We brought in the New Year in a tickle fight on my sofa.
Chapter 14
Landon
Over the next few weeks, Mercy and I settled into a comfortable groove. Between working at the preschool, dinner every evening at Mom’s, and hours of phenomenal sex that knocked us out every night, our days were full, but not overly busy.
Life was comfortable.
There were no weird expectations or stupid fights over petty bullshit. Things between us were fun, and easy, all the things I’d never imagined my life being. I was still hesitant to call it a relationship, but the title didn’t matter.
We were happy.
Volunteering at Bold Beginnings was a lot more fun and fulfilling than I’d expected it to be. The kids called me ‘Mr. Landon,’ which made me feel like I was pushing fifty rather than twenty-six, but when I worked with them on dribbling and shooting hoops, they looked at me like I was Gary Payton during his glory days with the Sonics. My basketball skills might not have been enough to impress my dad or my high school coaches, but a gym full of three- to five-year-olds watched my reverse layup like it was a magic trick.
“Will you show me how to do that, Mr. Landon?” a four-year-old named Jamal asked.
It was Wednesday morning and we were in the gym because the weather was too cold and rainy outside. I loved being in the gym because the kids were all corralled and I didn’t worry about them getting out or being taken. I could relax and have fun with them.
“Yeah, of course I will,” I replied, passing him the ball.
“Me too?” Liam asked.
“And me!” Olivia said.
“Girls can’t ball,” Jamal told her.
“You shut your filthy mouth, Jamal Warner,” Olivia said, standing. Hand on her hip, dark braids and pointed index finger swinging with sass. “My sister was a better basketball player than you’ll ever be.”
“Why doesn’t your sister teach you how to do layups, then?” Jamal fired back.
“None of your beeswax, asshole.”
Shocked at the language, I stared at her.
“Olivia!” a teacher by the name of Trinity snapped. “Go see Ms. Mercy and tell her about your mouth.” Trinity glanced at me. “Can you please make sure she gets there?”
“Sure.”
The line of kids that had been waiting for me to work with them on layups, groaned.
“I’ll be back,” I promised my little fans before following Olivia down the hall to Mercy’s office.
Mercy greeted us, and I leaned against the wall while she crouched down to hear Olivia’s confession.
“You know that language isn’t allowed here,” Mercy said.
“But he was being an asshole,” Olivia argued. “Ms. Mercy, my momma says you have to call a spade a spade. What else was I gonna call him but an asshole?”
I bit back a laugh.
Mercy shot me a look, but I could tell she was having a difficult time controlling herself as well.
“Nothing. We don’t name-call here. Why don’t you tell me what he said that upset you?”
After Olivia relayed her story, Mercy asked, “Your sister, Janisa?”
Olivia nodded.
Mercy’s features softened, and she hugged Olivia. “I’m sorry, Liv. I’m sure Jamal doesn’t know about your sister and didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I’ll talk to him. But in the meantime, you have to promise me you’ll stop using that language in my school. If someone says something that upsets you, you need to use your words and tell them to stop. Without calling them names.”
“Yes, Ms. Mercy,” Olivia droned.
“Thank you. You may go back to the gym now.”
Olivia hurried out of the door and down the hall. Mercy stood and wiped moisture from beneath her eyes before returning to her desk.
I waited for the patter of Olivia’s little feet to disappear down the hall before pushing off the wall and approaching Mercy. “What happened to Olivia’s sister?”
“She died right before Olivia enrolled. The West Side Boyz and the High Point Locos were in the middle of some sort of pissing contest. Janisa was shooting hoops with friends at Cascade when she was hit by a stray bullet. Died instantly.”
“Damn,” I said, shaking my head. The neighborhood was rough, and I’d heard about things like drive-bys and stray bullets my whole life, but I’d never thought about how the little siblings of the victims were affected by that kind of senseless violence. Cascade was a middle school. “How old was she?”
“Ten.”
