Page 42 of Built for Mercy

I fought the animalistic urge to snarl at the both of them. I couldn’t get laid even if I fucking tried—because the only woman I wanted didn’t want me back.

“You’re really pissing me off. I don’t need to get laid. I’m fuckingfine.”

“That’s what women say when they’re not actually fine,” Duane pointed out. “You turning into a pussy, Mav?”

Letting out a frustrated sigh, I ripped my suit jacket off, released my cuff links, and rolled my sleeves to my elbows. My clothes felt too tight, and I just needed to fucking breathe.

I was so fucking pussy-whipped and I’d only spent one night with her.

“Seriously, I can call Priscilla. I heard you guys went out to dinner a few weeks ago.”

“Don’t you fucking dare.” The last thing I needed was to explain anything to Priscilla about Sophie. I’d be happy to never see her again.

“Why? You two have been on and off for a while now. I think it’d do you some good.”

I threw up my hands, feeling exasperated. “I’m not fucking interested in her! Now back off.”

Silence.

Which was suspicious.

I turned to both of them, my blood simmering, and sure enough, they looked like they were ready to bust out laughing, which irritated me further.

“What are you laughing at, you fucking idiots?”

“Bro,you. You’re wrapped around someone’s pinky finger. Who is it?” Paulie asked, a shit-eating grin on his face.

I ground my molars together and forced myself to sit on the couch. Then all I pictured was Sophie sitting next to me, wearingthat revealing black dress, looking at me like I was something more than just a man built for violence.

As if it weren’t bad enough that I held onto the pillow she’d slept on, breathing in her scent and wishing she were there again. When the smell had faded, it was almost torture to be in my own goddamn bed.

I sat there, trying to curb my irritation. My legs wanted to bounce; I was that fucking restless. But I forced myself to stay still.

“I don’t want to talk about it. The only thing that matters right now is that she doesn’t want to see me.”

“For the sake of humanity, please go fucking try, man. We can’t handle this shit when you’re like this,” Duane whined like the little bitch he was.

I flipped them off. “Fuck you both.”

Paulie was still smiling like a maniac. “Go fuck your woman instead.” Then his eyes widened. “Wait, Mav. Please tell me it isn’t Sophie.”

Duane’s head whipped to look at Paulie in what appeared to be mock horror. “You know, that actually makes sense. He ramped up her security detail a few weeks ago. Timeline matches to when he turned into a complete asshole.”

Paulie cackled. “Pay up, bitch.”

I sprung to my feet again and flexed my hands. “What the fuck do you mean,pay up?”

Duane grumbled as he pulled a few hundreds out of his wallet and tossed them in Paulie’s general direction, who just laughed like a child. “We bet on whether or not you’d fuck her.”

That’s it.

“You’re both pricks and on my last nerve. Go fuck with someone else. Or better yet, do the goddamn jobs I pay you to do,” I snapped as I grabbed my suit jacket and stormed out of the room.

***

I decided the boys were right. Not about just fucking Sophie, but about going to her instead of waiting around.

Fine, I fucking admit it. I missed her.