Ride Or Die
There was never a time in Patrice's young life, she consciously said to herself I want to be the daughter of one of the most wanted people in the world, that wasn't how her mind worked back then, down in 2002 when she was born. Her childhood was all luxury and privilege, she didn't even know it was all driven by fear, all she remembered of back then was her Mom singing and praying a lot and her Father's name was Tiger, because of his trademark strand of orange hair inherited from his Father, he kept it tied back and longer than the rest of his hair to make sure everyone knew who he was.
His rugged long dreadlocks, which always smelt of fresh coconut oil, sat in stark contrast to his high quality designer clothing, his neck and wrists draped in diamond encrusted gold, animal tattoos covering his body, except for the one of their three names melting into one, unrecognizable to the untrained eye, on his shoulder. His mean demeanor, her Mom always said, drew the women in and scared the men to death, he was also, she later realized, a dictator, ruling the small local community he lived above, with an iron fist, working his employees like slaves on a pittance of a wage, if you can call imaginary money a wage, while treating his family like precious cubs always needing to be protected
School in her early years was at home her Mom was a good teacher there were things she was taught about their way of life, that as an adult she knew now a mainstream school would never have taught her. But by the time she reached 11 years old she was sent off to England to attend Bexley Grammar School she knew what a weight of various substances looked like, she'd held 10 million in her hands, she'd seen dead bodies, and she'd started her period by then. Nevertheless; starting Bexley was a culture shock and a breath of fresh air at the same time, she quickly adjusted to not having to run off to her bedroom or classroom because strangers were passing through the house, she didn't miss the armory of guns, explosives or knives in the cabinet and obscure places in the house, or her Mother crying every time her Dad left the house, she'd gotten so familiar with all that in her short life
If she had to call on a time when she was truly happy, she'd have to look back on those three years at Bexley, she was still fairly innocent then, she had peers she could talk to, look up to, it was a time of normality, in this madness she'd found herself in, after this moment there wasn't going to be much of that innocence left "How the fuck did I get here?" she asked herself, stuck in this impossible situation, she could only look back and confidently say it started the day she got that call
Flashback
12 - 15 Years Old
She was at school having the time of her life, she was being allowed to be a child for the first time in her life, it was even better than she'd ever dream't it was going to be, she'd made friends for the first time, her dorm was full of books, make up and hair products, as well as exciting conversations about things that mattered to a twelve year old girl.
The years seemed to slip by and before she knew it she was thinking about her final exams, they were nearly two years away but that was how her mind worked, she was always thinking that far ahead, her dream of being a scientist at the forefront of her mind, now she was in main stream school anything was possible. "Patrice Riley" a student came into the classroom, nodding for permission from the teacher before speaking "Mr Giles is asking to speak to you"
"May I be excused Sir?" she stood up, as was usual, to ask permission
"Go on Patrice" Mr Hilton smiled, she was definitely a class favourite
"What does Mr Giles want?" she asked Diane as they walked
"He was on the phone when he called me, I was passing, I don't know" she answered, knocking the door and opening it when he bellowed for them to come in "Patrice Riley Sir"
"Come in Miss Riley" he bellowed "Thank you Miss Green" he passed her a slip for her teacher, allowing her absence, before dismissing her "Your Father's been on the phone, he's instructed me to tell you that you need to go home directly, he's sending a car to pick you up in twenty minutes"
"Has something happened Sir?"
"Your Father wished to have that conversation with you personally" he got up, she instinctively jumped up too "He said leave everything"
"So I'm coming back?" she asked trying to find something out
"Miss Riley" his look telling her she'd asked enough
The journey back to Florida was quiet, hurtful and lonely, she hated the fact that she was going to be in that house for even a minute, but that soon turned to fright when she was met by her Dad and around twenty men at her guess, they were shuffling them along moving like a swarm of bees through the airport "What happened?" she asked her Dad confused
"We'll talk when we get you safe Sweet" his arm holding onto her tight
"Daddy" she looked up at him
"Not now Sweet" he huffed, without looking at her, she knew to leave it alone
They got in the car and still no explanation, she felt frightened "Where's Mom?" she looked up at her Dad asking, shocked to see tears rolling down his face "Dad, what's wrong?" she started crying at this near seven foot man crumbing in front of her "What's happened?" she sobbed
"Sweet, it's your Mom, they got your Mom"
"Who's got Mom?" she asked, crying when he couldn't answer "Dad, you're scaring me, where's Mom?"
"I tried to protect her, I told her to leave, she came back, jumped in front of me and took my bullet" he blurted out, like he was telling himself what happened trying to believe what he was saying "Ride or fucking die" he gasped
"She did what?" she asked, it sounded like he'd just told her that her Mom was dead, but she couldn't register it
"She.." he looked at his daughter, remembering she was sitting there and hugged her "She died in my arms Sweet, your Mom died in my arms" he rocked her as they both cried uncontrollably
They didn't go back to their house, the jumped on a small helicopter landing at a house built in the side of a rock, the only way in or out was via helicopter. It had all the amenities they needed and more, Gym, running track, bowling alley, crazy golf, Ice Rink, it was all there along with all the gaming you could think of, but she missed school, her friends, her Mom and right now her Dad, who was withdrawing more with each day that went by.
They'd seen pictures on the TV and heard reports on the news about her Mother's death, more so on the day of the funeral, attended by just six people, two of those being from the FBI and another her Dad had identified as Big Joe, another untouchable in the area. As the days passed Tiger's shouting got louder and louder, it was clear he wanted revenge for the killing of his wife, and rightly so, but he was fighting against a higher force, by the news coverage, even she knew that wasn't a battle he was going to win.