“Jesus. How do you do it?” I asked, stepping closer. I wanted to wrap my arms around her, but we were at work and she’d made it clear that PDA wasn’t allowed here. I was doing my best to respect her wishes and her professionalism. “How do you compartmentalize shit like that and keep going? What stops you from packing up and leaving this neighborhood to go somewhere safer? Somewhere where the kids you help have less of a chance of eating a stray bullet or ending up as a statistic? Somewhere where you could be safe?”
She shrugged, her beautiful blue eyes watering again. “Because they need me, Landon. Most of the world has given up on these children. I won’t.”
Everything about Mercy was beautiful, but her compassion and resolve were heart-stopping. Blue eyes fierce and shining, blonde hair down and curled to frame her face, she looked like a warrior angel in a dress and heels, ready to draw her sword and defend those too young to defend themselves.
If I squinted hard enough, I could see me taking up my sword and standing beside her, helping her cause.
Would it be so bad to put down my M4 and join Mercy on her battlefield permanently?
The thought caught me off guard, forcing me to evaluate my life in a way I hadn’t in years. I’d still be serving. I’d still be paying penance, although I was no longer sure I needed to. And, this thing with Mercy wouldn’t have to end.
I could wake up in her bed every morning for the rest of my life.
The idea definitely had appeal. No longer sure of myself or my future, I drifted back down the hall and into the gym to help preschool kids with their layups.
Hours later, I was still thinking it over when the bikers arrived with designs to put an obstacle course in the gym. I’d spoken to a few of the club members over the past few weeks and they all seemed like good guys. I jumped at the opportunity to help them build the course, and went to work beside Havoc, the black Santa.
“Link said he talked to you about joining us when you get out,” Havoc said. “Said you might have questions?”
I hadn’t even thought about the club, but now that Havoc mentioned it, I was curious. “Link seems like a good man. How is he as a leader?”
“The best. That son-of-a-bitch led my Special Forces unit and wouldn’t shut up about his old man’s club. I got sick of listening to him, so I followed him here to see it for myself, but I never expected to stay. Turns out I kinda like being a Dead President.”
“You were in the Special Forces together?”
“Yep. I met him before that, though. I was doing nighttime PT, putting in training after hours to prepare for the Q-Course when this bossy asshole approached me and said we should train together, push each other, you know? Link had grown up in the club and was used to working as a team, but I grew up with sisters who only ever teamed up to take me down. Working with Link was an adjustment.” Havoc chuckled. “But it was good. We picked up a third… Blade. Did you meet him while he was in town?”
The name didn’t ring a bell. “I don’t think so. He wasn’t there handing out gifts with you guys on Christmas Eve, was he?”
“No. He went back to Texas the weekend before that. He has a woman who was waiting for him at home. He’s back now, though, and this time he brought his wife. He and Link are throwing around ideas to start something like the Dead Presidents to help vets down in Texas.”
“How long were you in the service?” I asked.
“Long enough to know I wasn’t cut out to be a lifer. Link
had to come home and take over the club so his old man could retire, and I had other stuff I wanted to do with my life. The service taught me a lot, but it’s messy and loud. I needed to find my calm before I lost my shit, you know?”
Yes, I did. I’d seen plenty of soldiers lose their shit. “Did you? Find your calm, I mean.”
Havoc grinned. “Sure did. Her name’s Julia, and she’s a gorgeous redhead who owns a bookstore downtown.” He held up his hand, showing off his wedding ring. “Got hitched this past Thanksgiving when I took her home to meet my mom and sisters.”
“Congrats. That’s great.”
“Thanks. There sure are benefits to retiring in the service, but I’m glad I didn’t. I served my country, and now I’m right where I belong. Have a stable job, a beautiful, fierce wife, and a club full of brothers who have my back no matter what. I don’t know what I did to deserve it all, but God help the man who tries to take any of it away.”
“That’s beautiful, man,” Wasp said, pretending to wipe a tear from beneath his eye as he joined us. From what I’d gathered, Wasp was the clown of the group, always cracking jokes and pushing the buttons of his brothers. “But I’m gonna need you to quit yapping about your feelings and get back to work so we can finish this obstacle course.”
