JPOV
I was here again. Sitting in a car waiting on the man who had protected the person I cared about. Paying for his services wasn't a problem. Edward and Tanya were worth it. Mercy was worth it.
Embry walked out of the building across the street. He stepped with ease; like he didn't have a care in the world. Yet, he was one of the most dangerous persons I have ever met. He was a killer. A pimp for a percentage. A bodyguard for a price. A businessman he would say.
He waltzed over to my car. I unlocked the door and he got in with a smile.
"Glad to see you're a quick learner," he said with a grin that could border being leering. "Last time you sat here with your doors unlocked like the little naïve Richie rich you were."
"As you said," I started as I locked us in the cool interior of my car. "I'm a quick learner." I lifted the duffel bag from the backseat and placed it into his lap. "That should cover everything pertaining to Mercy."
Embry smiled and opened the bag. He checked the cold, hard cash while I waited patiently. It was all there and then some. I called ahead for the cash as soon as I was walking out of the hospital. The minute Embry called, I sent a message to my financial advisor and accountant. He knew not to question me. Just do what he was told. I went for the money and then made my way to Embry.
"This is some serious cash for her," he stated.
"Yes."
"It's enough for two people."
I ignored him. "She won't be back here but…"
"Yeah, yeah," he said, waving me off. "Reprisals and that shit. No one says or does shit without my call, Jazzman. Learn that."
"I've come to terms with it."
"So…" he started like he did the last time we were here. On that day I paid for Edward and Tanya's safety and exit as well as Embry's 'expenses' for his services in their regards. I was a Richie rich. My price was steep.
"No more deals. If you have a concern, you know how to reach me personally and we will work something out," I said with finality.
"So Edward and Tanya still think I simply let them leave then?"
"Yes."
"They know how my world works, Jazzman. It was their world once. They'll figure it out. Mercy, she's not stupid. She'll call your ass out on it."
I liked Mercy's fire. I was actually looking forward to her chastisement. Not that it would ever deter me. When I wanted something, I went after it. This was a side of me I spent years suppressing, but no more. I was now a man of action especially when it came to those I cared about. "I'm looking forward to it."
Embry let out a hearty laugh. "How's the kid doing?"
The thought of her lying in that cold hospital room, trapped by the machines hooked up to her, crossed my mind. My anger rose, but I pushed it aside. The man responsible was gone.
"She hasn't woken up yet."
"Damn." Embry was remorseful. "She wasn't in a good shape when we pulled her out of the car. She's strong. She was drifting in and out of consciousness all the way to the hospital."
I was seething. As hard as I tried to push it back, I couldn't. My anger rose to the surface. I wanted to kill that bastard. It wasn't rational. He was already dead. But I wanted to kill him. I gripped the steering wheel until my knuckles turned white.
How could someone be so cruel? How could you look at a kid and exploit them?
Embry saw right through me. "He's dead, Jazzman." I chuckled darkly. "The fucker is in hell waiting on me."
I looked at Embry. "Waiting on you?"
"Yeah, man. I've killed enough to lose count. Ain't no heaven for a son of a bitch like me."
I didn't argue with him. I didn't know enough about him to make a righteous retort. I wanted to because he saved Edward, Tanya and Mercy for me, but what did I know?
There was something I wanted to know though.
"What happened?" I didn't have to emphasize. He knew what I meant. What happened to Mercy? Why did she end up in the hospital? How did the crash happen?
Embry exhaled audibly. He relaxed in his seat after zipping up the duffel bag and stared out the windshield with a faraway look on his face and a slight smirk. "Mikey and Mercy had been fighting all day. I don't know what changed in the kid but she was pissed off royally. She snapped at everyone but me when I said hey to her just to fuck with him. She was sad for some reason too, I could see it, but that's beside the point. Anyway, I heard about a job he had for her." I suppressed a growl at the thought of what 'job' Mikey had lined up for Mercy. I didn't bother to ask how Embry knew about the job either. "He drove her and two other girls to this house on the good side of town. I had gone with my guys because, I don't know, I just felt like it. Anyways, there was a big party at the house. Cars parked haphazardly in the streets, loud music and no cops coming to shut the shit down." He glanced at me and chuckled. "The kid's a Richie rich like you, Jazzman. Thing was I knew the kid was a good client of Mikey's. He dropped a lot of dough on Mikey's girls, especially Mercy. She hated him. And I found out why from one of the other girls why Mercy and she hated Mikey's best client's parties. The punk loved to run trains on the girls."