16 - 18 Years Old
They'd been held up for just over six months waiting for what she didn't exactly know, birthdays and holidays had gone by almost unnoticed, it was her Mother's birthday today she was feeling vulnerable when she went to find her Dad "Lose some weight" Tiger woofed at her as she stepped in the living room
"What?" she gasped unable to believe her own Dad had just said that to her
"I mean" he looked around the room, searching for a way to pull that back "I've set you up for some martial arts lessons and I need you to be as fit as you possibly can be"
"Martial arts?" she gasped, swimming in the pool, maybe an impromptu workout in the gym every few weeks, that could have been asked, but martial arts "What do I know about martial arts?"
"Nothing right now Sweet, but within the next eight months, you'll be learning everything there is to know"
"Why?"
"Because the people who are after me are relentless and they'll do anything to get to me, I need you to be able to protect yourself"
"With martial arts against guns?" she laughed
"You'll be learning to handle guns while you get fit enough to do the arts"
"Is this really necessary?" she huffed not relishing the thought of going through the training
"Sweet" he walked towards her "Right now I wish you had a brother to protect you, but you don't, they're after me, but once they get me this whole operation is left exposed you need to be able to protect it"
"I'm not like you Dad, I don't want to do what you do, or be what you are"
"Sweet that's all I've ever wished for you" he held her face and looked into her eyes "But I don't imagine, the system will let you go that easy, you're worth too much to the other families, I need for there to be no way they can take what we have while you're alive"
"What are you saying?" she looked into his eyes scared, knowing somehow this was bigger than what she was imagining
"Patrice" he shook her "All this, everything your Mother died for, it was all for you, you know I have to avenge her death, and I can't do that until I know you're ready"
"I'm ready for what?"
"Jiu-Jitsu, it's the best martial art for defense"
"What am I defending Dad?"
"Yourself Patrice, what's with all the damn questions"
"I don't believe this" she huffed walking away "I didn't ask for any of this" she shouted back at him, she heard him call her but she was too mad to stop, she slammed her bedroom door and cried, for her Mom, Dad, loneliness and the life she'd left behind
"I'm sorry Sweet" Tiger was standing in her bedroom doorway looking apologetic "I shouldn't have said that to you, I'm just under a lot of pressure right now, I miss Mom, today being her birthday and..." his voice hitched as she ran into his chest "Sorry Sweet" he rubbed her shoulder, holding back his own tears
"You have to tell me what's going on Dad, I don't understand any of this, what happened to Mom, why did it happen, why are we hiding here?"
"Okay, at nearly 17 years old, you've had to grow up fast" he walked her towards her bed "Sweet" he grabbed her hand "You're not stupid, you know what we do for a living" he huffed, the shame apparent on his face "It was never supposed to end like this, by the time you got to 19 we supposed to be out of this game, handed it over D-Jay and.."
"D-Jay?" she asked shocked "What's he got to do with this?" she knew he was her Mother's brother from a different Dad, she'd seen him once through a window
"He's my partner in crime, he's always laid low because of his boys, but they're big enough to handle things now, it's should be our time to settle down into family life now, that was the deal"
"So what happened?"
"I really don't know, word on the street is that one of his boys got into some trouble, I don't even know which one" he huffed "But it seems he passed information on about the business to the FBI" his hand rubbed across his temple "He gave our address out and we got raided, your Mom jumped in front of me, took the bullet for me, I told her to leave, I thought she'd gone, but we made this promise years ago and she just wouldn't leave, I tried to protect her but..."
"Dad" she hugged him "So the FBI are after us?"
"After me, they want to shut me down"
"So just shut it down, it's not worth your life is it?"
"I wished it was that easy, they want everything, the money, drugs, connects, me, everything" he half smiled "And I don't think they're going to stop until they get it all or at least me"
"But I don't want to sell drugs for a living"
"No one outside of here know you exist, obviously now we have to assume D-Jay's been compromised, and that's why I need you to be able to protect yourself" he looked into her eyes "Sweet" he took a breath "That means you're going to be out there alone, everyone knows my face, it's more than risky for you to be seen with me, but I have to avenge your Mother"
"Why can't we just move, or leave the country?"
"Don't you think I'd have looked at every possible alternative before coming to this decision?"
"I know it's just that... I've already lost Mom I really don't want to lose you too"
"And I don't want to lose you, so will you please do this martial arts and learn how to use a gun, for me?" they stared at each other for a while
"Okay" she replied reluctantly
That was that part of the battle started, she was practice shooting, taking regular gym workouts and lots of running, while studying the mountain views in some depth for longer and longer as her body started to compete with itself, but still not leaving the safe house. The time soon came for her to learn her art, she went into it for fun initially, then somewhere between hello and fuck this, she got hooked, maybe she saw the art in it or something but she really enjoyed it. On going into it she hadn't realized that it was about a mind set as well as having the skills, her senses were heightened, reflexes on point she was like a human killing machine by the time her tai-laoshi bowed to her telling her she was ready, it was a liberating moment.
She couldn't believe it had been nearly two years since she'd started the journey to independence, she was nearly 19 years old now and soon she'd be expected to fend for herself, in her mind she was ready for it, her body told her that too, she was confident in that, but domestically, she couldn't boil water without burning it. That fact was quickly rectified when she started spending time with the cook to learn at least the basics of cooking, and fell in love with the microwave and conventional oven
Her Dad had found out more about what was going on, he was gearing up for a war, one she really wanted to be a part of, but there was no way he was going to allow it, she'd been given a different path, through meditation she'd learned the importance of her role in all this, she needed to survive. She could tell the time for action was getting close, her Dad started showing her tunnels leading off secret doorways, divulging codes for exits it was like a batman cave below the house
19 - 21 Years Old
"Happy birthday sweet" her Dad sat on her bed smiling, he'd been watching her sleep
"Thank you" she stretched "I miss Mom"
"Me too" he looked at the quilt before looking back at her "Today's the day sweet"
"Already?" she screeched, it had been just under four years in the making, and she knew that, but it still came as a shock, she sat looking at him, was this really the last time she was ever going to see her dad "Daddy" she sprung up and hugged him "Promise me, if you can, we'll see each other again"
"I promise" he hugged her so tight she didn't want to let go "Word is they know about this place, we have to leave as soon as possible" he popped some papers in her hand "This is your new passport, identification card and bank card, everything has been liquidized, except for our house and this place, which they'll have taken by now" he smiled "The paperwork are bonds I've had the money put into, all in your name, untraceable, get an accountant, solicitor, there's a death certificate in there for your parents too, check the names on that, we died of drug overdoses, you lived with your Grandmother, also dead, it's all there"
"You've spent some time building me this fake life haven't you?"
