A teenage girl left the building in a hurry, also staring at her phone, and I moved in, grabbing the door before it could close.
I was halfway up the stairs when Mom called back to tell me her call went to voicemail.
With fear creeping up my spine, I picked up the pace, reaching Mercy’s door to find it unlocked. Drawing Dad’s gun that was now registered to me, I put my ear to the door and listened. I couldn’t hear anything over the pounding of my heart, so I knocked and let myself in.
“Mer—”
