Chapter Seven: Borrowed Hope
"Life is like a game of cards. The hand you are dealt is determinism; the way you play it is free will." Jawaharlal Nehru
The tension in Bobby's crappy Oldsmobile was high. Honestly I've been in high-tension situations but they paled in comparison to this ever so fun car ride. What would normally be a ten minutes drive seemingly took hours under the ominous silence. When Bobby pulled up to the apartment complex after some of my quiet directions. He slipped in between the two mustangs and violently turned the key so that the car was now off.
I hopped out of the car slamming the door behind me as I hitched my bag higher up on my shoulder. I was about to buzz in when I felt Bobby's hand on my shoulder.
"Where do you think you're going so fast?" Bobby demanded.
I knew with a note of resignation that I was in for one hell of a lecture. The fire that was literally smoldering through Bobby's eyes told me as much. I clicked my tongue ring against the roof of my mouth nervously until I realized that Bobby had asked another question and from the looks of things expected an answer.
"I'm sorry what did you say?" I questioned.
"How long?" Bobby insisted.
"How long what?" I asked.
"How long have you been stripping?" Bobby growled. "How long have you been living with these street rats."
"Bobby, don't," I growled.
"Excuse me?" Bobby bristled.
"Don't call my family street rats," I sighed. "They're my family, Bobby."
"Family?" Bobby scoffed. "Baby girl, don't be so naïve."
"They are my family," I growled. "They protect me. They give me a roof over my head and they got me out of an dangerous environment."
"In which you had to strip?" Bobby spat.
"No I worked at a strip club because I needed the money and if and when the time came for me to leave here I could do that without stealing it and creating a paper trail," I explained.
"The only reason I even let you come up here was because you promised me you'd stay out of trouble!" Bobby growled. "And that's how you do it? Stripping and dating a freaking gang leader?"
"Let me?" I snapped. "I was a ward of the state, Bobby. There was no letting me do anything. I went where they told me to."
"You know Ma tried to get you out of your Aunt's house the second we knew they were being abusive…"
"But you have no claims because we're not blood related," I finished. "Yeah, I know, but get this straight Bobby you didn't let me do shit."
"It's been awhile so I'm gonna let this attitude go," Bobby replied. "But don't you forget who the fuck you're talking to."
"I'm sorry," I muttered.
"Wanna tell me about this dangerous situation your little family saved you from?" Bobby asked.
"The guardians of the home weren't exactly a class-act," I sighed. "The husband was abusive whenever he was drunk off his ass. He kicked me out Billy and Joe took me in. Class dismissed."
"They treat you right?" Bobby asked.
"Yes, of course," I snickered. "Joe's my best friend and Billy's my boyfriend of course they treat me right."
"They better," Bobby grumbled suddenly shoving me into a headlock and walking us towards the doors that led up to the stairs. "No one fucks with the Michigan Mauler's baby sister!"
"Who you calling baby?" I faux-growled.
"You," Bobby smirked.
I rolled my eyes at Bobby smiling slightly. As I walked up the flight of stairs I couldn't help but worry how this all was going to go.
"Remember that Billy treats me right," I pleaded. "And please be nice, he's gotta temper worse then yours."
"Oh, now I'm scared," Bobby scoffed.
"Jackass," I grumbled.
As we rounded the hallway that the Darley's apartment was on I heard the pulsing beats of hard rock. I caught Bobby's disgusted look as I opened the door the starting beats of Hells Bells pouring into the hallway. I dropped my duffel bag on the ground near the foyer. I walked through the hallway and moved through the kitchen and straight into the living room where all of the Mercenaries were partying. It looked as though a few girls from the neighborhood were there as well. That wasn't really a good thing most girls were either whoring it up or attempting to worm their way into the Mercenaries, which was never gonna happen. Girls weren't allowed to join the Mercenaries. Billy didn't think that girls could always do what was required of a Mercenary. Frankly I thought it was bullshit as most of those girls and I had grown up in the same streets the actual Mercenary members.
"This happen a lot?" Bobby asked.
"No," I grumbled. "Something good must've happened."
