Tessa pushes some buffalo chicken further into her wrap, mischief creasing her eyes. “Noire Underground rules do offer unique privacy.”
Mercy’s whole face lights up as she delivers the number one rule of the Underground. “Never tell Axel or Ryker.”
I laugh, amused at how delighted she is by that rule when Ryker is her husband. “That’s not what I was referring to, but I won’t deny that hiding from my boss is a perk.”
“Are you sure about that?” Mercy bites her lip and whips out her phone. “I mean, I love that there’s a place off-limits for Axel and Ryker, but there are certainly times I want my husband to find me.” She widens her eyes, as if there’s a meaning there to snatch. “So, dish the beans, girl.”
My forehead scrunches in confusion.
Tessa huffs, though it’s jovial. “Mercy doesn’t come even remotely close to getting a saying correct, but she’s brilliant. If you need a random fact or legal advice, she’s your girl.” She turns to her sister-in-law, who is aghast with theatrical offense, and waves her off. “It had to be said. It’sspill the beansortea, and still, without context, it made very little sense. Show her the family group chat.”
“Tessa’s the grumpy one,” Mercy snaps back.
“Low-hanging fruit, Merce.” Tessa takes Mercy’s phone, pulls something up on it, and lays it in front of me.
Elation from getting an inside peek at their interactions floods me as I read.
Maddox: I have a bone to pick.
Ryker: With someone specific or in general?
Maddox: I’m just feeling kind of lonely. We never see each other anymore.
Cash: What the fuck is happening? Has marriage made you a cockblock? We had dinner last night.
Ryker: Are you trying to fuck someone right now?
Cash: Not this second. But my schedule is sacred, and the dinner hour is peak. Three times a week is already a stretch.
Axel: Thank you for your servitude and sacrifice.
Maddox: We should listen to the old guy. Sacrifice is important. It’s vital as a man.
Ryker: Is there a point to this shit?
Tessa: Do not indulge him. He’s up to something. He left to get my chai latte this morning and came back far happier than anyone should be.
Jax: WTF? It’s eight in the damn morning.
Axel: Most of us have been awake for hours, Jax.
Maddox: Exactly, Papa Axe. And all those hours have been filled with events that the family needs to know about. Let’s get ready to rumble.
Axel: Dear fuck.
Ryker: What’s going on?
Cash: I don’t know, but I’m already excited. Is this where the sacrifice pays off?
Maddox: [Attached: Video]
Even from the thumbnail, I can tell it’s of me slamming Axel to the floor. So, Maddox didn’t just share what happened. He recorded it. Great.
Unable to resist, I press play. The video starts with me shoving Axel, shows me knocking him on his ass, and ends with him swiping my feet out from under me so I’m lying atop him. And it looks … hot.
Me: What the hell was that?
Since this is Mercy’s phone,Meis her.
