Page 29 of Mercy
I expel a big breath, “I’m going to treat you like a grown up for a minute and give you the total truth. And then we can talk about how you feel about it, okay?”
She nods but stays quiet.
“You have cancer, things can go wrong. There is no guarantee that anyone will survive this. We simply can’t promise anything. But there is a far higher chance that you live through this than there is that you die. Sixty-eight percent, Ivy. There’s a sixty-eight percent chance that you’ll live through this. Sixty-eight kids out of one hundred will survive. That’s really high odds. While I can’t guarantee anything, I think your mom is wasting money on something she’ll never need.”
“Thank you,” she smiles.
“You’re welcome. Get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
As I rise, she stares at me with relief painted on her sweet little face. I smile and walk out of her room. I have one more patient to see before I’m ready to go out with Jessica.
Ten
LIAM
I’min the gym at my house. I need to get rid of some of this tension. I turn on my iPod and Def Leppard's “Too Late for Love”starts playing. The irony is not lost on me. I’m not in love with her. Xander was wrong about that. But on some level, I need her. It’s like a slow never-ending ache that I haven’t even begun to understand. I begin to lift free weights but I’m not in the zone, not today. My mind is on Mercy and only her. Fuck, I miss her. I was sure after I let her go that she and Nash would make a go of it. But they didn’t, according to him they’ve barely spoken.
Standing so close to her today made me crave her in such a desperate way. When I saw her with Jacobs the rage burned through me leaving me reeling. I had to fight everything in me not to attack him, reminding myself that I was in a children’s hospital. She’s mine, he can’t have her. The only problem is she’s not mine anymore. Was she ever? Not really. Well, she definitely isn’t now, I made sure of that. If I believe what she said she never will be, it’s too late. The only woman in two fucking decades that gave me everything I wanted, and I ruined it. She matches my sexual appetite, something I was sure I’d never find. I broke her heart and now she’s moving on without me. The thought of her with another man makes me irrational. I want to kidnap her and never let her leave. I know I’m a little unhinged, but I need her, like a fish needs fucking water.
I place my free weights on the rack and give up on releasing tension, it’s here to stay. I go upstairs to take a shower and get ready. I’m meeting Xander at the On-Call Room in an hour.
Finally, I’m dressed and ready to go when I get a text message.
Xander: Man, maybe you should stay home. I can come over there if you want.
Me: Why? I’m ready, I’m leaving, Relax.
Xander: No, it’s not that. It’s not a good idea.
Me: What the fuck, man. Why is it not a good idea?
Xander: Mercy is here. She’s not alone, I don’t want a scene at my bar.
Me: Jacobs?
Xander: Yeah. Trust me you don’t want to see it.
Me: On my way.
Xander: Fantastic.
I run out to my car, get in, and nearly race out of my driveway. If his hands are on her, I’m breaking his fingers. I’m not generally a violent man, but nobody touches what's mine. Mercy may not fucking realize it, but she is mine, she was three months ago, and she always will be. Hopefully, my driving doesn’t get me pulled over, as I weave in and out of traffic, I know it’s a possibility. A Beamer lays on his horn but I don’t care. I’m terrified that she’s going to leave with him before I get there to try to stop her. If she leaves with him, I know exactly what they’ll be doing. Bile fills my stomach at the mere thought.
I park in the back and rush around to the front, I yank the door open hitting the brick with the metal handle, my blood boils as I prepare for what I know I’m going to see. Xander is waiting for me, but I push past him, in a huff.
“Liam!”
Jessica is at the door leaving with Dr. Griffin, the resident whore of the hospital. That man would fuck a snake if it would hold still long enough. Xander calls my name again. Ignoring him, I walk to the tables and find Mercy with Jacobs and instantly see red. He has his hand on her thigh as he kisses her neck. Her eyes are closed, she’s actually enjoying this. The bile from my stomach rises in my throat, I swallow hard forcing it back down.
“Take your fucking hands off her.”
Jacobs pops his head up and arches an eyebrow staring at me with a stoic expression. “And if I don’t?” He challenges.
“You don’t want to know the answer to that question.”
“Come, Mercy.”
He blurts out, “She’s not your obedient lap dog. She’s a grown woman and can make her own decisions.”
