Release Me (Gatlin: Prequel)

Chapter 1

— Mercedes —

I peeked through the closed curtains of Lavender Cottage, ever paranoid and terrified that he’d be waiting for me outside. It had become a way of life: glancing over my shoulder and locking myself in my home during the day just in case Landon showed up. It had been three months of hell despite my physical wounds having healed weeks ago.

After a deep inhale, I held my breath and scanned the front yard one last time before flicking the door lock. I stepped into the outside world basked in back-warming sunshine, and willed my fingers to stop shaking as I inserted the house key into the lock.

With a quick flick of my wrist, the bolt fell into place, then I rushed to my car parked in the driveway, pointing my keys and unlocking it before I hit the driver’s door. I tore it open and slammed into the driver’s seat with my pulse running wild, then locked myself in the car.

I used to love walking to work at The Lakeside Pint, but now I drove the two minutes out of fear of Landon lurking around every corner. My past wasn’t all filled with fear, though. There was someone before Landon—someone I thought I’d marry and grow old with. Beckett.

But from the moment Beckett landed in jail, I’d fallen into a downward spiral of bad choices and worse decisions. Landon was the most recent and the most destructive.

I endured him for over a year before I’d finally had enough of the bullshit. Looking back, I should have left sooner—the missing teeth weren’t worth his empty promises of being better if I gave him another chance.

I was a fool to take him back that second time, but not foolish enough to allow a third.

My fingers gripped the steering wheel so hard they turned white as I drove through the streets. I wouldn’t feel safe again until I was protected by the four walls of the pub.

Just as I pulled into the parking lot of The Lakeside Pint, something caught my eye. The glimpse was fleeting but had my heart pounding.

“It couldn’t be,” I whispered to myself, staring wistfully in the direction the guy disappeared.

Beckett couldn’t be back in town… Surely.

Shaking myself free of the daze, yet unable to fully escape the nostalgic grip, I drove across the near-empty gravel parking lot and picked a spot close to the pub entrance.

I kept the car doors locked after I turned off the ignition and swallowed back memories. Despite not seeing Beckett in over nine years after someone lost their life from our stupid mistake, my heart still skipped at the thought of him. I relentlessly wrote to Beckett while he was behind bars until I finally received a letter back that broke my heart.

Don’t wait for me, and don’t write again.

Fuck, his rejection still stung. I loved him then, and I still loved him now, despite trying—and failing—to move on. Stupidly, I poured my heartbreak into believing I’d fallen for Landon.

I studied the Lakeside Pint through my windshield. The “LP” as it was affectionately known, was Gatlin Falls’s oldest and most trendy pub. I’d worked here for a year and a half already, and while most of the times were good, this was also the place I’d met Landon.

Shaking off the murky memories I wished I didn’t have, I darted another glance around before getting out of my car. I beeped the locks while rushing for the front entrance, and as soon as I pushed through the heavy wooden doors, the familiar smell of polished wood and beer-stained carpet settled my nerves. I was safe here.

Wendy, my boss, looked up from behind the bar when the door thumped closed behind me. A wide smile lit her face.

“Hey, Mercedes, thanks for coming in early, hon.” Her eyes then narrowed. “Are you feeling okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

My mouth worked open and closed as I stammered, “I kinda think I did. Beckett isn’t back in town, is he?”

Wendy’s brows furrowed as she shook her head. “Not that I know of hon. Was he released?”

“I honestly don’t know.” I sighed, then leaned an elbow on the bar and changed the topic. “Is everything ready for tonight?”

She let out a shrill laugh and swiped the back of her hand across her forehead. “As ready as we can be. The Gatlins party hard when together and tonight they have many things to celebrate.”

The town’s founding family had the pub booked out tonight. Not only were they celebrating 150 years of settlement in Gatlin Falls, but Banks—the third son of six—had successfully recovered from a life-saving heart transplant. The town had gone from mourning his potential death to rejoicing in his second chance at life.

I smiled and adjusted the bag on my shoulder. “It’s going to be massive. Where would you like me to start?”

“In the chiller please, hon. Just arrange the boxes so it’s easy to restock the shelves in a rush. Amy’s already out back setting up the lawn furniture and umbrellas.”

“Of course. I’ll get started,” I said with a decisive slap on the bar top.

“Thanks, hon.”

Wendy and her partner Saul were more than my bosses. They were friends and saviors and were two of my most favorite people still in town since my parents moved to Portland a couple of years ago.

As I entered the kitchen, I spotted Saul frantically preparing food.

“Hey, Saul,” I called on my way through the kitchen to the staff room.

He looked up and grinned. “Heya, Merce. Ready for a busy night ahead?”

“Uh huh.” I stepped close to him and lowered my voice. “Wends is looking a little stressed.”