"Maggie!" Joe exclaimed rushing over to my side. "How was work?"
"Good," I replied.
I smiled up at Joe it was actually quite amusing because both Darley brothers were very friendly and affectionate drunks.
"What's going on, Joe?" I asked.
"Can't tell you it's a secret!" Joe exclaimed loudly.
"Joey!" Billy snapped from across the room.
I snickered in response that was Billy's don't-you-dare-say-another-word tone. I raised an eyebrow in annoyance. Yet another secret that I wasn't allowed to be apart of. Somehow I knew that no matter what I did, no matter how much I prove myself I'll always just be the leaders girl. Or at least that's how it felt.
"Who the fuck are you?" Joe asked suddenly realizing I didn't enter the apartment alone.
"Joe Darley meet Bobby Mercer," I replied. "Bobby meet my best friend Joe."
Joe gazed wide-eyed at Bobby clearly never seeing him off the ice before. His stunned glaze clouded in confusion as he looked over at me.
"I thought you said he was in Chicago?" Joe responded. "Or Detroit or whatever."
"I was," Bobby said. "Gotta problem with me visiting my sister."
"Fuck no," Joe shook his head.
"Don't intimidate my friends, Bobby," I warned.
"You wearin make-up?" Joe asked.
"Joe you need to slow down on the booze," I wrinkled my nose. "Jesus. And you think I'm bad?"
"Maggie!" Billy growled from across the room.
My head shot up and over as I took in Billy leaning against the opposite wall watching over the entire party with an air of indifference.
"Hold on," I warned Bobby. "Let me talk to him alone first."
Without waiting for Bobby to respond I walked over to Billy who was gazing at me with his probing greenish-hazel eyes. I looked up at him allowing a smirk to show through as Billy wrapped a warm arm around my waist
"Where've you been, baby?" Billy asked.
"Workin," I smiled. "Seems like I missed the party. May I ask what it was for?"
"Naw, it don't concern you," Billy shook his head. "Mercenary business."
"Figured that out by the entire fucking gang being here," I muttered.
"Why do you smell like alcohol, smokes, and someone else's perfume?" Billy questioned.
"It's all part of the job," I responded.
"You ever gonna tell me what you do?" Billy grumbled.
"You ever gonna tell me why all these people seem so damn happy?" I shot back.
Billy shot me a look filled with warning, which I reluctantly took. I wasn't really in the mood for any more fights today. Besides knowing how similar both Billy and Bobby are they'll probably be doing enough fighting for everyone in Southie.
"Who's that talking to Joe?" Billy asked.
"My brother," I sighed "Bobby Mercer. We ran into each other earlier."
"Uh-huh," Billy grunted glancing at Bobby suspiciously as he lit a cigarette breathing deeply before pulling me closer to him.
"Can you please be nice?" I whispered gently rubbing Billy's stomach. "For me?"
Billy grunted again before wiping his nose with the hand holding the cigarette.
"Okay, boys, parties over!" Billy shouted. "We need to get people out on corners to get some fuckin money!"
The Mercenary boys looked at Billy before they all nodded and began to file out of the apartment. Someone had shut the music off and it was suddenly quiet in the apartment as Joe, Bobby, Billy, and I stood around and looked at each other.
"Well, aren't y a gonna introduce us, baby girl?" Bobby demanded breaking the silence.
"Billy Darley meet Bobby Mercer," I sighed. "Bobby Mercer meet Billy Darley."
The two of them didn't say anything for one tension filled moment. I guess they were sizing each other up. Finally Billy broke out into his usual smirk.
"Michigan Mauler's a long way from home," Billy nodded.
"So is my sister," Bobby shot back.
"Bobby," I growled.
"She gotta new home now," Billy replied.
"Billy," I warned.
"Yeah with some gang banger dumb ass who is probably gonna get her killed," Bobby snorted.
"We protect her more then you ever have!" Billy shouted.
"Which is exactly why I found her in a fucking strip club?" Bobby demanded.
"Fuck," I muttered.
"What?" Billy yelled.
