Page 13

13

MERCY

W atching the she-devil make her way into the bathroom, I reach down and adjust my raging dick. I turn, pulling the door open just as Rhino lifts his fist to bang on the door again. Glaring at the man, I step out of my room and close the door, making sure that it’s locked.

“Are you going to stand there all fucking day, or are we getting to church?” I snap, already over the bullshit that this church is about to be.

“If you had answered the phone or the door the first three times we banged on it, I wouldn’t fucking be here.” Rhino glares back, not at all rattled by my attitude.

I continue glaring down at the man. “Let’s get this show on the fucking road.”

Rhino steps back, turning to go down the hallway. I follow him into the great room, looking around for a prospect. I find Pecker Head wiping down the leather couches.

“Hey, Pecker Head, go guard my door and make sure that no one goes in or out,” I call out, turning to make my way down the hallway to church.

The kitchen door swings open, revealing Charlie carrying a case of liquor. The overwhelming need to take care of the little lamb in my room halts me in my tracks. I stand there watching as Charlie stocks the shelf, processing the feelings crashing through me. Charlie must sense my eyes locked on her because she goes stiff before slowly turning around.

“Do you need something, Mercy?” Her question is soft and slow, as if she is speaking to a cornered animal that is ready to attack.

Tilting my head to the side, I eye her, thinking over what I want. I finally land on a thought and just fucking go with it.

“I need you to get some clothes and food together and leave them in my room for our guest.”

Charlie's eyes nearly fall out of her head they go so wide. “Ummm, sssuuure?”

“Don’t talk to her. Just take the items in and leave them.” Pinning her with a look, I make sure she understands what I’m telling her. “In and out. No words, no nothing. Got me?”

Charlie just nods her head. Satisfied with the fact that what I just asked her to do will be done, I make my way into church. Stepping through the door, all eyes fall to me as I’m the last one to arrive.

“All that beauty rest and you still look like you were run over by several buses,” Blitz snickers.

Flipping him off, I drop into my chair, grunting as the pain from Blender’s fist makes itself known. Looking around the table at everyone, I’m taken aback to find that Raider, Hermes, and Terro look as if they haven’t slept in days. I think back to the conversation Raider and I had last night. Looking closer at the men, I note the differences and the way they’re holding themselves. Blender senses my change in demeanor and sits a little straighter and goes stiff.

“Now that everyone is here, let’s get this show on the road,” Pres calls out, banging the gavel on the table.

“Mercy, how is our little lamb?” Token asks as he flips through some paperwork in front of him.

Unable to hide the devious glint that stretches across my face at the thought of her fire as I was getting ready to leave. “She is all fire and ready to burn.”

I’m being an intentional asshole because at this rate there are only about three people in this room I trust. Until Raider and I have more time to go over our conversation or he gives me a sign of who can be trusted, I’ll just do what I do best—be an unforgiving asshole and antagonize everyone.

“What exactly does that mean?” Pres asks in a way that pulls the monster to the very front of my consciousness. “You are supposed to be getting information, not playing with her.”

Leaning forward and propping my elbows on the large table, I level my full attention on the man. “Last I recall, I am the Enforcer and it is my job to get the answers any fucking way I see fit. Are you trying to insinuate I’m not doing just fucking that?”

Pres’s face turns bright red, and he seems to vibrate with anger when he nearly shouts, “She is not your plaything, Mercy!”

Seeing a place of vulnerability, my monster strikes. “Pres, is there something that you need to tell us? Do you know something we don’t know about our little lamb? We’re a brotherhood and family. We don't keep secrets. Isn’t that right?”

Pres narrows his eyes at me, “Don’t taunt me boy. I’m the President of this club and my word is law. I’ll put you and Blender out on your asses.”

Cocking an eyebrow, I don’t say a word. Letting my lack of response speak for itself. I’m not afraid of this asshole and would gladly remind him of this if he wants to continue to push the matter. We stare each other down, neither willing to give on the matter.

“Mercy, that’s enough,” Raider barks, causing me to shift my focus.

When our eyes meet, he gives me a very subtle shake of the head, telling me to let this go. Interesting, that means Raider truly believes we’ve got a serious issue from the inside and not just with anyone— but with our Pres . Settling back in my chair, I replay everything that’s been going on as of late, trying to pick out exactly what Raider is seeing. I tune out most of the ongoing conversation about how our businesses are going. Our three major, mostly legit businesses are doing well.

We have a construction company, Gold Wings Construction, that assists with making sure things are never found, and Tender Touch Butcher & Slaughter makes sure that no parts of our messes are found as well as making sure the good people of our area have good fresh meat. Finally, we have the one that makes us the most money and gives us what we need for the not so legal side of business, The Petty Cleanup Crew. These guys are cleaners of all things, from simple messes to the biohazard and extremely discreet cleanup.

I tune into the conversation when we get to the very not legal side of things, as that’s where my strengths come into play. Token goes over who has paid and who hasn’t. Then he passes a list of men that seem to not want to pay up or stick to their end of things to Terro so he can look it over and give Blender and I our assignments.

“Hermes, have you found anything on our little lamb?” Rhino asks.

Hermes looks up from his ever-present laptop. “That’s just it. I know what I’ve found isn’t right, but the only thing I’ve been able to find that really makes me wonder are a few photos that were hit. They could be her, but then again, it could just be facial rec reaching. I’m still digging and should know something for sure soon.”

I notice he cuts his eyes to Raider, who once again gives a head lift in return before speaking, “Well then, that leaves us getting the information the old fashion way then. We need to know what she knows and why she was there. Her story sounds true enough, but knowing what we do, she is in fact hiding something.”

