C.D. Gorri

Merciful Lies Lies can be merciful. It just depends on the why. Anna:I knew the second I saw him, my life would change forever. When my brother offers me as payment to Nico Fury, the king of the Vipers, how can I refuse? Tattooed, built, and tall, he was the only man I saw when I walked into the room. It was like he occupied all the available space, sitting on his throne of blood, sweat, and lies. Nerves assailed me, but I owed my brother too much to let anything happen to him. One night. That was all. But it would leave me wrecked. Actions always had consequences. Six months later, my brother was killed by a rival organization, and now they were after me. There was only one place I could go to keep my unborn baby safe. I just hoped the king would be merciful. Nico Perfect things didn’t exist, at least not in my experience. But she was pretty close. I had her in my bed for one night, and I couldn’t shake the memory. No, I wasn’t meant to keep soft things like Anna Keller. My life belonged to my crew, and we were a vicious group. Hell, we weren’t called Vipers for nothing. But she was different. She made me want, and I loved and hated her for it. Anna was light in a world of constant darkness. She was all warmth and beauty like no other. And I craved her like a drug. Six months had passed since I took her in return for clearing her brother’s debt to me, but that man attracted trouble like honey did flies. It wasn’t long before I learned Sam Keller had gotten himself killed. Less than an hour later, Anna came back to me, on her knees, asking for sanctuary. I knew the moment I saw the swell of her stomach she was carrying my baby. Anna thought coming here would protect her, but she was walking right into the Viper’s nest. Before I was finished, my little runaway would be begging me for mercy.

Jersy Bad Boys

The bakery is dark when we get there. But that’s not unusual. I look around with mixed feelings.


This place is chock full of memories for me. Good times and bad. Times when Dad was stressed out and missing Mom so much, he just fell down the rabbit hole that was drinking and gambling.


I was left to watch out for my little brother and now, in this place, I feel like such a failure.


“I’m sorry,” I whisper as I walk behind the counter and touch my fingertips to the old, framed photo of the four of us together.


The picture shows me and Sammy in costumes holding plastic jack-o-lantern buckets, so I know it’s Halloween.


I hear the men moving around, but I’m stuck in the past for another minute. Someone opens the door to my office and the protest of the hinges brings my head up.


Nico wanted to be here before the first shift came in. So, it’s three in the morning, and I’m tired, but I need to see this through.


Chapter Nine-Anna