Page 17 of Intent to Kill
“I think we should give him a chance,” Paul said.
Mercedes, who had been death glaring Adam, turned on her childhood best friend. “Paul?”
“He’s come back with a plan, so he says. We’re in all the right places with no idea how to pull the trigger,” Paul said.
“What the fuck?!” Dan shoved at Paul.
“We have no intention of pulling triggers,” Carlos agreed.
“There’s no triggers,” Mercedes said. “We’ve got everything we need. Life is perfectly fine just the way it is.”
“But it’s not great, is it?” said Paul.
“I don’t know about you, but I never sought out to be mediocre.” Adam shrugged, but his opinion was about as welcome as a surprise finger to the ass.
“If you’re in, you’re in for life,” Paul reminded them.
That seemed to do it—Dan, Carlos, and Paul all turned to Mercedes and winced.
Adam was surprised to find they’d stuck together all these years, but he shouldn’t have been. Not with her at the helm. She made them a team and she kept them a team. She built this family from the ground up. She had single-handedly molded every one of them together for life. And, to Adam’s advantage in that moment, the phrasein for lifewas still a promise.
Mercedes unfolded her arms and kicked the dirt. “You don’t even know what he wants.”
“I just want back in,” Adam lied, to which Paul replied with a raised brow.
“No,” Mercedes said.
“M...” Paul clasped her shoulder. “We don’t leave each other high and dry. That’s not what family does.”
“He’s not my family,” she spat, acting like Paul was the only person listening. Adam rolled his eyes, but inside his heart bled.
“Yeah... yeah, he is. We all are.” Paul rubbed her back. It was clear that her mind had been made up for her.
“Fine,” Mercedes gritted out, turning her death glare back on Adam. “But we’re not stupid kids anymore, Adam. We plan what we do, we do it carefully and get it right. You follow my rules.”
“Wouldn’tdreamof breaking them,” he said. He was trying to flirt, why did it come out like a taunt? Fuck.
Adam could practically see her counting to ten, forcing herself to not kick his teeth in. “First, Dorian still thinks you’re dead, so keep your face hidden. Second, keep your fucking hands off me. And—and—this last one is very important.” Adam wasn’t sure what she was searching for in his eyes, but she must have found it because she continued. “Your coming back will not save me. Ido notneed to be saved. So don’t try.” She pointed her fingers toward him in accusation.
In his periphery, Adam looked over to Dan, Carlos, and Paul, who were staring at the dirt, looking like they’d literally rather get a blowjob from a shark than participate in this conversation. So much for support.
Adam always knew she would be the hardest to bring back around, but the intensity of her hate was surprising.
“You know I only live to please you, baby,” Adam laughed.
“You’re still such an ass,” Mercedes said.
“Fine,” Adam said. “I’ll be careful and I won’t touch you.”
“And?”
Adam sighed. “And…fine, I won’t try tosaveyou.” Looking out for her was second nature for him, this would be the hardest promise to keep. But little did she know he’d come back hopingshewould savehim.
“Good,” she said, keeping his eye contact until she turned and began walking away. He couldn’t help but notice her spinning her engagement ring on her finger once her back was turned. Like it was a nervous tic. He’d deal with that later.
“Ahhh, the Big Five!” Adam shouted.
She didn’t look back as she flipped him off.
