Free Save Me by Ashley Monahan

“what if” game in his head.  What if they’d met under different circumstances?  What if he wasn’t in the gang?  What if she was “the one” and he let her slip away?  What if he left the gang?  What if he just ran?   Then he was pulled back to reality.  This was his life.
    Marc went to sleep dreaming of Mercy.  A life that might have been.  A better life.
     
    In the morning, Marc still couldn’t shake his thoughts of her.  Going against all of his better judgment, he drove to the nearest flower shop and purchased two dozen long stem red roses for delivery.  Once he left the shop, he instantly regretted his impulsive decision.  He was half tempted to go back and cancel when his phone rang.  His master called.
     
    *****
     
    Mercy
    Mercy was resting on the couch when the doorbell rang.  She picked up her crutches and made her way to the front door.  Some day she would be able to use her damn prosthesis for more than a few hours at a time.  After having it on her leg all day at work, she couldn’t bear to wear it once she was home. 
    She looked out the window and saw an FTD uniform shirt.  They clearly had the wrong house.
    “Can I help you?” Mercy asked.
    “I have a delivery for Mercy Kendrick.”  The delivery girl held the flowers out.
    She was dumbfounded.
    “Thank you. ”  The delivery girl waited for her to take the flowers.  “Would you mind bringing them in for me?”
    The delivery girl brought them into kitchen then let herself out.  Mercy picked up the card and read.
    I can’t stop thinking about your beautiful smile. 
    You’ve enchanted me and I can’t break the spell.
    Her face lit into a huge smile and she breathed in the sweet aroma of the striking roses.  The card wasn’t signed, but she knew who it was from. 
    “Marc,” she said to herself and read the note again.  How he tortured her.
     
    *****
     
    Marc
    Marc drove his car into the garage and walked into the breezeway.  He spent his day at Ace’s by the pool.  Beautiful women surrounded him, but he had no interest.  They were cheap whores, worse actually, they were free whores.  A little champagne, a few hits, and they would wrap their legs around anyone in the gang.
    Marc picked up a pizza on his way home, too tired and too lazy to cook a proper meal.  He sustained himself on junk food, but one wouldn’t be able to tell by his physique.  Marc slapped a piece of pizza on a plate and sat down at his dining room table.  Alone.  Again.
    Knock, knock, knock
    A knocking at the door interrupted his fancy dinner.  Marc walked to the door and looked out the peep hole.  What he saw surprised the hell out of him.  He opened the door, excitement surging through his veins.
    “Mercy…”
    Mercy pulled Marc’s face down to hers taking him in a wanton kiss.  Marc wrapped his arms around her back pulling her flush against him and willingly participated.
    “We shouldn’t be doing this,” Mercy said between breaths.
    “No, we shouldn’t.”  Marc walked them backward into the house and pushed the door closed.
    “You’re dangerous.”
    “You shouldn’t be here.”  Marc pressed her against the wall.
    “Then why don’t want to be anywhere else?”
    Intertwined in one another, Marc worked their way to his bedroom, a lamp and picture falling victim to their hasty journey.
    Just as gently as he had their previous interlude, Marc helped undress her and put her clothing next to the bed.
    “You’re so fucking beautiful.”  Marc crawled like a predator on the bed toward her.
    “You don’t have to lie to me.”  Mercy was self-conscio us of her appearance, Marc didn’t have to be a genius to figure that out.
    “I’m not lying.”  Marc looked down upon her body, which was absolutely fucking perfect in his opinion.
    “I’m not beautiful, look at me.” 
    “I am.”
    “But my leg…” Mercy tugged on his arms trying to bring him closer, away from her leg. 
    Marc pulled the s tocking off that