"I found Maggie working at a strip club," Bobby exclaimed. "That how you protect her?"
"You've been working at a strip club?" Joe gasped.
"Bartending," I growled. "And only bartending." Liar, liar pants on fire.
"Is that so Ms. 'American Women'?" Bobby retorted.
I glared at Bobby who was glaring back at me.
"We've gone over this, Bobby," I spat.
"You two might but we fucking haven't!" Billy fumed his nostrils flaring as he gazed angrily at me. Just freaking terrific.
"Don't you fucking talk to her that way, skinhead!" Bobby yelled.
"Stay the fuck out of this!" Billy spat. "How long have you been working at some fucking strip club, Maggie?"
"Don't answer him, Maggie," Bobby ordered. "You don't have to talk to any fuckin' skinhead."
"Who the fuck are you calling skinhead, trailer trash," Billy growled.
"Obviously I am," Bobby quipped. "Sweetheart I certainly hope you didn't pick this boy for his brains."
"You're outta your territory I'd be careful with what you're fucking saying." Billy hissed.
"Oh, please, you wanna hit me do it!" Bobby snapped.
"Billy don't," I warned stepping in between the two and eyeing them both angrily. "This is ridiculous."
"Stay out of this!" Bobby and Billy yelled at the same time.
"No!" I shouted back. "You're not gonna fucking fight over me."
Why is it that no one listened to me unless I was brandishing a knife? I growled under my breath as both Billy and Bobby walked forward attempting to intimidate the other. Unfortunately the only thing they ended up doing was making a Maggie sandwich. I tried to push the two apart but it didn't work.
"Joe, get her out of here," Billy ordered.
When Joe moved to pull me out from between Billy and Bobby and bared my teeth in a angry scowl. Joe shot me a warning look but I ignored it as I attempted to shove it them both back.
"Back the fuck down," I growled. "Both of you!"
"Joe, get her out of here!" Billy yelled. "Now!"
"Listen to your older brother," Bobby snapped fire in his eyes. "We're gonna have a private chat."
Before I could even move backward to avoid Joe's long arms I was shoved forward by Bobby and Joe grabbed me and literally carried me into the master bedroom. He plodded me down and before I could even move to duck under his arm and back to the living room; he shut the door.
"Joe!" I shouted banging n the now locked door. "Joey, I swear to god if you don't unlock this door I'll castrate you in your sleep!"
"I'm sorry, Maggie," Joe replied.
"You're sorry?" I squeaked. "My brother and your brother are probably killing each other and you're fucking sorry!"
When I heard Bobby and Billy shouting once more I growled in annoyance. Turning around I looked at the room that was now my prison for the time being. I then noted the fire escape with a surge of glee. He thinks he could lock me in? Well, they all were about to learn that you couldn't keep Maggie Dolan somewhere where she didn't want to be. I marched over to the window and flung it open.
I pulled a sweatshirt over my head and made sure to put my spare knife in my pocket. My normal one was in my duffel bad as was my cell phone both of which were in the hallway. I knew that leaving my cell phone here would only add to everyone's temper but I just couldn't stay in here by myself anymore. I opened the window gently and quietly slipped out and down the fire escape.
It seemed as though I was walking a lot lately. But I had a lot on my mind and walking or running always made me feel better. I wondered exactly when Bobby, Billy, and Joe would know I was gone. And which one would have the worst reaction. I shook my head for all that Billy and Bobby were alike they would probably never get along.
"What's a young thing like you doing out at this time of night?" A clean-shaven man in a 1967 Chevy Impala.
I rolled my eyes in annoyance. It was assholes like this who were the reason I wasn't even allowed to walk around by myself. All I wanted was to clear my head for a few minutes before attempting to sneak back into Billy's apartment. Hopefully before they realized I was gone but oh, no, some fucking punk just had to hit on me. He had a nice car, though.
"Nothin' with the likes of you," I snarled back.
"Huh, who knew Darley liked girl's with spines," The man mused suddenly jerking his car in front of me. It was then I realized exactly how much my mouth could get me in trouble.
