Mercy: A Bad Boy Biker Romance (New Devils MC Book 3)

by Jade Kuzma

  Aden nodded to me because he already knew what was coming. I narrowed my eyes at him, my mouth half open as the words lingered on the tip of my tongue.

  “Aden… Who are you?”

  Chapter 17

  DANICA

  “I never knew my father. He left my mother as soon as she was pregnant. That’s the story she gave me, anyway. Never told me anything else about him. Never bothered asking. Wasn’t mad. Wasn’t upset. Wasn’t missing out on the love he never gave me. Never gave a shit one way or another. Growing up in the big city, in the neighborhood that I was in, it wasn’t anything special. Having a father meant you were strange.

  “My mom… Being a single mom was tough for her. She did the best she could but the stress was too much for her. Balancing a job. Balancing a life for me. It got to her and eventually she ran out on me. At least, that’s how I remember it. Ended up in some foster home. People called me an orphan or something because I didn’t have a mother or a father.

  “It was rough but not anything new. That was just the way things were in my neighborhood. For me though, it wasn’t about having a mom or dad…”

  It was quiet inside of the room. Aden eyeballed an empty glass of gin and an open bottle next to it. His eyes unblinking, he looked like his mind was somewhere else.

  “I wasn’t a big kid. They used to always tease me because of how small and skinny I was. Tough to gain any weight when you weren’t being fed properly. They’d bully me and pick on me. Every day after school. Shit was like clockwork.

  “One day, they got a little too rough and they bloodied my nose. Some teacher found me curled up in a ball in the bathroom, tears and blood dripping down my face. So what happened? Did the bullies get punished? Did my foster parents take care of me? Did they do everything they could to make sure that everything was all right?”

  Aden shook his head.

  “Nah. All they did was pull me out of school. Said it wasn’t doing me much good anyway. I was just a kid. I wasn’t even 10 years old and they already gave up on me.”

  “They pulled you out of school when you were that young?” I said. “They couldn’t have done that.”

  “They sure did. Homeschooled me for a year. Can you believe it? That was their solution. Keep me away from the bullies and let my injuries and pride and all of the mental issues I had from getting picked on recover.”

  Aden took another sip of alcohol and swallowed it down. The amount of disdain in his eyes was clear. I felt helpless, wanting to do something even though there was still more on his mind.

  “They sent me back to school eventually. One day, I’m walking home. Bunch of kids start picking on me again. I was still skinny. New kids. New school. Same shit.”

  “They beat you up?”

  “No… I got lucky. Happened to be strolling by the one person who actually gave a shit. Some old guy named Lou walked out and shooed those bullies away. He took me inside and made sure that I was all right.”

  “Lou… Doesn’t seem like a good idea to trust a stranger like that,” I said with a smirk.

  “At that point, a stranger was better than the people I knew. The truth was it didn’t matter who the fuck Lou was. I just needed somebody and he was it.”

  “What did he do?”

  “He brought me inside his building. That’s when I realized it was a boxing gym. People were training and learning how to fight. Lou didn’t baby me. Told me if he wanted kids to stop picking on me, I would have to stand up for myself.”

  “And that’s where you got your start.”

  Aden poured himself another glass of liquor. It was quiet in the small room we were in. It was nice knowing that nobody would bother us where we were. Aden’s new club would apparently make sure of that.

  “Boxing became my life. I didn’t care about school. I didn’t care about making any friends. It was the only thing I was ever good at. And I did it with the only person who gave a shit about me.

  “Lou kept pushing me. Next thing I know, I’m fighting amateurs. I’m getting in the ring with other guys and I’m beating them. Then I go pro. Lou’s still there by my side. I keep winning. And winning. And winning… All of a sudden I’m winning a championship belt.”

  I blinked my eyes like I wasn’t sure what I was hearing.

  “Wait,” I said. “Are you saying that you were a… champion?”

