“You didn’t tell me you were going to the Bend,” I bit out. “You took my car.”
“I didn’t say Iwasn’tgoing to the Bend either,” she pointed out. “I didn’t want anyone telling me it was too dangerous or some crap like that.”
“What did that have to do with investigating Titus?”
She shrugged. “I heard he enforced the Nobles’ authority down there sometimes. Figured he might have made an enemy or two who’d have wanted him dead. It was the closest thing to a lead I had that Anthea hadn’t already chased to the ground.”
“Oh.” That… actually sounded kind of reasonable. I gritted my teeth.
In my silence, she pulled a scrap of paper out and started fiddling with it. “What I can’t figure out is whyGiawas out there in Steel Knights territory. Maybe she pointed the finger at me to hide that she’s made some kind of deal with them. I could tell she didn’t recognize Colt, but she could have been talking to someone lower down the chain of command.”
I shook my head. “There’s a much simpler explanation. She grew up in the Bend. Her family’s still there—her dad’s got an auto shop or something. She might be annoying, but she’s never given us any reason to think she has bad intentions. And she’s been around a lot longer than you.”
“That doesn’t excuse the fact that she’s a colossal bitch,” Mercy muttered.
I couldn’t help chuckling at that for a second before I caught myself. “Look,” I said firmly. “The Nobles aremyfamily—the only family I’ve got. I’ll protect them no matter what, with everything I have. If there’s any chance you’re a threat…”
The paper crinkled in Mercy’s fingers. She gazed down at it for a long moment. “I get that. At least, I think I do. I’ve never had anyone I could trust enough to be that loyal to them… No one other than myself. Colt betrayedme, and I’m never going to forgive him for that, just like you wouldn’t forgive anyone who betrayed your people that horribly.”
The softness of her voice wound around my heart. Fucking hell, this woman knew exactly how to get to me. Why did I want to believe her so badly?
Before I could say anything else, she tossed the paper to me. I caught it instinctively and opened my hand to find she’d transformed it into an origami dove. A peace offering?
My heart yanked in opposite directions. Anger was the easier route, the one I had more experience with. I knew from experience that even the people who had the most reason to look out for you wouldn’t, so why the hell would she care about me when she barely knew me?
“You can go now,” I said without looking at her, forcing an edge into my voice.
Mercy frowned. “What?”
I raised my head. “You want to prove you’re loyal to the Nobles? Do what Wylder asked and go deal with the groupies for the night. Otherwise none of this means shit.”