Chapter 6

Broken Promise

Bobby clenched his fists, but Evelyn spoke first before Bobby said something to further upset Jack. "Jack honey, your father is gone. And he's wrong, everyone deserves to be happy."

"N-no." He stuttered out.

"No what Jackie?" she prompted.

"He's not g-g-gone." Jack started crying harder.

Bobby and Evelyn exchanged looks of alarm.

It was Bobby's turn to talk. "Where is he Jack?"

Jack didn't answer. He just kept sobbing.

"Jack this is important you need to answer Bobby."

"I-I can't I don't know where h-he is!" Jack choked out.

"What do you mean?" Bobby asked.

"He finds me; I don't know where he is."

"Shit. Jack if you EVER see him again you tell me and I'll take care of him, you hear?"

"NO!!!" Jack screamed once again holding on to Bobby. "He'll hurt you!"

Evelyn very gently rubbed Jack's shaking back. "Honey, what he did to you was horrible, but Bobby is a big man and can take care of himself."

"No you don't u-understan-nd!" Jack yelled. "It's not just him!"

"What do you mean?" Evelyn said a little panicky.

"He has people working for him. Drug people. Kevin was a drug person." Jack said this in a defenseless and weak tone, one that told Evelyn and Bobby that Jack was shrinking into himself.

Bobby sat Jack back on his lap and rocked him back and forth again. They sat in dead silence until they all just fell asleep like they were. Until…

The front door slammed shut. Bobby was the only one to wake up and hear it. He watched as Angel and Jerry walked in to the room and sat on the chairs opposite of where Bobby was sitting.

"We got three of his guys. They're sinkers." Angel said exhaustedly.

Bobby nodded in approval.

"There was a message." Jerry said refusing to look at Bobby's already red with anger face.

"A message?" He said through gritted teeth.

"Yeah." Jerry continued quietly. "Jimmy told all his boys that if one of the Mercers approached them, tell us that he changed his mind. He…" Jerry left the sentence un-continued.

"He what?" Bobby whispered furiously so he wouldn't wake Evelyn or Jack.

"He wants the kid for himself. They said it wasn't about business anymore…it was strictly…passion." Jerry dared and looked up at Bobby. He was fuming. Angel was starring at the ground not wanting to look up either.

Jack let out a small whimper and a silent tear rolled down his cheek. Shit. Bobby thought. The kid was awake and he hadn't noticed. He had heard everything.

"Jack, why didn't you tell me you were awake?" Bobby asked calming himself down so he wouldn't scare Jack.

Jack's eyes opened and for the first time for Bobby he looked Bobby in the eyes for only a split second. But in that short amount of time Bobby felt helpless. The look in Jack's eyes was full of a deep fear and pain that had built up over his years of experience with it. It hurt Bobby to see that look.

"Jack, me, Angel, and Jerry won't let Jimmy touch you. You'll be at our sides at all times okay?"

Jack nodded and silently wept into Bobby's shoulder. Angel and Jerry looked helpless also. They didn't know what to do.

Just then they heard a loud knock on there door that woke Evelyn. "I'll get it boys." She said hauling herself off the couch. When she opened the door she was greeted by two police officers and group of uniformed people behind them.

"Hello Ms. we were wondering if Bobby Mercer is currently here?" One of them asked.

"What is this about?" Evelyn replied with a hint of a glare.

"Well Ms. we got a call from a neighbor saying they saw Bobby dealing cocaine. We have a warrant to search the house and any cars that you may own. Is Bobby here?"

Everyone in the living room had heard what was going on. Jimmy had set Bobby up and they knew it. That also meant that it was planted somewhere in his house or possibly car.

The cops and uniformed crew entered the house without waiting for Evelyn's answer. They had a warrant and they didn't really need an answer from her. When the cops entered the room where everyone was and saw Bobby cradling the newest Mercer they felt bad that they might have to take him away.

"Boss!" One of the uniformed men called from outside. "We found a brick."

Bobby felt his stomach wrench in anger. Jack only held on to Bobby tighter and Angel and Jerry were standing now ready for anything that went down.

"I'm sorry Bobby, but we have no choice." One of the officers said with a sincere apologetic look on his face.

Bobby tried to stand, but Jack refused to let go. His silent cries grew into loud sobs. His body shook fiercely. One of the officers tried to grab Jack off of Bobby, but that only made Jack worse. He started hyperventilating and his shortness of breathe made him release Bobby, but they were no longer as concerned about Bobby as they were Jack. Jack was on his hands and knees on the floor gasping for air and still sobbing.

One of the cops got on his radio and asked for an ambulance. Bobby picked Jack back up and went into the kitchen with Evelyn and the boy's right behind him. They all huddled around him and told him to breathe and calm down while Bobby rocked him back and forth. In about five minutes he was able to stop hyperventilating but he was still shaking and sobbing. Bobby's T-shirt was wet with Jack's tears.

"Bobby, I'm sorry but you have to come with me." The officer said stepping in to the kitchen. Jack's breathing grew heavier again.

Bobby ignored him and focused on Jack.

"There's an ambulance here now so they can help the boy, but you really need to come with me."

Bobby knew that if he didn't go now it would make a scene and Jack would be even worse off.

"Jack." Bobby spoke softly. "I have to go now okay." Bobby tried to release Jack from himself, but he couldn't so Angel and Jerry had to pry him off. Bobby was handcuffed and read his rights, right there in the kitchen. Jack lost it. He started screaming and started to have an anxiety attack.

"You promised!" He screamed while being restrained by Angel and Jerry. Evelyn tried to talk to him, but he couldn't hear her. "You said you wouldn't let anything happen!! How are you gonna keep that promise now!!??"

Bobby winced at the painful words that had just been thrown at him. He was lead out of the house and just as he was entering the cop car he heard his mother scream. Then he saw Angel run out of the house.

"Bobby! It's Jack get in here now! Paramedics, you come too. NOW!" He yelled in a panic.