I gotta say that I am so grateful for you all, you are the reason I write, the reason I love to write. I know it took some time to get here, the end is drawing near and after years in the making, Samcedes are close to their happily ever after so thanks for taking this journey with me. I love you!


Mercedes awoke hoping the last 24 hours were a dream, but when she tried to lift her arms, they were restricted behind her. She could feel every ache and crick in the neck, every ounce of pain. Her eyes went to her phone that started to vibrate on the table, and she wondered how she could use that to her advantage.

Last night, she thought about a sign telling Sam she was in trouble. Something that he would get immediately. As she was in deep thought, Charles walked into the room.

"Rise and shine!" He smirked, shaking his head. "Should have known you would be an early riser."

Mercedes didn't say a word as her phone went off again. Walking to her cellphone, Charles picked it up. "Man, this dude is really worried. Should we put him out of his misery and tell him to come with you, or should we have some fun?"

He shrugged as she didn't say a word. "I guess I will have all the fun…Sam…there is no easy way to say this." He spoke as he typed. "We are over, be with Jess and give your child a chance to have a mom and dad…yeah, that sounds like something your bleeding heart would say." he sent it, staring at her.

Mercedes didn't budge or say anything; Sam wouldn't believe that she would do that. Besides, Charles gave Sam everything he needed to realize that it wasn't Mercedes texting. Thank Goodness he didn't know that Jess was already dealt with.

"You know you can talk to me, or I can make you. Either way, I am gonna get what I want."

She just stared straight ahead.

Charles shrugged, tossing the phone to the side of the wall, shattering it and moving behind her, running his hands down her body. "Where are my wife and child?"

She didn't say a word, and he moved to her finger, gripping it in his hand. "Where are they?"

She didn't say a word, bracing herself for what was to come. Gripping her finger, Charles broke it quickly as Mercedes yelped in pain.

His fingers danced over to another finger. "Now, let's try this again."

Sam was exhausted, he couldn't sleep, he had been calling Mercedes all night, and she didn't answer. He had woke his guys up a few hours earlier than usual so they could get home sooner; something was wrong, he felt it. As he arrived home, he walked right into his parent's house and up to his room, frowning when he saw his family but no Mercedes.

"Sam! I thought you weren't gonna be home until later this afternoon! It's like Quarter to 8." Mary said as she plated some eggs.

Sam felt his phone vibrate. "Hey, mom, where is Mercedes?"

"Oh, she didn't come over last night; Marley figured she was working the midnight oil."

"She didn't call me… and I have been trying to get a hold of her."

Marley and Stevie walked into the kitchen giggling as Sam's phone vibrated. "Finally, its a text from Mercedes-"

Sam glanced at his phone, confused. "What in the…this doesn't make any sense."

Mary walked over to Sam. "What's going on?"

"I haven't heard a peep from Mercedes all night; I texted her, I called her, and she sends me this?"

He handed his mom his phone, and she read it out loud. Sam…there is no easy way to say this…We are over, be with Jess and give your child a chance to have a mom and dad? Why would she write that,"

Marley shook her head. "She wouldn't write that…for one, we learned that Jess was lying, and for two, she's pregnant and so excited about telling you, so there is no way she wou-" Marley froze. "I'm so sorry, Sam, she wanted to tell you …."

Sam stood trying to come to terms with what Marley just said. "What?" Sam turned to Marley. "She's pregnant? And she didn't tell me? But she told you?"

"She only told me because she was helping me come to terms with the fact that I am pregnant…."

Stevie slowly turned towards Marley. "Umm, Marls… is that…is that why you have been so up and down?"

Marley nodded. "I am…"

Stevie shook his head. "Wait, so Sam and I are gonna be father's?"

"This makes no sense; if she is pregnant, why would she…Marley, when was the last time you saw Mercedes?"

"She was at the office; she said she was going to leave the office, head to her place to grab some clothes, then come back here. But she never came back here."

Sam looked at his phone again, staring at how it was worded. She wouldn't bring up Jess, and she wouldn't walk away when they just bought a house, when they were so in love, even scared she would come to him. He got a horrible feeling about all of this.

"I think…I think I need to call the police and have them meet me at her place."

Sam started towards the door, and Stevie followed him closely as Mary and Marley followed. "Sam, you think he's there?"

"There is only one way to find out." Sam took out his phone. "Merce, I can't say I am surprised; I'll be by to get my things." He texted.

Sam sighed. "I need to get to her; if I am right, then he's had her all night."