  “Heavyweight champion of the world,” he said with a sarcastic smirk on his lips. “I was the youngest who ever did it. Barely 20 years old. I was on top of the world. All of the money. All of the women. All of the fame. That was all a long time ago though… About seven years…”

  It was strange to hear him say it. Aden achieved success that people could only dream of and he was sitting there right in front of me. And he looked completely miserable.

  He was quiet. I wanted to push him but I gave him all the time he needed.

  “I had it all. So much money. So much fame. All the pussy I could handle. That’s what all the girls wanted. All they had to do was stand next to me and they could experience what it was like to be with No Mercy Aden Mercer. But then…”

  He took another gulp of his drink. His swallow was loud like he was trying to clear his throat.

  “His name was Ricardo Johnson. I’ll never forget his name. I remember that fight so clear in my mind…”

  He closed his eyes and shook his head.

  “Every punch. Every dodge. Every slip and counter. I remember I was on my game that night. It was like he was moving in slow motion. I was beating the guy bad. The crowd was chanting ‘No Mercy’ the entire time. I felt like a king… until I didn’t.”

  Aden sighed and opened his eyes.

  “His face was so bloody. His eyes were closed. I couldn’t even recognize him. It was like fighting a zombie. For a split-second, I thought about stopping but… The crowd just kept chanting my name and the ref didn’t seem to give a shit one way or another. So I pushed myself. I beat Ricardo until he collapsed in a heap. When his body hit the canvas, my heart stopped. I knew something was wrong.”

  I clenched my jaw, worried that Aden was too lost in whatever memory he was thinking of. He was trembling slightly in his seat. I wasn’t sure if the alcohol in front of him was a good idea but Aden took another gulp.

  “They took him to the hospital. A few days later, they had to take him off life support. Said that he would never get out of the coma… The coma that I put him in.”

  Aden shifted his eyes toward me. I could see him trying to hold everything back. He gritted his teeth and pursed his lips like there was something just trying to get out of him.

  “I killed a man in the ring that night,” he said.

  “Aden… That’s not your fault. You were a boxer. That’s the kind of danger you put yourself in—”

  “It shouldn’t have happened, dammit! I shouldn’t…”

  He raised his voice but took another deep breath to calm himself down.

  “…I shouldn’t have done what I did that night. I should’ve done something.”

  “There was nothing you could’ve done.”

  “If I’d done anything differently, maybe he’d still be around. Maybe… things would be different.”

  Aden pressed his fingers against his temples. I was so tense in my seat but I still had too many questions.

  “How long ago was that?”

  “Five years,” I said.

  “How… Why are you in Ivory?”

  “Do you know what it’s like, Danica? Hitting a man until his life leaves him? Taking something away from him that he can never get back? You might think it’s easy but killing someone, an innocent person… That’s something that’ll stick with you forever.

  “I guess I wasn’t made for it. I stepped away from the ring. People started calling me to see where I was at. My promoters wanted to book me another fight but I refused. Said I needed time to get away. See if that fire would come back to me. But it never came back. When that man died in the ring that night, an
y desire I had left me. And you know what happened, Danica?”

  “What happened?”

  “The money started to dry up. All of my friends stopped giving a shit. All of the women who wanted to sleep with me didn’t think I was good enough for them. I was back on my own all of a sudden. I didn’t have anything left. I didn’t have anybody left.”

  “What about Lou?”

  Aden polished off his liquor then pushed it away from him. He stared at the empty glass, his eyes half-open like he was falling asleep.

  “Lou was old. I guess that’s what happened when you got older. You took care of any random kid you found on the streets. By the time he got to me, he was really old…”

  Aden never said anything but I could already see what he was getting at.

  “I wish he was there. I wish he was there to see me when I had that championship belt. I wish he could see what he’d done for me. Some loser who got bullied and I was suddenly the king of the world.”

  “I’m sure that Lou is proud of you, wherever he is.”

