A Little Sane

Chapter 31

"Come see me. Now."

Mercedes and Jerome stood in front of Diablo's desk. Diablo stared at them for a minute. Jerome had his hand on Mercedes's lower back, keeping her close. Diablo finally set forward. He stared at Jerome.

"You can let go of your wife Mr. Valeska. No one is going to hurt her."

Jerome gently tugged Mercedes closer. Mercedes stayed calm and tried not to react. He shook his head gently.

"No thanks. I'm good."

Diablo set up straight. He looked at Mercedes and smiled. He looked back at Jerome.

"Your wife is strong and powerful. She can stand on her own. You should give her more credit."

Jerome was starting to get annoyed, but he felt Mercedes gently sink into him trying to reassure him. Diablo didn't seem to notice. Mercedes cleared her throat.

"So why did me and my husband get asked to come here?"

Jerome noticed how calm Mercedes was. He looked between Mercedes and Diablo. They seemed to have an understanding of each other. Talking was comfortable for them.

"I need you to get rid of someone."

Jerome looked at Mercedes to find her expression was still calm.

"Another dead body?"

Diablo laughed. He pulled out a folder. Mercedes stepped out of Jerome's arm and started walking towards his desk. Jerome was nervous and quickly walked behind her. He could tell Mercedes was not at all in fear. Diablo opened the folder and pulled out the contents.

"No. This man is not dead yet. I need you to kill him."

Mercedes stared at Diablo in shock. She stepped back only to bump into Jerome. She turned to Jerome trying to hive him a reassuring smile.

"You don't have to be on top of me. It's okay.."

She walked back up to the desk and examined the picture. Her heart sank. She looked up and shook her head.

"Are these his kids and is that his wife?!"

Diablo nodded.

"He has two teenage kids and three young children."

Mercedes shook her head horrified.

"No! This man has a family! What did he do?!"

Jerome was worried  about her her outburst. Diablo set back in his chair.

"We had a deal and he didn't pay up."

"Can't we just go intimidate him and give him just a little more time?!"

Diablo stood up and walked around his desk. Jerome pulled Mercedes backwards.

"No Mrs. Valeska. We cannot give him another chance."

Mercedes pulled away from Jerome and stepped only a few feet away from Jerome.

"I won't kill a man with a family! If all he has done is not pay you yet, then he doesn't deserve to die!"

Diablo looked behind Mercedes and nodded. She quickly turned around to find Jerome struggling against three men's holding him in place. One man had a gun to his head. Mercedes instantly raised her hands. Diablo raised his hand.

"Don't even think about it. You start to use your powers at all and he instantly shoots your precious husband in the head. It would be nice to say we finally got rid of Jerome Valeska."