Yay! I finally got another chapter up! Let me know what you think, and thanks to all for reading :)
Do not own, make no money.
Chapter 23: Pep Talk
Jeremiah listened to Craig describe where Harris' men had taken him, and the things they'd told him about taking him to Southfield. He was sure the kid had been terrified, still was terrified. He wondered what kind of horrors had run through his head when he'd been told he was never going to see his brothers again. Part of his heart felt a pang of guilt for not stopping the sons of bitches when they first put their hands on his little brother earlier that very day. If he'd known their I.D.'s were faked he would have fought them tooth and nail. Another part of him cringed at the idea of facing down more trouble than they already had. Jeremiah waited to hear something come out of the boy's mouth that would have some kind of effect on the outcome of their situation, but it never came.
Craig told how he'd been threatened with Juvi if he didn't answer their questions or do what he was told, and Jeremiah felt a small bit of pride at the idea of the kid clamming up despite how scared he was. He was just a little amused that the kid seemed more upset about losing the pictures he'd drawn in the tablet than Harris' yelling at him and threatening him. Maybe that was a good sign, maybe the kid was moving past his fears a little.
It wasn't until after Craig described Harris' fit with the chair and being drugged that the anger started to filter through the pride and amusement. Jeremiah wanted to reach out and hit the dashboard, but reminded himself quickly that was the kind of thing Bobby would do, and he didn't want to scare the kid any more than he already was. "Well, that didn't help." Jeremiah grumbled as he pulled the car over next to the curb.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing?" Bobby cried out.
"We need to talk, all of us. We need to figure out what the hell we're doing next." Jeremiah put the car in park and looked at Bobby. "All of us, together. No more 'winging' shit. Not tonight. We need to make sure this ends now because my family ain't gonna survive another attack like the last one."
Bobby frowned. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?" He didn't yell but the strain of holding it in was evident. He was confused, and Jeremiah knew why, it wasn't like he'd talked to any of his brothers about his troubles with his wife.
"My family ain't gonna last through any more shit Bobby." Jeremiah couldn't hold it in any longer. "My wife is about to leave me. My girls have been having nightmares. They don't know everything that's been going on, but they got eyes and ears and no matter how hard I try to protect them they can sense when things aren't right. Kids are good at that. They can feel shit without being told. I need to be sure that this ends tonight. No more guns, no more fighting for what every other person in this fucking world gets handed to them without so much as a fucking hang nail, it's called a normal life."
Bobby stared at him as if he were trying to digest a large chunk of coal. "Okay, brother, just calm down. What the hell you sayin' your wife's about to leave you? Camille loves you man, she ain't gonna leave your skinny, black ass for no reason. You want me to talk to her? I'll talk to her and fix shit for you, okay? Now just calm your ass down."
"No, no, no, you ain't gonna talk to Camille." Jeremiah shoved the gearshift into park and smacked the steering wheel with both hands. "That's not what this is about man. We gotta make sure this ends tonight. We can't leave nothing hanging, nothing to come back and bite us in the ass."
Craig flinched slightly at the strikes Jeremiah took at the wheel and then pulled his stare down to the darkened floor board.
"I know this has to be taken care once and for all Jerr'. That's what I'm doing. We are going to take Jessup Winston down, or Jesse Nicholas, or whoever the hell he is. What his name is don't matter, he's going down tonight no matter what name they carve into his grave stone, and this is going to end." Bobby pushed open his car door and climbed to his feet on the sidewalk.
Jeremiah sighed and followed suite, getting out of the car just in time to look back and see Jack guiding the Gremlin up to the curb directly behind the sedan.
"What is going on Jerr'?" Bobby walked around the car and stood next to him, looking more worried than anything at the moment. "You got problems you ain't talked to me about, don't you. Problems that started before this whole Harris shit hit us, right? What's going on with Camille?"
"I can't blame her Bobby; there's been a lot of changin', and a lot of crap. It just seems like it has been nonstop since Ma died. No stability. We need to be stable with work, and money, and time at home. Nothing has been stable. How can I blame her?" Jerry felt the fight drain from his voice as the words rattled off his tongue. The stress of home and family and money all seemed to push out, there was no way to hold it in. "There's been too much stress, and too many worries. Where is money going to come from? What are we going to do about the insurance, and the project? What about the girls, they need me home with them just as much as Camille and I ain't been there. I've put them on hold to be with my brothers, and that ain't fair to them." He let his head hang as he listened to his own words. "It seems just as our lives are going to settle back into normal one of ya' all call and shit get's stirred up again. I keep tellin' her that it's over, and then it ain't over and more shit comes at us. How can she ever trust me, or believe in me? She's trying, she really is, but she expects me to be the husband and father that I promised her I'd be." He sighed and looked up to meet what he expected to be Bobby's angry stare. Instead he saw the same big brother who had helped him tie his shoes the morning of his wedding, the one that cared about whether or not he was happy. Behind his older brother, he realized Angel and Jack had gathered quietly during his little speech.
