Beg For Mercy (Fate's Vultures, #2)

by Jami Gray

  He stiffened under her first gentle dab, but other than that, gave no other indication of discomfort. In fact, his voice remained steady as he dug for more information. ‘Give me a few more reasons, Istaqa.’

  ‘On what?’ There was nothing in the man’s question to indicate he resented Havoc’s demand.

  Havoc braced his hands on the island’s top, blocking Mercy’s view of Istaqa and Vex. Not that she minded, considering what took its place. ‘Why you’re leaning towards Felix over Suárez.’

  She bit her lip, wondering at the logic behind Havoc’s statement. He was there when Felix was sniffing around the ammunition shop, intent on nailing her ass down. Up to this moment, she was fairly certain Havoc believed her about Felix. What did he think Istaqa knew, that she didn’t?

  There was the protest of wood shifting under weight and peeking around Havoc’s bulk, she couldn’t miss Istaqa rubbing his hands over his face as he set his elbows on the island’s counter. ‘It was the little things. Comments that make no sense, and the planning of this was sloppy. Laying multiple charges over extended periods of time, allows the possibility of discovery. Not only is Suárez far from sloppy, he isn’t an idiot, and we’ve managed to maintain a—’ he searched for the right word, ‘—balance in our previous agreements. If I believe that Suárez is the one behind the plan to destroy the dam, then I also have to believe Suárez has lost his damn mind.’ He blew out a tired breath. ‘I want a chance to actually hear his voice before I make that judgement call.’

  Listening to Istaqa, Mercy got it. ‘You think you’re being played.’ She made the observation without hiding her compassion even as she kept her focus on cleaning Havoc’s back. Istaqa was in an unenviable, craptastic position.

  ‘Not just me, but Suárez as well.’ There was no missing his reluctant admission.

  She didn’t bother with the I-told-you-so’s. Neither Istaqa nor Suárez could take Mercy’s word for it, not with who and what each man was responsible for. All of which meant the upcoming phone call would prove challenging on multiple levels. She braced her empty palm against Havoc’s spine, trying not to notice the disturbing combination of heat and strength as she leaned in to be sure she hadn’t missed anything. Her fingers whispered along the edges of the bruise rising along his ribs, which promised a colourful rainbow over the next few days. She flattened her hand, and sure enough, she could feel the warmth rising from Havoc’s skin, hotter where the bruises formed.

  ‘That’s not the worst of it.’ A warning rode Vex’s voice, all signs of her earlier teasing gone.

  It was enough to bring Mercy’s head up even as Havoc’s back stiffened. The vibrations of his voice shimmered under her palm. ‘Do I want to know?’

  Vex nodded sharply. ‘That mole we worried about at Crane’s?’

  The Vultures were worried about a mole? That wasn’t good.

  Havoc gave a sharp nod.

  Vex’s jaw flexed, the lines around her eyes tightening. ‘It’s a definite.’

  ‘Well, fuck.’ Havoc straightened and Mercy’s hand shifted with his movement, pressing to the middle of his back in an attempt to keep him in place.

  He turned his head and growled at her.

  She simply raised an eyebrow. ‘Two minutes, then you can do whatever the hell you want.’

  He twisted back around and silently waited with barely leashed patience as Mercy finished cleaning the cut. Luckily his attention was on Vex. ‘Did you get details?’

  ‘A few.’ She leaned on the counter, the move shifting her shoulders up. ‘But not sure they’ll be much help.’

  ‘Anything’s better than nothing.’ He fell quiet for a moment, then, ‘We need to let Reaper know.’

  The other woman shook her head slowly. ‘Yeah, not comfortable doing that in a phone call.’

  Mercy silently agreed with Vex as she smeared the antibiotic cream Daniel left earlier across Havoc’s skin. If you didn’t know who you could trust, it was best to deliver such messages in person. Eliminated the chance of the information hitting the wrong ears.

  Havoc took Vex’s comment in stride. ‘You going to head back to Pebble Creek?’

  ‘Probably best.’

  He grunted.

  Taking it for the agreement it was, Vex continued. ‘Since I want to see what happens with Suárez, I was thinking about leaving in the morning.’

