Page 18 of Going Down Smooth: Part Two

Iam used to it being the four of us. My brothers and I created a nice cozy corner in the middle of the woods. It was easy to hide away from prying eyes and the whisperings of pity every time members of the community saw us out on the streets. Even though we run a massive night club, seclusion is what I prefer the most. Growing up the way I did, always in the spotlight, impressing the blue bloods at every party and family gathering, I grew tired of posturing. Ultimately, I wanted the quiet life, I always have. It’s why it was so easy to latch on to my pack brothers and Mercy. The peace and tranquility I’ve only felt in their presence made walking away from my family the best decision of my life.

Now that we are all together again, with my little mouse under the same roof, all I want to do is hide away from the world once more. But I can want in one hand and shit in the other, guess which hand will fill up the fastest. Yeah, no, I would rather not picture my hand with piles of shit in it. . .I digress. Our pack house is just that, ours. I’ve grown more and more protective of our safe haven now that Mercy is recovering. All of us have. Even with all the security around the perimeter, our own team of security personnel picked by me, I still bristle at the sight before me when Knight and I arrive back home.

“It’s okay, Mercy. If you don’t want to recount this today, I can always arrange for another time to drop by.” Alister Franklyn stands close to the door, his back to us as he speaks softly to Mercy. She grips her shirt with her fist, and her eyes are slightly panicked. Freeya and her very pregnant younger sister, Grace, are on either side of her. Nate and Trey stand at her back with their arms resting reassuringly on each shoulder. She blows out a breath, then relaxes further when she looks up and spots Knight and me.

My eyes roam the room. Although there isn’t a hostile person in the place, I still feel my hackles rise as a sense of claustrophobia makes the room suddenly feel too small. I growl under my breath at the change in Mercy’s scent, it’s sharper, the peach scent almost overripe. She’s afraid, and I want to make them all leave.

Dez stands close to Omari, whose eyes keep wandering to Freeya, who despite being seated, has her arm outstretched on the back of the sofa with his hand in hers. James, the Beta amongst Grace’s pack sits on a bar stool they must have pulled out of the kitchen, watching everything with a cool casualness that belies his bouncing leg, as he eyes his Omega, ready to whisk her away at any moment. I guess I should be grateful Vic was in his shop when we passed it on the way home, and Avion is always in the wind. Shun and Kennan, Grace’s other Alphas aren’t here either. I don’t know if I could cope with so many Alphas in one room if they were all here.

Knight nudges me in warning, and it’s only then that I realize that I am practically baring my teeth at our guests. “Lox.” He passes me, shaking his head with pursed lips as he crosses the room and takes a seat. I offer everyone in the room a tight smile and blow out a slow breath, focusing only on my mouse. She needs my calmness, for her, I let my unease go.

“It’s fine. I needed a minute,” Mercy’s voice wavers a bit before she clears her throat and begins to recount the events of last Sunday.

We all listen, allowing her to get through it all without asking too many questions. The last thing she needs is to have to stay in that headspace for too long. Hearing her recount the events enrages me all over again. I see it’s affecting Nate, Trey, and Knight as well. Even Dez turns away to hide his own anger as she talks brokenly about what they did to Faith in front of her.

How could Christopher have given his daughter over to them? Did he love her at all? Did he love any of his daughters? Thank goodness Edward is Grace’s biological father and wanted her to pick her own pack. Alister, Keenan, Shun, and James treat her like a little princess. They are perfect for her. We have Mercy, at least Benjamin died with the knowledge that we would take care of her. Yet, Faith, she is attached to criminals who assault and abuse her. She deserves better. I hope we find her before it’s too late.

Mercy looks exhausted when she finally finishes. She really doesn’t remember much after she passed out on the floor as the fire crew pulled her out of the ventilation grate. Her skin is ashen, and I can tell by the way she bites her lips that she is trying not to cry. This has been too much for her, but knowing my mouse, she won’t say anything. Damn her for trying to be so brave.

I don’t think my little mouse knows that we’ve picked up on the fact that she’s not sleeping. How she lays awake after waking up from several nightmares during the night. It’s only been a week, so we wanted to give her space to work it out on her own, or at least talk to us about her struggles in her own time. None of us want to make her feel as if she’s weak, even though all I want to do is wrap her up in my arms and carry her away from all this shit. So, if it’s space she needs to work out her demons, then we are all committed to giving her the room for that.