"So, you think you need to go on home and let us deal with this?" Bobby asked his voice quiet and void of anger. Jeremiah knew that if he said yes he had to go home, that Bobby would understand and relent to his needs.
"Hell no, that's not what I'm saying." Jerry shook his head quickly. "I'm saying that this is the last time. We make sure we take out anyone that is going to come back to fuck us over so we know it's really over." He didn't understand how Bobby could think he wanted out of it now. He would never abandon his brothers no matter how bad it all looked, and they all knew that, or at least they should.
"Are you sure? We would understand if you had to go, we know what your family means to you." Jack spoke quietly; his eyes seemed to pierce through the cold, right into Jeremiah. "You shouldn't be here."
"Man, you guys are my family too, you know that." Jeremiah rushed the words, though he still had doubt inside whether he was making the wisest choice. "We need to make sure we end it this time. No more after this or you shitheads will be the only family I got. You understand that, don't you? I need to know all of my family is safe, that's my wife and daughters, but it's you too Jackie."
Jack nodded his head slightly. "I never thought about how this might be too much for you Jerry. Hell, you have been away from home a lot, and I'm sure Camille don't like the danger you're putting yourself in. We don't want to jeopardize your family."
"Both of you stop spouting off stupid shit like a couple of fucking girls, what's next, a bunch of tears and a group hung?" Bobby visibly shivered under the streetlight as he spoke. "Hell, Jerr', you're a married man." He snapped. "It ain't like we've been bringing this shit on. We never went looking for any of this; we're doing this to protect your wife and kids just as much as our own asses. Don't forget, all of this started with your project, and we're still bustin' our asses to get that fucking business deal of yours off of paper and makin' it real. This whole thing is about your family, not just you or us."
"I know that." Jerry couldn't help but feel a pressure hit his chest. It was part guilt, part irritation and part self pity. He knew it all started with his project and his plans; plans that were supposed to set his family up for a good life, not drag him and all of the people he cared about down into the gutter. His aspirations had killed his mother and that was something he would have to live with the rest of his life. He really hadn't expected Bobby to throw it in his face though. It seemed to drive it all home to him. "I know everything that has gone down, I've been right here for all of it Bobby, you don't gotta remind me I'm the reason we're all screwed right now."
Bobby scowled at him hard and Jeremiah felt a chill run through him. It was his turn to shiver outwardly. "I didn't say it was your fault Jerry, that's my point, none of this shit is anyone's fault. It's just facts brother. Sweet and Macks and Winston, they're the fuckers to blame. I figure the one thing we screwed up was not taking out Winston when we had the chance. I should've put a bullet between his eyes back when my gut told me too. Instead I let him live. This time I'm gonna do it right and your family, none of us, will have to look over our shoulders anymore; especially those three lovely ladies you've got waiting for you at home."
Jeremiah sighed. "So what's the plan?" Somehow hearing Bobby's words seemed to ease the apprehension he was feeling.
"I seem to do better winging it." Bobby shrugged his shoulders.
Jeremiah cringed on the inside at the sound of the words. "Not this time Bobby, I told you we need to make sure we get it right. So, come up with something." He was not going to leave anything to chance with this. He needed to work on saving his marriage and the only way he could do that was to be able to guarantee to Camille that nothing more could possibly happen with the business, or his brothers. He had to be able to tell her that everything was taken care of, for good, and they were all safe. No more men with guns or badges were going to be banging on their front door. They wouldn't have to hide her and the kids out with her parents anymore, and they didn't have to worry about exploding buildings, or cars being trashed. He had to be able to prove to her that his brothers wouldn't shadow their lives on a daily basis, the way they had been.
"If Cracker Jack here can drive this piece of junk at a decent speed, I can stop and pick us up some heat." Angel spoke quietly as he cocked his thumb in the direction of the loaner car behind them.
"There's nothing wrong with that car." Jack muttered.
"Really, you don't know what a real fucking car is, do you Jack?" Angel gave his brother a sideways glare. "You want that car? I'll tell you what, once all of this shit is done and over I'll buy you that car; how's that?" A small smile flashed towards Jack. "In the mean time, concentrate on what's going on here." Jeremiah had seen Angel work his magic on Jack before, able to lift him up when he was weighed down by worry.
Jack smiled, but it barely lit up his cheeks. It lacked the brightness that usually played there when he was happy, "Sure, Angel, whatever."
"Okay, you stop and get us some guns, and we'll go the hotel and find out what room the ass hole is in." Bobby agreed quickly.
"How are we supposed to find out what room he's in?" A small voice spoke from behind Bobby.
