Chapter 1

Jessica and Shakia were the only girl's brought into the Mercer clan…. When they first got there they were shy and timid but, that changed after a week with their brothers. They had different relationship with all of their brothers. Shakia was closer to Angel and Jessica to Bobby even though they drove them nuts.

Bobby the oldest mercer protected his family fiercely, so it was no surprise when he became extremely over-protective of Jessica and Shakia. Jessica was close to him because he was always gently with her when he was not with the rest of the boys.

With Shakia, Angel was always the brother she could go too. When she was upset about something he would be the one to get through to her. Just like Bobby he was very over-protective of her and Jessica.

Jack and Jeremiah's watched over them just like Bobby and even though they were they never went to the extremes that Bobby and Angel did.

Jessica is average height with dark brown hair that goes down to her mid back. She has hazel eyes and every time she smiles you could see her dimples in her cheeks. Any guy who saw her would have thought that she was the most gorgeous women alive. She has models body and would put half of them to shame.

Shakia's skin completion is the same as Jerry's she has long dark brown hair, with dark brown eyes. Like Jessica she is average height and has a gorgeous body. Let's just say that the Mercer boys always had to watch their sister's when it came to guys.

Both Jessica and Shakia are attending College to get their degree in education.

It was a couple of days before thanksgiving and Shakia was still in New York she had to help out her friend Kelly. Jessica offered to go with her but the decided that she would stay with their mom, they both hated leaving her on there own, even though their brother jerry still lived close by. They didn't like her staying alone in their house. So she took the bus to New York saying that she would be back before Thanksgiving.

Jessica was in her room doing homework when Evelyn her mother came in. "Jessica I am going to the store, since Shakia may not be back in time to go."

Jessica nodded and smiled "Okay mom, do you want me to come with you?" she moved to get up.

Evelyn put on her jacket and shook her head "No that's okay; I know you have homework to finish. I make sure to pick up the 'Rocky Road' ice cream that you and Shakia love so much" she chuckled at the end.

Evelyn walked over and kissed Jessica on the top of her head and headed to the store.

Jessica didn't know that that was going to be the last time she saw her mother alive. Jessica finished her homework and drifted off to sleep.

It was the day of the funeral and everyone went back to Jerry's house to pay their respects. Jessica was wearing black dress pants with a long sleeve black shirt. Her hair was down by her shoulders and she had black flats on her feet. She was sitting in the guest room looking out the window.

Jessica's POV

I could see the black police car. "I need Shakia, I hope she is okay no one has been able to reach her and I am starting to worry" I thought. I put on my jacket and I walked out the side door without anyone seeing me. I needed the cold to numb me; I can't feel the pain anymore. It feels like that's there is this weight on my chest and it wont go away. I sighed as I remembered part of the night.

**Flashback**

I woke up and looked at the clock on the side table in my room. It read 12:30. I walked downstairs to get a drink and when I looked in the fridge I noticed that nothing new in it. That was weird seeing how mom went to the store. I ran upstairs and looked in her room she wasn't home. Her bed wasn't touched and her jacket wasn't on the hook. I got really nervous and scared and I headed out the house to the store.

When I reached it I noticed her car was still there. I ran in the store and look to see a puddle of blood on the floor and I see the cashier on the floor. The lump in my throat was getting bigger and bigger.

"Mom!" she isn't answering, tears are spilling from the corner of my eyes. I see another puddle of blood at the end of the store aisle and I freeze.

My voice is caught in my throat, I want to call out to her again but I can't so I walk towards the back of the store and see her on the floor. My knees buckle underneath me and I sink to the floor letting my tears and sobs escape my mouth.

**Flashback ended**

I feel the tears flow down my face. I pull the car keys out of my bag and get in driving off towards my boyfriend Michael's house.

General POV

Green a police officer was sitting in her car with his partner "Been a long time since anybody seen that face around here. "

Fowler said "Must've gotten off for good behavior."

Green chuckled " Not likely. That's Bobby Mercer. Heavyweight champion fuck-up of the family. And that's a well-defended title. Played hockey with the boy. They called him the Michigan Mauler. "

Flower said "Who's the kid? "

Greens said "Oh, that's Jack. He's the second youngest. First-class fuck-up, third-class rock star." Fowler chuckled "He's a Mercer. Don't let him fool you."

Bobby walked over to Jack who was standing in the street "Hey, You all right?" Jake nodded "You sure? " Jack nodded again "You know I love you, man. Come on, let's go see Jerry" Jack smiled slightly and headed towards Jerry with Bobby at his side.

Fowler looked at Jerry and said "What do we got over here? Another model citizen, I'm sure."

Greens shook his head "No, actually Jeremiah's all right. He was a rising star in the union for a while. Man found a cause."

Fowler looked at his file "We got three MIA. I thought you said there were four boys and two girls."

