“Don't...”
“I was in love with you the first time I set eyes on you-”
“Stop...”
“I couldn't explain it then. There was just something, Jovi. Something about you I wanted. Something about you I needed.”
Wiping away the fallen tears, I shake my head. “I trusted you. And you lied to me.”
“I didn't lie to you.”
“On a technicality!” I can tell the blow goes straight to his chest from the way his body seems to curl forward. “You damn sure weren't honest with me!”
In a quiet voice he tries to plead, “Jovi I'm sorry-”
“No!” I shout. “Sorry isn't gonna cut it, Merrick! This isn't a forgotten date or a missed phone call! You're a criminal! A most wanted one at that! And you were just gonna marry me without so much as mentioning it?”
He sighs, “I didn't...I didn't...” Watching it become harder for him to breathe, makes it even harder for me. “I was...I was gonna tell you.”
“When! Minutes before we said 'I do'? Seconds after I signed the paperwork? Before the birth of our first child? Our third?”
His face softens. “You want a big family?”
I did. I wanted a bunch of little McCoys running around.
“That's not...that's not important right now, Merrick. Why didn't you tell me sooner?”
“Because I'm not that person anymore.”
“Really?” I sarcastically laugh. Shoving the picture in his face I snip, “Because this was just a few weeks ago. So I beg to differ.”
Staring at the photo he whispers, “Where did you get this?”
“My father's fucking office.”
His mouth tries to harden. “How'd you know it was me?”
“A girl doesn't forget the car that she rode in the night she lost her virginity.” Coldly I press the picture against his chest. “That's the only thing I regret as much as falling in love with you.”
“You don't mean that,” Merrick croaks, tears sticky in his own speech. “I know you don't.”
“That makes one of us,” I whimper. “I don't even know you, so how could I be in love with you?”
“You do know me!” He shouts tossing the picture to the side. “You fucking know me like no one ever has! Like no one ever will.” Taking a step towards me, he begs, “Please don't give up on us yet Jovi. Let me explain. Give me a chance to tell you everything.”
Slowly I shake my head and wipe away the tears that are still falling. “No.”
“Jo-”
“No, Merrick,” I deny softly. “Just go...”
While I'm expecting a stronger fight, I'm surprised when he backs up slowly towards his car. “Fine.”
“Fine,” I echo.
“But this isn't over.”
In a low uncertain voice I argue, “But it is.”
Merrick slams his car door before accelerating harshly down the road and around the corner. The sound of his screeching tires burns my heart. Clutching my aching chest, I turn around and head for my front door. Just as my hand prepares to touch the knob, I'm grabbed from behind. Desperately I start kicking. I take a sharp breath to scream when a damp rag covers my mouth and nose. After just a few short inhales, my eyelids start to get heavy. Another struggle comes out of me seconds before the blackness lures me away.
Merrick
You ever get to a point where you just can't fathom life getting any fucking worse than it does? Yeah I'm tired of being fucked in the ass again and again. I just...I need just one single moment suspended in time for me to just...fuck I don't know. Not hurt so much?
Walking through the front door after an unplanned drive around town for a couple hours, I'm surprised to see all my brothers and Knox scattered around the living room.
No. I can't fucking have another McCoy pow wow like this.
Madden growls, “Where the fuck have you been?”
Unable to hold back my own anger I toss my keys on the bar. “I went for a fucking drive. In my fucking car. To try to clear my fucking head.”
He strains his body to stay in place. “Why didn't you answer your goddamn phone?”
With a shrug I reply, “Because I didn't feel like fucking talking.”
Shaking his head disapprovingly he starts, “Merrick-”
“Save it, Madden,” I cut him off. “My best fucking friend in the world died two days ago. My fucking fiance hates me. I can't take a fucking lecture right now and with all the bullshit life keeps dumping on me, I don't deserve one.”
Drew questions from beside Destin on the couch, “Did you say fiance?”
I nod.
She still is. She was just angry. Confused. We're still getting married. On Thursday. What? We are. Don't...don't argue with me about it. We are! I know she wasn't wearing her fucking ring at all. I know! Don't fucking remind me!
Madden's jaw ticks, but he doesn't reply. Instead he grabs me by the back of the neck and pushes me forward towards the living room. Without a word, Destin types on his keyboard revealing an image that makes me thankful his hand is where it is. My knees buckle as I try collapse in place, which is when he grips me tighter and coldly states, “Lecture time.”
Jovi's body looks lifeless. As still and stiff as I imagine Ben's did.
What the fuck have I done?
Merrick
On a soft cry her name comes out, “Jovi...”
“The Devil wants a word with you,” Madden announces, his grasp tightening to the point I'm not sure if it's to help me stay on my feet or punish me.
If I make it out of this alive, I might just take myself out of the equation now known as life. I can't do anything fucking right. And every time I fuck up someone dies. Is she dead? You saw her body. You really think she's still alive? You're right. She is...She has to be.
“Focus,” Madden mumbles under his breath as The Devil enters the shot, sitting on the bed beside her.
As soon as he smugly smirks I snap, “If she's dead, I swear to God you're fucking next.”
He chuckles and shakes head. “I think you're the last person in a position to threaten someone.”
Don't agree with him! It's not fucking helping!
“Now that I have your fucking attention...wait...do I have your attention now, Ghost?”
In a low grumble I confess, “Yes.”
“Good. Let me start by saying I didn't want to have to do it this way,” The Devil teases. “But since I did I would like to add, I don't fucking appreciate being ignored.”
“I had...family issues.”
“I don't fucking care.” My face tightens. “I don't care if you lost both your goddamn arms and a leg! What I care about is my fucking package.” Not responding forces him to raise his voice. “Where is my fucking package McCoy?”
Calmly I state, “Police impound.”
Madden's thumb digs in deeper.
So that one was to hurt me for sure.
“But you knew that,” I sigh. “That's why you have Jovi.”
“That's the only reason I have the fucking Police Commissioner's daughter,” he corrects. “I thought about taking you-”
I lunge forward. “Trade me!”
Madden yanks me harshly backwards grumbling, “No fucking way.”
The Devil smirks. “See how this is more fun for me?”
Evil fucking bastard.
“Here's the deal Ghost. I want my package delivered. All pieces of it. You have 'til Sunday. I want my package no later than 2 P.M. No bullshit time extensions. If you are a minute later you won't like what I do next.” Before I can say anything he adds, “And no cops. Don't forget every one of those bastards you would call in for a favor works for me. You fucked up. You fix it. It's not their job to clean up all of your fucking messes.”