He snickered. “It’s just pre-function jitters because we’re hosting the Gatlins. You watch; as soon as they arrive, she’ll be all smiles and breezing about as if she’s as cool as a cucumber.”

Sharing his amusement, I giggled. “I’d better organize the stock before Wendy stresses more.”

Saul grinned and chuckled, eyes shining with humor. “Don’t get me wrong because I love Wends to the moon and back, but we don’t need to wave a red flag at the bull.”

“No more distracting me,” I teased, making him laugh again.

After stashing my bag in the office, I entered the chiller and moved countless boxes of beer, pre-mix drinks, and wine into position for easy self-restocking later in the night. Excited energy vibrated through me—we’d never hosted a function this big before and were expecting to reach maximum capacity in the hours to come.

After freezing my ass off in the chiller for twenty minutes, I fussed with the glassware behind the bar while watching the band set up on the low stage close to the poolroom.

Amidst their soundchecks on the microphone, my attention pulled to the entrance as soon as it opened wide. The laughter and rowdy conversations of the large Gatlin family flowed through the door. They filed in as if this was their home, bringing a charged atmosphere with them.

Marty, the singer on stage behind the microphone, spotted Leif and called out, “Hey, Leif, you getting your ass up here tonight?”

Leif, the second-eldest Gatlin brother, sang in the band from time to time and his voice was one I fell in love with every time I heard it.

He laughed loudly and pointed at Marty. “Maybe later, dude. Depends on how shit your singing gets.”

Marty’s laugh came through the speakers. “It’s better than yours, bro.”

“That’s not what the rest of the town thinks,” Leif slung back.

Russell and Laurel—the parents—approached the bar while their six sons talked smack and laughed boisterously behind them. The only one who didn’t look happy was Dusty’s wife, Isabelle. The sour bitch couldn’t pop a grin through all the Botox even if she tried. Even their kids ignored her.

Wendy morphed from stressed to a gracious host in a split-second. She rounded the bar and opened her arms, hugging first Laurel, then Russell.

“And the party has officially started,” Wendy declared.

Looking across the family, a thrill of excitement shot through me when my eyes snagged on Scout’s. I hadn’t seen him in over two years.

All but running from behind the bar, I launched myself at him and trusted that he would catch me. My arms and legs wrapped around his shoulders and waist, and his arms hugged me tight.

“Long time no see, Shorty,” he laughed close to my ear.

“You’re the stranger, not me,” I teased back, squeezing him hard.

He snickered and steadied me as I dropped my feet to the floor. “That’s what happens when I kick it with the big boys.”

I rolled my eyes. “Your head and ego are getting bigger every time I see you.”

“And you’re getting prettier.” His eyes flicked over my neck and arms. “Nice tats. They suit you, Shorty.”

“Thanks.” I threw my arms wide and did a little shimmy.

Scout and I went way back. We were in the same year at high school and hung out all the time. I didn’t see Scout often anymore since he’d left town to chase his MLB dreams. Now, Scout Gatlin from Gatlin Falls was one of the biggest names in the league.

“There she is!” was called from our side.

I looked right to see Banks striding forward with his arms open and a massive grin on his handsome face.

“Hey, Banks. It’s so good to see you out and about again.” I hugged him so hard and hummed when he rocked us from side to side.

“Thanks, Mercedes. Fuck, it’s good to be getting back to normal. I’ve missed hanging out in here.”

We pulled apart but kept a hold of each other’s arms. Banks was Scout’s next oldest brother, and he’d also become a good friend over the years.

“You’re not drinking tonight, are you?” I asked Banks, still concerned about his health.

His hazel eyes sparkled with the mischief we’d missed since he’d been hospitalized. “Might have one or two. Not meant to, but what’s the point in living if I can’t live fully, right?”

I squeezed his forearm affectionately. “No going overboard, though. I’m keeping my eye on you tonight.”

He smirked devilishly. “Oooh, kinky.”

Scout shoved him. “Bro!”

“What!” Banks laughed. “I’ve missed bantering with Merce.”

Despite our friendship not being like that, I gave him a flirty little smile. “You’re out of practice, Banksy.”

“Guess I’d better up my game, then, eh? I have weeks to make up for.” He shifted a little closer and lowered his gravelly voice. “And I’m thoroughly out of practice.”

“Dude!” Scout exclaimed, shoving him again. “Stop flirting with her; it’s weird as fuck!”

His outburst had me and Banks laughing until Wendy made a loud announcement.

“The first round is on the house!” she declared. “What can I get you all to drink?”

“Shots!” Fields yelled, receiving a cheer from his brothers, niece, and nephew.

Laurel Gatlin weighed in. “I’m not sure that’s a wise start to the night, guys.”

I hurried back to behind the bar and braced as the family approached en masse.