Marley hesitated for a moment. "Sam, there is something you should know about the case file. I wasn't with her when the case happened, but I heard about it; he threatened and tried to kill her in open court. Pushed his own lawyer, landed him in the hospital with a concussion, and attacked Mercedes. She maced him. He doesn't just have a grudge because of what happened with his wife and child. With the letters he sent her, he has been fantasizing about torturing her for a while."

"Letters?"

Marley nodded. "She had me toss them into a box, for evidence if this day ever came, most are unread, but the two or three she read…he has no problem going out in a blaze of glory so be careful…you too Stevie. I can't lose you, okay?"

Stevie kissed her. "I will be okay, I promise. I love you."

He kissed her forehead before hopping into the truck with Sam. As they sped down the road, he looked to his older brother.

"So, what's the plan?"

Sam shrugged. "I don't know, but I have to save her…Stevie, you have to promise me something."

Sam looked over to his brother, and Stevie frowned. "What?"

"When we get there, you get her out; I don't care what you hear or see; you just get her and my child out of that house."

"Sam I-"

"You would ask the same if he had Marley."

Stevie sighed in defeat; Sam was right; he would. "Fine, but as soon as she is safe, I am coming to get you."

Sam didn't say anything; his plan, the only one that mattered, was getting Mercedes and their unborn child to safety, the moment they were out the door, it was going to be locked, and he would pay that bastard back for all the pain he caused.


Mercedes screamed as a third finger was broken behind her.

"Why are you being so stubborn? Just tell me where they are."

She whimpered in pain, feeling nauseated again; she had been fighting that feeling. Still, with everything that was happening, it was back full force.

Charles moved closer to her, taking her chin in his hand. "I am gonna ask you once more, and then, I will kill you."

Mercedes didn't even give him a chance to speak before she vomited all over him. He jumped back, screaming. "You crazy bitch you did that on purpose!"

Mercedes let her head lull back. "Sam…where are you…." She groaned to herself.

Charles left the room, pulling off his shirt mumbling to himself.

He wasn't a bright man, she thought to herself, considering he had her tied up and just broke half her hand. Enduring the pain, she pulled and tugged until her hand came free. She stood quietly, listening as he started the shower, still cursing her out.

She was weak, in pain, and needed to get out of there, wobbling she made her way to the door but frowned when she noticed a padlock on the door. She cursed herself; moving to her office on the other side of the penthouse, she shut the door, locking it and going to her desk. Seeing duct tape in the drawers, she pulled it out and a bunch of pens. It wasn't ideal, but with broken fingers, she needed to immobilize them.

Charles hadn't paid attention to her; if he had, he would have broken the fingers on her left hand and not her right since she was left-handed. Looking around the room, she went to her desk, moving it as best as she could, pushing it against the door; once that was done, she leaned against it catching her breath before she grabbed the tools and tried to splint her fingers. It wasn't perfect, but it would do.

Once she was done, she looked around the room and closed her eyes, hoping she would get out of this. "Please God…please, I don't want to die here; I can't leave Sam…." She looked down at her stomach. "We can't leave him."

She heard Charles screaming and stood looking around the room, praying for a weapon in case the locked door and desk didn't stop him. She glanced around, saw her work bag, and moved to it quickly, seeing her tablet. Saying a prayer, it would turn on. She pressed the power button and sighed in relief when it did. He didn't think to shut off her internet, so she quickly searched for a way to call for help.

She thought about sending an email and hoping that Sam got it. She remembered a few months ago he had her install duo on her laptop in case she ever couldn't reach him due to not having a signal.

Hitting call, she closed her eyes as Charles banged on the door.


Sam pulled off the highway, heading towards her place; his phone started to ring, and he picked it up, looking down to the video call. "Oh my God, Mercedes."

He watched in horror as she jumped at the banging behind her.

"Sam…Sam, I need you to call someone, anyone…you are the only one I have on here. I don't want to scare you. I know you are still on the road; Charles is here. He kidnapped me, and he is gonna kiss me."

"Mercedes, calm down, baby, it's okay. Just breathe. I am down the street, and I will be there, and he won't be able to hurt you anymore."

"He deadbolted the door, he broke my fingers, I can't…Sam, I love you, I love you so much. I spent my whole life searching for something that I didn't find until I met you."

"Don't you do this… don't you give me that goodbye speech."

"Sam…I have to tell you something… I'm pregnant. I wanted to tell you in person; I just wanted it to be perfect, like you."