  Taping the last of the bandage over the deepest part of the cut, Mercy petted Havoc’s back. ‘Okay, you’re good.’ Just shy of the two minute mark. Not bad.

  He stepped away and went to pull his t-shirt back on, but grimaced. She couldn’t blame him, the shirt was trashed. He wadded it up and dumped it in the recycle container tucked by the counter on the far wall. ‘Let’s see what happens with Suárez before we make any decision.’

  Mercy rinsed out the cloth, then spread it over the sink’s edge to dry. Havoc settled next to her, his hip propped on the counter’s edge, his arms crossed over his chest, his gaze going to Istaqa. ‘When you planning on making the call?’

  She turned around as Istaqa said, ‘Daniel’s trying to set it up.’ His gaze went to the wall clock ticking off the minutes. ‘I’m thinking we should have something confirmed within the hour.’

  ‘Good. The sooner the better.’

  Settling in to wait, Mercy buried her impatience and couldn’t agree more.

  * * *

  Less than an hour later, Mercy stood in what was clearly the communications room. Colour her impressed. The Free People had quite the collection here. A half-moon desk took up one corner, its surface strewn with a mishmash of two-way radios, two old computer monitors—one of which had a permanent black line running through the top of a screen filled with some kind of code—a couple of old multi-lined phones and a wall rack of black boxes with multicoloured lights. She shifted her stance against the wall, tucking her hands behind her, and tagged the two computer tower skeletons with frankensteined parts tucked among the tangle of wires under the desk. Her movement didn’t go unnoticed by Havoc who propped a shoulder against the opposite wall.

  Matching his gaze, she offered him a big old grin. His lips quirked, softening the hard set of his mouth before he turned his attention away. Her grin faded as she went back to her pose of casual disinterest. On the way in, she noted the room’s location, a necessity since she had plans for a return visit. Now was the time to keep her mouth shut, her eyes sharp and her ears open.

  In the centre of the room Vex was perched on the edge of a big blocky desk, one leg swinging as she listened. On the other side, Istaqa leaned over a speaker box connected to an old phone with a multitude of wires. His face was dark, his palms pressed flat against the desk’s surface, his glare aimed at the hapless phone as if he could fry Suárez on the spot.

  ‘A threat, Istaqa? I thought we were better friends than this.’ Despite the flippant response, there was a wealth of anger simmering underneath Suárez’s voice. Easily detected despite the scratchy speaker and questionable connection.

  ‘Consider this a warning, not a threat, Suárez. One I’m not required to give.’ Hard as granite, Istaqa’s response offered no escape. ‘The agreement we hold with the five Cartel families is clear. No-one threatens the dams or the water stops. Your man admitted he came here under your orders to set those charges. As the Cartel has clearly violated their agreement, I’m within my rights to deny access.’ He lifted his head and looked to Havoc as he continued. ‘Be grateful I called you first.’

  Mercy gave him credit. He knew how to deal with the old jefe. Head-on with no give. By calling Suárez prior to informing the families, it gave Suárez a chance to save his skin. Besides, Suárez didn’t suffer fools or blustering egos. Like most of those trying to keep their grasp on the slippery reins of power, he was all about survival. To prove that, instead of arguing about being tossed to the unforgiving judgement of the other families, Suárez confirmed Istaqa’s assumption. ‘Whoever this puta madre is, he is not mine.’

  ‘Prove it, or my next ca
ll will end your entire family.’

  Okay, Mercy had to admit if she was on the other end of the line, she’d be shitting bricks right about now. When a litany of Spanish profanity filled the air, there was no doubt that was exactly what Suárez was doing. ‘How do you think I should do this?’

  Hearing the edge of desperation in the man’s voice, Mercy didn’t bother suppressing her vicious satisfaction. She did, however, look down to her feet just in case something in her expression gave it away. Yeah, it was sucky to take joy in another’s pain, but seriously? The depraved old fart deserved every excruciating moment Istaqa made him sweat.

  ‘Not my problem.’ And it was clear from the clipped tones, Istaqa was about done.

  Something Suárez didn’t miss. He spoke quickly, trying to ensure Istaqa wouldn’t hang up. ‘I swear en la Ave María Purísima, he is not working on my orders.’