“Wasp was a sailor,” Havoc said. “Spent too long on the boat; he’s not right in the head.”
Wasp flipped him off.
As we got back to work, I continued to ponder the future. I didn’t want to leave Mercy and Mom, but there was more to it than that. I was happy in Seattle. The walls didn’t feel like they were closing in on me anymore. Sure, I still occasionally caught myself looking for IEDs on the side of the road, but I’d grown comfortable here.
And I could see myself settling down with Mercy.
Of course, I’d have to get a real job. Volunteering at a preschool sure wouldn’t pay the bills, but maybe I could become an EMT or a fire fighter or something. Or, maybe I’d take advantage of the GI Bill and finally go to college and finally make my dad proud.
The possibilities were limitless, and for once, they didn’t seem suffocating, they felt freeing.
I was thinking about slipping out of the gym to go find Mercy and tell her about this breakthrough when shots were fired, sounding like they were right outside our building.
Havoc sprang to action, barking orders. “Wasp, Spade, Sage, split up and check on the classrooms. Stay with the kids. Landon and I will check out the rest of the building.”
The three nodded. We all jogged for the hall, and they split up as Havoc and I headed for Mercy’s office. She wasn’t there.
“Landon! Havoc!” Adina shouted from the reception desk. “Mercy’s outside!”
Chapter 15
Mercy
I was sitting at my desk pouring over the budget when someone tapped on my office window. Surprised, I looked over to find someone watching me with his hands cupping his face. I startled, and it took me a moment to realize it was Ben. My little brother looked like he’d been through the ringer with messy hair and dark circles around his eyes. He waved for me to come out and join him.
Ben hadn’t returned a phone call or a text since Christmas, and I was so relieved to see him, I didn’t think twice about doing what he asked. My butt was up and out of my office in two seconds flat. “I’ll be outside if you need me,” I told Adina as I scampered past the front desk.
“Okay, I’ll hold your calls,” she replied, sparing me a quick glance before her gaze returned to her computer screen.
Hurrying out the front door, I went down the stairs, banked right, and headed for the side of the building. Ben was on the other side of our metal dumpster, pacing in front of my window, his brow furrowed and his frown deep. The second I moved into view, he stopped and offered me a cautious smile. “Hey, stranger, long time no see. Where you been?”
My brother the comedian. I didn’t know whether to sob, laugh, or cuss him out. I settled on wrapping him in a hug and trying to squeeze the worrisome shithead tendencies right out of him. His clothes were filthy, his hair was greasy, and he stunk like body odor and cigarette smoke. After the initial whiff, I held my breath until I could step back and put some fresh air between us.
“I’m super glad to see you, so don’t take this the wrong way, but you’re kind of a hot mess. What’s going on? Are you in trouble?”
His smile faltered and he looked away, scanning the area. Wondering what he was looking for, I followed his gaze. We were beside the backside of some of the townhouses and there was an alley that bordered the back of the school building. I saw nothing out of place.
“You always get right to it, don’t you, sis?”
“No sense in wasting time. What’s up, Benny? Why are we out here, and not in my office?” I’d worn a cardigan over my dress, and wrapped it tighter around me to shield out the cold, wishing I would have thought to grab my coat. At least the rain had let up.
“Um. I have some shit to tell you, but I don’t have much time, so I need you to listen carefully and let me get it all out, okay?”
A lump formed in my throat, making it impossible to speak. I had a bad feeling I wasn’t going to like whatever my brother had to say. Still, I nodded.
“That delivery job I took… my friend Billy got it for me.”
I sighed. Out of all my brother’s shady friends, Billy was the worst. I’d met him a couple of times and each encounter had made me feel like I needed a shower and a lawyer. Billy had all the personality of a seedy television evangelist, promising miracles and delivering poverty. “Ben…”
He held up his hands. “I know. I know. You tried to warn me about him, but I… I thought he was my friend.”