"Shit!"
"Yeah." Embry chuckled. "The worst of mankind love our girls and boys too, Jazzman. They don't meet many Prince Charming like yourself."
I ignored the sarcasm because he wasn't lying. Where Edward and Tanya and Mercy were coming from didn't offer a lot of opportunity to be more than what some lowlifes saw them as…entertainment. Some used them for sick, depraved acts. Others used them to live out dark fantasies.
I blocked my mind. I couldn't dig any deeper into the world Edward was coming out of. I would drown in sorrow. I had to keep a clear head and I was angry enough already. I just wanted to know what happened to Mercy.
"You alright, Jazzman?"
"Just sick to my stomach thinking about what might have happened to Mercy at the party."
Embry laughed. I wanted to punch him. "Don't worry, man. She's a tough little shit. She made it out, didn't she?"
She was tough. "Yeah…she did."
Embry continued. "So me and my guys are waiting in the car. Mikey is parked out on the street about a block from the party. I know he sees my car, but I don't give a fuck. The motherfucker couldn't step to me. I would cut his face off. Suddenly, I spot Mercy running down the road. She looked tore up. She was barefoot and her mini dress was hanging off her. I was about to have one of the guys get out and grab her, but Mikey ran her down and dragged her to his car." He laughed.
"What is it?"
"Mercy was different. Usually after two or three slaps across the face, she would stop fighting Mikey. That wasn't the case this time. They fought and screamed at each other all the way to his car. I made a decision when I saw that shit."
I was straddling the edges of my temper. I wanted to know why Embry didn't just save her as soon as she ran out into the street. But I kept quiet. "What was the decision?"
"It was enough. That's why the kid was acting up. She had a taste of your life. Edward wanted her out. You want her out. And without any of you wanting to fuck her. She has never had that shit. She was finished. She was going to run to you two. I knew it. So I figured I would deliver her to you."
"For a price."
"For a price," he agreed with a chuckle.
"I would have paid it."
"You just did," he said, patting the duffel bag in his lap. "So Mikey threw her in his car and got in. They sped off, leaving the other girls and we followed. I called a few of my other guys to go for the girls and tell them the new arrangement."
"They now work for you, I take it?"
"I like how well you know me, Jazzman." He laughed, using his nickname for me. He said at our last meeting Jasper was too rich of a name for him. He wanted to call me something he liked and would remember. Jazzman. "So me and my boys followed Mercy and Mikey. They were wild. The car was all over the road. You could tell they were still fighting. My driver was blowing the horn for shit, but Mikey only sped up. The fucker knew I would fuck him up for that shit. No one ignored me. I planned to fuck his shit up as soon as I had Mercy in my hands. Then it happened. They swerved to avoid hitting a minivan and overturned. The car flipped a couple of times before it skid to a stop. The minivan stopped and a guy got out the same time me and my boys got out of our car. I pointed my gun at the minivan driver and told him to get out of there. He hightailed like a bat outta hell. I went over to Mikey's car and pulled out Mercy. The guys pulled Mikey out. I loaded her into my car and went back to the fucker."
"Was she conscious?"
"In and out," he said. "Anyways, Mikey was still breathing. The fucker was like a cockroach. Just some scratches and maybe cracked ribs, we won't know 'cause I broke the motherfucker's neck. The End."
I should feel something, but I didn't. Mercy was out of the life. Edward and I would find a better existence for her. She would never have to do this again. Any decisions from here on out would be hers.
"Thank you."
"Thank you, Jazzman. And it's been a pleasure doing business with you. If you ever need anything, just call." With that, I unlocked my door and Embry was gone with his money.
I walked into the Mercy's room to see her awake and running her hand through Edward's hair while he slept with his head on the side of her bed. She looked up at me and smiled weakly as I approached.
"He looks so peaceful," she said hoarsely. "He's gonna kill me when he wakes up, huh?"
"He's pissed but not at you. We would rather hurt your pimp for what happened to you."
