Page 89 of Broken Mercy
“Is something wrong, misses?” Patricia’s voice, sounding surprisingly calm considering her employer is screaming like a dying cat and I’m crying like a baby.
“Get my husbandright now, if you please.” Mrs. Davis rubs my back like she’s barely paying any attention. “Darling, darling, it’s okay, you’re okay. You can talk to me. Tell me… what did Peter do?”
“He… he…” Does she really expect me to explain how sex works, for fuck’s sake? “We were drinking… it was a horrible mistake!”
“There, there. Now, he didn’t… you know, darling, how men can be sometimes.”
I look up, too surprised to keep acting. “What are you talking about?”
Mrs. Davis wrings her hands together. “Did he hurt you, love? It’s just that, Peter, when that boy gets to drinking… sometimes he does things…” She trails off absently looking at the carpet.
My sweet Jesus in heaven. It hits me like a bomb. She’s probably been fixing her psycho grandson’s mistakes for years.
A crying pregnant girl might be a relief, if what she’s saying is true…
And definitely something I can use against them.
“Oh God!” I redouble my sobbing, shoulders shaking. Annie would be proud. I’m crying too—it’s a gift. “He was a beast! I didn’t want to say, I’m so embarrassed, but I have pictures of the bruises he left on my throat!”
Mrs. Davis lets out a bored sigh. “There, there, now, you’ll be alright… photos you say? How many? And are they only on your phone?”
This woman is truly a monster.
“It was horrible! It was so horrible!” I sob and sob and Mrs. Davis makes soft cooing noises like I’m a broken baby bird until the door opens and Mr. Davis makes his appearance. He’s wearing that disturbing reptile smirk as he sits on my other side.
“Now, what’s happening, darling? Is that Tallie Sarkissian? My dear, it’s wonderful to see you, though I wish it were under better circumstances.”
“It’s Peter again,” Mrs. Davis hisses. “She says she’s pregnant. He got rough with her. And there arepicturesthis time.”
“Oh dear, that’s definitely not good.”
I swear, I don’t think there are worse people on the face of this earth. Not only are they rich arms dealers, but they’re both clearly psychopaths.
I sniffle and rub my eyes, giving Mr. Davis my most pathetic smile. “I’m sorry to bother you, I just didn’t know what else to do. I was terrified that if I went to Peter, he’d… you know, he’d—“ I start moaning like I’m going to cry again.
“No, no, you did the right thing.” Mr. Davis leaps to his feet and grabs tissues. He all but throws them at me. “Coming to us was the right idea, Tallie. I know your father would be proud of you right now.”
Talking about myfatheris a new low, but I nod like I agree. “Papa always had a soft spot for you two. He always says you’re good, reasonable people.”
“Yes, darling, we’re very reasonable,” Mrs. Davis agrees quickly. “We want to help you, darling. I know you’re in such a bad position?—“
“Terribleposition,” Mr. Davis adds.
“And we’re sympathetic. Very, very sympathetic.” Mrs. Davis rubs my back some more and I want to puke in my own mouth. “What can we do, darling? How can we fix this?”
“Because we want to fix it.” Mr. Davis sits on the couch opposite this time. I get the feeling he’s allergic to crying girls. Probably seen more than a few of them in his life though. “Peter can be a rowdy boy?—“
“Rambunctious but well-meaning,” Mrs. Davis clarifies.
“So we’re very familiar with situations like these.” Mr. Davis’s expression hardens as he leans forward. “Are you very sure your family doesn’t know?”
“I haven’t told anyone else.” I dab my eyes with the tissue. “Not Papa or my older brothers. Not yet, anyway.” I wonder if theyhear the potential threat in that statement. I might not be the most important member of the Sarkissian family, but I’m still one of theirs, and they wouldn’t be happy to learn their little baby girl got fucked and beat up by some idiot Davis grandson.
The pair of old bastards exchange a very pointed look.
Mrs. Davis speaks first. “That’s good… which means a solution seems very obvious…” She leans in closer. “We know a very good, very discreet doctor who can take care of this problem for you. We can make it disappear entirely. You’ll barely know it even happened when it’s all over.”
“Really?” I let a little hope in my voice. At least, I try to, while masking the revulsion.
