Mercy (Sin City Outlaws #2)(48)

“And what about her? You killing her?” Cross juts his chin toward me.

Frank’s hand slowly moves up, and I watch as he rubs his chin, his eyes raking over me. “Yes. No. Maybe. I don’t know yet.” He turns on an exhale. “I’m going to lie down before Zeek shows up, keep an eye on her. I don’t care how you do it, just do it.” Frank yanks on his tie again and heads toward the elevator.

“Oh, that’ll be my pleasure.” Cross chuckles, his eyes sweeping up and down my body. I grimace, and look the other way. I focus on a vase with fake flowers, trying to calm my rapid heartbeat. The need to break down, give up, and cry is overwhelming.

I need to figure out a way out of here.

“Tell me, how does it feel to be harboring the DNA of a man who killed your father?” Cross jabs.

“Tell me, how does it feel to be nothing more than the dog of the Outlaws?” I rebuttal. His face falls as he grits his teeth and then he marches over with haste. I have to bite my tongue to keep from laughing, his stubby legs reminding me of Mr. Potato Head walking. His hands sink into my hair, yanking hard. My humor flees as I whimper with pain.

“I’m going to enjoy ripping you apart.” Lips brush against the shell of my ear. He throws my head forward, the muscles in my neck tensing painfully. “Including that bastard baby.”

My body strikes with adrenaline, my heart thumping madly in my chest. My eyes burn to cry, but I fight it. I don’t want him to see how badly he affects me.

I won’t break. I’m strong.

“Then again, I think caging you in a basement until you pop that child out would be best. Then we can condition the kid—make him, or her, into an animal like the father. But better. One who obeys and knows his or her place.”

I stare blankly ahead, my mind not really anywhere at the moment. I’d rather die with this baby then ever let that happen.

Images of Zeek’s face before he kills fill my mind. That hollow look, the way Zeek doesn’t think he’s capable of love or being loved all portrayed on our child’s face flare behind my eyes.

I don’t want that for Zeek, and I sure as hell don’t want that for a child of mine. My limbs become antsy, my lungs burning to release an emotional scream.

“An outlaw’s blood, mixed with a sheriff’s. That kid of yours would exhibit some incredible skills.” Cross plops on the couch, his arms outstretched along the back. “Yeah, I guarantee Frank would be on board with that.” He lowers his head, his eyes hooded. “So it looks like you won’t be taking the easy way out.”

I scream a blood curdling, face reddening, all I have scream. Crying hysterically to the point I can’t even see straight.

Cross laughs in response to my anguish, hurt, and pain.

I’m breaking.

But even as the thought passes through my brain, I know it’s not true. I’m not breaking. It’s too late for that.

I’m already broken.



Zeek



GETTING READY TO HEAD BACK to Vegas I decide to call Felix and give him the heads up, find out if he’s seen Jillian.

“Hello?”

“I’m headed back to Vegas now.”

“About time,” Felix whispers. “You get the Devils to help you take the club back?”

I swallow, my head throbbing like someone is pounding a f*cking drum in there. Looking at Lip I rub at my forehead with my freehand.

“Yeah, about that. Frank gave me an ultimatum, take the shipment of money from the Mafia and he’ll let Jillian go.” The phone goes silent.

“But?” Felix knows there’s more. He knows Uncle Frank just as well as I do.

“We go back to working for Frank.”

“Are you f*cking kidding me?” Felix barks into the phone. “You and I know he’s going to kill her anyway, and after you give him the money you go back to being his bitch! If the Mafia doesn’t come and kill you first!”

“He’s not getting the money, the Devils are.” I’m trying to explain to him what is going down, but his tone of voice is really starting to piss me off.

“Have you lost your f*cking mind?” He’s angry, shouting like a pissed off teenager. “Who’s not to say the Devils won’t f*cking set you up?!”

“I don’t have a choice right now, Felix. It’s my only option!” I holler back, my patience wearing thin.

“You do this, and you won’t get the club back ever again, you know that, right? You saving her is playing right back into his hands. You’re picking the f*cking cop over your club, again!” He’s still shouting, and it pisses me off more than I already am. I snap. I’m still his f*cking president, and he’s obviously forgot his f*cking respect before he answered the phone.

“Felix!” I yell into the phone. “She’s f*cking pregnant with my child, and I’m saving her before anything else. You either be my brother and help me save my girl and unborn child, or you bail. You turn your back, portraying your loyalty to me and ending your position as my Vice President. I don’t blame you either way. I’m the one changing the rules…I know that. So step the f*ck up and be the right hand I need, or walk the hell away.”

I hang the phone up, glancing at Lip. My face must look like a f*cking kid in a horror house with the way Lip is looking back at me.