Page 15 of No Mistakes (No Mercy #2)
MANDY
“So,” I start, crossing my arms as I glance sideways at him. “Didn’t think you’d actually show up tonight. Thought you’d vanish into the shadows like a moody Batman knockoff.”
Ant lifts a brow, tilting his head like he’s unimpressed.
“Oh, don’t give me that look,” I mutter. “You are dramatic. You’ve got this whole ‘silent brooding’ thing down to an art form. I’m surprised you didn’t rappel from the roof.”
He pulls out his phone, typing something quickly. “ You tricked her into coming. ”
“I strategically misled her.” I correct with a grin. “Big difference. And don’t act like you didn’t agree to it.”
He shrugs in response, but I see the faint smile that creeps on his face. He is secretly impressed. “You’re such a pain in the ass,” I say, walking a few paces ahead before turning back to face him. “But… thanks, I appreciate you coming to meet us. Even if it does end in my own death sentence.”
He doesn’t respond, just stands there, hands in his pockets, looking like he’s thinking of a million things and saying none of them.
I sigh, knowing I’m not going to get anything out of him. “Okay, broody boy. Time for the real reason I dragged you away.”
I reach into my coat and pull out the small silver USB drive. It feels heavier than it should. Like whatever is on it is trying to burn its way through my skin.
“Remember how I said I needed your help?” I hold up the drive between two fingers. “A guy from our work has up and left, but he didn’t just vanish. He left this .”
Ant’s attention doesn’t waver. He watches me like he’s already dissecting every word.
“I opened it. Just the first file.” I say, my voice low. “And, Ant…” I pause, suddenly unsure how to even say it because the second I do, I’ll make it real.
He takes a step closer, but he doesn’t rush; he moves towards me slowly, taking his time.
His fingers brush mine as he takes the drive, his thumb stroking over my skin like he’s grounding me.
I freeze, my brain short-circuiting under the weight of his touch.
He doesn’t say anything, doesn’t need to.
The look in his eyes is enough to make my heart do a stupid little dance, and I hate how much I want to be figured out by him.
“The first folder had photos,” I continue, trying my best to focus.
“Of Eva in the hospital. All from different angles, not official ones. Not medical records. Like someone was actually there. Watching her.” My chest tightens.
“And not just that… there were shots of us doing surveillance a few weeks back. Me and Eva. The one of me and Flynn at that damn restaurant.”
His head tilts as his expression shifts.
“Whoever took these photos wasn’t just passing by. They knew who we were. Where we were. What we were doing.”
Ant pockets the drive, his jaw clenched as he types something out. “Who is he? The one who left.”
“Adam,” I admit. I see a flicker of confusion cross Ant’s face as if he recognised the name, but I quickly dismiss it.
“He was one of ours. Quiet, smart. Too smart at times, and he knew it. He didn’t say anything to me or Eva because he was already gone by the time we returned.
He just left the badge and this. No note. No goodbye. Just… vanished.”
He types again, holding his phone up for me to see. “You think he’s dead?”
Oh my god, could he be dead? The thought didn’t even cross my mind. I shrug, and the motion feels heavier than it should at the thought of something serious happening to Adam. “I don’t know. But I’m starting to think whatever he uncovered scared the hell out of him.”
Ant doesn’t move for a second, but then he steps in even closer, his presence suddenly overwhelming, but not in a bad way.
“I didn’t know who else to turn to, Ant. Who else could I trust?”
He nods once, and in the silent gesture, a small indication that he understands. And if Ant’s in, he’s all in. He proved that to me when Eva was hurt.
“Also,” I say with a little smirk, “I figured if anyone was going to help me find the person behind all the mystery photos, it’d be the emotionally unavailable, selectively mute tech genius I happen to flirt with on a weekly basis.”
His brow lifts, clearly amused, but I can still see the faint look of concern behind it all.
Before I have the chance to bask in my victory of making him smile, a voice cuts through the quiet air.
I turn sharply, my heart jumping into my throat.
There’s movement near the cars, and I grab Ant’s sleeve without thinking, my body going still.
“They’re talking,” I whisper, like we’re in a spy movie and not just awkwardly hiding behind a car in the dark.
He stands by my side in a silent wall of calm as I watch everything unfold. I peek around the corner again. Eva’s holding something out towards Axel, her body tense while he stands just feet away from her like he’s waiting for a verdict.
“I swear to god, if this goes to shit, we’re making new fake identities and moving to Alaska.”
I feel Ant’s eyes on me, his amusement of the situation vibrating the air between us as he steps closer to me.
I reach up, the sudden urge to touch him overtaking me.
He stands there, observing my movements but he doesn’t stop me.
My fingers brush the side of him. Light, slow and tentative and just for a second, it feels like the world stills.
“Mandy?”
Eva’s voice slices through the quiet like a blade. I drop my hand instantly, my heart lurching as I whip around to face her. She’s standing just a few feet away, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. She’s not angry, but… curious. Calm. Like she knew what we were up to.
I go to speak, but then I hear heavier steps behind her. Axel moves into view like a storm front on a mission, his eyes immediately locking on Ant before narrowing when he sees how close we were standing.
“What the hell’s going on?” He demands.
Ant doesn’t flinch, just stays calm and quiet as ever. But I see the slight shift in his stance, the subtle way he angles his body in front of mine.
“We were just talking,” I say, lifting my chin. “Chill out, Robin. Nobody’s bleeding.”
Axel stalks closer, standing directly in front of Ant. “You alright?”
Ant nods, looking bored of the whole scene playing out.
“I told you she’d rope you into something,” Axel mutters, turning his gaze towards me.??
“Oh, my god,” I groan. ”He’s not a kid. Stop acting like I lured him into a van with candy and bad intentions.”
Eva’s mouth twitches and she quickly covers her mouth to hold back a laugh which pisses Axel off even more.
Ant pulls his phone out, holding it out to Axel who reads it out loud. “ She asked for help. I said yes. ” ??
Axel looks from the screen to Eva, catching something in her expression, and his eyes narrow. “Wait, you knew?”
Eva nods slightly, “Mandy told me earlier. She wanted Ant’s take before we brought it to everyone else.”
Axel’s jaw tics. “So everyone knew but me?”
“Well,” I say, not bothering to hide my grin, “if we want to talk about keeping secrets, maybe don’t lie to your girlfriend about faking your death next time”
He glares. “That’s not the same.”
“No. But it still sucked.”
Eva steps between us before it escalates. “Mandy found something. Something important. She told me, and we asked for Ant’s help. We were going to loop you in at one point, Axel. Just… not with you pacing like a pitbull.”
Ant pulls out the USB and holds it up between his fingers. Axel’s gaze zeroes in on it. “What’s that?”
“Photos,” I say quietly. “Photos of Eva. Of us . Someone's been watching, and they know way more than they should.”
Axel stiffens, and he looks straight at Eva. “And you didn’t think I needed to know?”
I hear the pain in his voice at the thought of this being kept hidden from him. Flashbacks of the night of him receiving that photo of Eva beaten and him crashing to the ground flood my mind, and for the first time, I feel sorry for him.
I step in, “I do think you need to know,” I reply. “But I also thought we’d get answers first instead of dragging you in blind.”
“I think this needs to be spoken about privately and not in the open. Will you come with me?” Axel asks, directing his question to Eva.
She looks towards me and I nod, confirming that it’s okay. She touches his arm, and for a split moment, it’s like all he can see in the world is her. “Come on, Axel, let's go.”