The man who came out of the car was not little by any means. He was at least six foot and from the looks of it taller then Billy. He leered down on me with a maliciousness I've never seen in someone's eyes and I had met some pretty messed up people. I subconsciously backed up wanting to put enough space between me and this Neanderthal.
"Ya gonna run away?" The man smirked. "I like it when girl's run."
My flight or fight instinct flickered into use and I immediately decided I would run as this was not a fight I could win. I trembled before running backwards. I tried to ignore the laugh as the man began to sprint after me. He caught me around the edge of twelfth street. I attempted to wiggle out of his grip but he merely tightened as a result.
"Get your fucking hands off me!" I growled.
"Watch your fucking mouth!" The man hissed. "You're not in your territory anymore, bitch."
"What the hell are you talking about?" I spat.
"You crossed the line, Darley girl," The man grinned. "You're on B Street territory now."
"No, I'm not," I scoffed. "We own this part up until 14th street and we're on 12th."
"Times are changing," The man grinned.
He slammed me against a nearby building wall my cheek rubbing against the rough brick. Tears pricked my eyes but I refused to let them fall.
"He'll kill you for this," I howled. "And he'll enjoy it."
"Not as much as I'll enjoy you," The man whispered parting my legs with his knee forcefully. "You'll have to excuse this sweetheart, I gotta make sure you don't got any weapons on ya."
"Let me go!" I screamed.
"Quiet," The man warned. "Easy"
I growled under my breath fighting once more before I felt him force my head back into the brick. I moaned in pain but the pressure kept my face molded to the hard, scratchy surface.
"Oh, looky here. You got me a nice, sharp present." The man laughed.
I watched in horror as my switchblade was opened. The man grinned running it down the side of my face and licking the blade. The blade was then held tightly against my throat.
"So soft," The man mused. "So fragile."
"You really don't want to be doing that," I sighed as the tip of the knife traced my throat. The cold metal making my voice catch every so often.
"Oh, no, I do," The man corrected. "There's a lot I'd like to do to your little body."
"Let her go, Deegan!" A deep voice growled.
"She's not on your territory, Darley!" The man grinned. "She's our bitch now."
"Who the fuck are you calling a bitch?" I sneered.
I kicked backwards caching Deegan in the knees. He let out a muted curse as he tripped away from me. I spun around pushing him backwards. I felt my cheek unsurprised when my hand came back bloody. I cracked my knuckles when a sudden blur stilled my movements.
"Billy there's more of them!" Joe shouted.
Billy locked eyes with me and I with him. His gaze was intense as he took in my frazzled appearance and Deegan who was getting to his feet looking even angrier.
"Cheeky one she is," The man smirked back at Billy before backhanding me across the face.
I let out a small squeak of pain and surprise as the sting flooded my senses, my eyes watering despite my best intentions.
"Don't lay another fucking hand on her!" Billy shouted.
"This is a warning, Darley we catch her on this side again we'll give her a whole new face!"
Tim Deegan whistled once while still maintaining eye contact with Billy. Out of nowhere more members of B Street emerged from the shadows effectively trapping Billy, Joe, Bodie, and Bobby. Despite my best intentions I looked terrified. My knife was gone and suddenly most of the people cared about were being held at gunpoint and it was all my fault.
"Now, here's the rules," Tim Deegan grinned. "Any of you move you'll get shot. Or I'll slit this little bitches throat from ear to ear."
"You touch her…" Billy hissed.
"Oh, Billy boy, I'm going to do whatever I want," Deegan retorted. "And there's nothing you can do to stop me."
Deegan spun back around running his hands up and down my arms. When he went to kiss me I turned my head, which was why he ran his tongue down my cheek. I growled attempting to fight my way out of this when I suddenly felt warm liquid slipping down my side. The whimper rushed past my lips before I could stifle it. Tim Deegan grinned sadistically as he ran my knife, that he had just stabbed me with, against my arms. I whimpered as more blood began to slip out of my new wounds being to slid down pooling on my jeans. Groggy with blood loss Deegan captured my wrists with his hands and bit down on my lip hard enough to draw even more blood. I attempted to kick him again when he pinned me fully against the wall. His hands ghosted over everything making me feel ten times worse then any other foster person ever had.
