A/N: Okay sorry it took a month to update I literally lost my whole file and had to start over I got angry and just stopped but I'm back!

TRIGGER WARNING: THIS IS A VERY DARK CHAPTER... SOME SCENES ARE VIOLENT!

Song

Lullaby for A Stormy Night- Vienna Teng (For some reason when I post lyrics it only shows some of them so the lullaby is in italics in sentence format)

"Save Mercedes." Richard said with convection.

Sam nodded and stepped away as her father was taken by the group of men leaving him alone with

Dave and two other men. They were all on their phones talking into them and before he could say anything he was being escorted back into the house, he looked around and knew immediately it was defiantly Mercedes's place.

"Okay tell us everything you can about this Bryce or Tank person." Dave said after hanging his phone up.

"I only know what she told me which is that she met him in college via her ex boyfriend Shane… he's obsessed with her for some reason." Sam said raking his hand through his hair and letting out a deep breath.

"Shit, she's been out of college for years and he's still after her? There's something more to this, there has to be a reason he's after her like this… did she ever mention money to you?" Dave asked.

"Money? Not that I can think of why would she?"

"That bitch. I never liked that woman but I think I know what's going on..." Dave said before picking up his phone again and making another call, all of the calls where short and he barely said more that five words at a time. None of this was making sense to Sam but all he could really worry about was Mercedes and hoping like hell she was okay.

…

"You think I did this without planning it?" Denise asked with a smug smile.

"So this isn't about daddy then is it?" Mercedes countered willing herself not to think about what all Shane had to do with this whole situation.

"Oh it has everything to do with him, you and your horrible as mother."

"None of this is making sense…" Mercedes said shaking her head trying to figure out everything but it wasn't coming together at all.

"Good. Now I need to pay a visit to your mother, let's see if what you say is really true or if you're just bluffing." Denise replied.

"Oh don't worry I'm leaving you in very capable hands… I hear Tank has it bad for you." She said over her shoulder leaving Mercedes there with tears brimming in her eyes.

"IF IT'S MONEY I CAN GET YOU ANYTHING YOU WANT!" Mercedes shouted making Denise stop in her tracks.

"You think I'm doing this about money? You think I kidnapped you for fucking money?" She replied walking quickly over and slapping Mercedes hard.

"Listen you little bitch, your mother and father are the reason you are here. Yes your father… our father tried to be honorable but that bitch you call mother… you have no idea the hell she put me through over these years but don't worry because if you think Tank is bad you haven't seen me in action. Don't fight it little sis, he's real gentle when he wants to be." She said smiling and walking away not giving her a second glance.

Mercedes just hung her head praying for a miracle but when she heard a giggle she knew it was far from over. She rose her head and saw Monica approaching with a smug smile holding a bottle of alcohol.

"So… Shane was your first huh? You're only right?" She asked laughing and taking a sip from the bottle.

"What do you want?"

"Oh I don't want anything… not yet at least." She replied splashing some of the liquor on Mercedes and laughing when she bucked at her.

"Why are you even here? You're just someone to fuck until he gets what he wants and it's clear it me… Shane came back for months begging me after I bet your ass. He brought flowers, candies, cards and would even wait for me after all my classes like a little puppy. You're just an easy lay while I still have the sweetest thing in the world a fairly untapped well if you will. So again I ask why the fuck are you even here?" Mercedes said through gritted teeth then smirking after she saw the light leave Monica's eyes.

"You never deserved him! It should have been me that he was fawning over but he couldn't because you were always there! You wanna know how easy it was for me to get him into my bed? Night after night after night… after your dates, after he'd leave your place, when you were in class or on your stupid little shoots. He was with me, making love to me and the night you gave him your virginity he came back to place." She replied moving closer and smiling.

"So every time I turned him down he went crawling to you and you think he was thinking about you while he fucked you?"

Monica was about to hit her but was thrown back by Tank and when she got up he gave her a death glare making her back away.

"Come on it's time… get the camera ready." He said before looking at Mercedes with an unreadable expression.

"If you try to run I swear I will shoot you, and don't think I forgot as soon as he doesn't hurt anymore… I'm gonna show how good he can be to you."He said untying her arms but not her legs, he grabbed a pair of cuffs and placed her hands in front of her then cuffed her hands, he leaned down untying her legs and picked her up.

"Whatever she promised you you won't get." She said as he carried her to empty space in front of the camera. He didn't respond just chuckled and placed her on the ground grabbing the dangling chain and clipping it to her cuffed hands. She winced when she was jerked off the ground and noticed camera and a screen that was black but then it turned on and she saw a paved walkway.

"Let's see how mommy reacts when she sees you being beaten for what she did to me." Denise's face came into view as she rang the doorbell.

"Can I help you?"

"I'm here to see the lady of the house… it's regarding her daughter."

"Ms. Jones? You've found her? Come in please." The butler said moving aside and allowing Denis to enter.

"I'll go get the misses." He said before quickly walking away. A few moments later Mercedes's mom appeared and she looked very unpleased when she saw who was waiting. She put on fake smile and walked up to Denise with a hand extended.

"Hello. How can I help you?"