Scout slung an arm around his mom’s shoulder. “Aww, c’mon, Ma. Just do one with us, or a round of flip cup, then we’ll leave you alone. Don’t make me sic Banks on you, you know he’ll hound you all night.”

She tutted through her laughter, then lightly backhanded his chest. “Oh, all right. Let’s do it before your grandparents arrive.” Laurel turned her attention to Wendy. “One round of flip cup please, Wends.”

My boss laughed while I grabbed a stack of plastic cups.

“Any kind of drink in particular?” Wendy asked.

Reed spoke up. “Not something that’s gonna put Mom on her ass. I’m off duty tonight.” He held up his palms as if to imply his mom getting fucked up wasn’t his problem.

Laurel laughed and sassed her son. “I can handle a drink or two, thank you very much.”

“Uh huh,” he teased.

I snickered and shook my head. “How about a round of White Gummy Bears?”

Laurel’s eyes sparkled. “What’s in those, Mercedes?”

“Raspberry vodka, peach schnapps, sweet and sour, and lemon-lime soda. They’re suuuuper yummy.”

“Sounds like a pussy drink,” Fields laughed, receiving a clap on the back of his head from his father.

Fields, the youngest of the six brothers, was serving in the army and was in town for a good time, not a long time.

Laurel ignored the commotion among the men and smiled widely at me. “That sounds delicious, hon. Let’s do those.”

I grinned while plucking bottles from the shelf behind me. “Good choice. And I can make virgin ones for Holly and Sawyer if you’d like?” I asked Dusty.

The eldest son and brother set his elbows on the bar. “Thanks, Mercedes. Can’t have our sober drivers becoming the ones we need to cart home.” He snickered while his young adult children, Holly and Sawyer, rolled their eyes.

Scout shoved Dusty aside to stand directly in front of me, mimicking his brother’s stance with his elbows on the bar top.

His wide grin and perfect teeth had me ducking my head to hide a smile.

“So, Merce, tell me, what’s new?”

“Not much. You know, living the dream,” I lied.

He clicked his tongue and agreed. “Can’t ask for more than that.”

“Mmhmm.”

His next question came from left field and made my blood freeze. “Did you ever hear from Beckett?”

I jolted so hard that the bottle in my hands dropped to the counter and spilled. “Fuck,” I hissed, hurrying to right the liquor bottle then wipe the spill.

With my heart still hammering hard, my eyes lifted to find Scout’s. “Why do you ask?”

His dark-brown gaze flicked between mine. “We kept in touch over the years, and he regrets how he left things with you.”

I sniffed to rid the sting of threatening tears at the back of my nose. “I haven’t heard a thing since he broke it off.”

Scout’s tattooed hand reached across the bar and found mine. “I’m sorry, Merce. I thought he’d try to fix things with you.”

“He made it abundantly clear that he wasn’t interested, so I moved on.”

A shudder of revulsion ran through me, belying my words. Landon had been one bad experience after another.

Scout let the conversation end, then twisted when Banks yelled, “Hey everyone, line up from oldest—Dad, that’s you, just sayin’—to youngest. Every second person go to that end of the bar with Mom!”

Russell frowned. “Banksy—”

“Let’s do it!” Laurel cut in, making everyone cheer again.

She took her position at the opposite end of the bar, heading up team two, and called Isabella, Banks, Reed, and Holly down to join her. Russell, Dusty, Leif, Scout, Fields, and Sawyer lined up at the other end.

Wendy took up her position between the two teams at my side behind the bar.

She pointed to Laurel’s team. “One of you needs to go twice to make it even.”

Banks raised his hand. “Me!”

Reed gave him a shove. “Nah, fuck off, bro. You’re not meant to be drinking at all. I’ll do the second, Wends.”

I looked up and down the long family line as I shook the ice and liquor mix in a shaker. The Gatlins may be the town’s founding family, but I’d never met such an amazing group of people in my entire life. It made me wish I had siblings. Growing up, Scout had been the closest I’d had to a brother.

After I poured the drinks, me and Wendy set them on the bar top, then she clapped her hands to call order.

“Race starts with Russell and Laurel and ends with Sawyer and Reed since Reed’s going twice. Rules: one drinker per team at a time. Once you’ve finished your drink, place the empty cup on the edge of the bar and flick it until it lands upside down. Once it settles upside down, the next person can go. Everyone ready?”

Banks sent me a cheeky wink and grinned as he moved his cup directly in front of him. “Ready, Wends.”

I smiled and giggled quietly to myself. It was so fucking good to see him back to his normal, charismatic self. After the confronting diagnosis and not knowing if a heart donor would be found in time—if at all—Banks getting his second chance was a blessing I’d count every time he grinned. If that blessing hadn’t happened, the Gatlins’ wouldn’t be standing here today, about to kick off their double celebration with a drinking race.