  “Yeah…”

  Aden blinked his eyes. He stopped himself from shedding a tear but the sound of his voice made it clear how emotional he was getting.

  “When the money was gone, there were still people bothering me. I’m 27. That’s when most fighters hit their prime. After all this time, they’re talking about me making a comeback. I had to get away. I had to make sure that nobody bothered me. I just wanted to be left alone.”

  “And that’s why you came to Ivory…”

  “All of the money I made was gone but I’ve still got some of it. Not a lot but enough to get by. I grabbed my shit and got on my bike. Just wanted to keep riding but ran into Ivory. Got a gig at the gym. That’s where I’ve been ever since.”

  “The guy running the gym must recognize you. I figured you’d at least grow a beard or something.”

  He smiled softly and shook his head. It was a relief to see that he’d calmed down for the most part.

  “He recognized me but he knew that I wanted to be left alone. Most of the people training are too young. Isaac was one of the few who figured it out but even then, he still knows me as just Aden and not No Mercy.”

  Now that I’d gotten most of Aden’s story, I was able to breathe easier. I leaned back in my seat and relaxed. Aden did the same, staring at his empty glass like he’d had enough to drink for the night.

  I took the rest of the night of work off so that I could be with him. We headed over to Hades so that we could get some privacy in one of the backrooms of the clubhouse.

  “All right,” I said. “Now tell me what you’re doing with Hawk. Are you sure this is such a good idea? Not to mention patching in with an MC…”

  “I don’t plan on going anywhere. You already know that the last thing I want is more blood on my hands. The Spades are running illegal fights where kids like Isaac are ruining their futures. I… I could never get back to where I was but Isaac had a chance. Men like Hawk are the kind of people that don’t belong in Ivory. This is the best way to get rid of him without starting a war.”

  “Well,” I sighed. “I can’t say that having Hawk and his gang around is pleasant. I’m just… I’m just worried about you, Aden—”

  “Don’t be. It might’ve been a long time but I know what I’m doing. Everything Lou taught me was the most important thing in the world to me. All of the lessons with him… I never let them go. I’ll beat Hawk or whoever he puts in front of me. And the Devils will make sure that he leaves town for good.”

  Aden spoke with a defiant confidence that made believe anything he would’ve said. There was something so secure in the way he looked at me. So strong and forceful but soft and honest.

  “Okay,” I said with a nod. “What can I do to help?”

  “Go away.”

  “W-what?”

  “This doesn’t involve you. Step away and you won’t get hurt.”

  “Aden, you can’t be—”

  “I’m serious. Danica, I won’t allow you to have any association with me. Just being around me is enough to get you in trouble.”

  I jumped out of my seat. I didn’t know what I was going to do though. Aden stared at me with a seriousness he always had. I searched for something to say but there was nothing.

  “Okay,” I said with a nod. “If that’s what you want—”

  “It’s not what I want. It’s what’s best for both of us. Once this situation gets resolved—”

  “I know.”

  I walked over to him and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Whatever happens, I’ll be waiting for you.”

  The clock was ticking. An inevitable showdown between Aden and Hawk was on the horizon.

  Chapter 18

  ADEN

  I’d never told anybody the story before. Most people who recognized me knew the details of what was public. Some of them pestered me for the truth but I brushed them off. The people in Ivory just let me be. Nobody gave a shit about a has-been.

  I didn’t wanna tell her. I wanted to keep it to myself so that she didn’t figure out what I’d become. There was something about her though. Some idiotic compulsion to just spill my guts and give her every detail I could.

  That’s what made it easier to say goodbye to her. With all of the shit about to go down with the Spades, having her around would only put her at risk.

  That shit fucking bothered me though. Not just the fact that I wasn’t able to be around her. What bothered me most was that I was still thinking about her, even when I told her that she couldn’t be around me.

  I sat at the bar with a bottle all by myself. It was a quiet night at Hades. As quiet as it could get, anyway. Everybody gave me the respect and space I needed because I was wearing the patch. I didn’t want anybody to bother me.