"Cut the act bitch, you know who I am and I know who you are so let's get down the real shit." Denise said grabbing Vivian and taking her into the formal living area pushing her down to sit while she sat adjacent placing the tablet so it was facing Vivian.

"What do you want girl? I thought you were away living your life on my husband's dime." Vivian asked rubbing her temples.

"You know exactly why I'm here and you will admit for once just who the hell I am."

"Who are you?"

"Tank." Denise said signaling for Tank to hit Mercedes and when he did she didn't scream so he hit her again which made her scream. Vivian's eyes grew big as she finally looked at the tablet realizing that Mercedes could see them and she could her.

"Where is my husband?" She asked sitting up.

"Tank." This time he punched her hard in the stomach causing her to gasp hard for air but she still didn't scream so he again hit her this time in her face. Tears began to fall down her face as she realized that her mother wasn't going to give Denise whatever it is that she wanted. She was going to let her die before she gave in to whatever demands she thought she could get.

"Again, Vivian. Admit what you did and I'll her go… no hard no foul. If not Tank there's gonna have his way with her after he finishes beating her."

"Where is my husband?" Vivian asked again completely ignoring the screen and staring Denise down with dark eyes.

"I told you!" Mercedes gasped out causing them both to look at the screen. "You took the wrong person, she won't budge until you answer."

"Is that so?" Denise asked Vivian with a smirk to which she got no response.

"Mhm. Monica would you like to join in?" Denise asked keeping her eyes trained on Vivian who's expression was still emotionless and when she noticed her eyebrow rise she knew she saw what Monica was holding. She smiled but it quickly faded when the sound of Mercedes's screaming loudly did nothing to change her demeanor.

"Again." Denise said growing angry. Monica smiled and swiped Mercedes's arm again causing her to scream out again. She opened her eyes and could her mother was unphased by what was happening she shook her head and looked down but her head shout up when she saw the shoulder in back. She swallowed hard and tried to rack her brain for a second until it came to her.

"Aga-." Denise started but was interrupted.

"For you know, once even I was a… Little child, and I was afraid but a gentle someone always came to dry all my tears, trade sweet sleep for fears and to give a kiss goodnight" Mercedes sang as best she could before Tank slapped her again. She kept her eyes glued on the shoulder but when nothing happened she let out a sigh and looked to her mother pleading with her eyes to tell her whatever it was that she wanted to know.

"Just tell her what she wants to know!" Mercedes shouted at her mother who shot her a glare and looked back at Denise.

"I have nothing to say." Vivian said and started to stand up to leave.

"They shot your husband… he's probably already dead." Denise said smirking. Vivian turned and looked at her with a devilish grin and leaned down until she was at eye level with Denise.

"Then finish the fucking job and leave me the hell out of it." Vivian said looking at the screen then back to Denise chuckling.

"Please escort this thing out of my house." Vivian said as the butler walked back into the room. Denise was shocked and chased after her.

"YOU GAVE MY MOTHER THOSE DRUGS! You took her away from me, you made my family greedy and unloving, I met Mercedes and she was so sweet but you turned her against me! I was a little girl and you had me shipped off with those horrible people who did so many horrible things to me and you sent pictures of your precious little girl doing all these amazing things! EVERY FUCKING WEEK! I would get a new picture with the same caption, 'You'll never be who she is or what she is, you're trash like your mother.' My mom wasn't trash! She was kind and you gave her those drugs because she was a threat! ADMIT IT!" Denise shouted but when Vivian didn't respond she went back and grabbed the tablet.

"Cut her." She said holding the screen in her face as Monica cut Mercedes's leg twice and laughed when she screamed.

"I will let them do the same that was done to me and post with your reaction next to it. The whole world will see just how evil you are you. ADMIT IT!" Denise said again.

"Your mother was a whore and a recovering addict, I gave her want she wanted which was money now what she did with that money has nothing to do with me and you being shipped off was for you own good… I couldn't have you around Mercedes she would be just like you." Vivian replied nonchalantly.

"Tank she's yours." Denise said before slapping Vivian.

"No, no, no! Mommy please don't do this to me!" Mercedes pleaded.

"You're the reason your father is dead. Why would I even attempt save you now?" Vivian asked looking at the screen with such coldness that Mercedes just nodded and in that moment all fight she had left was gone. She knew no one would come for her now and she knew her father was probably dead… had she just walked back into the house instead of playing all those games she could have prevented all of this.

…

Sam paced the room back and forth before Dave stopped him forcing him to sit down.

"Look kid… this isn't going to be pretty but I need you sit down. He had been on the phone for over an hour going back and forth between some of the staff at the residence and the hospital. The information he was given wasn't looking pretty and he knew he needed to at least tell Sam about what was happening to Mercedes.

"Has she ever mentioned a Denise to you?" Dave asked and Sam raked his brain shaking his head.

"Not that I can think of?"

"She's her sister but she would probably refer to her as her cousin… she has Mercedes." Dave said holding his hand up to stop Sam from talking.