Jeremiah turned and looked at Craig, standing there listening to everything. "What are you doing out of the car?" He cried out.
Bobby closed his eyes and though he didn't speak out loud, his mouth was moving, 'One, two, three …' Jerry sighed and knew the man was counting to ten, though it had never worked for him in the past.
"You said all of us needed to talk." Craig muttered, obviously aware that he hadn't been invited to their little huddle in the middle of the street despite Jerry's choice of words when he'd called for a talk.
Bobby opened his eyes and was about to turn to Craig when Jack spoke up. "Jessup Winston." He had obviously been updated by Angel as to the results yielded from their conversation with Harris and his men. "Apparently he wasn't in that explosion at the warehouse like we thought and now he's changed his name."
Craig looked at Bobby and then back to Jeremiah. Apparently sensing his oldest brother was a bit irritated by his presence, he took the few steps needed to stand next to Jeremiah, effectively using him as a shield against Bobby. He didn't seem too surprised by the news that Jessup Winston was alive, but after experiencing his own father coming back from the grave to make his life hell this probably didn't seem like such a big deal to him. "Is he the one Harris is working with?"
"For, he's working for him." Bobby snapped. "You get your ass back in the car now, before you make yourself sick. We'll figure out what we're gonna do."
"Why don't you just call him? I thought you liked him." Craig didn't move from his spot next to Jeremiah.
"What the hell is with you?" Bobby's voice was strained, showing that he was reaching the end of his patience, but he seemed to be thinking as he eyed Craig.
Craig locked his gaze with Bobby. "He knew my dad." He muttered.
"So what if he knew that son of a bitch?" Bobby's voice rose in volume slightly. He obviously didn't like the boy's words and Jeremiah wondered to himself when the oldest and youngest Mercer brothers would admit to themselves that they had gone beyond the brother relationship and shared what was obviously more of a father and son bond. Hearing Craig refer to Adam Macks as his father did not strike Bobby in a positive manner, that fact was obvious.
"So he wants something that Adam had, that's what you said before." Craig muttered. He looked nervous, as if he were afraid to speak what was on his mind, "Something that was worth a lot of money, right?" He was piecing bits of conversations and the questions Bobby had asked him together and guessing at the rest of his words. Bobby hadn't told him much in the car, just as much as he needed to in order to ask the questions that hadn't yielded any hope for them.
Bobby stared at the boy for a long moment and then looked at Jeremiah. "He thinks we got what he wants." He nodded his head. "He thinks Craig gave us what he's after and that we're holding it back from him, keeping it for ourselves."
Jeremiah didn't understand the direction the talk had taken; surely their brothers weren't going to turn this into another game of wits; they didn't stand a chance if that was the case, "So what?" He asked. "We don't have it, and he ain't gonna let up on us if he thinks we do. We need to…" He was about to say they needed to kill the son of a bitch and rid themselves of him once and for all.
"So if he thinks we got it, we might be able to get him to tell us what exactly it is." Angel grinned. "If we know what he's looking for, we can get it and use it as leverage." His head started nodding and he stepped up to stand next to Craig. "Damn kid, I like the way you think." He actually chuckled as he spoke. "Smart kid," He reached up with his hand and ruffled at Craig's hair.
Craig didn't look away from Bobby. "Just tell him I already gave you what he wants?" He seemed as surprised by the idea as Jeremiah felt. Maybe he hadn't been thinking along those lines, but he'd sparked the idea and now Bobby and Angel would both want to run with it.
"Damn, you are thinking more and more like a Mercer every fucking day." Bobby shook his head. He looked as if he liked the idea, but his voice seemed to carry doubt. "You get your ass back in the car while the grownups talk about this." He pointed back to Jerry's car.
"But…" Craig looked as if he were about to argue.
"Move your ass or I'll warm it up the hard way." Bobby warned him.
Craig huffed once, but walked back to the sedan and climbed into the back seat as if he were pissed.
"You ain't considering that idea." Jeremiah looked at Bobby, sure that his brother had matured enough over the past few weeks to realize just how fucked up the idea was.
"It's a good idea. It ain't gonna change anything in the end, I'm still gonna put a bullet between the fucker's eyes, but it might give us something to hold over Winston, get him to call off Harris and his bogus charges." He flicked his eyes towards Jack and then back to Jeremiah again.
"He's got something Jerr'." Angel spoke instead of Bobby. "Craig's idea is a good one."
"No, it wasn't Craig's idea. He wasn't trying to come up with an idea, he was just trying to understand what the hell was going on." Jeremiah shook his head quickly and then locked his eyes on Bobby.
"If we can get a hold of what Winston is looking for it gives us more leverage." Jack stepped up closer to Angel. "We would finally be in control of the situation." He looked almost hopeful. The feeling of doom that had been permeating from his very being since he'd been released from jail earlier that evening seemed a little less suffocating. "Winston thinks Craig has it already. What if he can tell us something that will help Craig remember?"