“What did he do?” I asked.
“He… Shit. This is harder than I thought it would be.” He scrubbed a hand through his messy hair and looked around, his gaze darting over the area again like he was expecting to be attacked. “You were right, okay? Billy’s so fuckin’ dirty nuthin’ can scrub him clean.”
Normally I liked hearing that I was right, but today it made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. Ben didn’t talk shit about his friends, he defended them. Billy had done something that made even my sweet baby brother give up on him. “What were you delivering?” I asked.
He sucked in a breath. Still not looking at me, he breathed out, “Drugs.”
“Ben!” I snapped.
His gaze swung back around to meet mine. “I swear I didn’t know at first, Mercy. I’d meet up with Billy and he’d give me these manila envelopes and business addresses to deliver them to during work hours. It seemed legit to me. I mean, it wasn’t like I was selling smack to kids on the street or something. I was given sealed envelopes and paid to drop them off in offices.”
His story worried me, because I could understand his point of view. If someone gave me an envelope—that wasn’t ticking—and paid me to drop it off at a business, I wouldn’t suspect drugs. I might think I was delivering a court summons or a child support demand or something, but not drugs. No wonder so many good kids got messed up with the local gangs.
“Why you?” I asked. “Billy knows how you feel about drugs. Why would he recruit you for this?”
Holding up his hands, he said, “Look at me. No tats, no crazy scars, most of the guys in the WSB look like they just served a ten-year sentence at the Washington State Penitentiary making inmates their bitches. Anything they deliver anywhere will be questioned.”
“The WSB?” I asked, my voice raising an octave as my heart leaped into my throat. “As in the West Side Boyz?” The WSB wasn’t just a gang, they were the most openly ruthless gang in the city. Not only were they rumored to control the drug trade in the High Point Neighborhood, but in most of Seattle as well. I’d been preaching at my little brother to stay away from the WSB for as long as I could remember.
“I swear I didn’t know!” Ben repeated. “You know I never would have willingly joined them.”
Yes, I did, but eve
ry word coming out of Ben’s mouth made the situation worse. “You joined them?” I felt sick to my stomach.
“I told Billy I wanted out, but he didn’t give me a choice.” His gaze once again scanned the area. “Once you’re in, you’re in. They don’t care that I didn’t know I was working for them.”
I couldn’t believe this was happening. I’d tried so hard to protect Ben and it was all for nothing. “There had to be something you could have done rather than join a freaking gang, Ben.”
“They threatened your life, Mercy. I couldn’t let them hurt you.”
Well, that took the wind out of my sales. Deflating, I asked, “What do I have to do with this?”
He dropped his head in defeat. “Billy knows you. He knows you’re the only real family I have, and they used you as leverage to keep me in line.”
I didn’t know if I was more offended or disgusted. “They can’t use me against you. Ben, why didn’t you tell me? I could have helped you. We could have figured this out together.”
“I was going to on Christmas, but then I got this text... They knew I was there with you. They sent me a picture of me coming into your apartment. I panicked. I didn’t want to put you in danger. These guys are… scary. The shit they do is unreal. It’s amazing how many cops they have in their pockets. Politicians. It’s bigger than anyone knows, and I just saw a small piece of their operations.”
And he was here… telling me everything. A shudder went down my spine that had nothing to do with the cold day. “I’m glad you’re coming clean with me, Ben, but what changed? Why are you telling me now?”
“Because we need to leave town, sis.”
“We?” I shook my head. “Leave town? Ben, I have a job and—”
“They want me to kill someone,” he blurted out. “I tried, but I can’t do it.”
“You tried?” I shrieked. “To kill a man?”
“Would you keep your voice down?” he growled. “They made it clear it was him or you. You’ve protected me my entire life, sis. I fucked up. I’m not letting you pay for my mistake.”
Rescuing Mercy (Special Forces: Operation Alpha): A Dead Presidents MC Spinoff Page 15