Page 6 of No Mistakes (No Mercy #2)

AXEL

The tires screech against the road as I take the next turn harder than intended. My hands tighten around the wheel while I glare at the GPS. The screen glares back as it tells me we’re ten minutes away. It’s only ten minutes, but it feels like fucking forever.

We’ve already hit two different shooting ranges, and she wasn’t there.

The clerk behind the counter must be traumatised after I barged in there demanding to see the CCTV.

At first, he said it’s against the rules, but he soon changed his mind when I pinned him against the wall by his neck, asking if he enjoyed his life.

Ant sits beside me, silent as always, but I can feel him watching me closely. He doesn’t need words to say what’s already written all over his face. I’m tense and restless. One wrong move from anyone, and I might snap.

I can still hear the faint sound of gunshots, and I know she is safe, but the thought of her being surrounded by weapons… I can’t decide if I’m turned on from her holding one, or fucking terrified.

The guys gave me a rundown of what happened at the warehouse where Marco had me tied down and tortured. They told me that Eva and Mandy both had firearms and they went there, guns blazing like something out of the God Father.

The issue I have, is I know that she is capable of holding her own, but it’s my job to protect her. It’s my job to do the dirty work. Not hers.

Ant’s phone speaks in that robotic voice, breaking me free of my own thoughts. “What’s the plan?”

The plan? I don’t fucking know. I inhale sharply, trying to steady the frustration burning inside of me. “I just need to see her,” I tell him, my voice coming out rough from shouting at our previous destination. “Make sure she’s okay, I guess.”

Ant tilts his head slightly, signing something quickly with his fingers, something he hasn’t done in years. It takes me a moment to remember everything I learnt when I attended sign-language classes to help him feel safe.

“ And what if she doesn’t want to see you?”

I clench my jaw, “Then I’ll leave.” The words taste bitter on my tongue.

“But I need to try.” The air grows thick around us as doubt creeps towards me.

The GPS tells me to take a sharp left, and I follow the instructions a bit too seriously, causing Ant to grip the door for support as he flies into it.

I grit my teeth, my heartbeat matching the steady roar of the engine as I try and beat the seven minutes displayed on the screen in front of me. She doesn’t have to forgive me. She doesn’t even have to talk to me. But I’ll be damned if I sit back and do nothing.

The second I step inside, the smell of gunpowder hits me, giving me a sense of peace.

The muffled thuds of gunfire echo through the range behind the closed doors.

A guy stands at the counter, trying to greet me, but I walk straight past him towards the doors.

I yank the handle, trying to pull them open, but they don’t move.

I turn round slowly, aiming my glare at the man hiding behind Ant, who stands firmly to the spot, eyes wide with fear.

“Er, you need access to go through there, sir.” The man says nervously.

Letting out a sigh, I walk towards him, throwing a wad of cash in his direction. “Look, I don’t want to cause any issues here buddy. I just need to find someone,” I lean forward, pressing a finger against the money. “Three hundred dollars. That's how much is sitting in front of you right now.”

The man glances towards me, then Ant. No doubt debating if he should take the money or press the panic button located under the counter.

I glance down at his name tag, making a mental note before looking at Ant, who is smirking in my direction.

He gestures his hand between me and Carlos, and I know exactly what he’s suggesting.

A low growl escapes me as I put more pressure against the counter, gripping the edges as I plaster a fake smile on my face.

“Carlos, please let me in,” I say through gritted teeth.

He looks at me for a second before looking at Ant, who is the calmer one out of us both.

Ant nods his head, and Carlos snatches up the money, stuffing it into his pockets before pressing the release button on the door.

I don’t waste any more time as I sprint towards the door, pulling it open to be greeted by the shots of firearms. My ears echo with each one, but I don’t take any notice while I search each cubicle looking for Eva.

I’m halfway through the room, frustrated at the possibility that she’s not here either, but then I see her.

Eva stands in the far lane, her stance solid, shoulders square, while she takes her time lining up the shot.

I watch while she takes a deep breath and fires.

Her shoulders shift from the recoil of the gun, but it doesn’t faze her as she stands rooted to the spot.

My head turns towards her target, and sure enough, the shot lands dead centre.

Bullseye.

My breath catches in my throat, mesmerised by the woman standing a few feet away from me, completely oblivious to the people around her watching.

She looks the same, but at the same time, she looks different. There’s something raw in the way she moves, something I can’t quite place, but it keeps me frozen in place. Ant nudges me, and I take a step forward. But before I can get any closer, someone steps in front of me, blocking my path.

Mandy.

She moves fast, getting closer so I’m not able to see Eva behind her. “Are you fucking serious right now?” She asks. I’m not sure how she is whispering but shouting at the same time, but fuck , the look on her face is scary.

“So Mandy, here’s the thing.” I say, trying my best to distract her before side-stepping to get my eyes on Eva.

“Oh no you fucking don’t.” Mandy snaps, matching my steps.

I look down towards her and her expression hardens, anger breaking through the surface. “Axel.” She says, getting closer. “You don’t get to just walk in here like you didn’t rip her apart.”

I clench my fists at my sides, swallowing hard. “I just need to talk to her.”

Mandy lets out a sharp, bitter laugh. “ Talk? You had your chance, and you blew it. And now you’re gonna show up while she’s finally trying to breathe again?” She shakes her head, her expression unreadable. “You should turn the fuck around and leave before you make this any worse.”

