Page 109 of Built for Mercy

“That’s bullshit,” I cut him off. “You betrayed him. And for that, I’ll use you as an example that I am, in fact, here to take back my rightful empire.”

The other two men in the room gasped.

“Maverick is ruthless, but not cruel,” I continued. “Unlike his father, who will see his own suffering for his actions. You, however, will not.” I pulled my gun out from the holster resting against my lower back, twisted on a silencer, and aimed rightat Chavez’s forehead. He started to plead. I pulled the trigger without a second thought.

The bullet landed right between his eyes. His head snapped back, a sickening crack echoing through the room before his body slumped to the side. Blood splattered against the concrete wall behind him, dark and wet, a grotesque halo marking his end.

Silence.

The two rebels stiffened, eyes wide, chests rising too fast, too shallow. One swallowed hard, his Adam’s apple bobbing like he was forcing down bile. The other? Frozen, fucking paralyzed, like if he moved, he’d be next.

Just like that, Chavez was dead. And they knew—they knew—they were still breathing because I allowed it. Because they were loyal to my family still.

I had been afraid that once I’d done it, I would feel empty inside. Like what I’d grasped onto as a source of my anger and bitterness would have nowhere to go.

But all I felt was peace.

I turned to Maverick, whose arm was still on my waist. He looked at me with both love and concern.

“I’m good,” I whispered, then inclined my head over my shoulder. “Let them go.”

He beamed, then kissed my forehead. “As you wish, my queen.”

My heart swelled as he stepped away and pulled out a key ring.

“You two are free to go. Tell the rest of your rebels what you saw today, and know that you will all be safe from here on out,” I informed them as they rubbed their wrists and got to their feet, stretching.

Upon their departure, I stayed in that room for several minutes. It felt so final. I’d taken my first life without hiding behind my badge, and I was okay.

Maverick was right. I’d been corrupted, but not by him. It was because of me. I had always been this way: jaded and angry. I never knew what to do with those emotions. And as wrong as it was for me to be on the other side of the law, I was right where I belonged.

51

Maverick

Sophie emerged from the basement. I half expected to see remorse, maybe regret, from taking a life so brutally. But all I saw there was self-assurance. Confidence.

She never ceased to amaze me. She continued to prove that she was my equal, my perfect match, my soulmate. A dark angel sent here to prevent me from going too far into the pitch black abyss that was my own mind, while also bringing light to the shadows.

And now, she was my wife.

I didn’t know if she was serious last night, but this morning when she suggested we go down to city hall and pull some strings to get a marriage license, I didn’t hesitate. I walked right into our closet, dug out the ring box from Vegas, and placed it in front of her.

“You were always the one, Soph,” I told her softly. Her eyes flickered down to the closed ring box and back to me. She didn’tknow about this piece yet. “Did you think I wouldn’t catch on to your little plan, angel of darkness?” I teased.

She gave me a playful and mischievous smirk. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Really?” I gripped the back of her neck and kissed her. “Are we just going to forget the fact that you told my parents we were getting married?”

“You brought it up first.”

Chuckling, I said, “Who’s the one deflecting now?”

She licked her lips nervously. “I was wondering when you’d bring that up.”

“Open it,” I urged, so she could see just how serious I was.

She did. “You were serious, too?”