  ‘Mary Magdalene doesn’t have a damn thing to do with this mess, Suárez. This is on you.’

  ‘No!’ The denial came through on a harsh near shout. The vehemence behind it jerked Istaqa upright, his brows rising as he eyed the phone, but he kept silent as deep breaths echoed down the line as Suárez fought for control. When he found it, he spoke. ‘I will share with you what I’ve chosen not to share with any other. A gesture of my sincerity, yes?’

  Istaqa shared a long look with Havoc and Vex, the silence stretching painfully. ‘I’m listening.’

  A rush of air filled the line, then Suárez’s voice came across, rage hardening it into diamond clarity. ‘Someone is after me. They killed my youngest son. I believe this is just another move in their game.’

  That brought Istaqa’s attention to her, and despite her inability to read a damn thing in his obsidian gaze, she held it. ‘Your son?’

  Her pulse took up a dull beat. If Lady Luck decided she was done with Mercy, this was where things would go sideways.

  ‘Si, Tavi. The puta slit his throat when he caught her going through my lieutenant’s office.’

  She didn’t think it possible, but Istaqa’s gaze dropped below freezing. ‘A woman?’

  ‘Yes.’ The snap of venom in Suárez’s voice left a hiss on the line.

  Mercy bit hard on the inside of her cheek to stifle the vicious grin threatening to escape. It just chapped Suárez’s ass to believe a lowly female killed his precious son. Almost made her wish she really had done the deed.

  ‘A lone woman killed your son and is targeting the dam?’ Istaqa pressed with obvious scepticism.

  ‘That is what I said,’ Suárez snapped, impatience overriding his caution.

  ‘Why?’

  ‘If I knew, we would not be having this conversation.’

  ‘No, I don’t suppose we would,’ muttered Istaqa, his fingers tapping an absent beat against the desk. ‘You have proof that this woman is behind your son’s death and the situation here?’

  There was an obvious pause. ‘My lieutenant found her crouched over Tavi’s body, bloodied knife in hand. She ran. That was enough proof for me to send my man to hunt her down, and to offer a generous bounty, a guarantee she finds no shelter.’

  The arrogance in Suárez’s voice set her teeth on edge. He was a vindictive bastard. A fact her aching jaw and bruised ribs could attest to. That damn bounty was going be a massive pain in the ass.

  Istaqa’s gaze shifted to Havoc and the two men appeared to have some sort of telepathic moment, because they both turned towards her. There was something about the way they were looking at her that made her stomach clench. Tingling started at the tips of her fingers, slowly moving up her arms. A band of pressure began tightening around her head, and her muscles locked, one by one. Given no choice, she braced.

  Sure enough, Istaqa dumped her ass in the deep end. ‘Your lieutenant go by the name of Felix?’

  Wary caution cut through Suárez’s voice. ‘Si.’

  ‘Uh.’ Istaqa dangled his bait in the bloodied waters.

  ‘Why do you ask?’ Suárez’s accent went thick as his temper began to fray.

  The silence stretched for a second, then two, and moved into three before Istaqa answered. ‘We heard a different story.’

  ‘From who?’

  Taking her cue, Mercy pushed off the wall and walked to the desk. With each step she buried her tempestuous emotions, not allowing any to leak into her expression or her voice. She stood, Havoc at her back, Vex to her side, and faced Istaqa. ‘From me, Suárez.’

  There was a moment of quiet before Suárez exploded. While her Spanish was damn good, she missed a couple of the words, but based on context she got it. She was far from his favourite person and her parentage, or lack thereof, was reduced to impossible combinations. She didn’t miss Havoc’s bulk slowly solidifying as Suárez went in some truly disgusting directions before finally winding down and leaving only heavy breathing on the line.

  ‘You finished?’ Boredom filled Istaqa’s question.

  ‘Is the bitch yours, Istaqa?’ Menace replaced temper, leaving Suárez’s voice a whip of contempt.

  Mercy’s ‘no’ clashed with Istaqa’s ‘Hell, no’. Heeding Istaqa’s raised palm, Mercy clamped her mouth shut and let him talk. ‘She’s not mine, Suárez. She showed up in my territory and shared the information that led to stopping your man before he blew my dam. This she shared in effort to prove her first story regarding your son’s death held merit. After finding your man and the explosives before the dam could be damaged, I find myself wondering if her version doesn’t hold more weight than yours.’