"That's not fake Sweet" he pointed at the paperwork "All this is" he looked around them smiling when he hugged her again "That's not to say we ever want you to forget our Riley family"
"I couldn't" she cried into his shoulder
"There's a house in your new name in Chicago, everything's set up over there, and sweet" he held her off him to look into her tear filled eyes, his just as bad "You'll be the boss over there, don't trust anyone except your instinct and maybe Pooch, he knows everything"
"Pooch?" she smiled "Is that a dog?"
"Yep, all yours" he laughed "Come on" he pulled away, wiped his face and stood up "You're one of three women in my life that ever made me cry" he smiled as he got to the door "I love you Sweet"
"I love you too Dad"
That was the last day of emotions she'd show for a long while, she'd come out of that tunnel and totally left Patrice Riley in there, she came out looking and feeling like Mercy Jones, a name she was going to carry with her forever. She'd decided on the run through the tunnel that she was going to be a totally different person in being Mercy Jones, there wasn't going to be a trace of the weak insecure Patrice left for anyone to suspect she was faking it.
Just as she'd promised her Dad, within six months she got herself a solicitor, accountant and enrolled in the local college in Chicago, she had no intention of wasting anymore study time she didn't have to. After obtaining her fake graduation papers, she dived into Science at the local college, that was still on her agenda, and it excited her, the only thing that had changed for her was the large amounts of money being deposited into her account on a regular basis, and she wasn't about to ask any why questions about that. The periodic messages from her Dad keeping her happier than she's expected to be at this point in her life, plus she was making friends again
Week three of her time at college and she was already making friends, she'd hooked up with Matt and Lauren from her science class, she couldn't believe people were as nerdy about science as she was. They'd got an assignment to do, of course they'd linked up, all of them needing to ace the class by coming up with the best working model of a robotic head. They were in the library, sat at a table going through some ideas when Mercy felt eyes on her, she looked around the room but saw nothing.
The next day she was in the canteen and felt eyes again, but still nothing, by day three she was concerned, how could someone have found her so quickly it had only been four months. Day four and she was walking around looking at everyone, her senses heightened everything she'd learned kicked in automatically, inside she was terrified but she'd put her gun in the car, making sure her route was clear for getting to it should she need it
"Hi" she heard looking up to see someone looking down on them, a smile so wide it made her smile back
"Hi" Lauren and her said together
"What do you want Sam?" Matt asked irritated for the invasion
"My name's Sam" he looked at Mercy making sure everyone knew he was talking to her "And yours?"
"Mercy" she smiled
"I've been watching you for the past few days, I know you felt that" he laughed "You nearly caught me a couple of times"
"Have you no fucking shame Evans" Matt rolled his eyes asking
"Not really, not right now" he told him "I'm a man on a mission"
"Mission?" Lauren asked, looking at him and back at Mercy
"Yeah" he smiled "I'm wondering what I'd need to do to get this pretty lady to go on a date with me?"
"You'd need to be a lot smoother than that" Mercy laughed getting up and walking away, she knew he was watching her, there was something to watch, she was making sure of that
Over the next two months he was persistent if nothing else, flowers, chocolates, trinkets, singing, notes, poems, carrying her bag to her car, getting her lunch, eventually it was Matt that confronted her "Don't you get fed up of all this shit?" he asked
"It's not shit, it's romantic and to be honest, he had me at Chocolates" Lauren laughed
"I don't want him thinking I can be another bitch on his books, that's all"
"Girl if your going to be another bitch on his books, you make yourself a memorable bitch in that damn book" Lauren told her laughing
"Approach it like a science project, just add bits until you get the perfect working product" Matt told her "Affairs of the heart, it's all science isn't it?"
"I guess" Mercy frowned, she couldn't disclose the reason she was so hesitant without disclosing the other side of her life, and she wasn't about to do that, added to that the fact that she'd never had the time to think about boys before, she was nervous, she shook herself remembering she was Mercy Jones now and because of that everything had changed
"Hi" Sam invaded her thoughts "Are you..."
"What do you say we go out tonight?" she asked
"Yeah" he smiled throwing his fist up in the air
"I'll pick you up about 8?"
"Yeah" he smiled "Where from?"
"Where do you live?"
"I'm in halls block F"
"I'll pick you up outside" she smiled at him "Casual smart" she told him before turning back to talk to her friends, he stood wondering what had happened for a few seconds before he realized he'd been dismissed and walked away
"You're flipping the script" Matt laughed holding his hand up for a high five "I like your style"
"You like him" Lauren smiled
"I might" Mercy giggled
"I guess he's alright for a one blast" Lauren laughed
Eight on the dot, Sam was waiting outside his block, he was getting attention but far as he was concerned he'd got his prize "Evans" Emma; one of the girls from his glee club called after him "You left without saying anything earlier, where are you going?"
"I got a date" he told her smiling, watching her walk towards him
"Which raggedy ass bitch is taking you out tonight?"
"She ain't no bitch" he told her looking around to see who was listening "She's the business"
"Sam" he heard looking round to see Mercy sitting in a gold BMW M2 "Are you ready?"
"Yeah" he left Emma watching him jump in the car, relieved she'd picked him up, he was thinking of taking her somewhere local "I guess the roses meant nothing" he rubbing his hand across the dashboard "This is beautiful"
"Strap in, we're taking a ride" she giggled "Seafood?"
