André chuckled. ‘That’s a car no one can miss.’
Rafe smiled with affection for his sister. ‘Sasha likes to make a splash wherever she goes. The garage door code is programmed into the Tahoe, in case you drive it. You’ll find extra blankets and pillows in the closet, and the deli down the street delivers. There’s a magnet with their number on the fridge and a shit ton of take-out menus in the kitchen drawer.’
‘I don’t think food is going to be an issue. Your mother gave us enough for a week.’
Rafe smiled at that, too. ‘Mom cooks when she’s anxious, but I think you guessed that for yourself. Let me or Sasha know if you need anything else. And get some rest, okay?’
‘I don’t think that’s going to be an issue, either. Thanks, Rafe.’
‘You got it. Do you know what Farrah’s plans are? I assume she’ll go back to New Orleans as soon as possible. Her family must need her.’ He’d been wondering that all the way back to the house.
‘I don’t know. She’s pretty attached to Mercy and she’s torn. Her mama told her to stay for a few more days at least, for Mercy. Besides, it’ll take another few days to get her aunt’s body to be released by the ME’s office, so at this point they’re mostly planning Quill’s celebration.’ He smiled sadly. ‘That’ll be something to see. Quill lived an amazing life and never met a stranger. I think the street’s gonna overflow with her parade, and Quill would want Mercy there for it, so they’ll hold off as long as they can if Mercy can come back.’
Rafe felt a stab of regret as André’s words sank in. The Romeros loved Mercy, it was clear, and she loved them. Plus, there was John Benz, her half brother, and all the ‘sibs’, as she’d called them. Mercy had family in New Orleans, as well as a job. She wouldn’t be staying in California.
Not forever, anyway.
André’s eyes narrowed and then he sighed. ‘Well, fuck,’ he muttered. ‘Mercy’s going to be torn too, won’t she? And you want her to stay.’
Rafe wasn’t going to deny it. ‘Good night, André. See you tomorrow, okay?’
‘Tomorrow, man.’ André waved and started up the stairs, his tread slow and heavy.
Rafe entered the bottom-floor studio as Erin was coming out.
‘All clear,’ she pronounced. ‘Everything’s clean.’
‘Wait,’ he said when she reached for the house’s front door. ‘Where are you going?’
‘Out to stand watch until your backup gets here.’ She frowned. ‘The Feds sent a car, which was supposed to be here when we arrived, but they hit a traffic snarl. They’ll be here soon. I told them I’d stay until they arrive.’
‘You’ve got to be tired. Don’t you have work tomorrow?’
‘Just warming my chair,’ she grumbled. ‘No fun without you there. But yes, I do have work and my backup arrives in a half hour. Then I’ll go home and get my beauty sleep. Lock up behind me.’ She didn’t wait for a response, leaving through the front door.
He locked the door and set the alarm, shaking his head. Like he needed her to remind him.
But that was Erin, showing that she cared. Because she did, of that he was certain.
He dragged his tired ass into the apartment, locked that door, and collapsed onto the sofa. His laptop sat on the table where Mercy had left it before they’d left for his mother’s Sunday dinner, a stack of printouts of Eden-made furniture and crafts ready for the bulletin board.
He was too tired to get up and tack them to the board. He was too tired to get off the sofa and go to bed. But apparently not too tired for his mind to keep buzzing around Mercy.
God, she’d broken his heart tonight. So damn brave. And when Gideon had broken down at the end? Rafe hadn’t been able to hold himself together. Luckily, he wasn’t alone – figuratively or literally. His family had clung to one another in the hall outside the kitchen, wrapping Farrah and André into their group hug. Until Mercy and Gideon had reappeared, both looking awful with red eyes and noses. But both looked equally at peace – and suddenly Rafe had felt at peace, too.
Until just now. Because Mercy didn’t live here. He might believe she belonged here, but she had another life. That she’d stay in Sacramento for Gideon’s sake was a nice wish, but not very likely, no matter how close they got over the upcoming weeks.
In fact, it was highly likely that she’d return to New Orleans with Farrah for her aunt’s funeral and decide to stay there.
His heart was seriously at risk, but he wasn’t sure how he could protect himself. He could walk away now. Let Mercy and Gideon find Burton and put the bastard down. But that would be wrong. He’d promised to help.
He could simply make sure there was always distance between Mercy and himself. But the thought hurt.
Or, he could just be with her and enjoy what time they had, then deal with the fallout when it happened. He’d keep her safer than he’d kept Bella, that was for damn sure. Images of Bella’s body filled his head and he pushed them away, refusing to allow his mind to see Mercy in the same way.
A knock on his door jerked him from the dour thoughts. Fucking hell. He did not want to get up. ‘Who is it?’
‘It’s Mercy.’
Mercy. A tiny pulse of energy spread to his arms and legs, and he pulled himself to the edge of the sofa. ‘Give me a minute,’ he called. ‘I’m coming.’ Don’t go. Please don’t go.
‘I have a key, if that’s okay,’ she called. ‘Sasha gave it to me, but I didn’t want to barge in.’
Rafe exhaled heavily, angry with his body. But it had been an eventful two days and he hadn’t gotten much sleep the night before. Better not to push himself any further, he thought, resigned. ‘Come in.’
Opening the door, Mercy peeked her head around it. ‘Decent?’
He laughed. ‘Not remotely.’
She smiled at him, her green eyes twinkling as she closed and locked the door and then crossed to the sofa. ‘Liar. You’re too tired to get ready for bed, aren’t you?’
‘Guilty as charged.’ He patted the cushion next to him. ‘What’s wrong, Mercy?’
She sat beside him, curling her legs beneath her, her smile fading. ‘Brain’s racing.’
‘You want to talk about it?’
‘No, you should go to sleep,’ she said, but her eyes said differently, telegraphing a silent plea.
‘If I do, then just cover me up with a blanket and leave me here. Wouldn’t be the first time I fell asleep on this sofa.’ He lifted a brow. ‘You, too.’