"Listen to ya' all, you're tempting fate, I'm tellin' ya. We need to end it, not play it out like a fucking game." Jerry felt his heart sinking. He knew they weren't going to listen to him. Bobby thought he knew it all; Jack and Angel had fallen into that trap of believing Bobby knew it all, and Jeremiah was left tagging along with them because he didn't want to be the odd man out. He'd stepped back and let his brothers take the lead when they had gone after their mother's killers and look at where that had gotten them. They were still fighting the same war, and he wasn't even sure what it was all about anymore. Was it about his project? Was it about his brothers fighting back? Was it about their luck just being shitty all the way around? What was it?
Okay, it wasn't the same war, and maybe that's what made it so hard for Camille to stomach. It seemed trouble followed his brothers, it always had and if he stuck with them it would mean dealing with the same trouble. He had broken free of the endless cycle of jail, guns and trouble that seemed to have taken over all of their lives when they were teens. His brothers had tried to do the same, even Bobby, but it seemed problems kept creeping in around them all.
He knew he could walk away right then and there and be through with it. Winston would still be out there ready to ruin any chance he had of getting his project off the ground. It would mean the end of his business plans and all that he'd been working so hard for. He could give up his dream and get a regular nine to five job and be happy just so long as his wife and babies were waiting for him at the end of the day, that wasn't an issue. He wanted the best for them, but that meant keeping them safe and out of harm's way. He'd thought the best way to take care of them was to get his business up and running and leaving them something substantial to fall back on when they were older. That's what he'd thought he was fighting for.
Keeping his wife and kids safe shouldn't mean turning his back on the rest of his family. How was he supposed to turn his back on his brothers? Hell, all of the fighting and scratching and clawing the past few months, it had nothing to do with clearing the path for his business dealings; it had to do with family and not having to choose which was more important because hell, they were all his family.
His brothers were the only connection he had left to his childhood and Evelyn Mercer. She wouldn't have expected them to back down, hell she wouldn't have approved of all the tactics Bobby used, but she would have expected them to do something to keep Jack out of jail and Craig in the only home he'd ever really had. She would expect it because they were her sons, they were brothers, and for a long time they had no one else, just each other. Brothers did that kind of shit for each other, it was a lesson Jeremiah had learned soon after Evelyn took him in. His mother put stock in family and she expected her boys to do the same no matter how old they were. She'd told them every day of their lives that your brother will watch out for your back. Brothers fight with you even if they are pissed at you. Brothers bitch you out for bein' an idiot, but no one else could do say a cross word to you. A brother could piss you off, but no one else could be pissed off with him. That's just how it was; it was what made them a real family. They didn't have the blood to tie them together but he felt closer to his brothers than even his wife in some ways.
Bobby stepped up to Jeremiah and dropped both of his hands on his shoulders, effectively bringing him out of his mental tirade and drawing him back to reality. "Jeremiah, we need to have something to work with here. If we take out Winston who's to say some other ass hole won't step into his shoes and come right back at us, thinking we have whatever the hell they're after? It's not gonna end just with getting Winston off our ass. You got that?" He sounded calm, but his eyes were dancing under the streetlight as the thrill of this new challenge seemed to take hold. "If you can't do this, we understand, but if you want it to end for good, this is how it's gotta go down."
Jeremiah looked from Bobby to Angel and then to Jack, who had managed to ease his right thumb up to his teeth and was now gnawing at it. His doubts seemed to melt, replaced by the feeling that his soul was finally whole while standing in the presence of his brothers. He needed Camille and his brothers, not one or the other, and he had to fight for what he needed just as they did. "No I'm with you, it's my fight too."
Bobby grinned. "Then let's get moving."
"Damn, I'm gonna regret this, ain't I?" Jeremiah shook his head slowly and watched Bobby's brisk stride as the elder headed for the driver's door of the Volvo. "Oh hell no, you get your lily-white-ass out of my driver's seat." He called out and moved to push Bobby away from the door as Angel and Jack headed back to the beat up AMC.
Bobby looked at him and though he didn't say anything Jeremiah was sure he could see some kind of understanding in his brother's eyes. Bobby didn't have to say he understood Jerry's doubt and worry, it was obvious he did, and there would be no need to ask forgiveness later for his hesitation or his temptation to back away from the whole mess. None of his brothers would blame him or bring it up later, but at least they knew and could relate to what he was dealing with. They would be his brothers and support him as only Mercers could. He was sure Bobby would have some kind of smart ass remarks to make about how Camille had him whipped, but that was just part of talking to Bobby, no matter what the subject. Right now he had to put that all in the back of his mind, he needed to concentrate on the task at hand, finding Jessup Winston.