"Yeah" he sat back in the comfy bucket chair, "So how do you afford such a nice car?"
"My Grandma died recently, left me everything"
"Sorry to hear that"
"It's fine, it was worse losing my parents, they overdosed when I was 8 years old, she died just over two years ago"
"So what you're alone?"
"Why are you planning on taking advantage, because I must warn you, I know how to defend myself"
"No" he laughed "I'm interested"
"Your parents?" she looked at him
"Different story same shit" he laughed "I was adopted at birth, they were good but stifling, I'm rebelling because they kept that fact away from me all my life" he pulled his fringe off his face "Worst thing is, they got me off the black market, so they don't even know who I am"
"That's sad" she looked at him "To not know who you are"
"I applied for this college, and got the hell out of there"
"Good for you" she told him watching him turn the stereo up singing along to 'Religion' by Two Another as they drove for around 40 minutes before the car finally came to rest at the North Pond, a restaurant amidst beautiful greenery and tranquility, the water rippling against the moonlight made it romantic "I thought you said casual dress?"
"It is" she laughed "Are you scared of heights?"
"No, why?" he opened the car door for her and followed her cross the well maintained garden, he wasn't even concentrating on what she was saying with her mouth her body was telling him she was ready for plucking, the black dress clung to every part of her body that mattered, he knew she could see he wasn't concentrating, but he couldn't help being jealous of those panties of hers right now
"I figured we could do that before dinner" she pointed up at the bungee jump "You game?" he followed her finger just in time to see someone bounce
"God" he gasped "Yeah, yeah, I'm into that" he was mesmerized, he could hear the sound of her voice, but his mind just wasn't leaving that body of hers, suddenly he was at the top and some man was in his face "Sorry?"
"Have you jumped before?"
"Yeah" he lied
"We still have to go through the health and safety stuff" the man told him
"That's fine" he nodded, trying to keep his head in the game, things got real when he felt the harness wrapping around him
"Are you alright with this?" Mercy asked him
"Fine" he smiled "You just threw me a bit with that damn dress"
"It happens" she giggled "Just don't piss in my hair"
"I'll try" he laughed, the guy did last checks on their equipment
"Ready" he asked hooking Mercy up, smiling at her thumbs up before letting her go screaming and giggling as she went "Ready" he walked over to Sam asking, nodding his head at his thumbs up and he was gone yelling as he went
Mercy was still in excited mode when he got down, he understood that, he was there "I've always wanted to do that" she giggled
"Me too" he laughed
"I thought you'd...? never mind" she left the thought there "Could you bring the photos over to the restaurant please?" she asked the guy collecting the kit "Ready for dinner?"
"Actually yeah" he laughed
The conversation came a lot easier after they'd shared that near death experience, he thought they were going to get thrown out when they laughed so hard they cried at the faces captured on the camera as the ground got closer. They picked one of themselves and one of the other person before sending them off to be framed, she'd started the process of making herself memorable in that damn book of his
"I had a great night" he sat in her car telling her, the position of the seats making it difficult to make a move without it looking awkward "I've never had a girl take me on a date before" he smiled "Thank you, I hope we can do it all again, maybe I could pay next time"
"Are you asking me out on a date Sam Evans?"
"If I recall I've been trying for the past two months, so yes"
"Okay yes" she giggled "Thanks for making the night so enjoyable"
"Okay, I'll call you" he put his foot out the door "Shit, I don't have your number" he took his phone out and touched hers "Okay" he smiled "Goodnight" he got out the car and stood waiting for her to drive off
"Go on in" she wound the window down telling him "I'm being a lady tonight" she giggled
"Okay" he turned to open the gate to his block
"Sam" she called "Hold up" she got out the car and walked up to him, grabbed his neck and pulled his lips towards hers, they stayed playing tongue wars for a while before she allowed him to let hers go, then sat on her car watching him back away from her giggling as he came back for more, playing that game until another couple drove up to the gates, she let him go and got in her car beeped the horn and drove off
They did many exciting things over the following month, by date 14 Mercy was weak, the date ended up at her house "Is this were you live?" his eyes popped as they drove through the gates "This is amazing"
"Grandma left me a lot of money" she told him as the car came to a stop, they got out the car and even got to the door but once it was open, she'd resisted as much as she wanted to, she took the lead on the whole thing pushed him against the door the bang of it shutting not disturbing them "Are you alright with this?" she asked not waiting for his response before her lips were on his again
"Hmm" he grunted, his hands grabbing at her face to pull her in, they stayed kissing for a while before she pulled away
"Do you have condoms?"
"No" he hissed "I wasn't.."
It's fine, I've got some" she stepped off "Want to try the pool?" he stood wondering why was she giving mixed messages, he watched her walk across the hall and through a door, he followed her, smiling at her dropping her clothes as she went
"It's like that" he asked stripping himself as he followed her
She was already in the pool by the time he got outside, it was lit by the moon and seemed secluded enough for him to feel comfortable enough to joined her, he pulled her to him taking her lips, she didn't resist she let him lead for a while his hand slid down her chest grabbing her breast for a second before impatiently finding it's place between her legs, his fingers wondered inside her as she moaned into him, trying not to let him know this was her first time. He was surprised when her legs came up to wrap themselves around his waist and her hand went down to direct him into her "Don't come" she whispered in his ear as she let him inside her
He was finding it hard to concentrate, this was the very first time he'd ever gone bear back with a girl and it felt so much more intense, so free, he could lose his mind in the fucking ecstasy of it all. She was grinding on him hard, their lips hadn't unlocked since he'd got in the pool, everything was rushing to the muscle inside her "I'm.." he hissed watching as she got off him, and walked to the side of the pool, the water got shallow his dick wasn't in the water anymore, he watched as she slid down him and took him in her mouth, his hand holding her head to him as he emptied
"That better?" she looked up at him
"Yeah" he gasped he was still in his zone
"Come with me" she grabbed his hand
They just about got inside, and she was on him again, their lips attached as she worked him up again, they made love for a long time after that, against the wall, bent over the couch, across the kitchen table, in the window, that was a buzz having the blinds open and the thought of someone watching them, when he felt he was ready to come again he'd stopped himself and used his mouth on her, eventually they ended up in her bedroom, finally trying out the missionary position before she got the condom out her draw.
