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Chapter Thirty-Four

MERRICK

Holy. Fucking. Shit.

And I mean that with everything inside of me. Holy. Fucking. Shit. The moment Colette pulls the trigger, everything goes wild. Ravet turns to me and pushes me backward, but since he’s weak as fuck right now, I only stumble a few steps before I right myself.

I pull my gun out of my holster and press the barrel against Ravet’s forehead. Looking down at him, I think about letting him live and maybe just ruining his life. But then I remember what he’s capable of.

All he’s capable of .

And fuck that.

Absolutely fuck that.

Leaning forward, I look into his eyes, and I pull the trigger. I don’t close my eyes when blood, brains, and hair explode in my face and everywhere else. I hear screaming in the background, but I ignore it.

Turning toward Marcello, I jerk my chin down to the politician. He lifts his hands, his palms facing me.

“Please,” he cries. “Please.”

I watch as tears stream down his cheeks, and for a moment, I feel sorry for him for just a second, but then I remember exactly who he is. If this man survives, he will, without a doubt, come after us. It doesn’t matter that he bought and paid for a chance to fuck my woman. I’ve got no proof of it, though. So good fucking luck getting anyone to believe me.

“Marcello,” I rasp.

Without me having to say another word, Marcello takes out his gun and shoots the secretary of state in the temple. I watch as the blood sprays everywhere from him, brains and hair too. Slowly, I lift my gaze to meet his.

“You’re the man in charge now,” I say. Marcello tilts his head to the side, tipping his chin slightly as he looks into my eyes. My lips twitch as I watch him for a moment. “Thank you for everything, and I hope I don’t offend you by saying I never want to see you again.”

Marcello’s lips curve up into a grin as he lets out a bark of laughter. “Agreed,” he says with a chuckle.

I watch him as his gaze flicks over to Colette. I haven’t even looked at her yet. She could have been the one screaming, for all I know. I can’t look at her right now, not in this room, in this house, not until I know that she is safe.

“You’ll take care of her?” he asks.

“Not that it’s your fucking business,” I say before I continue, “but yes. Colette is mine. What about that Marina woman?” I ask.

“She will be taken care of,” Marcello murmurs.

My lips twitch into a smirk. I should not be happy about the fact that Marcello is going to take care of anyone, but I know that woman is a cold-hearted fucking bitch, and I’m pretty sure nobody is going to miss her.

Marcello dips his chin, his gaze flicking over my shoulder, no doubt to look at Colette standing there. Whatever he sees in her, he must be fine with because he focuses his attention back on me before he clears his throat.

“We are good, Merrick.”

I don’t walk away immediately. Grayson makes his way to my side, and we look down at the pile of flesh and bones on the floor. This is the man who ruined our childhoods, our teenage years, and ultimately our lives.

The only reason we are not all stuck in the constant state of anger is that most of us have been able to tamp that down. And now look, two of us are in relationships. Theron married, me divorced and ready to be married again. We can all rest easy now that Ravet is dead.

Our vengeance has been taken.

A palm’s warmth is placed at the middle of my back, tearing my attention from the pile of shit on the floor. I lift my head, and my eyes slide to the side, to Grayson beside me. I don’t face him. This isn’t a moment when we need to even look at one another.

Lifting my arm, I place my hand on his shoulder, curling my fingers there before I give him a single shake before I speak, but my words are only to ask a single question.

“Grayson?”

“It’s really him, and he’s really gone,” he rasps.

“Yes,” I confirm.

The weight that is lifted from my chest, not even my shoulders but my whole fucking chest, is beyond anything I’ve felt before. I didn’t even realize that I had been holding on to that the way I was. I feel like I could fucking fly now.

“I wish he had suffered more,” Grayson grinds out.

“Yeah,” I grunt.

Turning my head, I look over my shoulder at Colette. Her eyes meet mine before her lips curve up into a soft smile. “Let’s go home,” she whispers.

I face her completely and cup her cheek before I dip my chin and touch my mouth to hers. “Let’s go home, baby,” I rasp against her lips before I press them hard against hers.

