Page 75 of Mercy & Malice

“I’ll stop him before he enters the building next time,” Troy states, but the words Julian said buzz around in my head.

“Crackers.” My eyes snap to the door, where I see Julian getting into his car, a grin stretched across his face. He knew there were three kidnappers and they fed us crackers. We never told anyone they fed us crackers and made us eat them from the floor. How could he unless … “Julian was there.”

The Collector. It’d crossed my mind, but I told myself I was crazy. His build is different than The Judge, but he could’ve easily been under Collector’s disguise. Why would he be angry enough to actually kidnap and torture me? But there’s no other way for him to have that detail.

I grab my phone and call Ivy. “Is Micah there?”

“No, he just left to pick you up from work. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. I just need to talk to Luca.” Without Micah around. I step in the back room, so Troy doesn’t hear me either, when Luca gets on the phone. “Julian was just in here. He mentioned us being held by a trio who fed us crackers. There’s no way for him to know that unless he was there.”

There’s silence for a few seconds before I hear the uncertainty in Luca’s voice. “Why are you telling me this and not Micah?”

“Because he’ll run headfirst at him and not ask questions. I don’t want him to do something reckless before even knowing if Julian was there or not.” Even if I’d bet my life that he was right now.

Luca exhales, “Okay. But we’ll have to tell him eventually.”

“Yes, when you know for certain if Julian was one of the Keepers or not. Please, Luca, don’t tell him unless there’s no doubt.”

“And if Julian was one of them?”

“Then there’s nothing we can do to stop Micah. And I can’t say that I’d want to.” Going to the police should be an option, but it’s not. The Keepers of Mercy have always been above the law. And I worry it’d happen again even if the secret society collapsed. “His father was a member, right?”

“Yes. Not high ranking, but he was a participant,” Luca states.

“Wait? What was the Warden’s connection?”

“He graduated from Belgrave fourteen years ago. He played Mercy but lost. His sister was the winner three years prior though.”

“So, it really was all an extension of the godforsaken game and everything surrounding that evil society.”

Luca hesitates before he concedes with a low, “Yes.”

“And Micah is aware, right?” I don’t wait on the answer I already have. “Why didn’t he tell me?”

“He’s trying to protect you. So, if he withheld the info, then he had his reasons. Every decision he’s making is for your safety and well-being.”

Luca is defending his brother, and I truly believe neither would do anything to intentionally hurt me. But being in the dark about something that affects me still does. “Yes, because I’m fragile and unstable.”

“Brooke, you know better than that. We all do. But it doesn’t stop us from trying to shield you from all the bullshit.”

“Can you at least tell me what you find out about Julian before you tell Micah? I really don’t want him to go to prison for going off the rails and doing something unhinged.”

“Same. I’ll keep you updated. Just make Troy aware that he needs to watch out for Julian until we know for sure.”

“He’s aware.” Troy will be the least of Julian’s worries. There’s no way he knew about the crackers unless he was there. Part of me hopes he was, just so that makes two lunatics down and only one to go before I can reclaim some bit of normalcy in my life.

41

BROOKE

Getting out of the house sounded like a good idea, but as I take another sip of my drink, I’m second-guessing my decision. Ivy mentioned she wanted to come since Anthony keeps encouraging her to socialize more … though I doubt he’d have the same opinion if he knew it was occurring at Matthew’s house party.

“Want to dance?” Ivy asks as she swats Luca’s hand from her side.

I’m jealous. I’m happy for her. But I want that too. I want Micah back to where he can’t keep his hands off me and isn’t so serious all the time.

“Sure.” I follow her to the center of the room where everyone is dancing. Seconds later, we’re yelling the lyrics along to an upbeat song. As soon as the song is over, I crave the glee I felt again, but the next song is slow and not upbeat at all. Luca wraps his arms around Ivy’s waist as he pulls her against him.