Free Fighting Back (Mercy's Angels) by Kirsty Dallas Page B

and tried to picture myself somewhere else. Specifically at my cabin up in the mountain range that was on the outskirts of Claymont. It was perfect, tucked away in quiet seclusion, surrounded with towering firs, and in the winter, a heavy layer of snow would blanket everything. It was a peaceful oasis that I retreated to when things began to get out of hand. The cabin helped me relax. My anger and frustration would bleed away to complete and utter peace. I would live up there if it wasn’t a three hour drive to civilization. I blew out a deep breath; I needed to get my shit together. I needed to rid myself of the anger that was still simmering below the surface. Not only had Rebecca seen enough anger of late, but I had a self-defense class at Mercy’s Shelter tomorrow night and those women did not need an angry alpha male leading the class. Those women had fled dominant men who had already hurt and maimed them, both physically and emotionally. I was supposed to be a beacon of safety, not a fucking reminder of the terror they had escaped.
    I dried and dressed quickly, slipping out the back door of the gym to escape another run in with Gym Girl. The twenty minute drive to Mercy’s helped me settle down even further, and by the time I pulled my truck out front, I felt as close to calm as I could possibly get. I used the key Mercy had given me many years ago to enter and strolled into the place like I owned it. It was probably a bit arrogant and rude, but hell, it felt like I’ve lived here my whole life. Mercy was as good as my mother and this house was as good as my family home. All was quiet, apart from the low murmuring of Mercy and Dave’s voices coming from the kitchen. I didn’t see Rebecca and the doorway to her room was wide open. As I strolled into the warm bright kitchen, I stopped and took in the awkward scene before me. Dave had his arms wrapped around Mercy, his lips firmly planted on hers, his hands sliding down her back to cup her ass. Yeah, this was not the kind of thing I wanted to walk in on, and why I probably should’ve knocked before entering. I was glad Mercy found Dave, or perhaps it was Dave who found Mercy. After the shitty hand Mercy had been dealt with Jax’s father, Dave was an angel in comparison and he clearly adored Mercy. However, I did not need to witness those sessions of adoration. They kind of made my stomach roll. I turned my head to look away and cleared my throat loudly. Their eyes swung around to take me in as I stood awkwardly, watching them from the corner of my eye, just to make sure they were decent before I looked at them straight on.
    “I need to take that key from you,” Mercy scolded as she let her arms fall from Dave’s neck.
    “You have such great timing,” Dave said dryly.
    I gave them my best grin as I waltzed in and grabbed a Coke from the fridge. “I guess I didn’t expect the kitchen to be make-out central with Rebecca here and all.” I took a long drink then froze when I took in the look Mercy gave Dave. “What?” I demanded. 
    Dave put his hands up defensively and backed away. “Don’t look at me, I just got home. I’m going to take my suitcase upstairs.” He snuck out of the kitchen and I looked to Mercy for answers.
    “She’s not here,” she said in that rational voice of hers that drove me nuts.
    “What do you mean she’s not here?” I asked, my voice pitching like some sort of whiny girl.
    “I meant exactly what I said, Charlie. She was here when I got home this morning from the shelter, but she left sometime after I went upstairs to get some sleep. She left a note.” Mercy handed me a sheet of paper with Rebecca’s elegant handwriting on it.
    Mercy, sorry to run out while you are sleeping, but I think if you were awake you would have tried to stop me. I need to go home, I don’t want to be afraid of my own house. It’s the only thing I have left of my family, and I can’t lose it. I’ve already called Braiden and have the security