Instinct by Sherrilyn Kenyon

you. Therefore, I will not be doing you any favors if I take mercy on you.”
    He laughed at something her brother used to say to her. It was something her brother had learned from their father. “Love you, Kode.”
    â€œLove you, too.” Rubbing his arm, she stepped back. “You want me to contact Suriyel and see if they know anything?”
    He shook his head. “Let’s keep the Arelim out of this for as long as we can. If they don’t know anything, I don’t think we should notify them. Might stir them up. Make them do something stupid. ’Cause while I like to think I own the majority share of that, it’s the part I don’t own that others do that keeps me up at night, terrified of what they’ll do with their portion of it.”
    â€œGood point.”
    Nick glanced into the room where Bubba and Mark were. Guilt gnawed at him as he saw Mark’s condition. They were both innocents who’d been caught in the cross fire of his screwed-up life.
    Kody and Xev were right. His enemies would never take mercy on him. It was why he had to be so careful who he allowed into his circle. Ever on guard of those he loved best.
    So long as he was around them, they were all in danger. And only a tiny handful of them really knew why. The rest, out of necessity, had to be kept in the dark.
    Xev came outside. “So what’s our next move?”
    Before Nick could answer, his phone rang again. It was Caleb’s number. Worried his condition had worsened, he clicked it on to find Livia on the other end. “What is it?”
    â€œI found her, Nick.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYour mom. I just got her home for you, and put her to bed. She’s asleep, with no idea what happened to her.”
    Relief slapped him so hard, he staggered back from it. “What? How?”
    â€œI played a hunch and it turned out to be right.”
    Nick pulled Kody against him and let out a nervous laugh. “Liv found my mom. She took her to the condo. They’re there now.”
    â€œOh, thank goodness! Is she okay?”
    â€œYeah.” For the first time since he’d left school, he felt good again. “Thanks, Livia. I owe you.”
    â€œThink nothing of it. I won’t let her out of my sight until you get here. Believe me, nothing’s going to happen to her on my watch. You can trust me.”
    â€œAgain, thanks. I’ll be home soon.” Nick hung up and stuck his head back into the room to let Bubba and Mark know.
    â€œThank you, Jesus,” Mark breathed. “That’s the best news I’ve heard since the garage told me my Jeep wasn’t doomed from that electrical fire I started with my cell phone wire that short-circuited.”
    While that might sound odd to most, that was a testament of supreme love from Mark, who had an unnatural attachment to his old, beat-up Jeep.
    Bubba ruffled Nick’s hair. “How you holding up?”
    â€œMuch better now that I know she’s safe, at home. You?”
    â€œMuch better now that I know I’m not going to prison for first-degree murder for killing whoever took her.”
    Nick laughed. “I hear you.”
    Bubba nudged him toward the door. “Y’all go on. I know you want to check on your ma as soon as possible. See her with your own eyes. Tell her I’ll be over to bug her as soon as I get Mark home and tuck him in.”
    â€œThanks, Dad,” Mark said sarcastically. “Can you mop the drool off my chin, too, while you’re at it?”
    Bubba ignored him. “You need any money for a cab?” he asked Nick.
    â€œNah, we got it. Stay in touch.”
    â€œYou, too.”
    Heading out, Nick texted Kyrian and Acheron to let them know that everything was okay on the home front.
    You sure? Kyrian texted back.
    All good. Mom’s safe at home. It was a false alarm.
    Good to hear it. I’ll pass it along to the Squires. Let me know if you need anything else.