"She, Tank and Monica have her and they're… torturing her. Wait, wait kid hold on. We have someone in the house watched it and I won't even go into detail because it seems brutal. We're tracking her phone but from how background was described she's probably in a warehouse so her signal is weak but we are getting close. It's getting late though and if it's in a secluded area it will be hard for us to approach without being seen because of the lights, now that being said we have to go and check on David. I'm assuming she told you about this place so you can stay here or we can put you up somewhere but until we get anymore information we're sitting ducks."

"They're going to kill her..." Sam said shaking his head as tears began to fall from his eyes.

"You need to have a little more faith in the people in this room and the people who love and adore that little girl. I know she's not little anymore but she's a fighter and she's smart. She can hold her own… just don't give up because she didn't on you."

…

4:45 am

After Tank unhooked Mercedes from the chain he placed her back in the chair. She must have passed out because she was lying on the bed when she opened her eyes but when she tried to move her hand she was cuffed to the metal frame. She yanked her hand a few times trying to see if it would give but nothing happen, she ran her free hand over her body and winced every so often and when she reached her legs the pain was excruciating. She traced the cuts on her legs and could tell it was more surface than anything but it still hurt, her sides hurt but other than that she was fine considering she was still being held hostage.

"Well look there you're finally awake, I was beginning to get concerned." Mercedes shot her head up and the words Tank she's yours began replaying in her mind. She brought her legs up to her chest wrapping her free arm around herself, Tank just chuckled and closed the door making the room dark with just the light shining from outside the window. She trained her eyes on him and could see him getting closer as tears began flowing from her eyes, she felt the dip in the bed and when he touched her she flinched and tried to make her self small.

"There's no point in fighting it, I told you years ago you were mine and I would have you. I've been patient and I promise to take it easy if you don't do anything to piss me off." He said before trying to touch her again but she flinched making him angry. So he grabbed one of her ankles and yanked it down slowly running up her leg before she kicked as hard as she could right in the face, he grunted and toppled over and she started yanking hard on the head board to get it to give or something. She was just hoping for a miracle at that point but when Tank got back up and slapped her she knew it was over.

"You little… rough it is." He said throwing off his shirt and pants, he grabbed her leg again pulled her down before hovering over her and growling. He grabbed her face hard and held it in place looking at her with the scariest eyes she's ever seen.

"If you bite me you will regret it." He said then crashed his lips on to hers, he tasted horrible… his lips were rough and he was forcefully trying to get his tongue into her mouth but she remained close lipped. His hands were roaming all over her body and she felt more tears coming as his hands went lower, she didn't have any clothes on and the feel of his hands on her body made her want to through up. She closed her eyes and sang silently to herself as he continued roaming her body.

"Well now I am grown and these years have shown that rain's a part of how life goes but it's dark and it's late. So I'll hold you and wait 'til your frightened eyes do close."

She felt him adjust his self on her body and braced for what was coming but the door bust opened and he was pulled from off of her and dragged out of the room. The door was closed and she let out a soft cry unaware of what was happening or if he would come back but when she heard him shouting along with the sound of things crashing and finally two gun shots. She jumped and closed her eyes firmly and held her legs to her chest tightly, refusing to open her eyes when the door opened or even when she felt her hand being released from the cuffs. She wasn't sure who it was but she remembered Tank had a gun and it could be him so she kept her eyes closed.

"And I hope that you'll know that nature is so, the same rain that draws you near me falls on rivers and land, on forests and sand. Makes the beautiful world that you'll see in the morning."

When she heard the voice tears began falling and she knew then she was safe and finally opened her eyes, she cried loudly and wrapped her arms around them and welcomed the returning hug feeling instantly relieved.

"I never hated you and I remembered… it took a minute but I remembered our song." Mercedes said in between sobs.

"I know sweetie, I know. Come on there's someone waiting to see you."

"Roz?"

"Hmm?"

"Is he? Was Bryce… your son?" Mercedes asked pulling away.

"He's dead and yes he was but he followed a bad path and refused to accept my love or help. His father got into his head about all these crazy things. We'll talk about that later, we need to get you checked and cleaned up." Roz replied with a small smile. She help Mercedes up and wrapping her jacket around her and walked her out with a very shocked Dave who Mercedes gave a small smile when he stepped in front of her quickly changing his expression from shocked to concerned.

"Hey kiddo."

"D-dave… is my daddy?" She asked with pleading eyes before he pulled her into a hug.

"You know me better than that, you may have given all of us hell but you know I wouldn't let anything happen to David or you." He said pulling back slightly and giving her a reassuring smile. "Come on, we'll take you to see him but if we don't get you out of here soon that boyfriend of yours will probably come in guns blazing." He continued and picked her up with Roz close and walked her out of the warehouse. There were cars everywhere and she saw Monica and Shane both being placed into two different SUV's zipped tied, there were men walking around everywhere and some standing close by where Dave was headed. The door swung open and she was met by a pair of sad green eyes that quickly changed to relieved ones, Dave put her down gently and walked away yelling at one of the guys to wrap it up.

"Sammy."

"Hey baby."

Sooooo...! It was brutal writing this chapter but the next one is full of Samcedes moments and some epic take downs as well! She's gonna need some time to get over what happened to her but it's gonna be awesome I swear! Also that first, second and third plot twist lol!