Page 57 of Finding Mercy

I shake my head, “I don’t know. Maybe, because it’s my greatest fear.”

I’ve never been an insecure man, but the thought of losing her makes me insecure, and I do not fucking like it one bit.

“Liam, I have wanted you for a very long time. You. Us. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted and more. I love you. I will never leave you. You give me everything I need. Please do not worry.”

I lean down and kiss her with every ounce of passion I feel for her. She pulls back, “We have to get ready to go. We don’t have time for your sexual expertise.”

“Expertise?” I raise an eyebrow.

She runs her hand down my bare chest, “Oh, Dr. Lexington, you are an expert in all things sexual.”

When she turns to walk out of the room, I smack her ass, and she yelps, making me chuckle.

We take separate showers because we both know if I get her in the shower, naked, I’m fucking her. I cannot control myself with her body, naked, wet, and in front of me.

She comes out of the bathroom in a black pencil skirt and a soft pink button-down blouse. I know she’s not trying to look sexy for court. But it doesn’t matter what she wears, she always looks sexy as hell.

“You look beautiful, baby girl.”

“Thank you,” she smiles shyly.

I nod, “Ready to go? Do you have your statement?”

“I am and I do.”

We head out to the garage, get into my Escalade, and head to the courthouse.

Twenty-One

MERCY

To sayI’m a bundle of nerves would be the understatement of the year. I wish I could’ve done this alone, without Liam here, but I know two things. One, Nash is his son, and of course, he should be here. And two, he’d want to be here for me no matter what. I know this must be a horrible situation for him to be in. His son is being sentenced for crimes against his fiancé’. He hasn’t said much to me, but I know it must be tearing him up inside.

“Liam, you know you can leave the courtroom while I read my statement, right?”

He nods, “I’m fine.”

“There is no way that can possibly be true. You’re in a difficult situation, Liam. I understand that.”

He takes my hand and kisses my fingers as we approach the courthouse.

“It’s a terrible situation, baby girl. But if I’m forced to take a side, it’s yours. What my son did to you is disgusting. He needs to pay for his crimes. I’m just grateful that you’re okay.”

I blow out a deep breath as we pull into the parking lot. This is the last thing I want to do today, but I must. Nash is being sentenced for kidnapping and assault. They had originally charged him with rape, but luckily, he did not rape me. He came closer than I liked, but I was spared, barely.

Liam parks and sits quietly for a few minutes before speaking.

“I want you to know, Mercy, no matter what you say in there, I will not be upset or angry. You are entitled to say whatever you feel. I do not want you to not speak your heart and mind, because of me.”

I nod, “I know, Liam. Thank you.”

We get out of the car and go into the courthouse. After what seems like an eternity, we get through security and go to courtroom A17, where Nash’s life will change forever.

Nash is brought in, and he spots Liam and then me, he hangs his head. He looks like he hasn’t slept in a week. It breaks my heart that it came to this for him to get off the drugs. I just want to go back in time and for it all to be different. I don’t want to be here to watch my former best friend be sentenced for kidnapping me. How did this happen? We are all told to stand, and the judge enters.

The prosecution gets up and highlights what he did to me and the fact that he plead guilty. He’s asking for the maximum sentence.

His defense attorney gets up next and speaks to the court. His version is a little different. Without the drugs, he would never have committed these crimes. And he mentions that he plead guilty to prevent me from having to testify. Next, he talks about a session with a psychiatrist, in which the doctor said he was unlikely to reoffend if he could abstain from drugs. He is pretty good for a legal aid lawyer. Liam refused to pay for a lawyer, given the circumstances. I never agreed or disagreed with that choice. It was Liam’s choice, not mine.

---