Matt stands and walks, followed by Gilbert. Maybe it’s his police training but he seems so detached. It seems like it’s just a job to him, not like his daughter has been fucking kidnapped. I hate this fucker.
I put money on the table so I can leave the second I hear from him. Holding my phone in my hand, I stare at the screen waiting.
Mercy, please be okay. My mind is fucking racing with dark thoughts about the state we may find her in. What the hell was he thinking? And what has he done to her? When this day is done, he will either be dead or going to prison while my girl, I have no idea what’s going to happen to her. Fuck, I hope he hasn’t hurt her. But I know the odds of that are slim to none. He hurt her before, and now that he has her alone it could only be worse. She’s going to hate me, after all, he’s, my son. I hate myself for not seeing this sooner. And why the hell did I not change the lock code? If I had, this wouldn’t be happening. It’s my fault, I am to blame. How can she possibly look at me after this? My chest tightens as my phone lights up with a text message from Gilbert.
Left side of the courtyard behind the statue.
I get up and open the door, walking to Gilbert, my hands shake uncontrollably. Gilbert speaks without looking at me, “That abandoned building straight ahead, that’s where they are. Luckily for us, the windows are boarded so he won’t see you coming.” He continues, “Let's go. It’s time to save Mercy.” He pulls out his gun.
“You said you wouldn’t kill him.”
Shaking his head, he speaks through a clenched jaw, “I said I’d try not to kill him. I made no guarantees. Fucking deal with it.”
Fuck I hate this guy. I may have just given my son a death sentence. But what choice did I have?
The tension is palpable as we walk into the building, neither of us quite sure what’s going to happen in the scene that’s about to unfold before us. My breathing is heavy as we walk through the door, anxiety clawing at my chest.
I hear her before I see her, sobbing, begging Nash.
“Please don’t do this to me.”
Matt pleads, “Dude. Fuck. Stop. Don’t do this.”
We turn left following their voices. When we walk into the room, I realize nothing could have ever prepared me for what I’m looking at. All the air escapes my lungs as I see my son holding Mercy’s hands above her head, her wrists tight in his grip. She’s naked, he has her legs spread as his cock is at her entrance. Matt cowers in the corner of the room covering his face with his hands unable to watch the situation he helped create.
“Son, this is the drugs, this is not the man I raised. Let her go. Don’t do this.” I try to sound calm but inside I’m panicking. In seconds, I could be watching my son rape my girl. Or I could watch Gilbert blow his brains across the room.
Gilbert moves to Nash and puts the gun to the back of his head.
“Get the fuck off her before I fucking end you.”
How can everything move in fast motion and slow motion at the same exact time? Everything is a fucking blur. My son on top of Mercy fully intending to rape her. Gilbert with a gun to the back of my son’s head. I want to run to her, I want to run to him and stop Gilbert from killing him, I want to do something, but I can’t fucking move. My legs are like lead beneath me barely able to hold my weight. Neither of them have moved in what feels like the longest time. Then I hear Gilbert cock the firearm in his hands. He slides the top back; it makes a loud clanging noise and pulls me from my panicked state.
I run to them as Nash releases her hands and she scoots backwards to the head of the mattress frantic. Gilbert pistol whips him, Nash collapses, falling to the floor. Gilbert holds him in place with his boot on his throat. Taking off my suit jacket, I reach out to cover Mercy.
She pulls her knees to her chest, wrapping her arms around herself. She attempts to back away from me when her back hits the wall behind her. “Please stay away from me. Go away, Liam,” she says in a broken voice.
My heart shatters into a million fucking pieces as I attempt to digest her words.
“Baby girl, come here. We have to get you off that filthy mattress. It’s an infection waiting to happen.”
She shakes her head as she trembles like a fucking leaf.
Her voice is shaky as she whispers, “It’s over Liam. Leave me alone.”
Tears fall from her eyes, and I want to kiss the wetness away. I want to make this better, but I can’t.
“You heard her, it’s time to leave her alone.”
Nash cries out in harsh pants, “I can’t breathe.”
Gilbert cackles, “As if I fucking care!”
Gilbert makes a call to have someone come and arrest my son for kidnapping and attempted rape.
“Are you sure?” I ask Mercy.
As tears roll down my face she nods, “Yes.”