Nightshade diedinside when she broke their kiss. Merc was so gentle, showing her his love despite the fact she’d tried to make him hate her. She felt him trembling.
She couldn’t tell him now. She couldn’t bear it if he looked at her with disgust.
She wouldn’t survive losing him, not if she had to face his contempt. She’d never wavered on a decision in her entire life, but now, now she knew she’d have to disappear. She had to take the coward’s way out.
The thought cut soul deep, and another tear escaped. Just as gently as before, Merc dried her tears, staring at her like she was his life.
Just like he was hers.
If only it was her life to give.
Her sister’s and her teammates’ lives depended on her finding out their location and rescuing them and that meant Nightshade had to break into Cotter’s secret room, steal their location and disappear.
She didn’t care anymore about vengeance against Cotter. She just wanted to get out of here in one piece.
Silly girl, you know your heart will stay with Merc.
Her heart whacked her chest in response, like it was trying to break free of her treacherous body and go to him.
My heart.
Merc inched her to the floor, still cradling her in his arms even after her feet touched down. “Come with me.”
He took her hand and she knew he would lead her upstairs to her bedroom. And if she could pretend for another minute, she would willingly and gladly go.
But the time for pretending that she could have a life with this brave and honorable man had passed. Thankful he took the lead and couldn’t see her heart breaking behind him, she let him lead her. When they emerged into the crowded foyer, filled with outraged guests being turned out the front door, she slowed.
And then Rainier caught her attention in the chaos – a perfect storm of distraction for them both.
Nightshade sucked in a loud breath and pulled with all her might, staring into the crowd with what she prayed was fright on her face.
Merc’s thick black brows swooped down. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
She licked her lips, not having to fake the creak in her voice. “I saw him. I saw him walking through the crowd.”
Merc’s gaze turned to rock hard ice. “Who did you see?”
She had to look him in the eye or he’d never believe her.Think of your sister. Think of your team.“Jack Mankel.”
Merc shoved her behind him in a second. “What direction?”
“Into the ballroom. On the right.”
“Stay close.”
She grabbed his jacket and tugged, letting him know she would stay with him. When he started forward, she pulled out the heavy metal bag clamp she’d swiped from the kitchen and clipped it on his jacket. Merc kept moving forward, talking to his team on his comm, satisfied she was right behind him.
Nightshade melted backwards into the crowd.Goodbye, Merc.
“Roger, she saw him moving north in the ballroom.” Heart pounding, Merc continued forward, pushing through the crowd with relentless force. He hadn’t believed J would take the bait. Cotter had been right. Now J was within reach and so was Caroline.
Reassured by her hand tugging on his coat, he kept his gaze forward, scanning every face across the room in front of him. He saw lots of men, mostly old men, but no black hair with silver temples. Not yet. “Hunter, you coming my way?”
“Moving to your left. Ranger on your right. Aaron and Riser have the exits choked. If he’s in this room, he won’t be able to get out,” Hunter’s voice was just as breathless as his own.
This was the moment every man on their team had been working toward for two years—finally catching the man who’d betrayed them all.
Merc neared the north wall, there was an opening into an alcove and he went to it, zeroing in on the only place left in the room for Mankel to hide. He could taste the sweet joy of victory. Tonight he’d have his revenge and his girl.
