Merc (COMPLETED)

Page 10🔓

Neo 🩷🌸

One Week Later

As happy as I was to see a familiar face, I was also nervous. I didn't want Merc asking me about my relationship. Truth was, things hadn't gotten better between me and Steven. Two years together and we were crumbling. To Steven's credit, he got me some nice gifts for Valentine's Day the next day, but that made me feel like the side chick. We were supposed to go out this past weekend, but I had to work. I only had one employee at my vinyl store, and she had been out sick.

Crazy thing was, Steven didn't give a damn about me pulling double shifts all weekend. All he did was ask me if I was going to cook so he'd have something for dinner while I was gone. Bully and Innvy were hanging out when I FaceTimed her to vent, and before I got off the phone, I gave her a brief rundown of how busy my weekend was going to be. Bully told Merc, and he had breakfast, lunch, and dinner delivered to the store for me the entire weekend.

The gesture made me cry. Even without Merc's presence, his energy spoke volumes. He was considering me and taking care of me better than my man was, and Merc and I didn't know a thing about each other. Having him come into my store today made me feel bad. How would I explain why I was still with a man that I clearly needed to break up with? It didn't seem to matter, because Merc was in the back of the store pacing, on what looked to be a very heated call.

I'd been entertaining the older man he'd come into the store with. His name was Rey, and he was pretty cool.

"I didn't even know this store existed," Rey said, holding a vinyl version of an Otis Redding album that I didn't want to part with. It was the only one I had, and I played it in the store, but if he wanted it, I'd let him have it. "Merc told me about it because we both love music. He loves to play, but I love to listen."

My eyes found Merc, and I grew concerned because of his angered expression.

"Does he? I didn't know we had that in common."

"Yeah, he'd probably never just tell you that." Rey chuckled. "He's... a very guarded individual. He doesn't talk about himself."

"Hmm... good to know."

We continued to talk, mostly about the wide range of vinyl records in my collection. Rey couldn't believe I had so many blues and jazz legends that were hard to come by. I could tell he was impressed, and that filled me with pride.

My eyes lifted as the front door opened. I was about to speak and tell the customers I'd be with them soon, until I realized they weren't customers. They were robbers in black masks. Dropping the vinyl record I was holding, I gasped. My eyes widened when I realized they were aiming their guns directly at Rey.

Were they here for him?

"Rey, look out!" I yelled, but it was too late. Bullets began to pierce the air, and one of them hit him instantly. He fell forward, and I grabbed him, pulling him behind the shelf with all my might.

The gunfire caused Merc to spring into action. He shoved his phone into his pocket and pulled out a gun, telling me to stay down and keep Rey from getting up.

My eyes closed, and I covered my ears as rapid gunfire sounded off. Body shaking, I prayed that God would spare all our lives. There might have been some things about my life that I was unhappy with, but I didn't want it to be over any time soon. At the feel of hands gripping my arms, I shook. My eyes popped open, and relief filled me at the sight of Merc.

"I got two of them, but one got away. You need to come with us."

"What? I-I can't just leave my sto-"

"Them not the kind of shooters to leave any witnesses, Neo. You need to come with me. Now."

Before I could protest any further, Merc was lifting me off the floor like I was a rag doll that weighed less than a pound. He tossed me over his shoulder and carried Rey out bridal style. Tears filled my eyes as drops of blood hit the floor from Rey's body.

Who the fuck were these men, and what had their presence in my store gotten me into?