"Maggie!" Billy shouted
"Mags!" Bobby growled. "Stay awake."
My head was lolling to the side as Tim rubbed his body against mine. He was saying some nasty things including what he would love to do with me. None of them were good. I attempted to wiggle out of the iron-tight grip but it was unyielding.
"You taste so good," Deegan muttered. "You chose the wrong gang. Now, this is my warning."
Without hesitation my little pocket knife plunged back into my side. I blinked blearily as a shock of pain flooded my system so fast, so intense that I lost consciousness almost immediately.
The first thing I noticed was that a little obnoxious beeping noise. The next thing I noticed, or rather felt was a sharp, shooting pain. I growled under my breath before prying an eye open.
"Please, don't let me be in a hospital," I thought. "Please, please, please."
I have to say that I really hated hospitals. I always fought tooth and nail to avoid it whenever I could. I opened my eyes fully and then growled under my breath. Why the fuck was I in a hospital. I mean sure I was stabbed but I've had worse. A lot worse. I didn't panic until I realized that I was restrained to the bed.
"Get me out of here!" I screamed writhing and bucking against the bed fighting against the restraints. "Mother FUCKER!"
I heard the rush of heavy foot steps before I saw Billy, Joe, and Bobby burst in. Not that it helped as I was strapped on a bed still and in one of the places I hate most.
"Maggie, easy," Bobby whispered. "It's okay."
"Get me out of here!" I pleaded. "Bobby, please."
"Babe, stop struggling you're cutting your wrists wide open." Bobby ordered.
"No, no, no," I chanted. "Get me out of here. I'm fine. Please?"
There was an unreadable expression on Billy's face but Joe's expression was clear enough for anyone. He was horrified at what I was doing to myself.
"Margaret Ryan Dolan, stop!" Bobby ordered. "Jesus."
"What is she doing?" Billy demanded.
"Trying to run," Bobby explained. "She's hated hospitals since she was a kid. Probably because she's been in them enough times. Had to lie about things that no kid should even know about let alone lie about."
"Maggie," Bobby soothed. I felt his calloused hand rub the side of my face gently. I fell into the bed stilling my movements. Bobby brushed the hair out of my eyes and kissed my forehead. "Everything's okay."
"You know how much I hate it when people say that," I whimpered.
"Sorry, baby girl," Bobby replied.
"Get me out of here," I whimpered my gaze switching to Billy. "Please, I wanna go home."
"You're hurt," Joe replied. "You were hurt pretty bad. We couldn't wake you up even after all those B Street assholes left. You fell to the ground and you didn't get up."
"Ya lost a lot of blood, Maggie," Billy grumbled. "You had three transfusions."
"Fuck?" I groaned.
I then looked down at my arm noticing for the first time that my forearms were heavily bandaged and an IV was running through my left arm. I sighed slamming my head back against the flat hospital pillow. I knew that the restraints wouldn't be removed. I was a flight risk and always had been. There was just something about hospitals that I didn't like…didn't trust.
"Can you guys excuse us?" Billy asked.
I watched Bobby and Joe leave the hospital room and I stifled a sigh. Part of me didn't want either Joe or Bobby to leave for as mad as they were at me: it was Billy that I didn't want to get lectured from. I could feel Billy's gaze burning a whole in the back of my skull. My eyes began to water as I looked at Billy.
"Don't look at me like that, Mags," Billy grumbled. "What were you thinking?"
"You got me locked in a room," I muttered.
"To talk to your brother without you baring witness," Billy explained. "We weren't going to be long."
"I don't like being locked in places Billy it reminds me of…" I trailed off before I said too much but Billy had caught the slip.
"Reminds you of what, Maggie?" Billy questioned.
"A foster parent…used to l-lock me in a closet," I whispered. "It was so small, so dark. I'd scream myself hoarse begging to be let out and that I'd be good but they never let me out. I'd be in there for days at a time. Repenting for my sins."
