Page 34 of Going Down Smooth: Part One

“Come here, baby boy, let me kiss it better.” I use my best imitation of a Mommy voice, making them all go quiet.

“Fuck, Mouse. You do want us to leave the house, right? You keep speaking like that and I am going to have to get my cock out,” Lox says as he adjusts himself.

Nate leans down and I raise his t-shirt, placing a soft kiss on his side. When I’m finished, I find his lips and kiss them as well. He sighs with satisfaction, eyes dreamy, and a little dilated and lust filled.

Knight clears his throat. “The sooner we go, the sooner we can come back to our Alpha,” he says before turning and leaving us all behind. “Now, I’m going to be hiking with a hard dick for two hours,” he calls out, making me laugh.

“Back in two hours, Songbird.” Trey comes into view, leaning down as soon as Nate moves, kissing my lips softly before pulling away.

“I’ll be here,” I call after them once they all leave me to my book. I sit for a moment, watching them walk through the trees from the large window. Nate turns and waves, while Trey blows me a kiss. I catch it and smile. I’m laughing at the silly faces Lox pulls before they disappear. Everything has changed so fast. It’s like no time has passed between us. My heart is bursting with love; love I never lost, stronger now that it’s rekindled, renewed.

Everything feels right between us. There is no need to hold back any longer. They are my pack, I want to claim them. I want them to claim me. I don’t need any more time to think about what I want. Mine. I want their bites. I want forever in their arms. I want everything that I ran from because now I know I am safe in their care. Now, I know it will all work out. I have my father’s company. Our future is secure. I have everything I ever wanted, and yeah, it isn’t picture perfect, but what in life actually is? I still have push back from the public and protesters, and reporters want me to spill my secrets to the world, but right now, this I can control.

Later. When they come home, I will be waiting. . .waiting to be claimed.

* * *

I don’t know how long I sit reading with a warm cup of mint tea in my hand, I’m lost to a world of blood and war. Falling in love with yet another book boyfriend when I have four gorgeous men of my own. But I guess it doesn’t count, my Alphas aren’t Vampires or Werewolves, so I can dream about living in another world where these creatures actually exist. I nod my head yes, my book boyfriend obsession is justified, they aren’t real. My Alphas are mine in real life. I’m happy with myself. I swipe the page and keep reading, eager for the next salacious details.

My phone rings and I immediately reach for it. Poised and ready for an interrogation I pick it up, pushing the speaker button.

“Thank goodness, Free, I’ve been anxiously a—”

“Mercy.” The weak wobbly voice on the other end stops my words. I take the phone in my shaky hands; the sound of my sister’s frightened voice fills me instantly with dread and anxiety.

“Faith?” I ask, keeping my voice calm. Whatever reason has her calling me can’t be good. I don’t want to frighten her further, so I keep my feelings at bay.

“Oh God, Mercy. I ran. I got away.” She sobs into the phone, making my eyes blur with tears in solidarity.

“OK.” I pull back the blanket I am under and swing my legs around to stand. “Where are you, Faith? I will come and get you. I can protect you. I promise.”

She sobs harder, and I feel my heart shatter for her. I don’t know what she’s been through, but the day I saw her at the funeral, I knew it wasn’t good. I knew, and I hadn’t tried to contact her. I doubt her Alphas would let me. But that’s beside the point. I have a chance here to make things right.

“Tell me where you are, Faith. Please?” I plead as I listen to her cry. I want to call my mother, but I don’t want to get my fathers involved, especially not Christopher. I even think of Grace, but with her being pregnant she doesn’t need the stress.

“I’m so, so sorry, Mercy,” she shrieks, then sobs harder.

I look at the phone confused, there is no need for her to apologize to me. Why? I am listening to her but I’m also grabbing keys to the SUV from the hook on the wall by the kitchen. I think about my guys, and I know they are going to go ballistic when they find me gone, but I can’t wait. My sister needs me. I can’t leave Faith wherever she is only for them to find her and drag her back to whatever misery she’s run away from.

Sliding my shoes on I head for the door. “Faith. Faith. . .listen. Give me a location.” I wait until she begins to hiccup, and the phone goes silent.

“I didn’t know where else to go. I went somewhere they can’t find me. Oh God, what if they figure it out? Please, Mercy!” she shrieks hysterically, then sobs. What have they done to her? All I feel is rage and fury as I swing the front door wide and run down the stairs. This is exactly why the world needs to change. My sister didn’t ask for this. My father gave her to those monsters, and they’ve destroyed her.

“Smooth Bourbon.” She finally gives me her location and I don’t hesitate when I jump into the car and race through the trees and down the gravel drive.

“How did you get in?” I ask with shock. The brewery is locked up tight. There’s a security guard that drives around the perimeter every hour on the hour. But it’s Sunday. . .

“The old access tunnel where we used to play when we were kids. It’s still there, Mercy. Thank goodness Dad didn’t close the access,” she says, and I can hear her relief. I recall us playing in amongst the boundary gates of the factory, the access tunnel was an old way to access the abandoned train tracks that used to service the factory. My mother hated us playing out there. The idea of us getting dirty appalled her.

“I’m coming. I’m coming, Faith,” I say to her as the call drops.

“No. No. No,” I say out loud as I push redial on the number only for it to go to voicemail. I tap the wheel, drumming my finger nervously and press my foot down as I speed down the streets of Frankfort. It’s Sunday so the roads are relatively clear, and I throw up a prayer the police don’t stop me for driving like a maniac. I try Faith’s phone once more but there is no answer, and it only makes me more anxious. What if Derrick found her? What if he is punishing her?

I shouldn’t have come alone.I take that brief moment to realize I could be walking into something potentially dangerous. Maybe, I should have thought this through—My sister needs me, damn it. I am not weak. I can take care of myself. I will protect her from them.

The wrought iron gates come into view. The distillery is quiet on a Sunday, my father’s decision would soon be overturned though. I will reinstate working on Sunday because I don’t see the need to close the business for religious reasons. I won’t stop my employees from going to church, but those who want to work can.

Driving up to the security panel, I pull out the key card Mrs. Caroline gave me yesterday and tap it against the panel until the light turns from red to green. Impatiently I watch the gate roll back slowly until it’s wide enough for me to drive through. The tire spin, making a skidding sound as I drive wildly through the empty parking lot heading towards the back of the distillery, aiming for the location of the tunnel.

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