Chapter Thirteen
MERCS
My arms tighten around Effa as I press my body to hers, needing all of her.
This woman, this spark, is exactly what I didn’t know I was missing.
She steadies me, lifts me when everything feels like it’s crashing down—Kiera, Effa’s recovery, seeing Shane again, no matter what hits me next, Effa’s my anchor.
“God! You two… get a damn room, you’re scaring the locals.” Andi laughs as she walks past.
I grin against Effa’s mouth.
She slows the kiss, pulling back a fraction, but I fist my hand in her hair and keep her close. “Not done yet.” She laughs softly against my lips, indulging me, then I ease back, resting my forehead to hers.
“Gotta say…” she murmurs, her eyes shining, “… the way you handled that, Mercs… I’m proud of you.”
“It wasn’t easy.” I huff out a breath. “When I saw him hitting on you, I fucking saw red. But losing my shit wouldn’t have helped. It would’ve embarrassed you, made a damn scene…” I shrug. “I miss him… our friendship. Maybe… we can fix it.”
“You never know if you don’t try. Life’s too short for grudges.” She tilts her head, smiling. “I’ve had enough excitement for one day. Wanna get out of here? I can think of something we could do.”
My brow lifts.
The rest of the crew is still milling around the market, so we can slip away without anyone noticing.
“We’ll head off,” I say quietly, holding her gaze. “But I’m not making promises. You had another hot flash. I’m not sure we should be doing anything too physical.”
“What about your condition?” she fires back. “You had a needle in your hip six days ago.”
I scoff. “I’m fine. You’re the one we’re keeping an eye on.”
“When I ring Dr. Wakefield, I’ll ask if sex is allowed. Happy?”
“Yes.”
She laughs.
“I think we’ve made enough of a spectacle today. Hot flashes, reunions, Hollywood kisses… that’ll feed the town gossip for weeks.”
Effa grabs my hand and drags me back to the others. “Hey guys, how are things going?”
Raoul’s holding a small box of flowers and some other junk, looking weirdly domestic. I clock it and file it away.
“We’re about done,” I tell them. “We’re gonna head off.”
“Sure,” Alana says. “Effa’s had a big day. Coop can stay with us.”
“So, who was tall, dark, and handsome?” Tank asks me.
I watch as everyone turns to face me, wanting to know the inside gossip. “He’s my ex-best friend.”
“And I’m guessing he’s an ex for a reason?” Andi asks.
“He slept with my girlfriend.”
A resounding “oooh” filters through the air.
“When she was an ex… or?” Kristy asks, and I wince.
“Very much not an ex at the time.”
Effa moves in, taking her hand in mine as she rests her head on my shoulder.
“Bro, that’s fucking harsh,” Tank consoles as he screws his face up.
Clearing my throat, I nod. “Yeah, it fucking hurt, but it worked out for the best. If not, then I wouldn’t have left, and I wouldn’t have met you crazy bunch of fuckers.”
They all chuckle, and it’s Casey who surprises me when she sniffs, wiping what looks like a tear from her cheek. We all turn to her, and I wince. “You okay, Case?”
She nods and weakly smiles. “I just… I feel bad.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m so happy they cheated on you.”
Jolting my head back, I take a deep breath. “Okay?”
She shakes her head, wiping another tear. “No. I mean, because we get to have you. And Effa’s so happy. I can’t imagine not having you with us. Promise you won’t leave us, Mercs?” she asks her eyes glistening with unshed tears.
My chest fills with pride, and it feels pretty fucking good to be appreciated, not only by Effa but by the others too.
“Yeah, we kinda like having you around,” Tank adds.
“Enough of the mushy stuff.” I look down at Effa and lean in to kiss her head gently, then look back up at everyone else. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You guys are getting soft,” Luke quips with a rare smile, and I chuckle as he nods to me.
“We’re not soft, Luke, it’s just your heart is impenetrable. You’re a man of steel,” Andi teases, and he raises his brow and turns up his lip with a smirk.
“Feelings are for the weak. Emotions get you in trouble. Keeping a level head will keep you on the right path… always,” he retorts, and Andi rolls her eyes.
“You’re so damn boring,” she mocks.
We all laugh, but he shakes it off, and his head goes back to his cell.
“So, what’s the plan for tonight? Saturday night. We’re doing something, right?” Kristy asks as I glance at Effa.
