Page 5 of Property of Mercy
The murmur of voices, though faint, was enough to momentarily lift the shroud of darkness while simultaneously setting off a violent headache.
“Fuck me man, they didn’t leave anyone alive.”A voice, deep enough to feel its vibrations throughout my being, speaks, trying to drag me from the darkness.
“Do we know who the hell did this?”someone else asks.
“Not a fucking clue, but it has to be someone extremely fucking stupid, seeing as they blew up the Cartel’s shit,” Mr.Baritone replies.
The darkness wants to pull me back under, but I don’t want to go back.I need to move—get my ass up and get the hell out of here before they come back for me.A wave of nausea assaults me so strongly when I try to roll over.I have no choice but to allow my body to do what it needs to.I barely get my body twisted so that I don’t choke on the vomit when words start to drift in.
“No fucking way.We’ve got a live one!”an excited voice screams, causing my stomach to turn again because of how loud it is.
“There’s no fucking way that someone made it through this alive,” a new shocked voice joins the party.
“Call Remedy.Find out how long it'll be before he arrives here,” Mr.Baritone bellows.
His voice once again causes the vomit to return.A large hand grips my shoulder to keep me on my side, ensuring I won’t choke.The heat from his hand on my shoulder is like the perfect blanket dragging me back into blissful nothingness.The vomiting eases, and I relax back into the darkness.That is my only relief.
“No, you cannot fall back into the blackness,” the strong voice snaps at me.
I try with everything I have to say or do something, like flip this guy off for being so damn bossy, only my good-for-nothing body won't allow it.Why do bossy men always have to find their way into my life?A memory of Jenny’s brothers flash into my numb mind.I don’t know why.I haven’t thought of them since the day the cops showed up at my dorm room to tell me Jenny was gone.I made sure I was gone quickly after they left—not willing to come face-to-face with the man that had tasked me with making sure she was safe.
On that thought, it’s definitely time to sink back into the darkness.I need to escape the many thoughts of a past that I cannot do anything to change.
3
MERCY
Arriving at the address Token sent me, I found the Cartel bar had been attacked.I was expecting to see something other than a pile of smoking shrapnel.I park my bike beside the cleaning vans, killing the engine as I drop the kickstand down.Turning, I find Pecker Head, our newest prospect, rushing out of the building and throwing up.I shake my head at the man, then make my way over to him.
“Better fucking toughen up if you're going to make it,” I slap him on the back as I walk by him.
Surveying what is left of the building, all I can do is shake my head.Whoever the fuck did this left a fucking blood bath.The smell of explosives, gunpowder, and death hangs in the air so heavy I nearly choke on it.I don’t have any idea how in the fuck we’re going to cover this up for our pals in the Cartel.There are so many fucking bodies, and I know for a fact at least a few are going to have people who’re going to come looking for them.
I look around for Token or Anvil to get a read on what their plan is to deal with this shit show.Not seeing either one of them, I turn and make my way back outside.I pass Pecker Head as he makes his way back inside, head held high.I take a deep breath as fresh air invades my lungs.
“No fucking way.We’ve got a live one!”Pecker Head calls from inside.
“There’s no fucking way that someone made it through this alive,” Anvil calls, running toward me.
“Call Remedy.Find out how long it'll be before he arrives here,” I call out, then rush back inside.
Laying on their side and vomiting, is a mass of brown hair drenched in blood.The person goes to roll back onto their back, continuing to vomit.Reaching out, I brace my hand on their shoulder to keep them on their side as I take in their—no—herfeatures.It’s a girl.
“No, you cannot fall back into the blackness,” I demand, trying to keep her awake.
They’ve made it this far.My goal is to keep the girl breathing so hopefully she’ll be able to tell us something about what happened.A crease forms on her brow as if she was concentrating on something.
“Stay with me.You’ve made it this far.You don’t want to give up now,” I command and give a small shake to keep her with me.
A terror like I haven’t felt since the day we lost the otherherslides down my spine, leaving its ice trail.I stare into the darkest eye I’ve ever seen as it slides closed.I give her another hard shake, causing a moan to slip out just before she throws up on my boots.The roaring of motorcycles vibrating off what’s left of the walls is the calming balm my ragged soul needs.The engines go quiet about the same time the woman stops throwing up.
I hear Remedy before I see him.“There’s no fucking way anyone survived.You assholes are full of shit.”
“I swear to God that she’s alive and breathing,” the prospect yells.
“If you’re lying, it’s your fucking ass I’m kicking!”Remedy sneers, stomping toward us.
Over the bullshit and needing to get out of this fucking situation, I turn and yell over my shoulder, “Remedy, get your motherfucking ass in here!I don’t know how much fucking longer I can keep her fucking eyes open.”
