Page 15 of Property of Mercy
“Bitch, you stank,” I mumble to the dark room.The only way to fix this is with a hot fucking shower and some new clothes.
Slowly I pull myself upright, only slightly light-headed this time.My eyes finally adjust to the darkness, and I find that there is a side table with a lamp.I reach over to find the switch and flip it on, hissing at the assault on my eyes from the light.When my eyes adjust, I take everything in.There isn’t a lot on the walls.At the end of the bed, a dresser sits on the wall, with a TV mounted above it and stuffed animals scattered across the top.The wall that I thought had nothing on it has a set of built-in bookshelves along with another door.Next to the head of the bed is another door, and just beyond that sits a desk.
Looking at the bedside table,I find an unopened bottle of water, a bag of chips, and some kind of sandwich.Ignoring everything else, I grab the water, being sure it is in fact sealed, then I open it and take several long pulls on it, trying to satiate the thrust.When the water is gone and my head is a little less woozy, I stand, deciding it’s time to take stock of the room and figure out how the fuck I can get out of here!
I make way over to the dresser, taking in the spare change scattered across the surface.Along with receipts, there are a couple of half-empty cigarette packs, lighters, random nuts and bolts, and even a few stray bullets with not much else.Pulling open a dresser drawer, I find mostly white t-shirts with a couple of dark gray shirts with the club logo on it.Score!Without thought, I pull the shirt up to my face to take in the smell of it, shocked when it doesn’t smell of smoke.It smells like Mercy—spearmint, laundry soap, and a touch of some cologne I can’t place.
Frustrated at myself for acting like a lovesick fool, I get back to my mission of trying to find some kind of shorts, or hell, I’ll even take some boxers.Deciding to try the drawer under the shirts, I do indeed find shorts, only there is no way to make them fit and stay on my body.
“Well damn, maybe the drop drawer would be better.”I mutter, pulling it open to find exactly what I need.
Alright now let’s see what is behind door number one.Shuffling my way across the room to the built-ins, I take in the books on the shelves, surprised that it’s not all trash or playboys.
“Well, looks like he isn’t as dumb as I thought him to be,” I grumble, rolling my eyes because something in my chest loosens knowing this.I avoid looking at anything else and pull the door open finding a closet.
“Door number two, it is,” I huff, praying as I shuffle over to it that I don’t lose steam and cannot actually complete the task at hand.
The door comes open and I look around in shock at the bathroom.I expected nasty and dingy as this is a man’s bathroom in a biker clubhouse.To my left is a double vanity with a large mirror and beautiful black countertops.There is an all-black bath tube that is large enough for me to swim in tucked into the back corner with a matching tiled shower that could fit several very large men beside it, and I’m guessing a toilet tucked behind the wall of the shower.I stand there feeling some indecision over what I want to do.I know taking a bath with a concussion isn’t smart, but the thought of staying on my feet and trying to keep my stitches dry doesn’t appeal to me in the slightest.
“Decision made,” I sigh, shutting the door behind me before grabbing the bottle of manly body soap out of the shower as I make my way to the bathtub.
Turning on the water, I pour way too much of the stuff into the bath, grinning as the bubbles multiply in a hurry.When the water is about halfway up the side of the tub, I strip off my clothes and step in, hissing as all the cuts and scrapes burn as they come in contact with the steaming water.I sink down and lay my head back, just letting the water fill the bath and try to relax just a little.
9
MERCY
Raider’s fist connects with my face, splitting my eyebrow open.The sting of pain is exactly what the monster is begging for.That is a feeling he knows what to do with.I throw a fake jab, causing Raider to pull to the side, leaving the ribs on his right open for my fist to connect with.
A sinister sneer breaks across my face.“Getting sloppy there, brother?”I taunt him.
The smirk Raider throws my way is what clues me in that I fell into his trap.Just as my brain catches up, a throwing star embeds itself into the wall behind Raider.With a second quickly following.Both of which skimmed my ear, nicking them.Looking back over my shoulder, I eye the man that threw them.The distraction hit its mark as a punishing blow catches me off guard and lands on my temple, causing stars to erupt across my vision.
The blow to the head is exactly what I needed to rein in the monster in my soul that is always begging for blood.I turn to Blender, giving Raider my back.We stand there watching each other for a long moment, readying for the inevitable to happen.
“That’s twice in as many days that you’ve not been able to keep your toys to yourself.There won’t be a third,” I reprimanded him.
Blender allows a sinister smile to spread across his face.“You did try to teach me to share.I’m just putting it into practice.”
Rhino’s chuckle stops my retort.“Brother, I doubt that’s what he meant when he was teaching you that lesson.”
Blender just shrugs, leaning back on the wall as everyone takes their seats again.I look Raider over as he sits, noting the black eye blooming and the way he favors the ribs on his right side.Remedy first checks in with him before coming over to me to access my split eyebrow.I hold myself still, not at all liking the feel of another's hands on me.
“Mercy, I’m going to ask you this one fucking time,” Relic grits out, breaking the silence.“Are you solid, or do we need to be looking into other options?”
I want to lay this man out.I know he is my Pres and I should respect and follow him.The monster inside of me doesn’t quite see it that way and Relic hasn’t done anything for me to truly respect him.I follow and do as I’m told—for Raider.Raider has earned my respect and loyalty and because of that, and that they are blood brothers, I follow Pres with caution.
I glower at the man before acknowledging him.“I’m good.”Then I shrug casually.“For now.”
Raider’s eyes narrow, letting me know he doesn’t believe the shit coming out of my mouth.I know a conversation will be had about this shit show today.
“Dammit, brother, you put several holes in the brand-new walls.Could you not have beat on Raider more instead of the walls?”Terro fumes glaring at the damaged walls.
“Just making sure you and the boys stay busy,” I remark flatly.
Terro just narrows his eyes at me menacingly.I can feel the monster rising, ready to get its taste of blood.When Hermes’s voice brings my every thought to a standstill.
“Something isn’t adding up,” He mumbles, typing a mile a minute on his keyboard, “The name she gave me didn’t exist until four years ago.It first showed up in Colorado enrolled in computer science at CTU.Then she finished her degree and moved back here like she said a few months back.”
