Sweet Mercy - Lynn Hagen Page 0,35

into Lloyd’s balls. The guy doubled over, wheezing as his face turned a bright shade of red.

Mercy scrambled away in case Lloyd tried to strike back.

“You’re going to pay for that,” Lloyd said as he tried to catch his breath.

Red threw his foot out, catching Lloyd in his jaw, sending him flying backward. Red stayed at Mercy’s side, his legs spread apart in a fighting stance. “We need to go out drinking together,” he said to Mercy. “Just imagine the bar fights we can get into. I think we make an amazing fighting team.”

Mercy kept his eyes on Lloyd but arched a brow. “I’d rather not.”

Lloyd pushed to his feet, his face a mask of rage. He fists convulsed at his sides as his jaw clenched.

Mercy spotted Ford crossing the street with plastic bags in his hand. Red must have spotted him, too, because he smirked. “I dare you to come at us again,” he said to Lloyd.

Mercy wouldn’t go that far. He’d prefer his ex stay across the shop from them. He didn’t want Lloyd to fly at him with those fists. Mercy had gotten in a lucky shot, but he knew Lloyd wouldn't let him get away with another one.

The door to the shop opened. Ford stepped in and looked between them. As soon as his eyes landed on Lloyd, darkness descended over his features.

He handed the bags to Mercy, crossed the shop, and lifted Lloyd off his feet by his shirtfront. “Did he touch you?”

Mercy knew Ford was talking to him. “No.”

“He tried,” Red said. “He tried to hit Mercy, but you should’ve seen your boy. He dropped and nailed the prick’s balls with his fist. You should be proud of him.”

Lloyd flailed in Ford’s grip, trying to free himself, but Ford had a tight hold on him. “Do you have a death wish?” Ford asked. “You tried to hurt my mate?”

Mercy was dead certain Lloyd had no clue what a mate was.

“I just came here to talk,” Lloyd argued.

From the look on Ford’s face, Mercy thought his mate would murder Lloyd. Mercy hated his ex with every breath he took, but he didn’t want to see Lloyd killed. He wouldn’t be able to live with that on his conscience. He just wanted his ex to go away and never bother him again.

He placed his hand on Ford’s arm. Mercy didn’t have to say anything. Ford gave him a knowing look, though he doubted Ford agreed.

Ford pulled Lloyd close, their noses almost touching. “Come anywhere near Mercy again and I won’t let him talk me out of killing you. Think I’m playing? I dare you to think my words are a hollow threat so I can prove to you how serious I am.”

Ford dragged Lloyd to the door and tossed him out onto the street. Not that Mercy cared about the guy. God no. He was just against violence, abhorred it after what he’d been through, and he was glad Ford hadn’t beat the hell out of Lloyd.

Though Lloyd would have deserved it.

Red squeezed Mercy’s shoulder. “I’m going to take my food to the kitchen so you two can talk.”

He grabbed the bags from Mercy and walked away.

Ford ran his hands down Mercy’s arms. “Are you okay?”

Now that Lloyd was gone, Mercy wanted to collapse with relief. “No, I’m not okay,” he said honestly. “I wish he would have never come back to town.”

“I’ll talk to the sheriff. I’ll let him know about Lloyd and that he’s harassing you.” Ford drew Mercy into his strong arms. The comforting hug was exactly what Mercy needed. “But if he keeps coming around you, I’m going to handle the problem myself. Nobody is going to fuck with my mate. Nobody.”

Ford practically growled the words. Mercy was glad he had Ford in his life. Not that Mercy wanted his mate to throw his muscles around, but it was good to know he was no longer alone in his fight.

Lincoln would’ve been there for him. And Red, too. Mercy was definitely not alone anymore, and damn if that wasn’t the best feeling ever.

Chapter Ten

While Red and Mercy talked upstairs, Ford pulled his laptop out from his truck and punched in Lloyd’s name. The Ultionem had given him unlimited resources when it came to researching nonhumans, so finding out about Lloyd should be a walk in the park. He didn’t need what the Ultionem had given him. Lloyd’s information was public knowledge.

And Ford was blown away by what he read. The reason the