Page 38 of No Mistakes (No Mercy #2)

AXEL

I lie there for a moment, watching her chest rise and fall, her hair fanned over the pillow as she sleeps.

The soft light from our driveway spills across her bare shoulder as it seeps through the curtains, and for a second, I let myself pretend the world isn’t about to turn to shit in a matter of hours.

Ever since that night with Benny, we’ve hardly been apart. Like she finally remembered who I am, and just how far I’ll go for her.

I roll over, leaning my weight on my elbows as I cage her in under me, pressing my lips to her cheek, then her jaw, all the way to the curve of her neck. Slow enough that she stirs.

“Go away,” she mumbles, swatting a lazy hand at me.

A low laugh escapes me. “Oh, come on now, Buttercup. That’s a funny way of saying, ‘Axel, I just love you so much.’”

She opens one eye, giving me a glare that has no heat in it as she glances at the clock on the bedside table. “ Three in the morning, Axel. Three.”

I grin, because she’s right. The house is silent as everyone else sleeps, gathering as much energy as they can before we step into a blood bath.

In a few hours, I’ll be walking into an auction room full of men I’ve hated since I was old enough to understand what they were.

Only this time, I’m not just looking to shake hands, I’m looking to end them.

I lean down, pushing the thought away as I kiss her again. I keep my voice low as I kiss along her jaw. “We’ve got a long day ahead. Might as well start it with something I can’t get enough of.”

She groans when I kiss her again, but her arms loop lazily around my neck anyway, and I see a faint smile on her lips. She’s warm, soft, still caught in that in-between state where the body’s awake but the mind’s not ready to join it.

“And what is that?” She tilts her head.

I grin, leaning close to her, “Hmm, well, it tastes divine, like an addiction I never want to get rid of.”

“And?” She asks, her body more awake as she wiggles underneath me.

“It’s sweet, warm…” I trail my lips along her jaw, watching her shiver. “… and absolutely necessary in the morning.”

She arches an eyebrow, biting her lip. “Necessary?”

I grin against her skin, then whisper, “Yes…like…coffee.”

Her eyes snap open just as I push myself up, hopping off her. She sits up quickly, hair tousled as she scowls at me.

“Coffee?” she repeats, mocking glare. “ Really, Axel?”

I chuckle, grabbing a shirt off the chair. “Yep. Coffee. And now, get moving.”

She groans, throwing a pillow at me. “Piss off,” she mutters, but the corners of her mouth betray her, showing me she’s not mad.

I shake my head, still grinning. “Yeah, sure. But I’ll be downstairs waiting… and so will breakfast.”

I back away before she can launch another pillow at me, closing the door with a quiet click. Waking her up without food ready is one thing; waking her up with the promise of food and failing to deliver would be a death sentence I’m not ready to face.

The house feels colder downstairs, shadows stretching long across the walls in the early hour as the lights from the porch seep inside through the frosted windows, next to the door. The faint tick of the grandfather clock in the hall keeps time with my footsteps.

I turn the corner to the living room, spotting Flynn already here, hunched over the coffee table with the map spread open. His eyes are locked on it until he notices me, his expression flicking from focus to something lighter. “Morning.”

“You’re up early,” I say, dropping into the chair opposite him. The cushions swallowing me whole.

“Yeah. Couldn’t sleep.” He exhales, like the weight on his chest is heavy enough to crush his ribs.

“Wanna talk about it?”

He pushes the map away, leaning back in the armchair until the front legs lift slightly off the ground. “It’s just… part of me hoped we could’ve left this life behind, y’know?”

I lean forward, elbows resting on my knees, watching him avoid my eyes like the map might still give him answers if he stares hard enough, as if it might give him a way out.

“That’s the thing about this life, Flynn,” I say quietly. “It doesn’t care about what you hoped. It only cares if you’re ready.”

He snorts, but it’s humourless. “And are you? Are you ready to dive back in like nothing happened?”

I shrug, stretching my legs out like we’re talking about the weather and not our lives. “I’m ready to do what has to be done. And so are you.” I tilt my head at him. “Don’t start doubting now, it’s a bad habit.”

His jaw works like he wants to argue, but he doesn’t. Instead, he drags a hand down his face and mutters, “Just feels like every time we think we’ve got a shot at something better, it slips.”

“Better doesn’t just show up,” I tell him. “You take it. Or you don’t get it at all.”

For a moment, the room stays quiet except for the clock ticking and the faint hum of the fridge in the kitchen. I let him sit with it, because sometimes words only stick when they’re left to sting.

Finally, I push up from the chair. “I’m making coffee. You want some?”

Flynn gives me a half-smile, “Yeah. Black.”

I head into the kitchen and press start on the coffee machine. Eva preps it every night before we go to bed, making our mornings as easy as possible.

I pull a pan from the cupboard, ready to make my girl some eggs for breakfast. It’s the kind of morning where the cold air feels sharper, like the whole world’s holding its breath. We’ve got a long day ahead of us, and I want everyone fed, awake, and ready before we leave for the plane.

The machine hisses and gurgles, filling the kitchen with the smell of fresh coffee. I lean against the counter, yawning while I wait for it to finish. My eyes drift to the window over the sink, and I watch as the stars gleam against the dark sky.

The sound of the front door opening catches my attention, and my brow furrows. It’s way too early for anyone to be heading out, especially in this cold.