He lay watching her put it on him, his dick pumping like it was beating a drum, she climbed on top of him easing herself onto him, smiling at his noises of satisfaction as she forced more and more of him into her, she was going slow, fast, deep, staying at his tip, sending him wild for not knowing which one was coming next, he made to grab her hips and force her to do what he needed but she grabbed his hands and linked their fingers to stop him, she wanted control, this shit was going in the book "I'm gonna.." he gasped deciding not to tell her because this time he needed it to happen
"You want to come?" she asked
"Hmm" he moaned, she let his hands go and let him grab hold of her hips
"Come" she whispered in his ear, it was like music to his ears he grabbed hold of her butt, pumped hard and came so final he was exhausted, it felt like he'd never need to come ever again he was so satisfied, easily the greatest orgasm he was ever going to have
"Fuck Mercy, I.." he pulled her to lay on his chest, this couldn't be it, no way was this the end of whatever they'd just started "Cloud, is where our bodies meet, in between these sheets, I love how you give, emergency response, nine-one-one, one"
"You singing?" she looked at him, smiling before kissing him "I'll call you a cab"
"What?" he asked unsure what was happening
"I'll call you a cab" she told him "You're not sleeping here"
"Why not?" he laughed "Do you know what time it is?"
"Yep it's 4 am" she told him "It's because Sam Evans, I don't want you to" she grabbed her phone and made the call, he was mad but he didn't show it, he did as she asked, got dressed, kissed her and left when the cab arrived
He didn't see or hear from her the whole weekend, he'd left one message asking her to call him because he needed an explanation and waited. she was in a dilemma, a few damn dates and she'd caught feelings for the guy, this wasn't in the plan, at some point she'd have to get back to her former life and she was to trust no one, she could see herself revealing everything to this man if she kept him in her life. She knew it was going to happen, but she didn't have anything planned to say, so she was just going to stand and take his angry words that Monday morning
"Mercy can we talk?" he interrupted her sitting talking to her Matt and Lauren, she didn't say anything she got up, she knew what this was about
"What's up?" she asked as they got outside the canteen
"Can we meet up after class, I have something to say and this" he looked up and down the busy corridor, isn't the place?"
"Yeah, meet in my car usual spot" she smiled, at least she had an afternoon to come up with something
She was sat in her car that afternoon none the wiser with what to say, her heart was telling her she couldn't build a relationship on lies, but to tell him the truth might mean her death "Mercy" he sat in the car suddenly "What's going on, we get to an important point in our relationship and then you just throw me out in the middle of the night and freeze me the fuck out, I don't think I deserved that, I at least want an explanation"
"It's complicated" she told him "There's a lot going on in my life I can't tell a soul, I don't want a relationship built on lies, I can't do that to you Sam, so I have to cut you loose"
"How about I have a say in that?"
"What's there to say?" she looked at him puzzled
"So your dodgy, everyone is, but your at college right now, with me, surely we can have now, no strings just us getting to know each other, what's wrong with that, I don't need to know your secrets, you can decide if you trust me enough to tell me one day"
"That's alright for now, but what if we want more, what happens then?"
"Then we talk about it again, we don't just have the most mind blowing sex and then freeze each other out"
"That was mind blowing sex?" she laughed
"Absolutely" he laughed
"I forgot to mention that was my first time"
"That was your first time, seriously?" his eyes wide with surprise "Listen, I want to get to know you Mercy, let's just enjoy each other until we both say stop"
"We could try that" she smiled, she really liked him and it was clear he liked her back
"And next time I won't leave in the middle of the damn night" he pointed at the stereo playing "My song, this was what I was singing the other night" he laughed singing along "You're always open, twenty-four hours, come through, hit that, then we take showers, then a bitch step out smelling like flowers, hit that shit again in the wee hours (oh), in the wee hours (oh), in the wee hours (oh), in the wee hours (yeah)" 'Wee Hours' by The Dream & Jhene Aiko he sat rocking to the music until she smiled and joined in "Things would have been different the other night if I'd have known that about you"
"I didn't want them to be different" she moved in and kissed him "We're really going to do this?"
"We are" he smiled, their foreheads touching "Are you doing anything tonight?"
"I thought we were going to hit shit and take showers"
"We are" he laughed "But you could come round, see where I live, and meet some of the glee club first"
"I'd love that" she giggled
Just like that their life together began, that night Sam went back to her place with her, after that he rarely went back to the dorms. Their weekdays were all about, her helping him practice some song for his glee performance, she studied for Science, him for animation, both practicing Jiu-Jitsu with her personal trainer and sometimes even shooting at the local range, but the weekends they were either doing something challenging like climbing mountains, target practice or cuddling together in front of the fire updating their scrapbook.
Month nine they were up in a Ferris wheel as part of his birthday present, she'd made last night special, by telling him she loved him for the first time, woke him up with breakfast in bed, brought in from the local café and now they were at the top of the world, he looked at her with love in his eyes "I appreciate what you said and did last night" he smiled
"Ouch" she screeched at the cable car stopping abruptly, hitting her arm on the protective bar
"I got you" he held his arm across her and pulled her to him
"I know" she grabbed his arm
"Mercy" he sat back in the car looking at the tiny people below them "I have something else to tell you"
"I'm listening" she turned to listen, this had become their way of telling each other they were getting more committed to the relationship
"My stepdad, he's a member of the SP gang in Texas, I've never had anything to do with it, I hate what he stands for, and that was a major reason for me leaving" he breathed "I've never admitted that to anyone" he laughed nervously
"So the black market story?"
