Page 138 of Merciless

Everything comes into focus in my mind. Asher knocked me out and brought me back to Elijah’s bedroom, and now I’m tied like a captive.

A lump forms in my throat when the rest rushes in.

It was all fake. They didn’t mean anything they said. I’m nothing but a bet to them. They made me believe they had feelings for me, and they made me fall for them.

Tears sting my eyes, making the puffiness worse than before.

The video clip flashes through my head, dulling everything around me. I cringe and squeeze my eyes shut.

All I ever wanted was to belong, and the guys made me feel like I was finally accepted for who I am. But it wasn’t because they cared for me. The Merciless Twins made me their sole focus to make a mockery of me. I won’t be able to show my face around here ever again. Screw what my stepfather and mother want out of me. I can’t continue living this lie.

Tears slip down my cheeks, and I swallow hard around the lump in my throat. A whimper escapes me, and I muffle it by biting my bottom lip. I don’t want the guys to know I’m awake. If I pretend to sleep, they can’t talk to me.

Voices carry through the hallway, and I squeeze my eyes shut. I suck in a quiet breath when footsteps come down the hall, then stop outside the door. It creaks open.

“Is she awake?” Elijah asks.

Silence.

I wait for the sound of the door closing, but it never comes.

“Yeah,” Asher murmurs. “She’s still out.”

“How hard did you hit her?”

“Enough to knock her out and bring her back here.”

“We need to catch Rome while he’s still here. I hope to God he’ll help us.”

“I’ll make sure of it,” Asher says. “I have dirt on him.”

“More secrets?”

“I meant what I said about secrets always coming out.”

Their footsteps shuffle over the floor, and the door shuts.

I let out a shaky breath and roll onto my back. My eyelashes flutter as I open my eyes, and I suck in a breath.

Asher and Elijah stand at the end of the bed, their dark eyes on me.

Asher grins, his sucker pushing against the inside of his cheek, and he folds his arms. “Brat. You thought I couldn’t tell if you’re asleep or not?”

“I don’t want to talk to you.” I glare at him.

He shrugs a shoulder. “Neither do I. I’d much rather do other things with you.”

“It’ll never happen again. I refuse to let you make me into content to use against me.”

He narrows his eyes. “What happens between us stays between us.”

“Liar.”

“Now, why would I lie to you?”

“I don’t know, maybe for the same reasons you lied to me before.” I wiggle my arms. “How long do you plan to keep me tied up?”

Asher and Elijah share a look before they turn to me.