I manage to get a peek at Eva again. She still hasn’t noticed me.

Or maybe she has, and she just doesn’t care.

Ant shifts beside me, his presence solid and unmoving.

He doesn’t step in. He knows this isn’t his fight, but he still stands there…

fucking smiling. Mandy turns her gaze to him, and the smile disappears swiftly when she points towards him.

“And you . I will be talking to you about this later, mark my words, mister.”

The echo of the gunshots around the room starts to fill my head as a pounding thump bangs against my skull with each shot. I grit my teeth and grab Mandy’s arm lightly. “Mandy, please .” I don’t beg. Ever. But right now, I’m barely holding my shit together. “Just let me talk to her.”

Mandy exhales sharply, her fingers twitching like she’s considering punching me as she removes herself from my hold. “If she tells me she wants you here, I’ll step aside.” Her voice drops lower, more serious. “But if she doesn't? You walk.”

I nod swiftly, swallowing back the anxiety clawing at my chest. Mandy studies me for a second longer before stepping away. “Your funeral.” She mutters. I watch her walk towards Eva, but before she gets there, Eva turns.

Her eyes land on me instantly, and for the first time since she walked out of the house, I see it. Not just the heartbreak. The rage.

I see the storm brewing inside of her as she locks her gaze on to me. I’m pretty sure if we weren’t surrounded by a group of people, it would be enough to bring me to my knees.

She places the gun down, making sure to secure it before turning back towards me. I don’t get the reaction I expect. She should be yelling. Screaming. Throwing something. Maybe even hitting me. But instead, she just… laughs.

And not just any laugh. Full-bodied, hands-on-her-knees, like I just told the funniest joke in the world. My stomach twists into knots as I watch her straighten, wiping at her eye like she’s actually amused.

“There is no fucking way.” She shakes her head, letting out another sharp, bitter laugh. “You really fucking followed me here?”

I force myself to hold my ground. “Eva-”

She holds up a hand, cutting me off as she takes slow, deliberate steps closer. There’s no warmth in her gaze now. Just a quiet, simmering rage.

“What was your plan here, Axel? Huh?” She tilts her head, circling me. “Thought you’d show up, flash those sad puppy eyes, and I’d forget that you let me think you were fucking dead?”

I inhale sharply, trying to find the right words to say. “I never wanted to hurt you.”

She barks out another laugh. “Oh, well, that makes it so much better.” She takes another step, getting close enough that I can see the tension in her jaw.

She’s close enough for me to grab her and take her with me, but I know that will only make things worse.

“You didn’t want to hurt me? Then what the hell did you think was going to happen? ”

My throat tightens from hearing the pain behind the anger, but I won’t let that stop me. “Eva, just-”

She walks away, back to where the gun lies on the table. I watch, hypnotised by the way she moves when she lifts the gun, aiming at the target down the range.

My pulse kicks up, but she doesn’t hesitate as her finger squeezes the trigger and the shot cracks through the air.

Bullseye.

The whole range falls into silence from Eva’s actions. Everyone, no doubt wondering what the fuck is going on as whispers start wrapping around us.

“See, here’s the thing, Axel.” She says, keeping the gun raised.

Her stance is steady while her voice stays eerily calm.

“You don’t get to show up and pretend like you still have a place in my life.

You don’t get to follow me around, acting like you have any right to be here after what you did.

” She looks back at the target, a small smile appearing on her lips before turning towards me.

I watch as she tilts her head, her eyes flickering over me like she’s deciding whether I’m worth her time. She takes a step towards me, twirling the gun around her finger with ease while staring into my soul.

She stops in front of me, looking up at my eyes, and I can feel the heat radiating from her body as the scent of gunpowder and vanilla clouds my senses. I can’t help but close my eyes as I inhale her perfect scent. Locking it into my brain for later.

A cold metal presses against my top, causing me to open my eyes, and I look down to see her smirking as she presses the gun into my chest forcefully. I don’t dare breathe when her fingers tap against the side of the gun, just enough to make me aware of how fucking dangerous this moment is.

Every second she stands here sends heat rushing through my veins, and fuck, I feel it. The pressure is building below as heat crawls up my spine.

I don’t have to look to know my dick is pressing against my jeans, fighting to be let free. Because seeing her like this… Angry, untouchable, and completely in control is the most fucking attractive thing I have ever seen in my life.

Eva’s eyes flick downwards for a second, causing her smirk to deepen.

“Well, well,” She murmurs, stepping even closer.

The only thing keeping us apart right now is the gun pressed against my ribs. “Still think you’re the one in control?” She asks seductively.

Her voice is like silk wrapping around my throat, stopping me from speaking.

She leans in just enough for her breath to tickle against the skin on my neck, causing goosebumps to appear. “Careful, Axel. Wouldn’t want me to accidentally pull the trigger.”

And just like that, she steps back, walking towards her target before firing another shot. I don’t need to look to see that she hit the bullseye for a second time. Not with the reaction Ant and Mandy just gave from beside me.

I exhale slowly, trying to calm my body down while flexing my fingers at my sides.

My fingers twitch, every muscle in my body tight with the instinct to reach for her, to pull her in, to make her stop playing this fucking game.

But I don’t. Because she’s the one calling the shots now.

And fuck, that only just makes me want her even more.

My body is wired, tense, and aching from the interaction.

Not with the need to fight or run… but to fucking chase.