"That's true, she was probably some young girl he put on drugs, and ripped me out of her arms at birth" he huffed "They won't say"
"Okay, thanks for telling me" she leaned in and kissed him "I love you"
"I love you too" he smiled, happy with their relationship, jerking as the car started again
21 - 23 Years Old
College was finished, it was that time, they'd said they'd be ready to go their separate ways, but the ties were far too tight, Mercy refused to let go, and Sam didn't want to either, he ended up moving into her place, having convinced each other they still had time because they had no plans. They'd been together for nearly two years, but it hadn't taken either of them past a month to know what they felt, and just under nine months to know it was never going to end, the more he gave of himself, her Dad's warning faded into insignificance.
"What's wrong?" he walked in from collecting a pizza to see her crying on the couch "Mercy"
"My.." she looked up at him "My Dad just called"
"Is everything all... wait a minute, your Dad?" he stepped back, quickly realizing she was about to disclose
"Yeah, he's alive, for now, he's in the same business as your stepdad, and now he's in trouble" she cried into her hands
"What's happened?"
"D-Jay and a guy called Runner have set him up, he trusted them" she wiped her face "Fuck, I trusted them" she hissed hitting the couch "Anything happens to my Dad and they're both dead, I mean it"
"Okay calm down, you're a one woman band, going up against an army of rouges, you need back up"
"I might not have time for back up Sam"
"You don't need time, you just need to know someone who knows someone who has an army to back your shit up, and is willing to do anything for that guy he knows"
"What?" she sat confused with his conversation
"My stepdad, he has guys that kill every day"
"I can't ask you to get involved in my shit"
"You didn't ask, I offered"
"You left your family for this shit, I don't want you hurt"
"And I want to see you hurt?"
"No, But..."
"Come on, I need to make a call, and we need to get to Texas"
"I feel..."
"Just fine" he grabbed her hand and his phone in the other "Dad" his voice angry but firm "We need to talk" he rolled his eyes at whatever was being said, smiling for a second before snapping "Book us two tickets home... yeah I'm bringing someone" he clipped the phone off "Let's go" he climbed up the stairs, all she knew was that she needed to save her Dad, by any means necessary
They packed in silence, got to the airport, grabbed the tickets and were stood in his Dad's office five hours later "Son" the tall man got up walking towards them
"Dad" he took the hug reluctantly "This is Mercy Jones"
"Mr Evans" she smiled grabbing the hand he offered "Pleased to finally meet you"
"That would imply he talks about me and I know he doesn't"
"I do actually" Sam corrected him "All bad" he pulled Mercy with him over to the couch, ignoring the two guys standing in the office "Can I get some privacy?" he asked his Dad
"Give us a minute guys" his Dad told his guards, sitting on the edge of his desk to wait for the door to close "We've missed you son, you didn't even give us a chance to explain anything.."
"I'm not here for that Dad, Mercy needs our help"
"Damn it Sam, I'm not going to beg" he banged the desk and got up "I've given you two years, kept away like you asked, we've done everything you wanted, you're Mother's going out of her damn mind with worry"
"Mom?" he asked, Mercy knew something else was coming, she wasn't getting involved in this, whatever it was, it was deep "Who the fuck are you people?" he stood up walking towards his Dad "Who is my Mom Dad, I mean my real Mom?"
"She..." he huffed "Sam, your Mom and I love you, you mean everything to us, we just want you to be happy, we don't need to bring all that up"
"Do you know what it's like, not to even know who the fuck you are?"
"You're Sam Evans, our son"
"Dad, we need your help we really do, but if I don't get the answers I want, we'll leave and I won't be back"
"Sam" his Mom burst through the door, tears falling as soon as she saw him, Mercy wasn't expecting the woman, she was the opposite of how she'd expected, Short, plump with a soft face and near graying hair
"Mom" he hugged her
"You want answers, and I don't blame you, we never meant to keep anything from you, but you were so innocent and then you were doing exams and you know the rest, we just wanted the dream to go on forever" she smiled up at him "Your Dad's brother, Uncle Patrick was your Dad, he died the day you were given to us, he brought you to us and asked us to look after you as if you were our own, we never knew who your mother was"
"You were around two months old when he brought you to us" his Dad told him
"So they're dead?" he laughed wondering why they couldn't have told him that in the first place "Fuck this" he rubbed his head "Mercy needs our help" he turned to her still sitting listening "Mercy" he called her to join them "Just tell them as much as you feel comfortable with"
Mercy sat telling all three more about her story than she'd ever planned to tell anyone "So the call came yesterday, my Dad said the man who I thought was his alloy and his right hand man have conspired against him, I need to take them out, permanently if they hurt my Dad, and take over the business"
"And we need some of your men to help us with that" Sam added
"What do you mean us?" his Dad looked at him shocked "You're not getting involved in this"
"I'm already involved"
"I'll deal with it" his Dad told him "What's your Dad's name?" he looked at Mercy asking
"Tiger" she looked into his eyes, there was a lot you could tell by looking into someone's eyes
"Young Riley?" he asked shocked
"Do you know him?" she asked knowing he did
"Our paths have crossed on occasion, is he still in Florida?"
