Page 35 of Last Chance Seduction (Montgomery Ink Legacy #9)

Chapter Seventeen

Lexington

“O nly twenty-three stitches. You’re not even close to the world record for the Montgomerys.” Dash leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankles, setting his feet on my hospital bed.

I glared at my cousin. “Is there a reason that you’re trying to annoy me?”

“You get nearly stabbed and suddenly you’re all grouchy? I mean really.”

“Would you like me to kick him out of the room?” Mercy asked from the other side of the bed, her voice soft.

Dash immediately put his feet on the ground and sat up straighter. “Sorry, Mercy.”

My lips twitched, but it was Brooklyn who spoke up next. “Oh, I like this. All you have to do to get Dash to not be an asshole is to ask a woman he respects to tell him sweetly what to do.”

“Excuse me, I love women. I’m great with women.”

“I can’t believe you just said that with a straight face,” Mercy said deadpan, and I snorted.

“You think I’m going to be able to get out of the hospital soon? It’s not like they have to keep me overnight, right?” I asked as I looked down at my newly bandaged arm.

Between the time the cops had come and now, a few hours had passed.

We had gone through our statements and made sure that Mr. Darcy was safe with a neighbor.

A neighbor who’d come over with the others to make sure Mercy was safe.

And the surprise on her face that others had been there to help would forever be in my memory.

Mercy wasn’t alone.

And I’d do all in my power to make sure she remembered that.

Now Mr. Darcy was safe instead of being at the house alone—now a new crime scene. Of course after getting to the hospital, getting through all the red tape, authority issues, and stitches, we were all exhausted.

“Thankfully you don’t have to stay overnight,” my mom said as she walked into the room. “Although, the fact that I’m starting to recognize some of the nurses and staff here because of you and your cousins is truly beginning to worry me.”

“You say that as if our generation didn’t spend our time in various hospitals around the state.” Dad wrapped his arm around Mom’s shoulder and kissed her temple.

She just rolled her eyes. “Please don’t scare me like that again.

Either one of you.” Mom went around the bed and instead of comforting me, she cupped Mercy’s face in her hands.

“I realize you didn’t have to have stitches, and you don’t have a concussion, but you’re still going to have to let us take care of you.

I’m sorry, you’re family now. And I don’t take no for an answer. ”

I nearly opened my mouth to tell my mom to back off, but when my dad glared at me, I sat back.

Mercy however, just leaned into my mom’s hold. That, more than anything, told me I’d be able to sleep at some point. Because if she could lean on my mom, the image of her bleeding on the floor wouldn’t be the only thing on my mind.

The love of my life smiled softly up at my mom. “After the day we’ve had, I’m okay with you guys taking care of me. I kind of miss the whole mom thing.”

If possible, my mom smiled even brighter.

“Well, you’re stuck with us now. And if I can’t step up to the plate, one of my various sisters-in-law will.” She kissed Mercy’s temple, and then gently touched underneath her eye. “You’re going to end up with a black eye there.”

“I know. I’m not looking forward to the array of colors.” Mercy cringed. “However, I think the other guy is worse. Which I can’t believe I get to say that. I thought I only got to narrate things like that.”

“Please don’t remind me that you had to fight for yourself,” I growled.

“Excuse me,” Mercy snapped, though her eyes were filled with worry. “You are the one who took down two guys. I only took down the one. And Mr. Darcy helped.”

Dash leaned forward, reminding me that he and Brooklyn were in the room. “You know it took me a really long time to remember that Mr. Darcy was your cat and not the guy with the hand flex in that one movie.”

“Oh my god, the hand flex is the best thing that’s ever happened in cin-e-ma,” Brooklyn said as she clapped her hands with each syllable. Mercy, however, rubbed her temple, and Brooklyn winced. “Sorry. I’ll be quiet.”

Mom rolled her eyes like she had when we’d all be children. “You should all give them time to rest. Honestly, I’m surprised that Mercy isn’t admitted now.”

“I’m checked out,” Mercy put in. “Now we’re just waiting for the paperwork for Lex, and we can go home.” She scowled. “Well, Lex can go home. I have blood on my carpet.”

“We’ll take care of it,” my dad said, his voice low. “Between our two companies, we’ve got it down. Hell, I think Reece is already talking with the authorities to see when he can get in there. He’s had experience with this sort of thing.”

Mercy glanced at me, and I shook my head.

“Not my story to tell.”

“I have so many questions.” She rubbed her temples and I reached out to grab her hand, running my thumb along her palm.

“But mostly I want to know if Justin is going to get in trouble for any of this?” she asked, her teeth digging into her lower lip.

I squeezed her hand, annoyed I was still on the damn hospital bed.

My stitches were in and we were allowed to go home—I just needed the damn paperwork.

“I don’t know if they can do anything about it, but I’m sure they’re going to try. I’m not sure they really like having other people send bookies and enforcers to innocent people’s homes.” I scowled. “And if they don’t, well, it’s a quick flight.”

“Oh, we’re going on a road trip? I’m in. I wonder if I’m allowed to bring brass knuckles in a suitcase? Probably not my carry-on.” Dash tapped his chin, then winced as my dad gently slapped the back of his head.

