Page 10 of Going Down Smooth: Part Two

The little bubble of protection we’ve created in this room bursts for the first time in days as Seneca rushes past Knight in a blur of gasps and tears with Edward and Christopher at her back.

“Oh, Mercy, baby girl. Thank God you’re okay.” Seneca is all tears and sobs as she looks Mercy over from head to toe. Her hands shake as she captures Mercy’s face between them. Mercy’s eyes spill over with tears as she and her mother have a silent conversation. After a moment, Seneca nods, searching Mercy’s face before she wipes the tears away.

“It can be rebuilt, but you, my dear, are only one person. You are important to a great many people, and not only the ones in this room. You are the glue in this equation, my girl. I know you will make it out all alright.” Seneca leans forward and touches her forehead to Mercy’s, then sighs. The entire room is respectfully silent as we watch them in their meaningful tableau, until a throat clears from the doorway.

I could have laughed at how right we all were, as two very awkward-looking lawyers arrive, interrupting a beautiful moment, their intentions more than clear. As they walk into the room, they announce to Mercy that they are here to finalize the will and need her to prove that she is mated.

* * *

“Christopher, why would you do this? This is not what we need to be focused on right now. In fact, why does it matter?” Edward turns and gestures at the four us. “We know these men; we’ve known them their entire lives. They all love her, isn’t that enough for now?” His eyes blaze with fury as he rounds on his packmate. It looks like he’s had enough of Christopher’s antics, and I am here for it.

Seneca also looks affronted by her mate’s behavior. Her face turns into a scowl as she holds Mercy in her arms protectively and stands between her and the lawyers. “You took this as an opportunity to. . .to what, Chris—”

Christopher clucks his tongue and pushes past Edward, but we don’t let him get far. Knight steps in his way, followed by Lox while Trey and I remain next to Mercy’s bed.

“Sen, listen.” He pauses, as if noticing his path has been blocked, he finally looks to Knight in disgust. “I need to get to my mate and my daughter. Move.”

“No, you don’t, you can speak from here,” Lox growls through clenched teeth.

“If you think—”

“Why? Christopher. Explain!” Seneca shouts. “Hasn’t Mercy been through enough? Yet you have to push your agenda by attempting to what? Make a point. You’re not going to examine your daughter for mate marks. Benjamin wouldn’t—”

“He’s gone, Seneca. It’s up to me to uphold his wishes. Mercy knows this,” Christopher says softly, all dutiful and concerned, as if his daughter isn’t laying in a hospital bed because of him.

I clear my throat, sensing Mercy’s distress. My girl doesn’t have a voice, so I will give her mine. “You don’t need to examine her,” I say, interrupting the continued back and forth. I look down at Mercy, who is speaking without words as I get her consent. She gives me a nod as I pick up her wrist and kiss it tenderly before I raise it for the others to see. Seneca sucks in a sharp breath of surprise and Edward smiles knowingly with pride in his eyes. Christopher on the other hand, keeps his face neutral, but he can’t hide the fury in his narrowed eyes. Bested, asshole.

One of the lawyers steps forward to get a closer look, while his partner opens his briefcase, sits on the couch and awaits instruction. Before he can ask to see more, Trey moves around Seneca to gently pull Mercy’s gown away from her neck to expose his mark. Mercy stares furiously back at a pissed off Christopher as the lawyer nods his head as if he’s seen enough.

“Thank you, Miss Smooth. Let me offer you my sincerest apologies for disturbing you during this difficult time. My associate and I will quickly sign off on the paperwork and make this official,” the lawyer says apologetically.

Edward blows out a breath, and to my surprise, shoulder checks Christopher as he passes him and crosses to the bed to stand beside Seneca. “Mercy, honey, I am so sorry. Our intention was to come to check on you and make sure you were okay, not this.” He points to the lawyers and then to Christopher. “Please forgive us. . .this is just, distasteful.”

Mercy looks up at Edward, offering him a small smile, yet I know she wishes she could say more right now.

“Well, I am not seeking an apology. I did what had to be done! Someone had to maintain order here. And I had to make sure Mercy didn’t resist Benjamin’s wishes. You know how willful—”

“Enough! Christopher, leave. This is not the time or the place. Why is this such an issue for you? Our daughter has been hurt. She could have died, and yet you’re more worried about Benjamin’s will. I can’t believe you would be so heartless. The things you said outside. . .” She sighs, sounding tired and weary of all of this. It’s only been three weeks since Benjamin’s funeral, now this. “Leave this room, right now, please.” Seneca is visibly shaking with anger as she points to the door of the hospital room. She narrows her eyes at Christopher, as if she’s seeing him for the first time. I would love to film this exchange for the public. Christopher withers under her reproachful gaze, raising his hands in surrender, and I’m starting to wonder who’s really in control here. More importantly, how has Christopher managed to keep his dirty dealings secret from his entire pack. Momma Seneca is definitely not a push over but there’s a lot she’s not privy to.

“Sen, I—”

“Go!” Edward shouts, and I force back a smile as we all watch on in astonishment.

Christopher sneers at us all, including the lawyers. Clearly livid that things didn’t go as he planned this morning. Turning on his heels, he storms to the door, before he halts. “Mercy, I am glad you are well, daughter. I will continue to pray for your recovery,” he says, without even looking at her, then he opens the door and slams it shut.

Nothing about what he said sounded sincere, and it only makes me bristle further. This is no way near over, and as my brothers catch my eye, I know they are thinking the same thing. We are going to have to double our efforts to protect Mercy.

It doesn’t take long for the lawyers to sign off on the will, making it official. Smooth Bourbon belongs to Mercy now. Regardless of what is left, it is hers, despite Christopher’s efforts.

By the time Seneca and Edward leave the room, with the promise to check in on her once she returns home, we are all ready to drop from exhaustion. Mercy yawns, triggering us all as I sit back in the chair I’d abandoned earlier.

Mercy writes, after a moment she shows me the notepad, the words are underlined to emphasize the urgency.I want to go home. My heart soars, not missing the fact that she called our home,home. All the work I put into designing something perfect with her in mind was worth it in the end because she came back to us. Now, I am going to build her the perfect nest so by the time she recovers completely, I can make good on my promise.

“I will go check with my brother, mouse, and have him come talk to you,” Lox says quietly, leaving the room to go in search of Heath. After four days of no real sleep or proper food, I am looking forward to returning to our packhouse.

It isn’t until the next day that Heath clears Mercy to be discharged from the hospital with strict instructions detailing her care for the next few weeks. With her injuries we know Mercy will need rest, and with the threat of triggering another heat, keeping her as stress free as possible is important. I honestly don’t know how we are going to do that when we don’t know the extent of the damage at the distillery. Knight and Avion both agreed that Freeya would be safer in their care, and she could deal with any questions and concerns from the board as Mercy’s assistant and basically her second. So, at least, that’s covered for now.

I guess all my concerns will have to wait. For now, I want to get my mate home and guard the gates.

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