Mercy: Second Chance Military Romance (14 page)

“Good for you,” I said.

After he came clean about going on a date with Mercy, I saw myself doing business with him. Mercy, on the other hand, I began to have my doubts about. Was this why she was keeping secrets from me? What other secrets was she keeping from me?

“Let’s do this,” I said. “We’re going to own high-end security in New York.”

“Hell yeah,” he said, punching his fist into his palm. “And the world.”

I never understood how he allowed his emotions to rule him.

Weak bastard. Maybe him and Mercy deserved each other.

“But yeah, that Mercy chick is fucking nuts, man. I think we’re both better off without her.”

“For sure,” I said, nodding my head.

“I’m not going to mess with her anymore, bro, if that makes you feel better.” He stepped forward and offered me his hand. “We’re business partners now, bro. We have to be there for each other.”

“I appreciate that,” I said, shaking his hand.

Time would tell if I should actually trust him or not, but for the moment, a new business venture would help me get Mercy and her madness out of my mind and my life.

TWENTY-FOUR

Tyler

After my meeting with Roger at the building where we would forge new lives for ourselves, I walked toward Mercy’s apartment with a bit of a bounce in my step.

I had been too hard on her. She needed someone like me in her life, and she was just the type of woman I needed in mine. Together, we would be able to take over the world.

On the way to her building, my Spidey-senses tingled as hairs on the back of my head raised up.
Am I being followed?
I fought the urge to stop and turn around.
Stay calm. No need to let them know
.

I need to walk away from Mercy’s apartment. Whoever is following me doesn’t need to know she is connected to me in any way.

Some people had been angry with how the Afghan mineral operation had gone toward the end when it all fell apart as things tend to do. Were they the people following me?

I picked up my pace, ready to take some evasive measures as I approached Times Square. When I reached the next intersection, I stopped and spun around.

Peeking past the corner of the building, I saw a man wearing a turban walking down the street.
Mother fucker
. My heart beat faster as I dropped into go-time mode.

All my thousands of hours of training and doing were about to be put to the test. I took a deep breath then stepped forward, running into the suspicious man.

“Watch it,” he yelled in broken English.

“You watch it,” I said as I walked away.

A few steps away, I stopped and turned.

“What are you doing following me?” I asked. “You’re obviously in a costume.”

“What are you meaning?”

“Your fake accent isn’t very convincing either.”

The man frowned then yanked his fake facial hair down.

“It’s the fucking fake beard, isn’t it?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Something like that. What’s up?”

“People want to talk to you.”

“Oh, yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Too bad,” I said then turned and dashed down the street.

“Hey, wait!” he called out.

My military training took over as I dodged traffic and crossed the street, disappearing into an alley. Five minutes later, I had climbed the fire escape to the top of the building, all unseen.

I took a moment to catch my breath, occasionally peering over the edge of the building at the street below. After fifteen minutes, I convinced myself I had lost them.

Fuck the bad guys
, I thought with a smile as I climbed down to the alley. The feelings of joy I’d had before came rushing back, intensified even more.

Until I got to the building where Mercy lived. As I approached the entrance of the building on the opposite side of the street, I saw Roger standing outside talking to her.

She laughed. Her fucking face would be forever etched in my mind. I kept walking, my blood boiling.
How dare she accuse me of hiding something when she’s obviously the one being sneaky.

And Roger!
My thoughts about Roger ran the gamut from swindler to asshole to mother fucker and everything in between.
Fuck both of them liars!

TWENTY-FIVE

Mercy

As I reached my building, I sensed someone approach. The moment I turned around, a frown fell over my face. Roger walked over with a cocky smile on his face.

“Are you stalking me?” I asked in a half-joking voice.

“Nah, not really,” he said, his bulky body shaking a bit as he laughed. “I was in the neighborhood, and I thought we could talk about the story on me.”

“I’m a bit busy right now.”

“Come on. It will only take a bit. The story is gonna be a hit.”

“We’ll see, but you have to promise me no stories with lurid details of you and Jennifer, okay?”

He smiled.

“She got a bit too drunk last night and sang something she called Karachi.”

I laughed and put my hand on his arm for a quick second.

“Yeah, that’s her word for karaoke when she’s too drunk. You didn’t take advantage of her, did you?”

“Me? Hell no,” he said. “Give me half-an-hour to blow your mind with my story?”

“Fine,” I said. “I’ve got company coming over later, so we have to hurry.”

“I’ll be quick.”

The look on his face made me uneasy, but I unlocked the door. We walked across the lobby to the elevators in middle of the building. I punched the button.

He looked around, shaking his head.

“I hope you’re not paying too much to live here.”

“That’s none of your business.”

Why am I bringing him upstairs? This is a huge mistake!

The elevator door slid open. He stepped in before me. I considered asking him to leave.

“Come on,” he said. “What floor?”