"I don't know where he is, I haven't seen him for two years"
"I didn't know he had children"
"There's just me"
"So are you going to help us?" Sam interrupted, her story wasn't much different to his except she seemed to have a great relationship with her real parents
"Give me a few hours to find some stuff out" he got up "It's really good to see you son" he touched his shoulder
"Come on, I'll get you two something to eat, and I guess we need to get acquainted" she smiled at Mercy, they'd barely spent a second out of his Mothers site since she'd clapped eyes on them. They expected the usual questions, who she was, how they met, what their intentions were, but instead his Mother asked her if she had intentions of being active in her Dad's business, how she intended on protecting herself and gave them each a watch "Sam's never been into any of it, but I guess, if you've been trained" she smiled, leading them to the armory "Take your pick" she looked at Mercy watching her take the center gun "Good choice"
"And I'll have this one" Sam pulled out his Dad's gold Colt 45
"That's your Dad's" his Mom told him
"It was Dad's" he told her "Mercy trained me"
The call came quicker than they'd expected, they were on the private jet to Florida and deposited in a hotel waiting for more news from his Dad's informant before dinner, Sam and his Dad had a very complicated conversation about the gun he'd chosen, ending with his Dad telling him he was never going to use it, before handing him the 45 he'd got held on his back strap "We should get something to eat and get some rest" his Dad ordered when they got their keys.
"Call us if anything happens" Sam told his Dad, leaving the dinner table with Mercy "It's been ages since we had time alone" he swung his arm around her shoulder
"Seventeen hours"
"You're keeping a clock on me?" he laughed
"Always open, twenty four hours, seven day week" she sang, making him laugh
"You know the tables turned today?"
"Why?" she pressed the button for the elevator
"Because except for your Dad's face, we know everything about each other, past, present and future, it's time for that talk"
"I know you're right" she walked into the elevator and stood the opposite side to him "But can we leave it until all this is sorted out?"
"No"
"What?" she looked at him that wasn't a word she was used to hearing from him "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you've just become my responsibility, and I'm not about to let you go in there alone, together or not at all"
"Sam"
"Don't tell me I'm not ready Mercy, I've been training as hard as you over the past two years, I have more fist power than you, I'll admit you have the better shot, but we'll work well together"
"I don't want you at risk"
"So we understand each other?" they stood staring at each other as the elevator came to a stop "Mercy?"
"Yeah we understand each other" she smiled inside, his masterful tone and the way he'd given his order turned her on, a picture invaded her mind of him pushing her into the room, striping her naked and taking her in the roughest way possible. She bit her bottom lip at the thought of him eating away at her watching the anger in his face melt away at her response, she could let this man rule her, actually right now she wondered if she'd be able to stop him
"Good" he smiled, letting her walk in front of him down the corridor watching her backside move "You alright?" he stepped closer to her
"Yeah" she giggled at the spurt that rushed out between her legs "I just want this version of Sam real bad" she turned and run her hand up his chest
"I'm afraid he's in a box, only comes out on special occasions" he pulled her to him and quickly kissed her lips, releasing the door, and pushed her in, grabbing her he pressed her hard against the back of the door, kissing her so rough their teeth connected, she moaned at the pain caused by the connection of her face hitting the wooden door, when he turned her round forcefully, giving her no time to think about what his hands were doing. She was actually enjoying this, she could feel herself getting wetter as he roughly made his way inside her not taking the time to remove her panties "Do you like this Sam?" he asked ramming into her
"Yes" she gasped
"How much do you like this Sam?" he asked grabbing her hair and wrapping it around is fist, moving her roughly over to the nearby table
"My hair" she winced
"How much?" he asked pulling at her hair, he was getting into this
"Nine, one, one, one" she moaned stood with her ass up in the air waiting for him, he yanked at her hair to pull her onto him, moaning at the feel of her insides hitting the spot "Harder" she hissed her voice jerking as he slammed into her "Harder" her nipples lightly touching the table every time he moved her back and forth, his free fingers sliding around in the wet mess she'd made between her legs "Sam" she gasped ready to explode
"Oh no" he pulled out walking away from her
"I have condoms" she turned to tell him "In my purse"
"It's fine, I have condoms" he took them out his pocket and waved them at her "Strip" he sat on the couch watching her strip, "On your knees" he pointed at the space I front of him, she went willingly, she always got the upper hand when she had him in that position "And you stop when I say"
"Okay" she smiled, before her mouth started working on him, this was all new to them too, she was so used to being satisfied first, she was more excited than him, she was feeling so horny and wild she knew she was being rough but she didn't want to stop
"Mercy" he finally stopped her, pulling her up to return the pleasure, it didn't take long she was two thirds ready, he let her come before covering himself and taking his release
"I liked it" she giggled at them sprawled across the couch "But what the hell was that?"
"That was me showing you that we can both take the upper hand, it's not exclusively yours anymore"
"I felt that, but I never assumed that role, you gave it to me"
"Well I'm just setting things right" he smiled "Come on let's grab a shower" they lay in bed a few hours later tired but satisfied, ready for whatever came next "When all this is over Mercy Jones you're gonna be my ride or die" he stroked her hair, watching her sleep, he fell asleep on that thought.
Mercy woke up the next morning, scared and startled to Sam shouting in the next room, she ran out to see what was going on to find him on the phone
"What's happened?" she asked watching him marching around the room angrily raking his hair back "Sam" she called, frowning at him putting his hand up to stop her talking while he shouted some more
"Mercy" he stopped talking for a second "Can I just take this call please babe, I'll explain everything when I finish" he kissed her lips quickly "Morning" he turned quickly to carry on his conversation "Dad that wasn't what we agreed" some five minutes later it was over "They went out last night" he turned to tell Mercy "They didn't even bother to fucking wake us up, they just went"
"What happened?"
"Nothing for them apparently, he said to watch the news"
Mercy ran across the room to the TV, she could actually understand why his Dad had taken things out of their hands, if her Dad had been able to, he would have too, they were much too young to die and even younger to have someone's death on their consciences, emotionally she knew that she couldn't take it, she still hadn't fully mourned her Mom's passing "What's the news channel?"
"I don't know" he sat with her as she flicked through the channels. When they finally found it the story hadn't quite panned out as they'd expected it to, there was no mention of the FBI being involved, no mention of Runner, and no mention of her Dad which must mean he was nowhere near what went down, it seemed like the armed police had raided D-Jay's place and the shootout had left six people dead
"I don't think that's the end of it"
"Someone must be looking over your Dad" he hugged her relieved
"Your Dad maybe?"
