Mercy F*uck (10 page)

“Plus, I’ve always wanted a little brother to boss around.” That was Drew, using sarcasm to hide her feelings.

And because it was Drew I said, “I’ll teach him.”

“You let him know this was your idea too,” she whispers leaning in but not too close. It killed me she was leery of me now. Another problem I’d be correcting. “And if you’re going to be on my ass all the fucking time, find a job to do.”

“I can do that. I’ll bartend,” I grin in victory. “With you.”

“Whatever,” she calls out sauntering away. “You won’t last the night.”

Drew was cute if she thought I couldn’t handle passing out drinks.

The Hole
was open two nights a week, Friday and Saturday, that was it.

Again, simple.

Like the woman.

I’d show her, I could serve drinks in my fucking sleep.

Calling for Shane, I signaled for him to follow me out back and proceeded to tell him how it was going to be. Needless to say, he didn’t know me from dick and was skeptical. I used the angle that all of her employees needed to know how to throw down. Eyeing me, he asked, “Why do you care if I can fight?”

“Because my woman cares.”

“You mean Drew? I’m pretty sure she hates you.”

“She’s just playing hard to get,” I assure him. “Now, take a swing.”

The look of fear crossed his face but I caught it. Shane wasn’t small by any means. I’d put him around five ten, one hundred seventy-five pounds and still growing into his man's body. He wasn’t fit but he had muscle. Strength could be built, honed, and harnessed. But that wasn’t happening until we got rid of the fear. Fear, while an asset could be your enemy too. My guess was this kid had spent his life getting his ass handed to him and never even considered fighting back. I was more than happy to be the one who taught him otherwise. To this day, I was still on the fence as to which I liked better; my first fight or my first orgasm. Both were pretty fucking amazing for a lot of different reasons. Shane would have to decide for himself which he liked better, it was a guy’s
rite of passage.  But first, I had to show him the right way to make a fist so he didn’t break his own hand.

“You good?” he asked, checking my fist.

“Yeah,” I said stretching the ache out. “I’m good.”

“Glad your dad taught you how to make a fist.”

“Me too.”

“I’ll be back in five minutes,” he said kissing my knuckles.

I was so undone by that it took me a moment to find my voice to ask, “Where are you going?”

“To kick that fucker’s ass.”

Of course, I followed, this was Axle. However, I wanted the sweet sucker punch I landed on record before the guy was tossed out.

But if I didn’t like some random grabbing my ass, Axle really didn’t like it.

He also had the guy on the ground begging for mercy in less than two minutes.

The least of his problems was my clip to the jaw after the beating Axle put on him. In comparison to Axle's fury, my punch was a love tap.

I was watching Axle show Shane how to make a fist.

He was twenty-one and didn’t know how to do it properly.

He’d been used to taking beatings never giving one and if anyone could fast track Shane, it was Axle.

The man knew his way around a fight. He was always the first to stick up for the ones who couldn’t stick up for themselves. Hell, he even stepped in for those who could.  The man just loved to fight. Axle always said a man should defend and protect. He took both seriously. He has a younger brother named Ace who had a learning disability growing up. Ace used to get bullied a lot so Axle took up for his kid brother and anyone else who needed it.

Mr. Rhodes didn’t have time for his boys so Axle picked up the slack.

Unlike my dad who taught his daughters right from wrong. The eldest of five girls, my dad did not fuck around with me. He made it clear I was an example to my siblings. He was strict but fair. He never took his hands to us in anger and he never used his size to intimidate us either.

But he taught me how to defend myself and in return, I taught my sisters.

The look of fear on Shane’s face at the thought of defending himself broke my heart. This was a learned behavior. Shane was taught to fear his dad and if anyone could help him work through that, it was the bad boy who was gentle with the scared boy. Because that’s what Shane was around his dad. He wasn’t a man, but a terrified child.

I’d fight the world for you, Drew
.

Nine years ago I believed that with all my heart.

The question was, could I believe that now?

“Where is he?” I hear from behind me and his voice grated the only working nerve I possessed. I was also irritated with myself because I thought I locked the door behind me. Well shit.

“He’s off today,” I lie then turn to face him. He was wearing street clothes and I knew what that meant. Daddy dearest was off duty and wanted to party. He wanted to make sure his son wouldn’t be witness to it. Points to pops for thinking ahead. Points to me for having party favors.

“I know he’s sleeping with you, slut, now where is he?”

“Not here,” I say moving away from the exit.

This guy wasn’t getting anywhere near that back door while I was breathing.

“He ain’t been home, ain’t answerin’ my calls and that’s ‘cause of you.”

“I’m his boss, not his mother,” I clip and then I reminded myself this prick was law enforcement which meant if it came down to it, I’d have to let him hit me first. That way when the cameras picked it up and it was used as evidence, I wouldn’t go to fucking jail,
again
. Make no mistake, this man wanted to hurt me and I had to let him. I wouldn’t like it, but such was life.

“All by yourself then, huh?”