Sam bit his lip, staring at the road as he pulled up to her parking deck. He put down the phone. "Stevie, see where the police are." He pulled the phone back up. "Baby, I am here; if you hold on just a little while longer, I will come to you."

He could hear Charles banging on the door. Stevie looked at Sam. "They are five minutes away, and we shouldn't go in without them."

Sam shook his head. "I am not waiting."

Stevie sighed heavily. "Yeah, I figured you would say that. So what are we doing?"

Sam looked at Mercedes. "Darling, I know that you are scared, but I am coming; I am going to save you from that bastard."

"Sam I…Oh my God! Sam!" The line went dead.

Sam tried calling her back, but she didn't pick up. Sam hopped out of the truck and went to the bed of if, grabbing his sledgehammer. "Stevie, it's time…but I think you should stay here."

"Sam, no! I am not letting you go in there alone!"

Sam sighed. "Stevie, thank you. I love you, you are my brother, but I can't have you go risking your life."

Sam went to walk away, but Steve grabbed his arm. "Sam, if that was Marley in there, you would be right by my side. Pushing so that we could save her and my unborn son or daughter, so don't stop me from trying to save my sister-in-law and niece or nephew. We have to protect each other and our family."

Sam nodded, he knew that he couldn't stop his brother, but he wanted to give him an out. Stevie grabbed a shovel. "Let's go."


Mercedes moved away from the desk as Charles tried to break down the door. She swallowed hard, looking around the room, trying her best to find something, anything to protect herself, and then she spotted the bat. She moved to her closet, grabbing in, screaming in pain because of her broken fingers.

Charles had the door open now, staring at her as she stood in the closet. "You bitch! You really thought you could run from me? It's time, time for me to put you out of your misery, but not before I fully pay you back for everything you have done. Tearing my family apart." He stepped closer to her. "Taking my child from me." He was right in front of her. "Forcing my child to grow up without me in her life. What kind of person does that."

"You did that yourself! You beat your wife every day, and you would have started on your daughter had I not stepped in."

Charles laughed. "You think you know so much."

She gripped the bat behind her. "You are a monster. And I promise I am not going to be a victim."

"You already are!" He lunged for her, but she pulled the bat from behind her back and swung as hard as she was able to, connecting with the side of Charles's face. He stumbled backward, and she moved with him hitting him and again. The man fell to the ground, curling up into a ball as she hit him again, not wanting him to get back up.

Her hits, she knew, weren't doing terrible damage, but it was keeping him down. She screamed, hitting him over and over until she couldn't hit him anymore, then ran out the room; if she had to break that damn lock, she was getting out.

As she ran for the door, she ran right into someone, scared that he had company; she raised the bat to swing.

"Mercedes! Baby, it's me…baby… don't swing, it's me."

Mercedes stared at Sam, blinking for a few moments before realizing it was Sam. "Sam?"

"Yes, baby." Sam kissed her forehead and held her close. "I got you."

Mercedes hadn't relaxed in so long that falling into Sam felt so good her legs gave out. The adrenaline was wearing off, and the pain in her hand, her body was starting to come on full force.

Sam picked her up as the officers ran inside. "He's in the room…" Sam said, nodding to the door as Mercedes held him close, and he walked to the door. "I got you."

"Mercedes, you are officially badass…I guess she didn't need us after all." Stevie said as he followed Sam to the ambulance.

Mercedes sat on the gurney but clung to Sam.

An officer walked over to her. "Ms. Jones…my name is Detective Walker; we need to get a statement. Can you tell me what happened?"

She looked at Sam, who nodded. "I was in the parking deck of my job…he was there, he made me bring him to my place. He…he wanted to know where his wife was, so he tied me up, starved me, hit me, he…." She exhaled, holding up her fingers. "I wouldn't tell him, so he broke my fingers…and I threw upon him. While he was in my shower, I used my broken fingers to slip through the ropes. I Ummm I ran into my office, but he broke through my barricade. He was going to kill me, he told me so, so I had to fight back…."

The detective nodded as he finished writing down her statement. The paramedic removed the tape and pens, putting a splint on her fingers.

"Ms. Jones, you are lucky to come out of that alive. He is going to need a hospital but trust me, he is going away for a long time. Breaking parole, attacking you, he won't hurt you again."

Mercedes closed her eyes.

"She is a brave woman; keep her safe." The detective said to Sam.

"I am never letting her out of my sight again."