MERCS
Effa’s kiss, the way she’s kissing me right now like I’m the only thing in her world, is soothing. My arms tighten around her, and I press my body against hers needing to take all of her in. This woman, this spark in my life, is just what I need. She has the energy to ignite the fire in my soul. She lifts me up when everything seems overwhelming. The stress of Kiera, the worry about Effa’s recovery and now seeing Johnny—right here, right now—I know no matter what, Effa will be my guiding light through everything.
“God! You two… get a damn room, you’re scaring the locals.” Andi chuckles as she walks past us making me smile against Effa’s lips.
Effa giggles and slows the kiss, pulling back slightly. I tighten my hand in her hair and hold her to me not ready to give her up just yet. She laughs against my lips and keeps kissing me as I press my lips against hers with passion. Then slowly I ease back and take a deep breath as I rest my forehead against hers gazing into her eyes longingly.
“Gotta say, the way you handled that, Kaden… I’m so proud of you.”
“It wasn’t easy. When I first saw him hitting on you I did see red. Somehow, though, I contained it and I thought flying off the handle achieves absolutely nothing, but more importantly, it would upset you and make a scene. I miss Johnny, I miss his friendship, and maybe we can get that back with a bit of work.”
“You never know if you don’t try. I hope you two can get back to a place where you’re able to have the type of friendship you had. Life’s too short for holding grudges.” She smiles and tilts her head. “Well, I’ve had enough excitement for one day, do you wanna get out of here? I can think of something we can do,” she leans in whispering in my ear.
Raising my brow, I look around to see the rest of the crew mingling and talking to each other, still wandering around the market happily. So I figure it might be time for us to head back and we’ll leave the rest of them here to have their fun. “Okay, we’ll head off, but I’m not making any promises, I’m not sure we should be doing anything too physical in your condition.”
I raise my brow. “What about your condition? You had a needle in your back six days ago.”
He scoffs. “Meh… I’m fine. You, on the other hand, are having issues we need to sort out.”
“When I ring Doctor Wakefield I’ll ask him if sex is allowed. Will that make you happy?”
“Yes,” I answer. “I think we’ve made a big enough scene here today. Hot flashes, rekindling friendships, and Hollywood kisses. That should be enough to keep the town gossips chatting for a while.”
Effa chuckles and nods, grabbing my hand and leading me over to the others. “Hey guys, how’s things going?” she asks.
I look to Raoul, who’s holding a random small box of flowers along with other stuff. Furrowing my brows, I shake my head wondering what that’s about, but ignore it as everyone turns to look at us.
“We’re about done here, if you guys don’t mind we’re gonna head off?” I tell them, and Raoul nods to me as Kristy holds onto a bag of deep fried food.
“Sure, Effa’s had a big day with her hot flash and the blast from your past, Mercs. She should rest. But I think I want to stay a while. Coop can you stay with us?” Alana asks, and Cooper nods as the other guys all smile.
“So, who was tall, dark and handsome?” Tank asks me.
I watch as everyone faces 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 at the time, 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 to Effa and lean in kissing her head gently then look back up to 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 to 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 for us to make that important call we need to.
“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 to me in understanding as he steps up to Effa’s side.
“See you tonight, guys,” Effa calls out as 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 and turn looking at us and 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 as 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 as 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 as we walk 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 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 raising slightly.
He smiles leaning forward and pushes the box of flowers toward her. Her smile brightens as she looks at the purple blooms. They look strange, 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 it on the bench and steps forward taking Raoul into an embrace. I look away feeling the hairs on the back of my neck raise as 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 reign 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.
He shakes his head. “There’s no need. I just want you to feel better. That’s all. 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 and turns heading for the door.
We don’t follow as he leaves closing the door behind him. I turn to look back at Kiera who has that smitten look on her face. Her eyes are sparkling, and her smile is the widest I’ve seen it 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?”
I shake my head. “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 to see them 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 stomp up them one by one. My feet feeling 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 breaths 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 this?
I pace the floor, trying to calm down. My hands running through my hair, tugging on it to feel something other than the pain in my chest right now as I hear the door creaking open. My head snaps up to see Effa peeking her head through to look at me and then she sighs, opening 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 from the events of today.
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. She always says she has a natural calming energy. Right now, I think she’s right.
“She’s had time to deal 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… 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 her 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 while rubbing my face. 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.
Fuck!
“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.”