Straightening, I drop my hand from her face before I reach out and curl my fingers around her wrist. Turning away from the bodies, I walk out of the office and head toward the front door. Adriano’s men don’t stop us. In fact, they walk right past us and toward the office.

Grayson climbs into the driver’s seat of the car while I guide Colette to the back seat. When she’s inside, I close the door, open the passenger door, and sink down with a heavy sigh. Rolling my head to the side, I look over to Grayson before I speak.

“Let’s go home.”

COLETTE

The eight-hour drive from New York to North Carolina happens in complete silence.

I’m not upset about it because I need that time to think and reflect and think some more. I don’t fall asleep, even though I should. My body, mind, and soul are exhausted. I can’t remember the last time I slept or ate, but I don’t care because as each mile passes, the feeling of relief increases.

My entire body grows lighter with each and every minute as we approach North Carolina. When I see the sign for the state limits, I let out a sigh of relief. Neither of the men looks back at me or says a word.

I’m closer to Nights, North Carolina, than I have been in months. Closer to my complete freedom. Marcello won’t come after me. Malcolm can’t come after me. And my father will never use me again. I’m finally free. It’s a sensation that I only felt once, and it was for a very brief time. The last time Merrick drove me here, I felt this sense, but it didn’t last long. It was fleeting.

I know now it’s real and it’s here to stay.

I don’t know what is going to happen in the future, but right now, I can’t imagine anything but the absolute best things coming my way. Maybe I’m being far too optimistic, but at the same time, it’s all I can be right now.

When the car stops, my body instantly jerks. I lift my head, letting my eyes roam, looking through the window and taking in where I am. It’s then that I realize I’m exactly where I’ve dreamed of being for months—Merrick’s home—my home.

Nights, NC .

The door opens with Merrick standing on the other side, his palm facing up, offering it to me. The moment I slip my hand into his, he curls his fingers around mine as I slowly stand to my feet. He tugs me upward, so I’m on the concrete.

Tipping my head back, I look up at the building. I missed this place. Even though this was only my home for a very short time, it felt more like a home than anywhere in New York or Florida I lived with my father.

I place both my hands on his chest as I tip my head backward. As I search his gaze, I try to ignore the blood that covers his face. Reaching out, I glide my fingertips down his cheek and then his jaw. I don’t say anything, but a million questions spin around in my head.

As much as I want to, I don’t ask any of them, mostly out of fear of the answers. I’m not so sure that I want to know. I think I’m content to live in complete denial as long as that means I’m with him—here beside him.

Grayson jumps out of the car and takes the bags out of the trunk, setting them on the sidewalk. He lifts his hand in a wave, then sinks back down into the driver’s seat before the car eases into traffic and zooms away.

I’m not sure when Grayson packed the bags, but it doesn’t matter. At least I have something to change into after I clean the blood from my body. I watch as Merrick picks up both bags in one hand, then wraps his fingers around mine again before he tugs me behind him and toward the main door.

Thankfully, the building is empty as we make our way to the elevator and slip inside. I can’t help but stare at his face. The blood is dry, but that doesn’t make it go away. He’s covered in blood… and stuff . I try not to categorize what it is that’s actually covering his face. I don’t really want to know.

I’m sure I look similar, maybe not as gruesome because I wasn’t standing as close, but then my mind starts to drift more the higher the elevator climbs. All I can do is think about my father.

I killed him.

I killed him dead right there in his office.

The elevator car dings as the doors open. Stepping off the elevator and into the hallway feels like a dream. I move, but I’m not sure where I am or what I’m doing. Once we step into the condo, when the door closes behind me and I hear the click, that’s when everything changes.

That is the moment my body jerks and my whole world suddenly turns brighter.

Without a word, Merrick moves toward me, reaching for my cheeks. He cups them before he slams his mouth against mine. The kiss is hard—unyielding and perfect all at the same time.

He reaches down, wrapping his fingers around the backs of my thighs as he backs me up so I slam against the door. Then I feel him ripping at my clothes. I help him take everything off until I’m completely naked. Merrick’s tongue fills my mouth as he tastes me—wholly.

I.

Am.

Alive.