Page 37 of Merc

“Get some sleep, and don’t worry about that. Daddy’s gonna handle it.”

Marz smiled as I gave him a kiss on the cheek.

“I love you, Daddy.”

“I love you more. Good night.”

“Night.”

I would usually wait until he was asleep to leave his room, but I couldn’t wait to get out of there fast enough tonight. I went outside to the mother-in-law suite, where Aries and Omar were chilling in the living room, watching a movie.

“Merc, wh—ah!”

Aries yelled as I popped Omar in his mouth. The groan he released was silenced by another hit. It wasn’t hard enough to knock him out because I needed him to hear me well. My fist wrapped around his shirt, and I used it to lift him off the couch.

“Your fiancée don’t seem to understand the rules around this bitch when it comes to my son. Y’all don’t make decisions without me, and y’all don’t have important conversations if I’m not present without my approval. If I hear that you’ve done it again, I’ma beat yo’ ass, and if you do it a third time, I’ma slit yo’ throat and you won’t be able to talk no mo’. Do you fuckin’ hear me?”

“Yeah, man,” he rushed out quickly.

Tossing him back onto the couch, I gave Aries my attention. “Why you tell my son he was moving?”

“I—”

“You tryin’ my fuckin’ patience, Aries.” I interrupted before she could even answer. “I been giving you grace out of respect, but that shit is dead. Since you can’t give the same back, it’s ova. You know how I come, so since you want to get a judge involved, we can do that, ’cause I’m real close to sending yo’ second baby daddy to God just to teach you not to play with me.”

“But, Merc, I…”

I pointed my finger toward her as I took deep breaths. “Stop fucking playing with me, Aries. For real.”

Snapping her mouth shut, she nodded adamantly. My eyes went back to Omar as he used his shirt to wipe the blood that was leaking from his mouth.

“Your ass can’t come over here no more. You getting too comfortable. Take her to your house when y’all want to kick it or put some’ on the fucking rent. Get the fuck out. Both of y’all.”

Neither of them hesitated to grab their shit and scramble out the room. Plopping down on the couch, I took deep breaths and rocked until I was calm. I chuckled in disbelief that this had become my life. I wanted Aries to move on and find love but not at the expense of our ability to coparent in a healthy way for the sake of our son. Of all the men she could have chosen, I wasn’t sure what the hell Omar had said and done to hook her. The shit was truly beyond me.

When I went back into the house, I took out my stash and lit up a blunt, resisting the urge to tell Neo to come to me. I didn’t want to pile my drama on to her, so I’d spend the evening alone, but Lord knew I needed her peace to consume me.

Chapter

Twenty

Neo

One Week Later

I was having such a good time with Merc’s parents, Porsha and Frank, that it was scary. Marz was truly a small replica of his father. They all had welcomed me in with open arms, making my first visit to his parents’ home a success. We’d spent the evening having dinner and talking. When it was over, the music started up, and like a true southern family, it led to drinking and dancing.

He’d told his mom I was into embroidery, and she knitted, so we’d made a date to do both tomorrow. As good of a time as I was having, I couldn’t stop myself from blurting, “I don’t want to fall in love with you.” My eyes watered, causing me to avoid his.

Merc probably thought I was crazy. I’d just told him how much fun I’d had as we left the house. Now, at his car, I was on the verge of having an emotional breakdown.

“I wouldn’t let you,” Merc admitted. I looked into his eyes. “Falling suggests an accident. Something unintentional.” He stepped in front of me and tilted my head by my chin. “I’m going to be very intentional with everything I do to make you grow in love with me.”

Nibbling my bottom lip, I blinked back my tears.

Merc kissed me tenderly, pulling me off the car and into his embrace.

“Does that sound okay with you, baby?” he asked, and between his smooth tone and charming smile, I would have agreed, even if I didn’t want to.

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