By appearance, I’m probably the least threatening thing in any room but everyone knows not to judge by appearance. Well, everyone but this guy. “I’m off duty,” he grinned at me in victory and it was a crying shame Shane took after his dad in the looks department. Seeing that he was working to intimidate me, I moved in his space and then past him, planning to show him the door. By putting myself in close proximity, I knew he’d grab me and when I was close, he did. “I’m talking to you, slut.”

“Were you?” I ask looking down at his fingers roughly clutching my arm. “I’m sorry, I don’t speak dumbass.”

When he backhanded me I didn’t fake my stumble, the man hit that hard and I was lucky I didn’t crumble. Laughing at my struggle, he pushes me in the chest forcing me to hit the bar top with my upper back. Not only did my body knock the bottles over, my breath left me in a whoosh and while getting my bearings, I was rewarded with a quick jab to the eye. Once my head recovered, I shook it and gave him my best smile.

Now
I could fight back.

“Cut my boy loose,” he sneers down at me. “Or I will make your life a living hell.”

With an uppercut, I split his lip which got his attention, but it was short lived when Axle and Shane stormed in.

Shrieking in outrage, Shane lunges forward but I tagged him around the waist to stop him. I knew we made a sight with my arms around his waist and my feet dangling behind me on the floor while he attempts to drag me with him. “Let me go, Drew,” he roared wanting a piece of his dad who looked shocked he socked me in the first place.

“Take him out back, Axle,” I instruct him.

“I’d rather break this motherfucker’s neck, Drew,” he declares by clenching his fists.

“Assaulting an officer wouldn’t be smart, asshole,” he warns Axle but never takes his eyes off me.

“Never claimed to be smart. Thing is, I don’t see an officer,” Axle warns him while I did everything I could to keep Shane still and was losing the battle. “What I do see is a man who just made a serious mistake.”

“No one will take your word over a cop’s, that’s a fact. Shane, get the fuck over here.”

“Don’t move,” I whisper fiercely. As if just realizing I was attached to him, he looks down at me and cringes.

“He hit you?” he asked gently touching my face.

“You hit her!” he then screams at his dad. “Why would you hit her?”

“She’s fucking with your head, boy. She’s using you, perverting you.”

“He thinks I’m sleeping with Shane,” I say to Axle with a one eye roll since the other was swelling up.

“I’m not having sex with her!” Shane roared again. “She’s my friend and my boss!”

If Shane wanted to break free he could. He may not be a fighter but he was definitely physically stronger than I was. “Axle,” I say with authority and a touch of desperation because my arms were really burning. “Take him out back,
now
.”

“You ain’t taking my boy away from me! His mother wants him home!”

“You hit Drew! So I ain’t your boy!” Shane yells back.

“In a second,” Axle said blowing past me and in one punch sends the cop sailing into the brick. My God, he was impressive. What I wouldn’t give to be able to hit like that.
I was so horny right now
…

“Now,” he says coming to stand in front of me. “I’ll take him out back and let you finish up in here.”

“Thanks,” I smirk and carefully release Shane. Shane who looked down at his dad like he was a complete stranger. A stranger he could not imagine would ever harm a woman. “I’ll handle this,” I promise him. “Now go.”

“Drew,” he grates out in defeat.

“You have to trust me, Shane. Go with Axle,
please
.”

When the door clicked, I grabbed Woody and stood over Officer Willis. “Come here again and the video you just starred in will be sent to your captain and every news station in Michigan. Touch
him
again and the same rule applies but with blood. Your blood. He’s an adult, he’s made his choice which means I’m giving you one. Stay the fuck away from me and mine or, I’ll make
your
life a living hell.”

“This ain’t over,” he promises struggling to get to his feet. “I have to bring my boy home no matter what.”

Twirling Woody, I say nothing but offer him a smirk that says,
I win
. The look he gave me on his way out was one of revenge and determination. Locking up behind him, I toss Woody behind the bar and head out back to see Axle and Shane each sitting on a milk crate. Shane’s head was lowered and Axle shook his own letting me know the kid was not okay. Careful not to rile him up further, I kept it simple. “From now on, you stay upstairs. You go home, I can’t protect you.”

“My dad,” his words steeped in pure misery. “I can’t believe he hit you.”

“Your dad comes near you or me again, I’ll do more than whack him with Woody.”

Looking up at me the fear in his eyes nearly dropped me. “He’s a cop, Drew.”

“He’s no cop,” I manage, barely. I was so fucking angry I couldn’t see straight out of my good eye.

“Cops protect, they don’t harm. At the end of the day, he’s just a man. We all have lessons to learn. Some of us do, some of us don’t. He’s the latter.”

“Drew…”

“My house, my rules. You learned your lesson, Shane and because of that, you have a place here. For as long as you want it. I’ll keep you safe, I swear it.”

He was off that milk crate hugging me tight when Axle caught my wince. “Thanks Drew,” he whispers.

“You’re a good kid,” I whisper in return.

“How about we finish that lesson?” Axle said gently pulling him back.

Leaving them to it, I went upstairs to ice my face.