“It didn’t. You and Nick saved me.” It was easier to voice the thoughts than she had thought it would be. Growing up as she had, Mercy had wanted to leave all her vulnerabilities behind.
“You would have found a way, Merc. I’ve never met a more resilient and stronger woman.”
Mercy tensed waiting for the but, or for him to tell her how unladylike it was, but the words never came. Deep down, she knew they wouldn’t. James wasn’t her father, and she needed him to understand why her relationship with her parents was almost non-existent.
His fingers brushed patterns on her shoulder, and she snuggled closer, her legs tangled with his in a comforting, relaxed way as if they’d been together for years rather than a week or so.
“My mother and father are very different from me.”
James remained silent as if he sensed she needed to get this out and wasn’t comfortable sharing.
“My mom was the typical Stepford wife. She cooked, cleaned, kept house, always looked immaculate, and never made a single decision for herself. My dad ruled our home. He worked, but that was all he did. My mother ran the home and did as he told her. I think when I was born, they were excited that I would be the same, and at first, I was. I never got in trouble. I did as I was told, wore what I was told. But as I got older, I saw how fucked up it was that my mother had no life of her own and could only do something if my father decreed it ladylike or acceptable for a woman.”
James rolled them so they were facing each other, and she knew he could see her face in the moonlight from the gap in the curtains. His expression had a gentle look as he threaded his fingers through hers and held her hand to his heart, the other resting on the naked skin of her hip. “That sounds awful. For a woman as brave and adventurous as you are, it must’ve been stifling. What happened?”
“I began to hide clothes at school, hang out with the wilder girls. I didn’t go off the rails, but as far as my parents were concerned, I was a delinquent, even though my grades were good. I left home at sixteen and joined the local traveling circus doing high wire stuff, but as soon as I got a chance, I learned to fly, and I was good at it. I began to get gigs doing air shows as a stuntwoman, though I knew it wasn’t what I really wanted.” Mercy was lost in her memories as she felt the tears prick her eyes. “A friend of mine was killed by her boyfriend, and I saw the way the police department made a difference to her family by putting him away. I joined up, and Ian was the first person I met the day I graduated from the academy. He’s the father I wish I’d had. Don’t get me wrong, I love my parents, I always will, but we’re different people.”
James brushed the wetness from her cheeks, not judging her or telling her she was a weak female, just supporting her, and she fell even more in love with him.
“I can see why you don’t like to look weak. You don’t want to end up like your mom.”
Mercy sniffed. “Exactly. I was always so scared of becoming her that I sought out every wild thing I could, the circus, flying, the police force. None of those are jobs my father would consider appropriate for a woman.”
“Well, it’s his loss. You’re a wonderful woman, full of courage, kindness, and talent. If he can’t find it in him to look at you and be proud, he doesn’t deserve you.”
Mercy rolled into him so he went to his back beneath her, her hands landing on his chest as she felt the stony ridge of his erect cock at her center. James’s hands landed on her hips as he caressed her skin, making her shiver with desire for him.
The words she hadn’t be able to say before came easily now. “I love you, James. I don’t know when it happened, but it did. You let me be me, with no judgment or expectations.”
His eyes sought hers as his hands skimmed over her breasts, cupping them, making her moan at the sensations flooding her body. She knew he wouldn’t make love to her tonight, she was too exhausted anyway, but this intimate closeness was enough for now.
“I love you, too, Mercy. I think I have from the first moment we met. You bowled me over with your strength and sweetness. No wonder Abbie adores you as much as I do.”
“Do you want kids, James?”
He angled his head to look at her. “Yes, I always have. I come from a big family and loved every crazy minute.” His hands on her body stilled. “What about you? Do you see yourself as a mom someday?”
Mercy balanced on his chest as she carefully thought about it, choosing her words carefully. “I never used to want kids. My experience wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t sunshine and rainbows, either, but lately I find myself wanting that. Especially being around Abbie. It’s hard not to get clucky around that angel.”
James rolled, so he was looming over her, holding his body weight from her. “Just Abbie?”
Mercy smirked. “Well, her uncle is pretty hot.” He bent and nipped her neck playfully, and she laughed. “Seeing you with Abbie made me wonder what it would be like to have a family with a man like you.”
He cocked an arrogant brow. “You want my babies, Merc?”
“Hold your swimmers, Romeo. I said maybe one day, if it’s even possible with my issues.”
“I’ll convince you.”
She laughed as he kissed her again, but she thought perhaps he would, and she found she didn’t mind. James was throwing out all her preconceived ideas about family life and replacing them with healthy ones she found she wanted too. But first, they had to rescue Abbie and Beth from the Henchmen, and come hell or high water, she’d make sure they did. That stubborn part of her personality would always remain. Plus, she wanted this to end happily for the man who held her in his arms, because her happiness was now tied to his.
Chapter Twenty-One
Being in the dark was almost as difficult as waiting. James died a little inside when he allowed himself to think about his sister and niece. He had to remind himself that for their sakes, he needed to keep his mind sharp and emotionless. Their survival depended on it.
Imari was deep in her research but had sent some interesting information for them to start looking at. Nick, Ian, Mercy, and James assembled at the kitchen table, all eyes on the laptop screen. On it was a map Imari had sent them, cross-referencing all the places Rao had been since he’d arrived in Florida with Hull’s locations and some of the more influential members of his MC.
North Florida was dotted with specs of color and only a few cities or towns hadn’t been checked by the two men in their search for Bethany.
After countless minutes of examination, Nick was the first to sigh in defeat. “Come on. Look at all the places they’ve checked and they still haven’t found your sister.”
Mercy seemed to agree. “Yes, but what I see are the places between those dots. What if she’s hiding in one of those?”
Logically, what they were stating was true, but didn’t make James feel any better. So, he was apprehensive when Ian leaned forward.
“I think Mercy has a good point. When we searched for fugitives, we started with the normal avenues, such as what Hull and Rao have done. When that didn’t work, our next step was to dig more into the person’s past, their habits. What has your sister been up to in the last few years?”