"Maybe" he looked at her "I'm still in this you know"
"In?" she looked at him puzzled
"All the drama, I'm still in this with you, it's ride or die for me, whatever comes"
"Ride or die" she smiled kissing him
"You know we agreed this thing between us had gone to another level last night" he got up
"I sort of felt that" she giggled "But let's not label it just yet, I'm enjoying this level"
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah" she grabbed his hand "I heard you last night, I just wanted that moment" he pulled her up and kissed her
"Let's go get breakfast"
They went down to join the others, breakfast was quiet, there were more of his Dad's men around than Sam felt comfortable about, but if Runner had heard about them being around there could well be a target situation "We're leaving straight after this" his Dad announced, Mercy really didn't feel he was in the mood to answer questions. Within the hour they were back on the jet waiting for clearance to leave Florida, that journey was also quiet, it seemed something had gone wrong and nobody was wiling to talk about it
"Is everything alright Mr Evans?" Mercy finally walked over to his chair to ask, seeing a window of opportunity
"David please" he smiled
"Is everything alright David?" she smiled at him, sitting down without his permission, Sam was asleep so she'd sneaked away
"It's fine, I'm just bit worried about Runner, he's a loose canon" he looked at her "We have no idea where he is"
"Do you know where my Dad is?"
"No I don't, Sweet" he smiled "What's the deal with you and Sam?" he looked over at his sleeping son "I mean, is it the real thing?"
"Yeah" she smiled looking back at Sam "We feel it is"
"I'm not going to lie, I thought I did but...I really don't want him in this game anymore, it's..."
"Dangerous" she smiled "I know Daddy prepared me for it, but I've found Sam now, and I really want to see where this thing between us goes"
"I'd love that for him too" he smiled "Could you get him to stay for a few days when we get back, I feel like there's so much we need to say"
"I'm really not the boss in the relationship, but I'll try" she laughed
"I think you'll find you are" he laughed watching her walk back over to sit next to Sam
"You alright?" Sam looked up at her for a second before closing his eyes again "Hmm?" he huffed when she didn't answer
"Yeah, I'm fine"
He was still tired when they finally got home, they spent the afternoon sleeping and got up at the commotion going on downstairs "What the fuck was that?" he jumped up watching Mercy search their bags as the first gunshot rang through the house "Thanks" he caught his gun she'd thrown at him, stepping into his Pyjama bottoms "Stay behind me" he ordered checking the gun
"Yeah" she buttoned his oversized pyjama top and folded the arms up, checking her gun as the shots turned fierce
"We need to get out of this room, come on" he nodded walking fast across the landing
"Bastards" his Mom screamed, firing shots while she ran up the stairs towards his room "Motherfuc.." her words stopped by the jerk of a bullet hitting her, his heart sank but he really didn't have time to react, he pushed the cupboard door open, unlocked the secret passage door and pushed Mercy in before getting in himself
"Shh" he hissed at her threatening to talk, she stood scared, emotional and trembling all at the same time "Fuck, Fuck, Fuck" going through her mind
"We'll be safe in here" he whispered, hugging her to calm her down, there was shouting, more gun shots, the crash of furniture breaking, it seemed to go on forever before the silence came
"Die bitch" Sam heard he just knew they were talking to his Mother
"Mom" he gasped, he couldn't stand and let that happen "I've got to..." his hand touched the door, ready to go
"I'll cover you" Mercy told him making ready her gun thinking "How the fuck did I get here?"
End Of Flashback
"Mercy, I.." he started to protest
"Just shoot" the voice shouted
"There are two, you take the one on the right" she told him, he nodded and opened the door firing two shots at his target
"Sam" Mercy screamed pushing him out the way, firing at the gun pointed at him, they watched one man fall down the stairs, and the other over the railing down, everything silent for a second as they took in the fact that they'd become exactly what they didn't want to become, killers and now fugitives
"You alright?" he turned to ask when the bodies didn't move
"Yeah" she looked at his Mom "Ruby?"
"I'm fine, it's a flesh wound"
"Ruby" David came running up the stairs "Are you alright?"
"It's fine David, it's just a graze" Ruby told him, Sam took a breath watching David wrapped the wound
"Sweetheart" Mercy heard her Dad's voice
"Daddy" she screamed running past Sam to get to him, he scarped her up and hugged for as long as they both needed "I thought you were.."
"I'm fine Sweet" he stopped her "I guess this is Sam?" he looked at him
"Yes Sir" Sam offered his hand "Pleased to finally meet you"
"We need to get out of here, the police will be here soon" David announced picking Ruby up "Go in that car" he pointed Sam and Mercy to the second car "We'll see you there, hey did as told
"That was.." Sam just about got out before Mercy straggled him "Mercy" he looked at the open curtain in front of him, her lips covering his before he could say anything else, her hands making fast work of opening her pyjama top "Mercy" he gasped unable to control himself "Close the curtains" he told the driver
"I want you bad, I want you bad I" her lips peppering his face with kisses
"Always open twenty four hours" he giggled trying to control her hands
"Nine one, one, one, problem?" she sat up for as second asking
"No" he leaned up to kiss her lips "But we're in a car"
"Stop stating the obvious Sam, are you up for this?"
"Fuck it" he lifted her up to pull his bottoms down
"I knew you wanted this too" she smiled at his dick bouncing against her stomach on release "Hard, I want it hard" sex was hard, fast and satisfying
"I hate to say it, but that shit back there, turned me the fuck on" she gasped resting on his lap
"I know what you mean" he laughed "Ride or die"
"I guess you could put it like that" she laughed
"But seriously, we killed another human being today"
"Kill or be killed, I get it now" she looked into his eyes
"Ride or Die?"
"Ride" she kissed him "Always Ride"
"Me too"