“The eleventh,” I said.

“Ooh, nice views. You got a balcony?”

“No, not really. There’s some railing and about half-an-inch of space so they can advertise a balcony, but it’s not an actual one that can be used.”

“Damn, that’s messed up. We’re gonna have to get you out of here, aren’t we?”

I smiled and nodded nervously as the elevator door closed and we ascended.

Ask him a few questions then send him on his way. Easy as cake. Wait, cake isn’t easy at all. The last two I made came out flat as pancakes. Why the hell am I inviting him to my apartment?

“You okay?” he asked, putting his hand on my shoulder.

“Yeah.”

I nodded my head to reassure him and myself.

“Thanks again for this story. It will give the business some legitimacy.”

Legitimacy? That’s an odd thing to want for a new business. Or maybe it’s not.

The elevator dinged right before the door slid open. He stepped out in front of me once again.
I should be with Tyler right now, not him!

“Where you at?” he asked. “I never made it up to your apartment when we were dating.”

“This way. And we went on one date,” I reminded him as I walked toward my door.

“Still dating in my book.”

We reached my apartment. I unlocked the door and slipped inside before him. He followed close behind, looking around and whistling.

“Not as shabby as I thought.”

“Glad you approve,” I said sarcastically, not sure if he got it or not.

“Not really, but it’s okay for you, I guess.”

I shook my head and walked across the living room. At the couch, I sat down and opened the lid of my laptop. He wandered over and sat down next to me – a little too close for comfort.

When I scooted over, he did the same. I turned, ready to yell at him. Before I had a chance, he leaned forward and kissed me on the lips, roughly sticking his tongue in my mouth.

“Ew,” I said, pulling back and showing him my disgusted face.

“Ew? Really?”

“What the hell are you thinking?” I asked.

“I thought you and Jennifer were down to share me. That’s why you introduced me to her, right? I fuck her. Then I fuck you. Then we all three fuck together.”

“What? No!” I stood up and pointed to the door. “You need to go.”

“You know what? I don’t need this shit from you.”

He got to his feet, towering over me.

“You’re fucking nuts,” he said.

“Get the fuck out of my apartment before I call the cops!”

“Whoa, hold on.” He raised his arms in the air. “Calm down. No need to get them involved.”

I glared at him, shaking because I realized how easy it would be for him to overpower me.

“Fuck you, bitch,” he said over his shoulder as he walked out.

Ugh! What an asshole. Jennifer better not be thinking about going out with him again. I need to call her
.

“You can forget your story,” I called out, hoping to hurt him.

He stopped and turned around.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Tyler was right about you.”

“What did Tyler say about me?” I asked, instantly regretting letting the words come out of my mouth.

“Wouldn’t you like to know.”

He turned and walked out of my apartment, slamming the door behind him.

I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and rang up Jennifer. She answered on the third ring.

“What the hell?” I screamed.

“Mercy? What’s going on?”

“Roger just made a move on me, that’s what’s going on.”

“Roger? Are you at his apartment?”

“No, he came to mine, asking me to do a story on him.”

“You don’t do those kinds of stories anymore.”

“I know.”

“So, why did you invite him over?”

“I didn’t invite him. He just showed up, talking about how he fucked you and wanted to fuck us both at the same time.”

Silence filled the air between us.

“Jen? You still there?”

“I’m here,” she said quietly.

I know that tone of voice.

“Tell me,” I said.

“Well, I was drunk last night, and I didn’t think he would remember.”

“Remember what?”

“It’s funny, really. You’ll laugh about it someday.”

“I’m not laughing right now,” I said. “Tell me.”

“I might have suggested we try a threesome sometime.”

“Jennifer…”

“I was drunk,” she interrupted. “I swear I didn’t think he would remember.”

My anger subsided about two notches.

“Mercy?”

“I’m here,” I said. “We should get him back.”

“What do you mean?”

“For thinking we would do something like that with him.”

“I meant get him back how?”

“Oh. I’m not sure. Maybe make him think I’m going to do a story on him then write up something awful and tell him it’s posted online when really we just have it on a separate website where no one but him can see it?”

“I have no idea what the hell you just said, but I’m in.”

A smile spread across my face.

“Great. Let’s go get a drink and come up with a strategy.”

“You’re not busy? I thought you would be Tyler tonight.”

I sighed.

“Yeah, me too. He’s not called me.”

“You should call him.”

“No, I don’t want to mess this one up by pushing too hard.”

“That’s what she said.”

Both of us laughed.

“I’m on my way over,” she said.

“Bye.”

I ended the call and sat back on the couch. Why hadn’t Tyler called me or even sent a text message? None of it made any sense, but a prank on Roger to teach him a lesson would keep me occupied.

TWENTY-SIX

Mercy

By the next morning, Jennifer and I had our plan all worked out. She would follow me when I went to see and interview him about his so-called business.