Page 77 of Built for Mercy

“Bad day?” he prompted, reaching out to unbuckle me and pull me across the aisle so we were sitting side by side.

Sighing, I nodded, leaning into his shoulder for comfort. It almost made me laugh—a dangerous man like Maverick beingcomforting, and yet here he was pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts.

“Maybe I just need a break,” I told him.

“I don’t disagree. You work too much.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. And while I felt more at ease than I did five minutes ago, I still felt unsettled and… off.

Snorting, I said, “Says the man who works every waking minute of every day.”

“Also not disagreeing with you on that.” He exhaled loudly. “I’d like to not work so much. If I cut out the work for the cartel, I’d be a normal entrepreneur.”

I straightened. This wasn’t a topic he brought up often. “Is that something you think about? Leaving the cartel life?”

He lifted a shoulder. “This was never a long-term plan, but my vision for my life changed when you came into my life.” The longing in his eyes had my heart sputtering. It chipped away at the bad mood that had settled into my bones the last couple ofdays. “Now will you please, for the love of God, eat something? I have plans while we’re in Vegas and I need you to have energy.”

Feeling comforted with him by my side, I conceded. “Fine.” Then, I rolled my eyes.

“Did you just roll your eyes at me?”

My stomach bottomed out. “Yes,” I whispered.

With a darkened gaze, he leaned toward me until his lips brushed my earlobe, scattering goosebumps down my arms and making my nipples harden. “Do I need to remind you what happened the last time you did that?”

I closed my eyes, remembering when he took a paddle to my ass after I scoffed at him for being upset that I didn’t tell him I was trailing Chavez again last week. It was a cherished memory.

“You were being ridiculous that day,” I told him, just to antagonize him.

Humming, he slid his hand over my thigh. “Wanting you safe isn’t ridiculous.”

“Safeisn’t in my job description.”

Those sinful lips of his trailed down my throat before sucking on a tender spot by my collarbone. I bit down on my lip to rein in my moan. “Neither is ‘vigilante killer,’ yet here we are.”

And fuck, that shouldn’t turn me on. “I love when you talk dirty to me, Mav.”

“Fucking Christ, Soph,” he growled before pulling away.

I just smirked, because he knew he was corrupting me and giving me a space to freely express myself.

My mercurial spirits lifted. I leaned across the aisle and grabbed a handful of cheese cubes.

***

Pillars, an imposing and opulent fortress of gambling and excess, towered above the bustling Vegas Strip. A waterfallcascaded down its sleek exterior, drawing in patrons like a siren’s call.

As I stepped into the lobby, I was immediately overwhelmed by the grandeur surrounding me. The sweeping ceiling seemed to stretch on for miles, adorned with glittering crystal chandeliers that cast a warm and inviting glow. Ornate pillars rose from the marble floors, creating a circular path around a majestic fountain at the center of it all. A small river through the middle of the wide hallways, with small crossing bridges, which made the space feel tranquil amid all the excited voices that mingled with the sounds of slot machines and card games.

My heart raced as Maverick led me through the crowd, his hand gripping mine tightly. I couldn’t believe I was actually here, in this extravagant world that felt so far from my humble life in the northeast.

“Wow,” I breathed, spinning in a circle. Maverick beamed.

“I like when you’re impressed by my work,” he said with pride.

I gaped at him. “You didn’t buy this place like this?”

He shook his head. “Nope. It was a dump when I bought it. Did renovations in phases, starting with the rooms and lobby. We only closed down the casino portion for two weeks to rush through the renovations.”

We continued our journey through the lobby, my heels clicking against the pristine tile floors. Everywhere I looked, there was something new and stunning to see.