Endings and Beginnings

Chapter 73

"It's Mrs. Gummer." Meryl hissed as he held up her left hand where she wore the gold wedding band Don had placed on her finger 34 years earlier as well as the new engagement ring Don placed on there one month prior for their anniversary and when the twins were born. "It will ALWAYS be Mrs. Gummer."

Mann shook his head. "Not when you're a widow."

"What did you just say to her?" Larry asked as Jane remained silent. She now had a first row seat to the terror her son and daughter-in-law had experienced for 30 years. "Why do you think Don is dead?"

Mann smirked as he reached his foot out to run up Meryl's leg; and she immediately jumped. "You do NOT fucking touch me. Answer his question. Why do you think Don is dead?"

"I have my ways." Mann continued to try to reach out his leg and touch hers. "I know things."

Larry kicked Mann's legs. "Stop fucking touching her; and tell us what you fucking know."

"How much is it worth it to you?" Mann looked at Meryl. "I'm not free; knowledge comes at a cost."

Larry was already having enough of this. "You don't fucking touch her and you sure as hell don't fucking threaten her; those days are over. Tell us what you fucking know...NOW."

"I wasn't talking to you, Brown." Mann didn't take his eyes off of Meryl. "Come on, baby; how much is it worth it to you?"

Meryl twirled her wedding rings knowing she would do ANYTHING to protect her husband and their family; just as she did 30 years ago, she hoped Don would understand that whatever she did was to protect him and their family they both would do anything for. "Everything; but don't call me 'baby.' What do you want?"

"YOU." Mann smirked.

Larry shook his head. "You are in here for the rest of your pathetic life; you are never getting to her again."

"You can have me." Meryl choked as she gave both Jane and Larry looks saying she knew what she was doing.

Mann started to rub his led against hers again until Larry kicked him...HARD. "I want your heart. I want your very being. I want to know that you will never touch HIM again. That HE will never touch you again. I want that promise, baby. That promise that makes me so damn hard."

"You..." Meryl closed her eyes and breathed deeply. "I'm yours."

Jane couldn't believe what she was hearing. "MERYL!"

"I said I would do anything." Meryl choked. "This is ANYTHING."

Larry knew Meryl. He knew she didn't mean it. He knew she was only saying this to protect Don. "Okay you sick fucker, you finally have what you have wanted for over 30 years. Give us what we want now. Who went after Don? I know you know."

"Mrs. Gummer." Mann looked at Jane. "Have you talked to the other Mrs. Gummer lately?"

Jane didn't even know that Mann knew who she was. "Meryl?"

"I said the OTHER Mrs. Gummer." Mann smirked. "You know, the other Mrs. Gummer that was fucking your husband. Donny's FIRST Mrs. Gummer."

Meryl squinted her eyes. "Peggy?"

"I'm surprised you didn't put that together, love?" Mann laughed demonically. "After me and daddy dearest who else would want 'ole Donny boy dead? After the way you two humiliated her and Harry at Thanksgiving."

Meryl looked at Larry and he signaled for her to keep going; she had to remind herself she was now playing a role. "So my love, how did you do it?"

"Peggy and Harry have been following you for weeks." Mann laughed. "That ogre finally left you alone long enough in Mason's Island to run him off the road. We were trying to get me out so we could truly be together with Don dead like he was always supposed to be."