Page 21 of Merciless

A third person steps out of the shadows, and I glimpse him as he moves closer. He says something to the brothers that I don’t catch, but at least it makes them stop attacking me like a pack of dogs.

My laughter fills the night as I lie sprawled on the ground, my good eye focused on the stars above me. Sticky wetness drips onto my upper lip from my nose.

I make out Brennon’s voice as he says, “Why the fuck is he laughing?”

Austin grabs my ankle and drags me away from the car and down the driveway. I glance at the third man, but I only glimpse a flash of white hair.

Then nothing.

CHAPTER 10

EDEN

DAY 2 OF THE BET

I scowl at the claw as it once again misses the damn bat plushie and grapples with air before drifting to the prize chute and releasing nothing. That’s my reward for my hard work.

How lovely.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to help you?” Shane folds his arms against his chest and glances at me, then at the stuffed bat.

“Yes, I’m very sure.” I squint at the plushie. “It’ll be me who wins it. I don’t need help from you or anyone else.”

Shane’s sigh sets my teeth on edge.

It’s not his fault I’m in a bad mood. I haven’t been able to get out of this funk since yesterday’s weird conversation with Elijah.

Shane mistakes my irritated sigh as a blow to him and holds his hands up in a placating gesture. He lets out a low whistle. “Down girl. I’m just trying to be a good friend and help you.”

I squeeze my eyes shut and take a calming breath through my nose.

“What’s got your panties in a twist, anyway?” Shane’s innocent but playful question really doesn’t help the situation here.

Opening my eyes, I fish more tokens from my pocket. “They aren’t in a twist, and even if they were, it’s none of your business.”

“Last time I checked, we’ve been friends since I found my little grumpy introvert. That makes it my business.”

“I’m not grumpy.” I shove the token into the feeder.

“You’re funny.” He snickers. “It’s about a man, isn’t it?”

I grab the knob and direct the claw over the bat plushie. “No,” I say, my cheeks warming.

He raises an eyebrow.

I pinch my lips together and guide the claw above the plush while holding my breath. It inches down, and like all the other times, it grabs air before rising back to the top.

“Kill me,” I mutter.

“No, I’m not doing that.” Shane pats the top of my head with a goofy smile.

I spin toward him. “This isn’t fair. It’ll be the worst day of my life if someone else gets it before I do. Don’t you understand that once it’s gone, it’s gone?”

Shane tilts his head and rubs his nape. “How would you know that?”

“Because I’ve been watching it like a hawk,” I say, then side-eye the game. “Do you think the machine is broken? Or somehow rigged where no one wins anything and the place keeps getting money?”

“No, I don’t—” He frowns and straightens to his full height. “Nice job changing the topic, brat. I almost fell for it.”