Page 158 of Merciless

The guys take turns to get the bat plushie, each time they miss.

“You’re doing it wrong,” Asher growls.

“I’m doing the same thing you did,” Elijah snaps. “So by default, that means you did it wrong, too.”

I laugh at the two of them, earning glares from them before they turn back to the claw game.

“Let me try again,” I say.

The guys move out of the way. Asher feeds the machine a token for me, and I hold my breath as I move the claw over the plushie. We watch as it descends, and I lean on the tips of my toes as it grabs the plushie and raises it.

“Holy shit,” Elijah whispers.

“You fucking did it, baby.” Asher hugs me from behind.

The machine releases the plushie into the slide, and I squeal as I grab the bat. Tears form in my eyes and I hug it against my chest.

“I’m proud of you, wife,” Elijah murmurs before kissing me.

Asher pinches my cheeks between his fingers and turns my head away from Elijah so he can kiss me harder. His tongue slides against mine. He moves his hand down my throat to cup while he kisses me until I’m breathless.

By the end of it, I’m dizzy and have to lean against him to stay upright.

“What do you plan to do with it?” Elijah nods toward the plushie.

I look down at my stomach with a smile. “I want to give it to our babies.”

Both of them place their palms on my stomach, their wedding bands gleaming beneath the arcade’s neon lights.

“I think they’ll love it,” Elijah murmurs.

Asher catches me around my lower back and gently eases me backward so he can kiss me. I smile against his lips, loving the affection from him. When he finishes the kiss, Elijah shares a steamy one with me as well.

Okay, so both of them will reign me with affection. I can’t say that I’m mad about it. It’s nice to finally have the devotion.

The guys lead me outside, both of them holding my hands.

“I don’t know if this is the appropriate time,” Elijah says as we walk toward the Camaro. “But I got a letter from my father.”

Asher digs into his pocket and pulls out a sucker. He unwraps it and pops it into his mouth. He swings his gaze to Elijah, his eyebrows furrowed together.

“What did it say?” My heart hammers a little faster. I don’t know why it’s making me so nervous, but after the explosion at the school, it’s been difficult to let go.

Elijah pulls out a folded piece of paper from his pocket and waves it. “He said he’ll send the inheritance to us, but he wants nothing to do with us after that.”

I slowly nod.

I’m not surprised. He was adamant about them not being with me because of the taboo nature of our relationship. I can’t even imagine if he knew that I’m pregnant with one of the guys’ baby. He’d likely blow a blood vessel.

“We don’t need his money.” Elijah tips my chin up to look at him. “We’ve already built our own empire with you. I’ll tell him⁠—”

“No,” I say and shake my head. “Take the money.”

His eyebrows rise up his forehead. “I expected a different answer.”

I grin. “He’s offering to pay you guys a huge lump sum of money. Why not take it and never deal with him again? Take the petty road, Elijah.”

Asher snickers and winds his arms around me from behind. He kisses my nape. “My little ghost is petty, and I love it.”