Page 70 of Mercy
She whispers, “Nash.”
This is what Xander was talking about. This is where I don’t explode, but I fucking told her to stay away from him. I fucking told her, and she promised.
I keep my voice as controlled as possible, “Why? You promised, Mercy. You lied to me.”
“I promised you about Friday.”
Raising my voice, I say, “You lied by omission. I don’t play games. When you tell me you’ll do something or not do something, I trust you. You fucking lied to me. That’s one of the two things I can’t tolerate.”
I walk away from her because I need space. But then I hear her body crash to the floor, howling in pain like a wounded animal, “LIAM!” it crushes something so deep within me that I can’t walk away, not even for a minute.
Bending down, I lift her into my arms and carry her to the bed. I take my shirt off and crawl in beside her and pull her tight against me while I stroke her hair.
“Shh baby girl, it’s okay. I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”
For the longest time she sobs into my chest as she struggles to catch her breath.
“Baby girl, please calm down, you’re scaring me. Deep breaths.”
“I’m sorry, please don’t leave me, Liam.”
Honestly, I’m not really sure how to even respond to that. Is that why she’s fucking crying? “Look at me.”
With hesitation she tilts her head and looks into my eyes.
“Baby girl, I will never leave you. I’m not happy about what you did, mostly because you got hurt. I need to keep you safe. You put yourself in danger by seeing him. You went to see him, right? He didn’t come here?”
She shakes her head, “I went to have coffee with him. I thought I could help him.”
Kissing her on the forehead, I take a deep breath before asking, “What did he do to you?”
Her voice is shaky, “He wanted me to have sex with him. He said I’m a tease because I walked around your house in my bikini. I’ve never seen him like that with so much anger. He grabbed my throat, and bashed my head into the window, punched me, and then choked me again. I don’t remember anything else because I blacked out.”
“Please tell me he didn’t-”
“No. He pushed up against me but that’s it, Liam.”
I breathe a sigh of relief, “Good.”
“Baby girl, you are not to see him again.”
Reaching up she touches the side of my face, “Never, Liam. I will never trust him again.”
“I have one other question.”
She nods.
“Why does Xander have the impression that you’re afraid of me?”
“I don’t know,” she says simply.
Rubbing her arm slowly I ask, “Are you afraid of me?”
“No.”
She leans forward and kisses my neck. I know her all too well; she’s trying to avoid this difficult conversation and her mouth feels so fucking good.
“Mercy, stop.”
