A/N: Hi everyone! I'm not dead I promise! I know it's been a long, long time and that I promised this chapter a lot sooner but a lot of things have happened in my life; the biggest being that my grandfather isn't doing so well and being that I live with my grandparents, most of my attention has been focused on him, forcing my writing to take a back seat because of it. I hate that I won't be able to update as much as I'd like, but I promise to as much as I can. You may want to scan through some of the previous chapters just to refresh your memory. Thanks ladies, and I really hope you enjoy this chapter. A/N: I need reviews people!

Mercy

Chapter 08 – Wingin' It

Sofia giggled infectiously at all the officer's jokes. Seated on top of the main desk, she crossed her legs and tried to act intrigued. Glancing at her watch, she sighed. "What the hell is taking her so long?" She grumbled. The plan was to get in and get out.

Her cell rang.

After fumbling through her purse she found it and flipped it open. She smiled at the officer and said. "It'll just be a sec," before placing it to her ear and saying. "Hola."

"Why didn't Baby pick up? Terrance is already in the building! Get out! Now!


…two days earlier.

Angel walked up beside Bobby and looked to the tombstone that stood at his feet. "She told you." He breathed, fogging up the cool air around him with each cautious word he spoke.

Bobby wiped his hand down the length of this tired face and looked off into the snow covered distance. "You didn't," his voice was deathly low, weak even.

Angel glanced at the side view of his older brother. "I wanted to-"

"-But… you didn't." He reminded.

The younger one took a step back and bowed his head in shame. He could do nothing but agree. "I didn't."

"-That's right, you didn't," looking back down at the tombstone, Bobby muttered peevishly under his breath, "Why?"

Angel placed his hand on the oldest brother's left shoulder, slowly guiding him so that they were now facing each other. His dark eyes searched Bobby's. "The same reason I didn't tell Baby why you left…" His voice trialed off and silence slipped between them. Closing his eyes briefly, he tried to find the words to best explain him self, but found that none felt worthy. He sighed deeply and walked over to stand next to Bobby, so that they were now both looking down at the head stone again.

Angel fidgeted nervously in his brown leather jacket as he sorted through the memories that were now seeping through his mind. Time hadn't lessened the aching in his chest. He remembered the moment that aching seed was planted, how it felt to watch such a young life slip away slowly each day, until they were gone, as if it had happened seconds ago, and he almost… almost was relieved his brother hadn't had to face what he and the rest of the family had.

Licking his lips, he pushed aside his own pain and focused in on his brother's, "Come on now Bobby… you really would have been able to stay away if you knew the truth?" He snorted, knowing Bobby would have been back on the first flight home as soon as he got word Karina was pregnant. "I did what was necessary to get you through these three years away from us… away from her. You had to let the plan play out, right? You wouldn't have come through with your end of the deal if I had told you every damn thing, man." He paused to swallow hard. "Look, I ain't gonna lie to you… even if that shit with Sweet hadn't popped off; I still wouldn't have… because I gave Baby my word… you taught me my word is all I hav-

Bobby halted Angel's words with a single fixed level stare. He could guess exactly where the conversation was headed and he didn't need, nor wanted to hear it. It would just piss him the f**k off anyway, and likely end with him lashing out at his brothers; doing so wouldn't give him any desired results or the answers he was desperately seeking, and it most defiantly couldn't bring back his baby girl.

The street boxer sat now facing a crossroad without a clue as to which direction to take. He felt a tiny urge to let his anger guide him through this journey, but it was over shadowed by a mind numbing emotion, and that emotion was pain. Bobby had little to no experience with that emotion and he didn't know which way to go. If he allowed the pain to take over it would lead him back to where he had just come from; the space that he and Karina use to reside so they could continue their screaming match. Knowing that would be a wash he thought better of it. He and she both needed some distance from the other. His only choice was to put on his grown man underwear and get past the hurt of being the last to know he had a daughter and then the pain of losing her that followed.

Feeling his brother's eyes burn a hole in the side of his face, Bobby remembered where he was and tried to focus on anything but that… his daughter, "Bobbie," his stomach knotted and the stress lines on his brow deepened. This wasn't helping. "Did you know that was her name? She named her after me."

