Free Exiled - 01 by M. R. Merrick Page A

I think you’re pushing it now.” I laughed, but Mom eyed me and I fell silent.
    “I mean it. Give her a chance and I’ll bet she surprises even you.”
    “Ready?” I hadn’t heard Marcus come up the stairs. Mom turned at the sound of his voice and a smile crept over her lips. Marcus returned the smile and it seemed out of place on his face, but I realized then how little my mother smiled. She looked younger when she did. All the years of overnights and double shifts were suddenly gone, washed away by one gesture, revealing the face I remembered from my childhood.
    The awkwardness I’d felt vanished, and I knew I’d do anything I could to see her smile more. If that meant putting my trust in these people, then I would. After all she’d done for me, she deserved at least that much.
    “I’ll be downstairs,” I said.
    A couple of minutes later, Marcus, Rayna and Mom all came down together. Rayna wore a black miniskirt and a tight, low-cut, red halter top that split under her breasts, flaring out to reveal a toned stomach. Her black hair was pinned up with a few red strands left to fall down her neck.
    “Wow, am I underdressed?” I asked, sarcasm thick in my voice. I could feel my mom’s disapproving gaze burning into me.
    “You are, actually,” Rayna said. “In case you hadn’t noticed, the Underworld prides itself on looking good,” she said.
    “Should I change?”
    She shook her head, sitting down to pull on knee high leather boots. “We don’t have time to go back to your place and nothing of Marcus’s would fit you. Besides, I doubt you own much that isn’t a t-shirt.”
    It made me irritated that she was right. Jeans, cargos, and t-shirts pretty much made up my entire wardrobe. Some days there were even socks involved.
    “Don’t stay longer than you have to. Go there, talk to Vincent and don’t get sidetracked. We don’t need more of what happened to Chase. And no matter what happens, don’t make a deal with him until we’ve discussed it. Understood?” Marcus said.
    “Don’t you think we should go with them?” Mom said.
    “No, Rayna knows what she’s doing and the bar is warded. Nobody can be harmed while inside.”
    “It’s not the time they’re inside that I’m worried about.”
    “I can take care of myself, Mom.”
    “Yeah, you’ve proven that so far,” she said sarcastically.
      “Rayna will be there, Tessa, and they’ll get more information if it’s just the two of them. As long as Chase doesn’t try to kill anyone, they’ll be fine,” he said, looking at me pointedly.
    “I’ll be good,” I said.
    I opened the door and stepped out. “Be safe,” I heard my mom say as Rayna closed the door behind us.
    “Outfit’s a little much, don’t you think?”
    “Well, at least I don’t look like I just fell out of a dumpster,” she replied.
    I looked down at my clothes. One threadbare knee of my pants would rip soon. My shirt was clean but had holes in the cuffs; I had a habit of putting my thumbs through them. My black sneakers would have been clean if not for a few blood stains.
    “What’s wrong with this?”
    She hit the button for the elevator and turned to face me. “Nothing in particular,” she said with a half shrug.
    “No, really, what’s wrong with what I’m wearing?”
    “Chase, you’re fine; you look good.”
    “Really?” I said, stepping into the elevator.
    “No.”

    ~~~~~~

Chapter 13

    The alley was thick with shadows, cast by the glow of Revelations’ blue and red neon sign.
    “Listen, when we get in there, don’t talk to anybody, okay? Let me take care of it,” Rayna said.
    “I can handle myself.”
    “Ha, I’ve heard how you handle yourself. This is my area, so tonight I’m taking care of things. I know how to deal with these people.”
    Rolling my eyes, I realized how weird it seemed to call them people, but after the last few eventful days, I couldn’t argue much.
    More layers of Revelations’ glamour slid away the closer we