Free Mercy for the Damned by Lisa Olsen Page A

Then again, things had been a little weird between Parker and me ever since the detective’s visit, so it was probably for the best that we hadn’t had too much alone time together lately. 
    Turning back to face Remiel, I tried one last time to appeal to his sense of decency.  “Don’t you want to help me because it’s the right thing to do?”
    “Shit, I ain’t done the right thing since before you were born, sugar.  Ain’t no reason to think about startin’ now.” 
    “But a terrible evil will be unleashed if we leave him down there.”
    “Not my problem, gorgeous.  If it’s as bad as all that, you might want to rethink my offer,” he slapped his thighs as if he thought I would jump on his lap. 
    God, we were so close, but I couldn’t give him what he wanted.  Even if it meant setting Adam free, I wouldn’t be able to live knowing I’d debased myself like that.  Frustration swept through me and I called the sword to my hand without thinking twice about it.  Sam might not be able to strike at another angel, but I was under no such vow. 
    “Mercy, no, you mustn’t.”  Sam’s hand caught my wrist before I’d even moved a half step.
    “Let me go, I’ll make him talk,” I growled, shooting Sam a dirty look for stopping me. 
    “Damn, the kitty’s got claws,” Remiel chuckled, as if we were there solely for his entertainment.  “Alright then, kitten.  You decide you want to pay the piper, you know where to find me.”  There was no mistaking the air of finality in his voice.  I got the impression there was room for negotiation, but I would still end up giving far more than I wanted to in dealing with him. 
    “The next time I find you, you might want to reconsider that position,” I muttered, sending away my sword with a snick and tearing my hand free from Sam’s. 
    “I got a few positions you might want to reconsider,” he sniggered, and I decided that was it.  I had to get out of there before I did something we might all regret.  For the moment, there was at least a ray of hope that there was another way into Midian, we just had to find the right price to get access to it. 
    * * *
    “I’m telling you, a bank heist is the way to go.  You make yourself all invisible, and tiptoe in there, and no one will be the wiser.”  Matty stretched out on my couch, beer in hand. 
    “For the last time, no, I will not be committing larceny of any kind to get the money to pay that hick off.  Nevermind the fact that it’s plain wrong, I would hate to give him the satisfaction.”  Any kind of satisfaction.  There had to be another way.  “Maybe you could go try to talk to him,” I appealed to Raziel, who returned from his trip without another shred of useful assistance.
    “I would not be of help to you with Remiel,” he shook his head sadly.
    “Why not?”
    A pained expression flickered over his face.  “I was the one who dispatched his lady love.”
    “You’re the one who killed Lysha?” my mouth dropped open.  Talk about a small world.
    “In my defense, she was a demon, and as the Angel of Death it has fallen upon me to destroy many a demon over the years.”
    “That pretty much leaves you out of the negotiating process then, unless we offer you up to Remiel to torture in exchange for the location of the portal,” I muttered, shaking my head when I saw the look of panic come over him.  “Relax, I have no intention of turning you over to him or anyone else.” 
    “It does bring up a valid point though,” he considered aloud.
    “What, that we should offer up some other person for Remiel to torture?  Or hey, I wonder if we could hook him up with some other willing chick?  Think he’d go for that, Mercy?” Matty perked up at the idea. 
    “We’re not offering anyone up to Remiel for whatever he wants to do to them.”  My tone brooked no argument. 
    “Okay, okay, jeez, I’m trying to think outside the box,” Matty’s hands came up. 
    “Someone’s at