Angel opened his mouth, but shut it quickly after feeling the burning at the back of his throat and swallowed, knowing his words wouldn't come out clearly he simply nodded for his reply instead.

Bobby continued on in a lifeless monotone, his haunted eyes remained centered on his daughter's final resting place, "You know… I never thought I wanted children." He smiled sadly and looked to his brother. "What is they say? Uhm… you don't know what-"

"-you've got till it's gone." Angel finished for him finding it safe to speak again. "I thought you were gonna tell Baby why you left her… but judging from the state she was in when I left and the way you look now… which is like sh*t if I might add, I'm gonna take a guess and say it didn't go down as planned."

Bobby's face feigned shocked. "How'd you know?" Deep down he knew Angel was attempting to save him from the stupor he was rapidly approaching, by changing the subject, and greatly appreciated it. Chuckling lightly, he pulled the necklace out his pants pocket. "She told me to f**k off and handed me this."

Angel couldn't help the smirk that played on his full lips as he took the chain and key. "Damn… she told you to f**k off?"

"Not in those exact words."

"She is pissed then?"

"I think that's safe to say."

"Any idea's what the key goes to?"

"Not a damn clue."

Angel's face beamed and his eyes twinkled. "I bet Baby wasn't to keen on helpin' you, was she brah?

Bobby shot him a warning look. "Aight jarhead, rub the shit in and make it bleed a lil'."

The marine shrugged off his comment with a light chuckle. "Sorry, couldn't help myself-."

"-Yea whatever," turning away from the headstone, Bobby stomped his way through the heavy snow in the direction he had left his car.

Angel followed close behind. "Man, where you goin'… It's to damn cold to be chasing your ass."

Bobby stopped to look at his brother. "Where the fuck you think I'm goin'… I'm not gonna sit on my ass," He gestured towards the key Angel still held, "hoping that whatever that goes to, magically appears right the f**k in front of me." Walking on, he continued." I'm gonna find out who set mom up… You comin' with me?"

Angel blinked a few times; surprised that Bobby was taking Karina's open rejection so well. His beat'em up mentality was clearly intact. "We already killed that sh*thead who hit the convenience store." Deciding to leave the sensitive topic alone, Angel preceded trailing close behind his brother.

Bobby pinched the bridge of this nose. "You think a contract killer would hit up a convenience store for some pocket change? We already knew it was a questionable kill."

"True… "

Bobby glanced over his shoulder at Angel. "Look… sometimes pros will cover up their marks with another crime… using like a burglary or something. You got me?"

Angel stroked his chin. It was all coming in clearer now. "Yeah… then pay a witness to throw the cops off." He nodded slowly. "I understand… but who?"

Bobby caught something in his line of view.

Jeremiah was standing in front of his car.

As they got closer, Bobby couldn't help but laugh at the scorching look Jerry was forcing his direction. "That brah," he finally responded, "is the million dollar question."

Jerry watched his brothers' approach. "Why the f**k you got me out here so got damn early in the morning? I got a schedule to keep with the girls, man"

Bobby shot him a long, searching look. "F**k you talkin' about?"

Jerry snorted. "Quit playin' man, Baby called talkin' crazy… said to make sure I kept you out of trouble! So this is me keepin' you outta trouble… Now you," he looked passed Bobby's shoulder at Angel, ", and Sherlock Holms can GO-HOME!" He paused and looked around, clearly searching for something. "Where's Jackie?"

Bobby walked around him and opened his car door. "If you stop SNARLING long enough I'll tell you… I left sweetheart with Baby. Where we're goin' could get him killed."

Jerry grabbed Bobby's door to keep him from getting in and closing it. "I mean it… go home!"

Bobby's upper lip curled into a sneer, but quickly morphed into a wolfish grin. He could always count on Jerry's 'take charge' persona for amusement. It had to be exhausting trying to be the 'perfect son' all the damn time. "Sorry Saint Jerry, It ain't happenin'." He nodded his head towards the passenger side of the car. "Say goodbye to your older sister, Angel… You know, it's a crying shame you're the only one down to ride."