It took a bit of deliberation. For two mornings we secretly debated around the breakfast table while Mercy was sequestered away from us in our bedroom. I’m surprised we came to an agreement at all, considering we all have our own opinions on what we thought would help her the best, but in the end, we all knew what we had to do. We wait, we watch, and most of all, be patient. Mercy is not meant to be managed. We are to support her with as much normality as possible, at least, for now.

“Have you been able to question Faith’s pack? I mean, Chasson has a cut on his face, surely that’s enough to prove he was there. I don’t want Christopher trying to spin this—”

“Mercy, baby, Alister and Dez have DNA samples of the blood left on your clothes that day. We recovered Derrick’s DNA, we have the proof we need. It’s just. . .” Knight shifts in his seat, not really wanting to tell her this now. But both Grace and Mercy need to know there’s a possibility they will never see their oldest sister again or she’s—

“Just what?” Mercy asks, watching all our faces. I know she can feel it. All nerves vanish from her face, her eyes harden as she looks from me, to Knight, then Alister.

Alister and Dez both nod in Knights direction giving him the go ahead. He might as well snatch the Band-Aid off now, we are all here to deal with the fallout. Someone will have to share this with Edward and Seneca, but it can wait for now.

“Mercy, Dez’s security and the police have been looking for Chasson, Derrick, Mal, and Faith. Their pack house was vacant and—”

“Wait, are you telling me they took her and ran?” Mercy eyes go wide with panic. “No. . .no. . .no. They hurt her. We need to find them.”

“Alister, tell me you know more,” Grace pleads, her hand rubbing her belly protectively as tears spill from her eyes. “Faith has been through so much. What if. . .what if they. . . Oh God!” She buries her face in her hands and sobs. James springs into action easing his way between the coffee table and the sofa, picking Grace up in his arms and cradling her in his lap. Mercy attempts to move but James is a big guy.

“Come here, mouse.” I reach my hand out to her, Nate and Trey both help her to stand as she crosses the room to me. I gather her in my arms, gently tucking her under my chin with her back to my front. Alister turns his eyes on Grace but also on Mercy as he speaks to both of them.

“We know they are no longer in the state. We put out an APB in the surrounding states, but with Derrick’s money, they could be anywhere. We’re not talking about a pack fleeing in a car cross country. They could have fled the country altogether.” Alister grimaces at Grace’s distress, as she cries harder. Mercy’s hand tightens around my arm, the only indication she’s near breaking point.

“So, you’re saying the men who tried to kill me, who assaulted and raped my sister in front of me, won’t be brought to justice!” Mercy snaps, a growl rumbling up her chest, making Nate, Trey, and Knight gravitate to her protectively.

“Oh, they will be found. I promise you that, Mercy,” Dez finally speaks. “Where the police fail.” He looks to Alister and raises his hands in surrender. “No offense, Alister,” he continues, “is where I thrive. My security team is far reaching, even if they fled the country. I have eyes and ears everywhere. I will find her. I will find them.” The determination in his voice makes Mercy’s body relax into me. I hold her to my chest, lending her my strength, keeping her steady.

“Thank you, Dez,” she says with a sigh.

“I think we should get Grace home,” James breaks the silence and Alister nods.

“Yes, please forgive us. With the baby coming soon. . .”

“She doesn’t need the added stress.” Mercy nods, wiping a stray tear from her eyes. “Get my baby sister out of here.”

“I think we all should get out of your hair. It’s been a long day for you, Mercy,” Freeya says, standing up and moving toward her men. “You know how to reach me, but I will get right on to everything we discussed earlier.”

Mercy nods, not responding as everyone says their goodbyes. Hugs and kisses are exchanged, with promises to call and check in with any new updates. Alister and Dez both reassure her that the minute they catch wind of Faith, she will be the first to know. Somehow, the five of us are all standing on the front porch of the cabin, watching taillights vanish into the night as Mercy slumps, knees buckling.

“Mouse?” I scoop her up in my arms as Knight opens the front door for me to carry her in.

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