Mercy F*uck (27 page)

“You miss The Hole,” he said resting his head on my stomach.

“I do.”

“Like you said, it can be rebuilt,” he said soothingly.

“Not to its former glory though,” I whispered which saddened me the most. “That building has been through a riot, a recession, and was brought low by a bible thumping bomb maker.”

Filed under the tab of
shit I did not need right now
was Carrie’s unannounced visit.

For a woman who managed to obtain a teaching degree, which took brains, she didn’t take hints very well.

Tiny, for his part, needed to find a backbone and use it.  Being led around by his dick wasn’t working for me or Axle. We’d just had this intense moment, one I was still reeling from and now I’ve got Carrie staring me down.

Axle’s warnings did not faze her, neither did Tiny’s, and after the day I’ve had, anything I said would not be nice. Seriously, if she pushed me I might slap her.

You don’t want to slap her. Wanna bet?

“Explain to me why you’re here,” I say crossing my arms. “And make it quick.”

“Right,” she smiles happily oblivious to the tension. “I know a guy.”

Throwing my arms out in frustration, I growl, “And?”

“And can you stop glaring at me, it’s freaking me out.”

“Get to the fucking point, Carrie.”

“Okay okay,” she huffs. “His name is Mitchell Hayes and – ”

“You know
Mitchell Hayes
?”

“I just said I did,” she counters sticking her hip out. Jesus, if I didn’t know any better I’d say I was wearing off on her. “For years actually, and recently I taught his kids.”

“Go on…”

“His kids are a little wild but I blame their mother…”

“For fuck’s sake woman, put me out of my misery.”

“You’re kind of a bitch today, Drew.”

“Five seconds,” Axle grunts in warning. “Before I toss both your asses out the front door.”

“Carrie,” Tiny pleads. “We rehearsed this, stick to the script.”

“Fine. I called him a few days ago and asked him if he was interested in restoring
The Hole
. He’s interested.”

“That’s it?”

“Well yeah, considering you won’t let me work from my script.”

As hard as I tried not to laugh, I couldn’t help it. Seriously, there was something about her I liked. “Okay,” I succumb to the chuckle. “Let me hear the script you practiced.”

“Fuck me,” Axle mumbles taking residence next to me.

“He’s in between projects, is a fan of Detroit history, especially true history. Your bar has the original bones which he is amped about. He wants his name attached to the restoration and any future restorations you may have. He’s been looking for buildings for a while but they’re either being torn down or there’s so much red tape it gives him Gerd. I should also mention, he is a fan of you, Drew. He thinks you’re quite beautiful and business savvy. His words, not mine.”

Mitchell Hayes was
the
guy. He was eccentric, hard to get a hold of, and only worked by referral. Word was, he turned down nearly every offer presented to him, except mine, and it wasn’t even me who asked. Having a total girl moment, I ask, “He thinks I’m beautiful?”

“Jesus,” Axle mutters and Tiny grins. But it was Carrie who bit her lip and announced, “He’s also my ex-husband.”

Tiny wasn’t surprised, but Axle was, and I found myself speechless. Regaining my voice, I say, “Where was Mitchell in the line up?”

“First husband,” she says helpfully. “Smart, innovative but boring. However, we’ve remained on good terms over the years, obviously.”

“You haven’t been married in the last year, so who was your second husband?” I ask pushing the envelope which was driving Axle insane.

“Richard Frost,” she hedges and looks at her feet.

“You were married to a musician?” I wheeze out. “Jesus, Carrie I bet you have some stories.”

“It didn’t last,” she admits. “He wasn’t famous when I met him, but when he hit it big, I couldn’t handle the life.”

“Why in the fuck did you even marry me?” Axle demands. “You go from some big shot restoration mogul, to a fucking musician, to me? I had nothing on those guys.”

“In the beginning, you needed me, Axle.” There was no anger or jealousy behind it, just truth. “But thanks to you no longer needing me, I have Tiny now.”

“I love her,” he says shrugging his huge shoulders.

Looking around Axle’s living room, and then down to him holding my hand, I was about to admit that everything worked out as it should, when she spoke again. “When you two get married, I’ll be a bridesmaid.”

“Uh…” I manage at the thought of marriage and her attendance. “Did you just nominate yourself?”

“Carrie,” Axle groans in discomfort. “What is with you?”

“I’ve always been a bride never a bridesmaid. I want to see what the fuss is all about. Plus, I can throw you a shower and bachelorette party! Wait, I need your sisters’ numbers,” she says fishing out a pen and miniature notebook. “I’m sure they’ll want to help and I can delegate, no problem.”

Biting my lip, I look up at Axle, who was red in the face, and smile. “I can’t tune her out anymore.”

“Drew,” he warns but there was no heat behind it.

“I’m sorry, but I’ve always wanted a pet, so I’m keeping her.”

With his features softening, he whispers in my ear, “Well, she is housebroken. Fine, she can stay on the porch.”