Jerry was about to retort but halted at the sound of an approaching engine.

The other brothers seem to notice and stared down the road as they left the inside of the car to stand in front of it.

Jerry stepped up and stood beside Bobby, squinting his eye for a clearer view. "Who is that?"

Bobby analyzed the moving target. About 50 yards down the road was a black limo with tented windows. It moved slowly until it finally came ten feet from them and came to a halt. The back window came down, revealing a fathead man. Bobby would no that face anywhere. "It's-"

"-Evander Pearson," Jerry finished," he goes by Evan now."

Angel's brows furrowed. "Who?"

Bobby scoffed. "One of Vick's goons," he answered, like it was obvious. "Looks like he's waitin' for us to come to him."

Evan sat at the window just looking out at them, not moving an inch.

Jerry eyes transfixed on the limo and all the blood drain from his face. If he hadn't known it was ten blow freezing he would've thought it was mid day June down in Miami. His voice broke. "I… I promise I don't owe Sweet, sh*t else!"

Bobby's signature scowl appeared over his features. "Don't worry about it… I'll take care of it… You ready?" He patted him on the shoulder before walking towards their new company.

Jerry swallowed hard and followed behind. "What's the plan, Bobby?" He called out.

"We're wingin' it, Jerry!" He shot back.

Angel shook his head. "We're gonna get killed," he mumbled. "And his punkass is wingin' it!"

Evan sat still, feeling out the mood of the Mercers as they neared. His main focus being the oldest; if he didn't seem compliant, the others weren't either. Evan swallowed hard. He didn't want any trouble and hoped Bobby was on the same page. "It's been along time since I seen you three in one place… You're missing one though, aren't you?"

Bobby stood ahead of his brothers, with his arms crossed over his chest and stony expression in place. "Not long enough… You forget what I told you back at the casino?"

"Bobby, I truly feel-"

"Fuck ya feelin's!"

Evan licked his lips and tried to calm his accelerated heart. "Don't shoot the messenger."

"I'll shoot anyone I damn well please… you know tha-"

Jerry placed a hand on his shoulder to intercede. "Let's not let this get outta control, Bobby."

He shrugged him off. "Naw, I'm cool." He threw his hands up in surrender. "As long as Mr. Pearson here comes correct… Did I not tell you to deliver a message to Sweet?"

Evan nodded.

"Then why the f**k are you here? Something obviously got lost in translation!"

Evan shifted nervously in his seat, his hand instinctively going to his side. He felt the cool metal against his hand and relaxed. "Come on man, give me a break! You know how Vick is… He wants to meet up with you. That's not negotiable."

Bobby leaned closer into the window of the limo and responded in a hushed tone, each word coming out in a dangerous growl. "I already paid my dues. We don't have shit else to discuss… I suggest you relay that to Vick."

"There's still some lose ends."

Angel sensed immediately his brother's quick temper about to flare up; it was blatantly obvious he wasn't going to be able to keep his cool for much longer, and Jeremiah was clearly trying to figure out why and how Bobby was still mixed up with Victor Sweet.

Angel's best logic was to step in as mediator, and assumed now would be a good time as any. "Now, now homeboys, I'm sure we can figure out away to do this so that all parties involved are satisfied… Bobby, the problem with meeting up with Sweet is the lack of your control of the situation… Correct?"

"Correct."

"And Evan, you're just tryna get shit done so you don't get blasted out, right?"

"Right."

"I think we can come to a compromise fellas… There's always one bright spot in an otherwise f**ked-up situations. Just leave it to me."

Bobby furrowed his brows, defining the stress lines in his scowl. Out of all his brothers, Angel was the one that thought most like him and if he was going in the lion's den he'd want him along side him. Each move he made was calculated and there was no one he trusted more; it was as simple as that. "Let's here what you got… but don't make me regret it."

… To be continued.

A/N: I know it's short, but for what I've got lined up in the next chapter it just made since to end it here. Don't worry, you'll find out what happens with Karina and Sofia in the next add which is much longer. Again, sorry for the wait. Life can be a bitch some times! A/N: I need reviews people!