Page 152 of Merciless

“No need.” Father steps back. “I hope you think over everything and make the right decision.”

“I’ve already made up my mind. I’m sure Asher has as well.”

Father scowls at both of us before showing himself out.

I face Asher and openly grin that he’s in nothing but a pair of boxers with his sucker in his mouth.

“I have two things I want us to do. One must be done while our girl is asleep,” I say.

Asher rolls his sucker to the other side of his mouth and crosses his arms against his tattooed chest. “I’m listening.”

I nod. “It involves kidnapping.”

The corner of his lip tips into a subtle smirk. “I love a good kidnapping. Who is it this time?”

“Derrick.”

CHAPTER 54

EDEN

The guys weren’t in the bedroom when I woke up a few minutes ago. There were no notes left to let me know where they had gone. No text messages either. They’re just gone, and they left me free to leave if I want to.

I don’t know if it’s some test—which would be messed up. They’re the ones who broke my trust, not the other way around.

But when I reach the end of the hallway, I suck in a breath and stop in my tracks.

Two large figures tower behind Derrick, who’s on his knees. Duct tape covers his mouth. The two men wear balaclavas—the same type of mask that Elijah wore when he broke into my dorm.

Bruises cover Derrick’s face, his blond hair matted with dried blood. He’s helpless, much like how I’ve been feeling for the last two days. He peers at me through one eye, the other swollen shut and blackened.

What the hell did the guys do to him?

“Morning, little ghost,” Asher murmurs.

“I hope you got some good sleep,” Elijah says. “We’ve been waiting for you to get up.”

“What’s going on?” I inch closer.

“Getting your power back,” Elijah says.

My eyebrows scrunch together. “How?”

“That’s a good question,” a familiar voice says from the corner of the living room.

I turn, and my jaw drops. “Rome?”

He sits on the couch, a laptop perched on his knees. “Hi, little bird.”

The energy in the room changes. The threat of bodily harm raises the hairs on my nape as the twins move from behind Derrick and cross the room to me. They glare at Rome, their fingers curling around their brass knuckles.

Rome’s smile widens. “Calm down, Merciless Twins. I meant nothing by it.”

“Are you sure about that?” Elijah growls. “Because it sounded like you were flirting with our girl.”

Rome rolls his eyes. “I assure you, my eye is on someone else.”

Asher’s hands settle on my waist, and he tucks me against his side, as if he’s protecting me from Rome. I don’t understand the need to guard me from him. He’s been nothing but nice to me. I would even consider him a friend.