"Can't," she said while massaging Edward's scalp. "Embry broke his neck."
"You saw?"
"I came to and looked out the window and saw. Then I passed out again."
Edward groaned bringing an end to our talk before Mercy could question me. I could see the words lingering in her eyes. I didn't hide it. I wanted her to know I knew what happened. However, I wanted to hear it from her. This would be between Edward, me and her. No one else. I wanted her story.
Edward got up. He stretched and put his glasses back on his face. I didn't want to think about how hot he looked right now but I couldn't help it. His eyes locked with mine and he smirked and blushed under my gaze. I couldn't help it. If this were a perfect world, we would be getting ready for our wedding later today. But it wasn't and I wasn't about to leave Mercy all alone. Mother would handle the cancellation details. Joanne would work her magic. We were still getting married. Just not today.
"Where did you go?"
Yes. That question. I might as well be honest. "To see Embry." I should be honest about everything. "I owed him his payment for his time and services in keeping Mercy alive."
Edward's eyes bugged out. "What?!"
"You heard me," I said calmly. "I paid him for her the way I paid for you and Tanya's exit from your former life."
Edward was stunned silent for a while. When he could talk, he stuttered a little, took a deep breath then said, "You paid for me?" He sounded so innocent. As if he couldn't believe the lengths I would go.
"Yes. I would do anything for you, darlin'."
"I get that," Mercy interjected. "You love Edward, but why did you pay for me and how are you so sure Embry won't blackmail you for more money?" She groaned after talking too much.
"You've got bruised, cracked or broken ribs right now," I chided. "I don't want you talking so much so before you both chastise me, just listen. Embry is now thirteen million dollars richer. Four million a piece for Edward and Tanya and five million for you, Mercy. He looked out for all of you for a fee before I walked all your lives. Plus, I paid him to scare away Edward's clients."
Edward opened his mouth to protest and I held a hand up. I leaned forward and kissed him soundly on the lips before saying, "I'm a selfish guy, babe. I wasn't about to share you when I realized what you meant to me."
I turned my attention to Mercy. "As for you, Mercy, you mean something to Edward and me. We want you around. We told the nurses we were your family to get in here. Edward claimed we're adopting you, and for some reason, I'm not objecting the idea if it will keep you around. You're a beautiful girl, and as I said, I'm selfish with the things I cared about. So don't question me as to why I paid Embry. He knows the deal. We understand each other. It had to be done. He provided a service and deserved his pay. Is Mikey around?" Mercy and Edward shook their heads no. "Good. Are the guys who dared to hurt you around?" I asked Edward directly. He shook his head no again. "I will go to the end of the earth for family, darlin'."
Mercy's doctor checked on her. She would have to be in the hospital for a while. She wasn't pleased when she learned we had to cancel our wedding and demanded we get married before the week ended. We both agreed. Tanya and Jake came to see her. They came bearing gifts. Get well soon balloons, flowers and candy. Mother brought a fruit basket and flowers. She told Edward and me everything had been handled. We would be married two days from now. Mercy was happy about it. I didn't budge on going on a honeymoon until she was out of the hospital. She countered with a weekend at the most expensive hotel in New York. Edward and I said the Waldorf simultaneously.
Our visitors came and went. Edward and I stayed. The cops arrived around late evening to question Mercy. I had the family's attorney present to defend her. Mercy told them what happened leaving out a majority of the story. She told what they needed to know. I didn't stress her for the truth when they left. Edward and I left the hospital sometime late in the night. As soon as we walked into our place, we headed for the shower. It had been a long day.
While in the shower, Edward asked, "Thirteen million?"
"It was a good investment," I reasoned. "Embry is a businessman. He wasn't about to let the opportunity pass him by."
"I'm angry at you."
"I know, but I'm not about to take any of it back because I've got you and that's all that matters to me," I said with a kiss to his neck.
"I know."
We made love. It was slow and sweet and what we needed. We had the rest of our lives for hot, angry sex after arguments. Right now, I just needed to know he was here in my arms letting me love him. As he drifted off to sleep, he said, "I know you know what happened. I know you and Mercy know the truth and I want to hear it."
"Tomorrow, babe. Tomorrow."