I stay where I am, listening carefully to the steps. They’re too light to be Gunnars. Too uniform to be Carters…

I pop my head out of the kitchen doorway, spotting Flynn still hunched over the map in the same spot I left him in. My gaze flickers to the door, and as if he knows exactly what I’m thinking, he speaks up. “Eva. She said she left something in the car yesterday.”

A slow grin tugs at my mouth. Perfect.

I push away from the door, moving silently towards the hallway, every step light on the old floorboards. The front door opens, and she slips through the gap carefully, shutting the door. She stands there for a moment, her head tilted back slightly as she breathes deeply, shaking off the cold.

I step up behind her, close enough that my voice cuts through the air.

“Boo.”

She spins around, facing me before I even have a chance to say anything else, and I jump back. Her hand moves faster than most people can think, like me, for example, as I flatten my back against the wall.

I don’t flinch when the knife lands next to me, just inches from my face. I tilt my head, a slow smile tugging at my lips as I watch the most beautiful woman alive glare at me with pure rage.

“You know,” I murmur, “You could’ve just said you missed me… Instead of throwing sharp objects.”

Her eyes narrow, lips twitching like she’s deciding whether to throw another or just stab me where I stand.

“You snuck up on me at three in the damn morning, Axel, you’re lucky that’s all I threw.”

I glance at the knife still stuck in the wall. “Lucky? You missed on purpose, Buttercup.”

She walks past me, her shoulder grazing mine as she walks towards the living room, ignoring my comment.

A low chuckle escapes from my throat, and I pull the blade from the wall, spinning it lazily in my hand before setting it on the hallway table.

“Coffee’s ready,” I shout, walking into the kitchen, pleased with myself.

By the time everyone is gathered in the living room, the air has changed significantly.

The map is still spread across the table, except this time it’s joined with notes, markers, and photos.

Everyone takes their place around the room.

Gunnar is at the far side, leaning against the wall, sipping his coffee.

Carter is perched on the arm of the sofa, and Ant is silent but watchful as he takes in the scene before him, his gaze flicking between us and his laptop.

Eva is curled up at the end of the sofa, Mandy next to her, both of them wide awake while they talk about anything and everything.

I plant my palms flat on the table and look at each of them. “Alright. Listen closely. Tonight isn’t about negotiations. It isn’t about deals. We’re walking into a buyer’s meeting, an auction where girls of all ages are treated like merchandise. And we’re going to burn it to the fucking ground.”

The room falls silent as everyone stops what they’re doing, every bit of attention on the words I’m saying.

“Mandy,” I continue, my gaze locking on her.

“You’ll be on the inside, posing as one of their workers, blending in, keeping your ears open.

They won’t suspect you, and you’ll be close enough to know who’s who before we make our move. ”

Mandy nods, “And how will I get this information to you?”

I point across the room to Ant, and he pulls a device out of his bag, chucking it in my direction. I catch it effortlessly, holding it up for her to see. “You’ll have this hidden microphone. We will be able to hear every word that is said, including yours.”

I throw it in her direction, letting her inspect it. “So basically, I get to play dress-up and then drop the curtain when shit hits the fan? Sounds like my kind of night.”

Eva groans, elbowing her. “Do you ever take anything seriously?”

Mandy throws her head back against the cushions, smiling at her. “Not if I can help it.”

I slam a hand against the table, my stare cutting through them as they both fall silent. “This isn’t a joke. One wrong move and they’ll see right through it. And if that happens, you won’t be walking out.”

The weight of my voice leaves no room for argument. Eva shifts in her seat, “And me?”

My chest tightens at the thought of her being hurt, but I keep my tone steady. “You’ll be staying close to me. I’m not risking the chance of losing you again.”

Her eyes soften, but I don’t let myself get lost in them. Not now.

I drag my gaze across the room, landing on each of my brothers.

“Axel,” Gunnar mutters with a grin, like he already knows what I’m about to say.

“Your job’s simple,” I tell him. “Force. You’re our hammer. When this meeting cracks open, you hit first and hard. You don’t stop until no one’s left standing.”

He cracks his knuckles, grin widening. “Music to my ears.”

“Carter,” I continue, shifting my attention. He doesn’t move, just waits for his orders like a soldier. “You’re our marksman. Keep your head clear, take out the ones in charge - that’s your priority.”

He nods once, mentally taking notes on what to do.

“Flynn,” I say, meeting his gaze. He’s already leaning forward, hungry for the feast. “You’re our control. Doors, exits, and the flow of the room. No one gets in or out unless you allow it. We’re not losing a single girl, you understand me?”

His jaw flexes, but he nods, voice firm. “Understood.”

Finally, I look to Ant. He doesn’t ask, doesn’t need to.

His silence speaks for itself by the way his body tenses, preparing for battle.

“You,” I tell him, my voice dripping lower.

“You’re shadowing Mandy. If she so much as stumbles, you make sure no one touches her.

You move when she moves. You stop when she stops.

She’s yours to protect. You let nothing get in your way. ”

His eyes flicker, dark and sharp, and he gives me a firm nod.

I sweep my gaze back over the room, over my family, my crew, the people I’ll kill for without hesitation.

“We get in. We cut them down. And we take every girl out with us, so eat. Drink your coffee. Say your prayers if you’ve got any left. Because tonight, the world will know the Ashford brothers are back for good.”

The room stays quiet as everyone looks towards me, and I push away from the table, standing straight.

“Get packing, we’ve got a plane to catch.”