  ‘She must be good,’ Suárez snarled. ‘She has you fooled, just like she did my precious son.’

  ‘How so?’

  ‘She must fuck like a damn goddess to blind you to the evil in her black heart.’

  Mercy frowned at the phone, trying to decide if she was pissed at Suárez’s assessment or amused. Since his opinion of her didn’t matter at fucking all, she went with amused. And she wasn’t the only one.

  Instead of being offended, Istaqa threw back his head and laughed. ‘Suárez I wouldn’t let her anywhere near my dick as I like it right where it is.’

  ‘So what is the puta’s story?’ Suárez pushed. ‘She’s the poor abused woman on the run from the evil Cartel?’

  Istaqa’s humour faded from his face, his voice reclaiming its previous hardness. ‘No, her story is your son was killed by the one who wants your position. She just happened to be in the wrong place, wrong time.’

  ‘She denying she’s a killer?’ Disbelief layered the question.

  ‘No,’ Mercy broke in, not giving Istaqa a chance to answer. ‘I’m a killer, Suárez, but I did not kill your son.’

  ‘You came into my home on a lie, perra, and then ran when my son ended up dead. Why should I believe you?’

  ‘Because you give me time, I can give you his killer.’

  ‘And who is this killer?’

  ‘Felix.’

  His rough laugh could shred skin. When Suárez was done, his voice came over the phone like a venomous snake. ‘You expect me to believe a man who has been loyal to me, to my sons, and considered part of mi familia slit my son’s throat? For what?’

  She leaned in, her voice dropping, not with sympathy but so the old man would listen close. ‘In the last few months, your shipments have gone missing, you’ve been forced to step into territorial disputes because of baseless rumours, and each time something happens, you end up on the short end of the stick. This isn’t by accident. Felix wants your position. To get it, he not only killed Tavi, but he’s working with someone outside the Cartels, someone with enough power to back his play. Power enough to ensure he gets what he wants. And what he wants is your crown.’

  ‘You know this how?’

  To gain trust, you had to offer truth, so she gave what she could. ‘I was sent into your home to verify you were working with this new partner and to bring back proof of who this partner is.’

  ‘Who sent you?’

  She shook her head, even though he couldn’t se
e her. ‘Yeah, no, that’s not going to be shared.’

  ‘Istaqa, tell me why you believe her.’ There was a lessening in the fury of Suárez’s voice, an indication he was actually listening. ‘She could be taking a page from those damn Strix’s and playing us both.’

  Istaqa grimaced. ‘Since the Strix were wiped out nearly a decade ago, I sincerely doubt that’s the case. Besides, you’re willing to believe that a woman who was in your house, with unlimited options to take out you and yours, but didn’t, is willing to endanger every man, woman and child in the Cartel territories to play you now? All she had to do was let the dam be blown and then stand aside and watch the fallout.’

  ‘Perhaps,’ Suárez grudgingly admitted. ‘You haven’t answered my question.’

  Istaqa folded his arms over his chest, his gaze pinning Mercy in place. ‘I believe her because I don’t think you’re reckless enough to endanger not only your family, but the others as well. You remember how it was before the Border Wars, you know just what it means to be denied water. I think you value what you have. You would not risk any of it in some half-assed plan that has every chance of failure, and little chance of success.’

  A dry chuckle came over the line. ‘Ever the diplomat, eh?’

  ‘If that’s what you want to believe,’ Istaqa said. Then he paused and paid Mercy back for her warning. ‘Targeting the dam reeks of ego and desperation, two things you are not, but a man intent on taking what’s yours is. So, yes, I believe she will get the proof you need on what part Felix played in your son’s death, and in doing so, also prove to me who was targeting the dam.’

  Holding Istaqa’s unflinching gaze, she place a hand over her heart and bowed her head in silent agreement to his proposed deal. Hell, it wasn’t as if his request was unexpected. Now she just had to figure out how to get Felix to squeal in such a way both the leader of the Cartels and the Free People would listen. Oh, yeah, she also needed to complete her initial objective for her boss and identify the damn silent partner. God knew she loved a challenge.