Page 14 of Innocent Target

James grinned at the husky desire in her voice and the playful way she rejected him, but he felt lighter as he dropped a soft kiss to her cheek and made his way back to the other side of the table. “I’ll give you time, Merc, as long as the answer is yes.”

Mercy rolled her eyes at him and dug her fork into her eggs.

They spent the rest of the morning juggling Abbie, and doing the research Imari had asked them to do on the tattoos.

Around two in the afternoon, Shane called. “We have a sighting of your sister.”

James felt his body go rigid at his boss’s tone. “And?”

“She was coming out of a gas station just outside Jacksonville.”

“She’s heading back toward the MC but why?”

“Not sure, you know her better than us. Would she go back to him?”

James paced as Mercy watched him intently. He placed the phone on the table and flicked it to speakerphone. “It makes no sense for her to walk back into the lion’s den.”

“Unless they have something else on her that we’re missing.”

James looked at Mercy. “What are you thinking?”

“What if Scorpion isn’t the father? What if it’s someone else and she’s trying to protect him by going back without Abbie?”

“It’s a stretch,” Shane answered.

James pushed his hands through his hair. “Maybe, but it does sound like something Beth would do. She’s always been protective with a slight reckless streak.”

“Can we get a DNA test done on Abbie? Scorpion is already in the system.”

“I have a friend in Daytona Beach who might be able to help us with that.”

Mercy looked at him, and he nodded, trusting her.

“I don’t like the idea of you guys leaving there. It puts you at risk.” Shane sounded worried.

James lifted Abbie into his arms as she began to fret. “What choice do we have?”

The line was silent as Shane came to a decision. “Fine, but wait for back-up. I’m sending Nick, Caitlin, and Knight to you. Emme and I are working the mole in the FBI angle.”

“Sounds like a plan. Is anyone going after my sister?”

“Mason and Cain.”

James nodded even though his boss couldn’t see him. “Good, that’s good.”

“Sit tight. The guys will be with you soon.”

James glanced at Mercy, hating that their time alone was ending but wanting his sister safe was still his priority. “Okay.”

He hung up, and Mercy moved to him, her hand touching his forearm. “She’ll be okay. She’s smart.”

“Yeah but she’s also vulnerable, and Scorpion is an animal.”

Mercy said nothing but her touch calmed the feeling of being pulled in two. He just hoped he got the chance to see what else they could be.

Chapter Eight

The trip from Daytona Beach and back had been even worse than Mercy had anticipated. They had planned to leave as early as possible, and James had packed everything to make sure they wouldn’t need to stop for any baby stuff.