“There’s not a hell of a lot to do, but I guess we could go to the pub. They might have a band on?” I suggest, and the girls all nod and smile.
“Yes! We need to check out the local talent,” Effa cheers excitedly.
“Hopefully, you lot won’t intimidate them by being there,” Tank announces, and Alana winces.
“We’ll have to sit away from them. Nothing worse than feeling pressure when performing.” She is always so kind and thinks of others.
“Right! So what time do we want to meet?” I ask.
“Eight?” Kristy replies.
I nod, looking at Effa for confirmation. That gives us plenty of time to head home. Let her have some downtime, and we need to make that important call.
“It’s a date,” Effa calls out, making everyone smile.
“We’ll meet you all there. We have some shit we gotta do,” I announce as I glance to Raoul, and he bows his head in understanding as he steps up to Effa’s side.
“See you tonight, guys,” Effa calls out before the three of us turn and head back out the gates toward the sedans. As we approach, we notice a bunch of children standing around looking in the windows of the cars.
“Hey, back off,” Raoul calls out, and they all jump up, turn to look at us, then scatter, running in all directions, as I smile, shaking my head.
Raoul looks to me, and I shrug. “Don’t worry, they just haven’t seen cars like that before. It’s harmless, they were just checking them out. The kids don’t get out much.”
Raoul nods as Effa cuddles into my side a little further before we reach the car, and Effa and I slide in the back while Raoul gets in to drive.
The ride home is a short one, and on the way home Effa and I cuddle into each other thinking of the alone time we will be spending together.
The anticipation growing and building making it exciting, as we pull in and the car door opens.
Raoul’s standing there with the box of flowers, Effa’s candles and incense.
Furrowing my brows, I take in a deep breath and step out of the car, still wondering what the flowers are all about as Effa slides out beside me.
“Thanks for taking us, Raoul.”
“All good, mon petit oiseau,” he replies absently before we get to the door.
I figure Effa must have bought some flowers along with her other purchases, so I open the door and lead us inside.
Raoul follows us through to the kitchen.
He places the candles and incense on the counter as Kiera walks in.
“Hey guys, did you have fun?” she asks. Her face is still pale as she slowly makes her way over, dressed in her pink pajamas. I don’t miss her eyes drifting to Raoul with a small smile as she looks him up and down.
“It was… eventful,” I reply, and she raises her brow in curiosity.
“Well, that sounds fun. Shame I missed it. Did you get me something, big brother?” she asks with a beaming, teasing smile.
“Shit. No, sorry. With all the commotion, it slipped my mind—”
“I did,” Raoul interrupts.
We all turn to face him, all three of us with wide eyes as we assess him.
“You did?” Kiera asks, her voice rising slightly.
He smiles, leans forward, and pushes the box of flowers toward her. Her smile brightens as she looks at the purple blooms. They are not flowers I’d readily recognize.
“Windflowers. The vendor said they represent health, protection, healing, and fragility. I thought they might bring you some positive healing or…” he pauses, “… whatever it is that Effa’s into,” Raoul beams.
I tense up as Effa giggles, and Kiera chews on her bottom lip, stepping up to him and smiling so wide I feel like she might explode at any given second.
She takes the box, smells the flowers, then places them on the bench and steps forward, taking Raoul into an embrace.
I look away, feeling the hairs on the back of my neck rise while Effa rubs my back.
“Thank you, that’s so sweet of you.”
“I just wanted to make your day a little brighter, seeing as you couldn’t join us.”
Effa steps closer as I try to rein in my feelings.
He has no right to do this.
“You’re amazing. I don’t know how to repay you.” Kiera chimes in a sickly sweet voice that makes me want to shake her.
“There’s no need. I just want you to feel better.
That’s all.” He smiles. “I need to go, but maybe I’ll see you tonight if you’re feeling all right?
We’re going to the pub, but if you’re not up for it, I’ll see you soon.
” He leans in, placing a light kiss on her cheek, and I let out a loud huff.
He glances at me with a concerned look before turning and heading for the door.
We don’t follow as he leaves, closing the door behind him. I turn to glance back at Kiera, who has that smitten look on her face. Her eyes are sparkling, and her smile is the widest I’ve seen in ages.
I hate it!
“No!” I berate, and she looks at me and frowns.
“Kaden, we talked about this,” Effa interrupts, and I shake my head as I look at her.