I felt the tear slip out of my closed eyes. Billy picked himself out of the uncomfortable hospital chair and placed his hands against my face. He rubbed the pads of his thumb removing the tears from my eyes as he kissed me softly.
"I don't blame you for what happened," Billy replied. "You were still on Mercenary territory and don't worry Deegan will get his. No one is ever gonna touch you again."
"Billy, no," I pleaded. "Don't go after him. It's B Street, Billy."
"And they ain't got nothing on us," Billy smirked.
"Billy," I grumbled.
"Maggie, you're my girl," Billy explained. "You can't expect me not to fight this. Actions have consequences. Nobody's gonna get away with what Deegan fucking pulled."
"Be careful?" I relented.
"Always am," Billy responded.
I fisted his shirt in my hand pulling him down so that I could kiss him fiercely. Billy seemed surprised for a moment but molded into the kiss laying his arms on either side of my head.
"Stay with me?" I asked.
"Fucking always," Billy vowed.
I squeaked as Billy picked me straight out of my bed slipping out of his shoes before climbing into the hospital and laying me on top of him. I watched my IV as I moved onto my side so that I could lean my head on his chest.
"You wanna tell me how you got those restraints off?" Billy asked suddenly his deep voice shaking his chest
"Magic," I teased.
"Mags," Billy growled sternly.
"Old trick I picked up," I shrugged. "Being double jointed doesn't hurt anyone either."
"Except the nurse you give a heart attack to," Billy teased.
"Yeah I guess so," I blushed slightly.
"You're staying here until your discharged," Billy informed me. "Don't even think about sneaking out of here cause I'll drag your ass right back and I'm sure your brother would agree with me."
"Okay," I whispered.
I knew it was pointless to argue Billy Darley was a stubborn man and he kept his word. Hell, there were probably guards outside the hospital as we speak.
"Get some rest," Billy sighed.
"I'm not even tired," I yawned.
"I'll be here when you wake up," Billy whispered.
"Promise?" I questioned.
"Of course," Billy responded.
Billy's Point of View
I felt Maggie tighten her grip as she finally drifted off to sleep. I had almost lost her today. I should've known locking her anywhere would never work. After all if told her to stay somewhere the probability of her actually listening to me is about fifty fifty. A rather maddening habit of the fiery red head that had crashed into my life with quite the bang.
When I saw Deegan's hands on her I almost lost it. Would've killed him then and there if his gang hadn't pulled guns on all of us. But he wasn't going to get away with it. Hell, he was fucked and he didn't even know it. At this moment all of the Mercenaries were staking out his territory and killing B Streets inner circle, which would in turn leave Tim Deegan absolutely defenseless. It brought an almost gleeful smile to my face. No one fucked with me or my girlfriend.
Seeing her collapse like that just brought back all kinds of bad memories. We all had lost a lot to the streets. Maggie a lot more then most people could withstand. But I've said it once and I'll say it again: Maggie wasn't like other people. I was thankful for that although at times I didn't show it. I couldn't believe how well thought out the majority of her actions were. Stripping to make sure she had money in case she ever needed it. I also knew she had contacts all over the place in all the cities she ever lived. The girl had more contacts that I think Bones did and that itself was fucking impressive.
The worst part about the evening had to be how terrified Maggie was. The whites of her eyes were bright with fear as that rat bastard ran his hands all over her and then stabbed her. Then seeing her wake up in this hospital had to be one of the more terrifying moments of my life. One minute we're all in the waiting room just waiting for Maggie to wake up and then second that howl. Bobby and I were running to her door in seconds Joe following behind. There was blood actually dripping down her wrists as the restraints cut into her delicate ivory skin. I was glad that Bobby Mercer was there. He had known her most of her life and he knew how to get her calm in ways I couldn't. I knew once he got her to stop that we were going to be friends,
Hell Bobby Mercer and I were probably going to be teaming together to kill that fucker that put her here. I just had to be more careful and make sure that I didn't get caught. The cops would absolutely shit themselves if I made any kind of slip up. Even me in bars for a month would be victory in there eyes. And, well, I'm not a good fucking loser.