Dad glared at him before turning to me. “We are not going to take matters into our own hands. The authorities will take care of it, and your house will be right as rain, Mercy. For now though, you can stay with us or Lex. I’m pretty sure my son’s not going to want to let you out of his sight anytime soon. ”

Mercy blushed, and I finally tugged on her arm. “Come sit next to me. I feel awkward with everybody standing around me.”

She rolled her eyes but tucked in next to me.

“That’s better.”

“Oh, I need a photo.” My mom pulled out her phone and snapped three photos before I had a chance to scowl at her.

“Seriously? This is the look that you want to remember?” I asked directly.

“I have a lovely photo of your dad and his brothers all with black eyes for some tussle or another framed at the office. You know that.”

“I want to know the story behind that,” Dash asked.

“Ask your father,” my dad said dryly, and then tilted his head towards the door.

“Come on, folks, let’s give these two time to talk.

And seriously, we’re taking you guys home.

Even if it’s Lex’s home, you’re not getting rid of us anytime soon.

You scared the shit out of us. Okay?” Beckett Montgomery just shook his head and practically dragged my mom and the others out of the room after they all said their goodbyes.

Then it was just me and Mercy sitting on my hospital bed, waiting for paperwork, and finally I could breathe.

“I have never been so scared in my life,” I said after a moment. I turned in the bed so I could face her. I lifted her hand once more, bringing it to my lips. I pressed a kiss to her palm before we tangled our fingers and rested them on the bed.

Mercy stared at me before closing her eyes. “I can’t believe they just broke through my door like that. I didn’t know people did that outside of the movies. It was so damn scary.”

Guilt swept over me and I could kick myself. “All of that security and I opened the damn door to the people after you. I could have killed you.”

“Hey. You answered the door like we always do. You used the chain and didn’t let anyone in.

And we had no idea they knew where I lived.

It was all so…weird. Justin doesn’t even have my address so we thought I’d be safe.

Even behind a chain that clearly didn’t work. My door is broken, but we’re okay.”

I wasn’t going to forgive myself any time soon. “We’re going to fix it. Don’t worry about that.”

“I don’t care about that. You could have died. Mr. Darcy could have died. I just—I just can’t believe Justin would do such a thing.”

That was the part that got me too. Because that wasn’t the man I’d become friends with.

I didn’t know what the hell I was supposed to do about that.

I wanted to strangle him though I knew it wouldn’t help anyone.

“Neither one of us knew him. Or maybe he’s just changed even more so over time. But it’s over now.”

She sighed and kissed my cheek. “Good. Because I never want to see that much blood again.”

I looked down at my newly bandaged arm. “It really wasn’t that deep.”

“It was deep enough. And honestly, I hope that man’s wounds from Mr. Darcy gets infected.”

My lips twitched. “Well, I can hope that too. Your cat’s a badass.”

“And he knows it. He gets anything he wants.”

“I guess this means I should build a catio when I finish the renovations on my home.”

I said it offhandedly, but I couldn’t help but to keep my gaze on hers as the words spilled out.

She stiffened for a moment before her face softened. “I think we’d both like that.” She ran her fingers over my jaw, her gaze on my lips. “The holidays went by so fast, and I’m so grateful that I finally figured out that we live next door.”

Careful of the wound on her head, I pushed her hair back from her face. “You were always the girl next door. I’m just glad that you’re mine now. And I’m never letting you go. I hope you realize that.”

“Oh? You promise?”

“Damn straight. I mean, we fought off the mob together. You can’t break that up.”

“Was it really the mob? Or just a couple of bookies?”

“When we tell the story to others, it’s going to be the mob or the Mafia. We’re going all out.”

She threw her head back and laughed, her whole body shaking.

“Okay. If that’s what you’d like.”

“It is exactly what I’d like. So, you’re just going to have to do what I ask. After all, I got stitches for you.” Her face shut down, and I could have kicked myself. “I’m sorry. That’s not what I meant. It’s not your fault.”

“No, I know it’s not my fault. It’s that asshole’s fault. And I’m wondering if I could borrow Dash’s brass knuckles.”

“I’m sure that could be arranged,” I said with a laugh before I leaned down and brushed her lips with mine. “I love you, Mercy.”

“I love you too. I was so afraid I was going to spend the holidays alone, wondering why the hell I had moved back, and yet, I’m glad that I was wrong.”

“Are you ready to deal with the entire Montgomery clan? You’ve only met a fraction of us.”

“I think I can handle it. After all, we fought off the mob.” Her eyes danced, and I wrapped my arm around her shoulder, holding her close.

Because she was my forever. She might not know it yet, we might not be there yet, but I knew she was it.

I had always been the man that you dated before you found your forever. And part of me knew I was running out of chances. Mercy wasn’t my last chance though, she was my only chance.

And she was mine.

Complete with fighting off the mob and the Montgomerys. And I knew was whatever happened next we’d figure it out. Together. If we could fight off the world, we could have this moment together.

Where everything was real, and nothing fake could ever touch us.