When morning comes, I squint at the light at the window. Merrick sleeps, his arms around me, hands protectively on my breasts.
There’s a noise edging into my awareness.
My phone.
I shift carefully to pull it from the small table just within reach.
It’s a text from Bailey.
At first, I think it’s kind of early for a message, but then I realize it’s almost ten. I click through to read the whole thing, then have to stop myself from sitting up and gasping.
Bailey: I had no idea Greta was a plant. Yes, I called Uncle Sherman. I know Merrick and Diesel were mad about his interference with the bar, but they got it back, didn’t they?
There are a few minutes between messages, like she was waiting for my reply. Then, another one.
Bailey: Greta told Sherman, and he made that raid happen. We didn’t realize the Wild Hair would be there when theyarrested everyone. We haven’t heard anything. Please tell us Merrick is all right.
Oh no. The Pickles got involved because I blabbed.
I turn to Merrick. I can’t hide this from him. Will he be mad? I told Symphony too much, and she talked to Bailey, and look what happened!
Will he hate me? Will Iron Jack kick me out?
I set the phone down and slip back in his arms, forcing myself to be calm. He’ll be upset. Of course, he will.
Will this ruin everything?
My movement makes him stir, and he opens his eyes. “Morning, beautiful.”
“Morning, my love.”
He grins at that, and I feel my whole world open.
But the text. I can’t wait.
“I have something to tell you.”
At my tone, he tilts his head. “That sounds serious.”
I can’t say the words, so I show him the text.
He reads it, and then does the last thing I expect.
He laughs.
It starts small, then gets bigger and louder. I laugh with him almost automatically. Finally, I lift a pillow and smack him with it.
“Would you stop that and tell me what’s going on?”
He shakes his head. “Figures Sherman would have figured out a way to get involved. Does Greta think we didn’t know what she was doing?”
“You didn’t know the arrest was going to happen. You could have been caught up in it!”
He drags me close. “But we didn’t. And the Kin will be ousted for sure. If Sherman’s on the case, even Lucifer himself would find himself on the wrong side of the fiery gates.”
“So, it’s a good thing.”
His mouth presses against my neck as his hands roam over my body. “Mmm,” he says. “It’s a good thing. How about we start this morning the way we ended our night?”
