Page 21 of No Mistakes (No Mercy #2)

ANT

Eva’s hungry.

Axel didn’t even reply to the text, just flipped the signal on his car and turned off. Minutes later, we were pulling into a gas station somewhere between Pennsylvania and Cleveland.

I step out first, heat slamming into me like a wall. The sun’s dropping low, telling me we need to get a move on, and soon if we want to enter Chicago like ghosts.

Gunnar climbs out of the car in front of me, alongside Flynn, stretching like they just ran a marathon.

Flynn sniffs the air, “This place looks and smells like it sells beef jerky as well as god knows what.”

Carter follows suit, climbing out of the passenger side of my car, already rambling before his feet even hit the gravel. “I swear, if they don’t have those Cheddar Combos, I’m gonna flip. I need road trip fuel. Like actual food. Protein, cheese and fake pretzels.

Gunnar rolls his eyes. “That’s not food, bro. That’s edible trash.”

Axel appears from the side of the building, walking towards us like nothing’s happened. But I clock the tension in his jaw, the faint red marks at the base of his neck. Whatever went down in that bathroom with Eva wasn’t just a casual talk.

Carter sees him and grins widely. “Took you long enough, lover boy. Everything go okay?”

Axel flips him off without a word, opening his car door to grab a bottle of water.

I pull out my phone, typing a message to show Carter, “I told you he would cave, you owe me 20 bucks.”

“Dude, you didn’t even say it out loud, no fucking way that counts.”

“Don’t be a sore loser, admit you lost.” I type quickly.

He mutters something under his breath, but pulls two tens out of his wallet, slapping them into my palm.

Axel shuts his door, “Next, you’ll be betting when my funeral is.” He says, coming round to join us.

Carter slings an arm around Axel’s shoulder, and I already know he’s going to say something that will earn him a smack around the head, if not worse.

“Axel, catch up, your funeral was like last week, man. You missed some killer sandwiches.” He looks at each of us, waiting. “Come on, guys, get it? Killer. Funeral…No one?”

I shake my head at his joke, hiding the smile that’s forming on my face.

“Don’t quit your day job,” Flynn says, grabbing a cigarette from his back pocket.

Axel leans against the hood of the car, scanning the horizon like he’s trying to spot something.

“We’ll be in Chicago around midnight if we keep the stops short.

“Plan still the same?” Gunnar asks, pinching a cigarette from Flynn.

Axel nods. “House first. We run some recon while we find out who knows what. We also need to find out who the cops are working for.”

Carter takes a step forward, “People are talking. One of my guys heard it on the grapevine.” He looks at Axel. “Some think you’re dead, some don’t. No body, no proof. Just whispers.”

Axel’s mouth tightens. “Let them whisper. That’s all they get for now.”

I pocket the cash Carter gave me, and I glance towards the station doors, noticing someone moving strangely around the entrance.

They have their hood up, hands tucked inside their jacket, and I can’t help but think it’s too hot for that kind of shit.

I angle my body and walk slowly, pretending to stretch my legs while my brothers ramble on.

The person goes inside, and I follow a few paces behind, but not too close so they notice. They pull their hood down as they head straight to the fridge, pulling out a Gatorade before heading to the checkout like every other tired traveller.

I back off and turn back towards the fridges, reaching in and grabbing a few cans of Reign to keep me fuelled for the drive. I turn, heading in the direction of the snacks, trying to find Carter’s fake pretzels, when I hear her voice.

“Do you think there’s a fairground nearby?” She asks.

No one responds for a few seconds, and then I hear Eva, “A fairground?”

“Yeah. Like rides, games, all that cheesy stuff.” I move closer, trying to hear every word. “I’ve never been to one.”

My chest tugs, and I freeze in place, careful not to make a sound.

She says it like it’s no big deal. Like she’s talking about a movie she forgot to watch, or a book she meant to read. But it sticks with me. Lodges itself somewhere deep and immovable.

Never been to a fairground.

I stay still, crouching behind a rack of overpriced chips, listening for her laugh, waiting for her to say she’s joking. Waiting for Eva to tease. But the silence that follows is thicker than the heat outside.

She meant it.

I think about the way her eyes light up when she sees something new.

The way they lit up in the car, each time we drove past an attraction.

The way she spins around when the lights of a place catch her just right.

The way she tries so hard to act like she’s seen it all and felt nothing.

When really, she’s hungry for things that make her feel everything.

Joy. Wonder. A goddamn fairground.

I breathe in deep, my fingers tightening around the cans in my hands.

For a second, I picture it. Her hand in mine, the taste of cotton candy on her lips, the glow of neon lights turning her skin gold.

I can practically hear her laughing, really laughing, and not just that low chuckle she gives when she’s deflecting.

I don’t even realise how long I’ve been hiding behind the snacks here until I hear the ding of the register and Eva’s voice again.

“Come on, let's get out of here before Carter starts decaying from lack of food.”

I move quickly, heading to the other end of the store and rounding back toward the fridges like I’ve only just walked in. I wait until I hear the door jingle shut behind them before stepping up to the counter. The guy behind gives me a nod, barely looking up.

I pay for the drinks and snacks and head outside, joining everyone else.

Carter is leaning against my car, already halfway through a packet of peanut M&M’s that the girls must have gotten him. Axel’s eyes flick to me when I hand over a drink. I don’t say anything. Just unlock my car and climb in.

I turn the car on, feeling the AC hit my skin instantly, but it doesn’t get rid of her words that stick to me like glue.

I’ve never been to one.

Like hell she hasn’t. Not anymore.

Everyone else slowly climbs into their designated vehicles, and I quickly pull out my phone, looking up fairgrounds nearby.

I find one a few hours away, and I text Axel in our group chat, telling him there is a change in plans and that we won’t be getting to Chicago tonight.

Because now, I’m going to make sure her dream comes true.

With me.