Kiera giggles. “You can’t protect me forever.”
“You’re eighteen, Kiera,” I almost yell.
She snorts and rolls her eyes. “So?”
“He’s too old for you.”
Effa and Kiera both laugh and start to walk off to the living room. “He’s not that old, Mercs,” Effa calls out.
“You’re meant to be on my side…” I pause and tilt my head. “How old is he?” I call out.
“Mid-twenties,” she calls back.
I scoff. “Ha! See. Too damn old. Kiera, you need to let this infatuation go,” I demand, walking into the living room where they are both sitting on the sofa, grinning at me.
“Kaden, I love you. I know you’re trying to protect me, but I’m a grown woman, and I need to live a little. Plus, what have I got to lose? I have to live now, because what if this treatment doesn’t work?”
Scrunching my face up, I let out a long puff of air. “What the fuck was that? Why are you talking like this? That’s defeatist talk if ever I’ve heard it, Kiera. We don’t talk like that here. There are no what fucking if’s,” I yell.
Effa frowns and sinks back into the sofa.
“Kaden. You have to know there’s a small chance the treatment won’t work, and if that happens, we have to face the fact—”
“Fuck! I can’t… we’re not doing this, Kiera. I don’t wanna hear you talk like that,” I yell at her.
She doesn’t even flinch as I spin, turning for the stairs and stomping up them one by one.
My feet feel heavy, the sound like thunder as I storm the hall to my room.
Opening my door, walking through, and then I slam it shut with all my force as I pant heavily for breath that I can’t seem to catch.
Thinking about Kiera dying is not something I can handle.
Not now.
Not ever.
And her talking about it so calmly, like it’s the natural way things will progress, I can’t even fathom how she’s so damn calm about it—especially, considering the treatment plan and everything she’s doing right now. How can she think like that?
I pace the floor, trying to calm down. My hands run through my hair, tugging on it to feel something other than the pain in my chest, when I hear the door creaking open.
My head snaps up to Effa, peeking her head through to look at me, then she sighs, opens the door fully, and comes in, closing it behind her.
“Hey,” she murmurs, walking up, reaching out, grabbing my hands, and halting me from pacing.
I stop and look at her, tiredness overwhelming me after today’s events.
I’ve had enough.
I need to relax.
“How can she talk like that?”
Effa’s hands rub up and down my arms as she tries to calm me down. Somehow it’s working. She has that magic touch, and she always says she has a natural calming energy. Right now, I think she’s right.
“She’s had time to deal with and process the thought of her passing, Mercs. You, on the other hand, are in denial. She’s accepted that there’s a possibility—”
“No. No, there’s not. She can’t die. She’s not going to. It’s just not possible now. The treatment has to work. She can’t… d-die,” my voice breaks on the last word, and Effa sighs as she pulls me to her for a hug.
“I know. Trust me, I know. I think being in denial about all the possibilities Kaden is, well… dangerous.”
I glance at her and wince. “You think she’s going to die?”
“No, I don’t. She’s strong. She’s a fighter. And we will do everything in our power to keep her here with us, but sometimes, things happen. Higher powers intervene. And we have to prepare for all outcomes.”
Groaning, I run my hand over my head and move away, pacing the floor again. “I don’t think I can bring myself to think like that.”
“Okay, I get that. But you can’t stop Kiera from living her life.
If she thinks she doesn’t have all the time in the world, Kaden, you have to let her live.
Let her make mistakes. Let her experience life.
Raoul’s not a bad guy… he’s not going to hurt her.
He’s not going to take advantage of her.
Kaden, let her live. Stop being so overprotective.
It’s overbearing. It’s controlling. And you don’t want her to live drowning in your oppressive tendencies, do you? ”
My stomach sinks as I slump. She’s making perfect fucking sense, and I hate every fucking second of it. I’m stifling Kiera, and if—a big fucking if—these are her last days, then I want her to be happy. Not regretting what could have been.
Goddammit!
“Fine, she can do whatever the fuck she wants. Just not in front of me.”
Effa grins and nods. “I’m proud of you. You’ve had a rough day today.”
“Yeah, and we still have a call to make.”
She exhales. “Right, that… yeah. I guess now’s as good a time as any, hey?”
I grab her hand and lead her over to the bed. “Time to find out what’s happening with you and your body.”