Lori Armstrong - Merciless

I shrugged. I’d believe it when I saw the whites of John-John’s eyes. He’d have to come up with something pretty spectacular in the making-up department. Because after Geneva and I had our big fight? She’d brought me a bucket of kittens.

What could possibly top that?

A towel cracked next to my elbow, and I jumped.

Sophie cackled. “Go on, now. Get your man and your boy up to the table for breakfast. I ain’t got all day. It’s time things got back to normal around here.”

My man and my boy. How I loved the sound of that.

Had I really complained only a few short weeks ago that my life had become mundane? After what I’d gone through in the past few weeks, I’d never complain again. I’d embrace waking up a cranky kid every morning. I’d send Dawson off to work with an affirmation of my feelings for him every day, even when it seemed silly and redundant. I’d let Sophie nag me about anything, just as long as she did it in person.

I’d take this new normalcy in my life for as long as I could get it.

My editor, Megan Reid, is a rock star, and so instrumental in getting Mercy where she needed to be. I am so thankful for everything she’s done.

The agents in the local FBI office have gone above and beyond in answering my questions, steering me in the right direction when I’ve veered off the path. My gratitude especially goes to RP and DD for all their help.

A huge debt of thanks to Hon. Robert Mandel, Seventh Circuit Court Judge, for his invaluable tutorial on tribal law and his insight on the grand jury process. Any legal or procedural discrepancies are strictly my own.

Thanks to my husband, Erin, aka Gun Guy, who tackles my firearms questions with humor and patience, and uses my need for “firsthand knowledge” of specific firearms as an excuse to buy more guns.

Thank you to my family for understanding and living through deadline hell with me.

Thanks to the readers who contacted me, asking about the release date of the next Mercy book, since there’s been a two-year lag… it’s good to know Mercy was missed.

.

aka Lorelei James

Lori G. Armstrong left the firearms industry in 2000 to pursue her dream of writing crime fiction. She is proud to be a fourth generation South Dakotan. Lori lives in Rapid City – yes, by choice – with her husband and three daughters.