  “How you doin’, No Mercy?”

  Of course…

  I didn’t pay much attention to Hunter as he took a seat next to me.

  “You focused? You ready? I wonder what it’s like getting ready for a big fight… Must be kinda crazy.”

  Hunter gave me a half-smirk like he knew I didn’t wanna talk to anybody.

  “I know you,” I said.

  “You know me?”

  “You’re the type of motherfucker that would poke a bear just to see how it would react.”

  “I’m just saying. I’ve got No Mercy sitting right here in front of me—”

  “Stop calling me that. Nobody’s called me that in years.”

  “All right. Then what do I call you?”

  “Aden. Or Mercer, if you want. Call me my fuckin’ name.”

  “Okay, okay, okay,” he said as he put his hands up, that grin still on his face. “I’m on your side, remember?”

  He patted me on the back. I poured myself another glass to help deal with the minor annoyance he gave me.

  “We’re gonna do well,” he said. “Not as well as we could be doing but well enough. You’re gonna make the club a good amount of money.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “The fight. It’s not like it’s a big secret. You going up against one of the Spades with the loser leaving town. Bookies in town are moving money. Even at Eden Casino they’ve got odds.”

  “Are you shittin’ me?”

  “No, sir. You’re fuckin’ Aden Mercer. You can’t expect to keep that secret for very long. There’s no fuckin’ way that shit wasn’t gonna leak. People wanna put their money on the line and Eden Casino is all about making cash.”

  “Some things never change…”

  I took a gulp of whiskey. It burned down my throat. Shit was cathartic in a way. I didn’t wanna think too much about what I was gonna have to do even though it was inevitable. The only other comfort I had was Danica and I’d told her I needed space.

  “What are they saying?” I said.

  “Everybody’s got you as a favorite. Not bad, all things considered. I’m gonna make a decent profit putting some cash on you.”
r />   “Put every dime you got on me if you can.”

  “That’s what I’m doing. There’s no chance you’ll lose. Unless you take a dive or some shit. You’re not gonna do that, are you?”

  I gave Hunter a sideways glance and he got it instantly.

  “All right, all right,” he said, putting his hands back up. “Just making sure.”

  “I know what it’s like. I know what it means to wear the patch. I don’t take this shit lightly.”

  “I’m glad you understand. Sebastian and Roman… Those boys saved my life. I owe ‘em everything. They’ve got respect.”

  “They’ve got mine. You do, too.”

  “Thanks, Mercer. That’s flattering—”

  “Shut the fuck up.”

  He burst into laughter, rocking his head back as he cackled. I let him have his moment and returned to my liquor. The smile left his face when he saw the bottle of whiskey.

  “Is that something you should be doing before a big fight?” he asked. “Drinking.”

  “And what do you know about fighting?” I said.

  “I’ve never been in some of the spectacles you’ve been in. I can’t imagine what it’s like. But I figure you’d be training in the gym or something. Skipping rope. Running laps. Hit a punching bag or something, I don’t know.”

  “This isn’t a boxing match. No gloves. No referee. This is a fuckin’ street fight. Some Spade is stepping to me and I’m gonna beat the shit out of him. It’s simple.”

  “That makes sense. Hey, who am I talking to? They called you No Mercy for a reason, right?”

  Hunter leaned in close to me. There was a good crowd at Hades, so everybody was minding their own business. He still whispered to me like he didn’t want anybody else to hear.

  “What was it like?” he said.

  “What was what like?”

  “I remember that fight. It was all over the news. What happened to Johnson… That shit was crazy just watching it. It must’ve been crazy for you.”

  I never talked about it with anybody. I kept it to myself whenever someone recognized me. But telling the truth to Danica freed me from a burden I’d been carrying for so long. And seeing as how Hunter was a man who wore the same patch as me, I figured I could be honest with him.