“I’m a person not a puppy,” she whines never taking her eyes from her notebook. “You two are assholes, and even if you are my boss, Drew, it needed to be said.”

Laughing hard, I latch onto Axle who holds me up. Winking at Carrie who was being a good sport, I tell her, “I fucking own you. Fetch me the paper?”

“I gave Mitchell your number, he’s calling you this week. You’re lucky I like you,” she says taking Tiny’s hand.

Just as they reach the door I simply say, “Thank you.”

Like I’ve said before, there was truly something about her. Yeah, I liked her. I even liked her enough to keep her in my life long term too, you know as my servant.

Guilt.

It was deep in my gut threatening to tear me apart from the inside out.

Guilt over Carrie, no less.

Not her, personally, but what Drew saw when she looked at her. My ex-wife.

More than once I gave Drew grief over her life when I wasn’t in it. Choices she’d made and the men she had given her body to. Yet she treats my ex-wife with care and respect. While I’m not forced to deal with her past often, she’s immersed in mine. Not only has she been decent to Carrie, she hasn’t given me any shit about it.

In this, Drew was better than me. Hell, she treats Carrie better than I fucking did.

So when I had the unfortunate luck of running into Darius at the coney joint, I saw this as my chance to do the same. Only I was pretty certain this was a test I’d fail. When he struts up to me (Yeah, he fucking strutted) and says, “Two coneys with mustard and fries, well done. Am I right?”

It took everything I had not to break his strong jaw. Why did she have to have history with this guy? Not only was he insanely rich and good looking, I was also a huge fan. Or rather, used to be. Naturally, I’d never admit this to him or her. I was also betting against him in Fantasy from now on, because fuck him.

“Don’t you have gold to buy or a reality show to star in?”

“Man,” he said shaking his well shaven head. “Still haven’t let it go, huh? You know, when it comes down to history you can bury the bad shit or let it bury you.”

“The fuck do you know about history, Darius?”

A look of regret flashed in his eyes before hiding it behind his signature million-dollar smile. “I may have had her attention for a time, but I never had her heart. Don’t mistake me, Axle, it wasn’t for lack of trying. Go ahead and ask me when I gave up.”

Grinding my jaw, I grated out, “When did you give up?”

“I didn’t,” he said. “But I had to ask myself if I would be content sharing her heart with someone else.”

“And were you?”

“Yeah,” he said meeting my eyes. “I was. She’s that special that I’d take what she gave me.”

Fuck, that was not the answer I was looking for. Grabbing his order when it was called, he slapped me on the shoulder and said, “From day one I knew she was waiting for you.”

“How? She’s spent the last nine years hating me and I didn’t have the displeasure of meeting you until recently.”

Heading toward the door, he levels me with a sad smile and said, “She cried your name in her sleep.”

Life with Drew, as predicted, was far from boring.

And as we settled into our routine there was only one area where she did not appreciate my input.

Her safety.

The woman seemed to think she could kick the world’s ass all on her own.

Case in point; last week she found me kicking two punk’s asses out back in the alley at Legacy. This was after she warned me to let it go, to choose my battles.

“You can’t kick every ass in your path, Axle.”

“Sure I can,” I say wiping the blood from my mouth. Wiry little fucker got a lucky shot in and for his troubles, I was pretty certain I dislocated his jaw. “This is your place, your property, and you can’t just let them off with a warning.”

“We’re not cops!” she yells pointing at the two unconscious idiots. “I have bigger problems than petty dealers!”

“Dealers are like rats,” I point out. “Where there is one there are thousands. You have to set a precedence.”

“I don’t need this shit right now,” she mumbles.

“That’s my point, Drew. Now they know not to pull that shit here.”

“No, now they have a target,” she says pinching her nose.

“So you can swing a ball bat at offenders but I can’t use my fists to protect you?”

Blinking once, twice, I literally saw the fight leave her and when her face softened she got up on her toes to kiss me. “Okay,” she says licking her lips. “Let me try something new.” Taking my face in her tiny palms she says, “Thank you, Axle.”

Loving that she acquiesced in this I ask her, “What are you thanking me for? And be specific.”

“You are so lucky I love you,” she chuckles and she was right, I was lucky.

“I’m waiting.”

“Before I go and make your already massive chest swell up, I feel it prudent to point out what was wrong with that statement. This isn’t my place, it’s
ours
. And while I like to think I’m capable of taking care of myself all on my own… I like, no, I love, that you take protecting me seriously. So,” she says glancing at the idiots who were still out. “Thank you for protecting our place and – ”

“Your ass,” I smirk in victory.

“Yes and my ass too.”

“Love that ass, Drew.”

“Mmhmm,” she grins seductively.

“Love the woman it’s attached to even more.”

“Before we bang by the dumpsters, you sweet talker, maybe we could have the trash taken out?”

Kissing her hard, I swat her ass again and growl, “Allow me.”