“We all know Mercy is good with the brutality and beating answers from someone,” Pope starts, always the diplomate, “Maybe we should loosen the reins just a little. Let her move around the compound a little. Give her a sense that she’s not a prisoner, but here for her protection?”

My hackles immediately are raised. Not only do we have a club too fucking close to our boarders, but we also have a goddamn rat in our club, and someone running a motherfucking sex ring snatching girls off the street. Additionally, there are always club bunnies hanging around and brothers constantly coming and going. I don’t want her near any of them until I know who I can trust. At this very moment, that’s only about half of the men in this room.

“Absolutely not,” Blender snaps.

“It wouldn’t be without rules. She’d have a prospect on her at all times. Making her comfortable could go a long way in wanting to trust us and tell us what she knows,” Pope continues, as if Blender didn’t speak at all.

Opening my mouth to agree with Blender, Raider cuts me off. “As much as I think your idea has merit, I don’t know if I want someone who might have ill will talking closely with the bunnies and brothers that aren’t officers.”

“We assign her an Ol’ Lady of someone to be friendly with. That way, it’s someone that we all know and trust not to be swayed or give out information willingly or unwillingly,” Pope states again, as if he’s been giving this a lot of thought over the last twelve hours.

I swallow back the retort that is clawing to slice out and cut him down for trying to take my little lamb. My body coils, ready to fight all of them if I have to make sure she stays right where I want her. Close, so that—unlike my sister Jenny—I can actually protect her. What the fuck?

Keep her close? Fucking protect her? Where the fuck is all of that coming from?

I shake my head, trying to get it fucking right. She is a job and that is all. I do not want anything from her but fucking answers and maybe a taste of her sweet pussy.

“There isn’t a single man in this club that will let his Ol’ Lady anywhere near someone that we don’t trust,” Terro states matter-of-factly.

“This is my motherfucking club, and a brother will do whatever I damn well tell them to do,” Pres hisses, leaning his arms on the table and locking eyes with everyone in the room.

We all give him a reluctant nod. “Now I do not disagree with Pope. We should have one of the women we trust to buddy up with her so maybe she’ll give us the information. If we find that between Mercy and this that we still don’t have what we need, then we’ll move to more drastic measures to get the answers.”

The tone and the way he says it nearly send me over the fucking edge. I know I can’t just take him out, though the need to do it is like an itch I can’t scratch. This man is now, and has always been, exactly what I knew he was— a fucking rat .

“Who do you suggest we use to get close to her?” Raider inquiries, seeming completely relaxed.

“Charlie,” he smirks, eyeing Blitz on the far end of the table.

Blitz explodes, coming to his feet. “Fuck you, motherfucker. That bitch isn’t getting anywhere near Charlie.”

I don’t know that his words fully register before I’m exploding out of my chair and launching myself at Blitz. Blender wraps an arm around my chest, squeezing my bruised ribs. I struggle against his hold in a complete haze, done with the complete disrespect toward my little lamb. When Blender's hold gets tight enough for the pain to break through, I realize that he’s talking to me.

“Look brother, that asshole is enjoying this. Get it straight until we have answers.” His words do the job.

I shake him off and reach down to sit my seat back up and sit in it. Focusing all my built-up rage on the man, I make sure that there is no way for him to miss the fact I’m coming for him.

And if this asshole needs to remember anything in this moment, it’s that I always get my man and the answer.

“Now that you boys have yourselves under control, here is the plan. Starting after this meeting, Mercy, you’re going to bring your little lamb out for everyone to meet. Introduce her to Charlie and let’s see what happens. We need answers, and we need them yesterday.” Pres’s slimy grin just adds fuel to the growing inferno in my gut.

“Yes sir,” I grit out through teeth so tightly clinched I’m shocked I haven’t cracked a molar.

Pres dismisses us, asking Hermes to stay behind for a private meeting. Standing, I make my way into the hallway and wait for Raider to make his way out. He tilts his head down the hall toward his office. I follow him with Blender on my heels. As soon as we make it into the room, he pulls out several beers, passing them around as I pull out a smoke.

“Really fucker? In my office?” he gripes, kicking his feet up on his desk.

“Honestly habit more than anything,” I state, sticking the unlit smoke behind my ear. “What the fuck is going on here, Raider?”

Raider grunts, spinning the bottle around in his hands. “To be honest, I thought I knew, but at this rate, I have no fucking idea. I know we have one, maybe even two fucking rats in-house and, to be completely upfront, I fucking believe that it starts at the damn top. I don’t know who all is involved, if anyone, but him. All I know is shit ain’t adding up.”

“Fuck me, brother. Why do you suspect the top?” Raider’s gaze snaps to mine with a raised eyebrow. Holding up my hands in surrender, I continue, “Don’t get me wrong. I’ve never liked or respected that man. The only reason we’re here and Jenny was allowed to be was because of you and your momma. Suspecting not only the top of this club, but your own blood is not something anyone wants to confront. Don’t get it twisted though, when the time comes and you need it dealt with—no matter who or what—just let me know and we’ll take care of it.”

“That’s all I ask,” Raider states, taking a long pull from his beer. “Until that time comes, or we have more answers, it’s operating as normal. Just keep your eyes and ears open and steady. Now go find Terro and get your assignments.”

“Yes, Sir,” Blender and I state simultaneously as we stand heading for the door.

Cracking some skulls and space from all my current problems is exactly what I need right now.