Green said "Angel? Pretty boy, Ex-hustler, Soldier, Guess he's a no-show today. Last but not least the Mercer girls….Jessica and Shakia, two of the most gorgeous girls you will ever see, but don't let there looks fool you the got mean right hooks"

Fowler said "Sorry. I don't get it. If this woman's such a goddamn saint, how did she end up raising six total fuck-ups?'

Green and Fowler got out of the car "Ms. Evelyn cycled hundreds of kids out of the foster-care system and into permanent homes. And in all her years, she only came across six lost causes. Six delinquents so far gone, she couldn't find anyone to take them in. So she did. Trust me, Fowler, these kids are congressmen compared to what they would've been."

Green and Fowler walked up to Jack and Bobby "Hey Bobby. Good to see you."

Bobby nodded his head and shook Greens hand "Thanks for coming, Green. Mom would've been happy you made it. "

Green chuckled "Shit, your mom would've been happy you made it back for her funeral."

Bobby shook his head said "l didn't come back for no funeral." Green looked over at Fowler.

Fowler looked at Bobby "Thanks for the offer, but we got it under control."

Jack and Bobby chuckled "Yeah. You know, I could tell by the looks of things when I drove in. The place looks completely different. Detroit's finest cleaned it up, huh?"

Green sighed "Yeah, be easy, Bobby. We got these punks. Kid playing basketball across the street witnessed two gang bangers running in there, shooting up the place."

Bobby rolled his eyes "Come on, Green. I used to make a good living around here because cops like you guys couldn't find tits in a strip joint. Why don't you come inside, have some coffee and some doughnuts and then take your boy and get the fuck out of here, okay?"

It was getting late and the people had cleared out from the house.

The boys were heading to the car when Bobby looked at Jerry "Jerry where is Jessica and Shakia? I haven't seen them yet."

Jerry sighed "I don't know Jessica took off as soon as we got here and Shakia had to help a friend out in New York so she left before mom died and no one has been able to reach her, she doesn't even know about mom yet."

Bobby sighed and got in the car hoping they were okay. They pulled up to the house and where walking to the steps.

Jack said "Nice to be home. So, shit, Bobby, what've you been up to?"

Bobby said "I'm a freaking college professor, Jack. What do you think I've been doing?"

Jack shook his head "I doubt that." He headed up the steps

Jerry laughed "Same old Bobby."

They walked to the front door and a voice from the corner of the porch said "Y'all ain't right leaving me out here in the cold like this."

Bobby walked over to him "Yo, little brother! You asshole!

Jerry walked towards him as well "You ought to be ashamed! "

Angel stood up "l missed my plane. Get over here."

Bobby and Angel hugged "You missed our mother's funeral too, jarhead."

Angle hugged Jerry and said "What's up, boy?"

Jerry said "it's all good, man.

Jack walked over and said "You shaved off the Afro, huh? "

Angel smiled "Jack! Haven't seen you in forever." He hugged him.

Jack said "Yeah, I know. Did you get your teeth whitened? "

Angel said "Man, shut up, Jackie-poo. They walked in the house "I'm gonna get me something to eat. Any of y'all hungry?"

Bobby shook his head "No, I'm gonna get some sleep. Jack, you take your old room, all right? Angel, take yours. I'm gonna sleep in Mom's room."

Bobby headed upstairs and called Jessica's Phone.

Jessica's POV

I felt the phone vibrate in my pocket but I didn't fell like picking it up. I continued to walk until I saw my home. I saw Bobby's piece of junk that he calls a car and Jerry's family car.

I need Shakia to come home she doesn't even know about mom. This is the longest we have been separated since we moved in and I hate it. I need her to help me get through this, plus she is the only one who can help me make sure the boys don't get into to much trouble.

I walked up the back steps not wanting to be attacked when I walked in. I walked into the kitchen and chuckled as I saw Angel stuff his face with a sandwich, that's nothing new

He must have heard me because he got up and walked over.

"Jessie" Using my old nickname he hugged me. God hugging one of my brothers always made me fell safe.

When we pulled apart I smiled "Angel I missed you."

He smiled "I missed you too baby sister. You know Bobby is worrying about you, you might want to go upstairs and see him."

I nodded and he kissed the top of my head.

I walked up the steps and heard Jack playing his guitar but I would see him after. I peeked my head into mom's room and saw Bobby calling someone and then I felt the phone in my pocket vibrate.

I walked in a little and I looked around, it looks just how mom left it. I thought how she would never use her room again. The tears fell down my face silently.

Bobby turned around after he put his phone on the bed. And that's when he saw me. He walked over to me "Jessie I've been worried about you, Where have you been?" he hugged me.

God I can feel the walls that I put up crumble as a put my head in his chest. I start crying and he rubs my back. I had no clue what was going to happen, but I know one thing Shakia and I are gonna have to watch over our brothers, god knows what kind of trouble they would get in. As I cry I let all of the pain I felt in the last couple of months rack threw my body. My bobby always had a way of making me deal with my feelings.