Chapter 13 – Mordecai Has No Mercy

“I swear to the heavens Mordecai, I will kill you,” I warned.

He shrugged. “I’m happy to die this way.”

“Don’t do it,” I pleaded, but alas, my plea fell upon deaf ears as the idiot tipped the mug.

It had been three weeks since I went out with my brothers, and it had honestly been the best time, despite the problems around. Mordecai and I were considerably closer, and I was closer and closer to knocking my walls down, but I wasn’t there just yet.

We were currently standing in the kitchen, where the idiot in question had just tipped over my cup of hot chocolate. He claims I’m too addicted to it, though it’s just his revenge on me since I did that to all his alcohol.

It had dawned on me that while Charlie had handled Mordecai’s drug problem, no-one had addressed his drinking problem. My decision was made final when I watched him finish a bottle of Scotch in an hour without even breaking a sweat.

He’s a heavy weight for sure.

I went on a scavenger hunt with Geronimo while Kai was asleep, and we found all of his alcohol, even in the hidden places. We were caught just as we’d drained the last bottle. It’s safe to say that Mordecai was absolutely mortified by our actions. He didn’t talk to us for five days, and it took him that long to realize that we were just doing it to help him.

“But I’m not addicted,” I whined as I watched the last drop fall into the sink.

“This was your fifth cup this past hour alone,” he pointed out, deadpan.

I pouted. “It’s Ger’s famous white hot chocolate though.”

“And you can have a cup every three days,” he said, pretty chuffed.

“That’s so mean!” I moaned.

“It’s the price we pray for abstinence gorgeous,” he winked.

He was making me join his alcohol and drug resistance.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Whatever you meanie!”

He wrapped his arms around my waist, a silly smile on his face. “You have to be strong for me gorgeous.”

Oh that damn smile!

“But then... Argh fine!” I sulked.

“I’ll make it worthwhile,” he chuckled.

“Oh yeah? How do you plan on doing that?” I smirked.

“Well, I could start with this,” he said before claiming my lips.

“Really Mordecai? You’re screwing your nurse?” that annoying voice drawled.

We pulled apart to see none other than Judith. Up until now, she wasn’t really aware of our relationship, if you could even call it that. The whole ‘Mordecai Hart is a murderer’ thing didn’t really die down like she hoped it would.

She’s still not done anything about it, and even Mordecai’s most loyal fans are beginning to question his silence on the whole situation. I’ve tried to get him to go against her, but he trusts her too much. She hates the fact that I don’t agree with anything she says.

“I’m not screwing anyone Judith,” he replied, still not letting go of me.

“Whatever this is, had better not come out to the press. The last thing you need right now is a scandal involving your nurse,” Judith warned.

“My love life is my business,” Mordecai said strongly.

That surprised me for two reasons.

Firstly, he was actually taking a stand against Judith on something, and secondly, he considered me a part of his love life. I mean, we’ve been at this for a month now, and I haven’t been sure where I stand, but to hear him put me under that category was sort of a relief for me.

“Love life? Oh please Mordecai! You wouldn’t know love if it hit you in the face,” she scoffed.

“What can we help you with Judith?” I asked her, getting very annoyed with her presence.

“I am not here for you, nor will I ever be. I’m here to discuss business with my client,” she said icily.

“Whatever you have to tell me, you can say in front of Bev,” Mordecai told her.

She looked irritated. “Seriously?”

“I’m dead serious,” he replied.

I felt my heart skip a little beat.

“Alright, whatever pleases Your Majesty. I just got word that they are reviewing the trilogy for The Hunters, and they might kill off your character because of this accident,” she informed. The Hunters is one of the biggest franchises in the history of movies.

“What? I’m the lead!” Mordecai said angrily.

“I know that, but they are weighing their options because of your current image,” she replied.

“Which you’re doing nothing about!” I pointed out.

“Excuse me? You don’t know what I’m doing!” she snapped.

I scowled. “Because you’re not exactly sharing.”

“I don’t have to tell you anything!” she scoffed.

“No, but you do have to tell me,” Mordecai jumped in.

She glared at him. “I told you to trust me.”

“And I’ve done that without a doubt for the past month, but Bevis right! You haven’t exactly shown that you’re doing anything regarding the situation. I should be trying to clear my name,” he argued.

“Instead you’re here screwing the help,” she sneered.

“First of all, he’s not screwing me. Secondly, you told him to stay here,” I countered.

“I don’t have to listen to this! I’m a professional at what I do, and if you want to doubt my skills, then maybe you should get another agent!” she said before storming off.

“Well that was something else,” I commented.

Mordecai frowned. “Something isn’t right here.”

“I’ve been saying that,” I reminded.

“Do you think we should investigate?” he asked.

“We can’t really do much investigating considering your condition,” I said as I looked down at his leg.

“But the cast comes off next week,” he reminded.

“True, but you also start physiotherapy then. Only when your physiotherapist gives the ok, can you then start playing 007,” I pointed out.

He was healing quite rapidly now. His ribs weren’t as sensitive anymore, and I’d been massaging him every night to loosen his muscles from the shock of the accident. I only learnt two weeks ago that he had muscle spasms that he hadn’t mentioned. The wounds on his back were closed and had left seven scars in their place.

“Speaking of which, is it going to hurt?” he asked. I could hear the uneasiness in his voice.

I nodded. “Like a bitch.”

“Will you be there?” he asked.

“Every step of the way,” I smiled.

“Good,” he breathed in relief.

“I’m pretty sure the two of you are being rather unprofessional right now,” a voice said from the doorway. I turned to see a good looking guy with long curly hair and green eyes.

“You haven’t been around for almost two months and that’s the first thing you say?” Mordecai asked him. I could feel the anger radiating from him.

I cupped his cheek. “Hey, calm down.”

The last thing he needs is anger and high stress levels.

“I’m calm,” he lied as he turned to me. I gave him a look that showed just how much I believed that.

“Ok, maybe not, but with reason,” he argued.

“Whatever reason it is, deal with it. You can’t have these high levels of stress and anger,” I scolded.

“You should listen to your nurse, despite her unprofessionalism,” the guy at the door stated. I glared at him.

He wasn’t helping.

“Get out!” Mordecai told him.

“Is that how you treat your brother nowadays?” the guy asked.

“You’re Zebedee?” I asked. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this wasn’t it.

“Yes I am. Who might you be?” he asked.

“Beverly Rhymes,” I replied.

He frowned. “Nell’s best friend?”

“Yeah,” I responded.

“Oh! I was told Kai’s with his nurse,” he said, the confusion still there.

“He is,” I replied.

“Hold on one bit! They recruited you to be my brother’s nurse, and now the two of you are clearly more than just patient and nurse,” he observed.

“Pretty much! Problem?” Mordecai asked.

Zebedee shrugged. “As long as she’s doing her job.”

Mordecai glared. “I’m alive, aren’t I?”

“Alright! Whatever this is, you’d better sort out in a civilized manner,” I told them both.

“There’s nothing to sort out. Mordecai just needs to stop being a baby,” Zebedee spat as he glared at his little brother.

“Get out! I mean it!” Mordecai said icily.

“I’m not going anywhere, so you may as well deal with it,” Zebedee replied.

“Zeb, I swear to God-”

“Go upstairs,” I instructed.

“Not until he’s out of my house,” he refused.

“Please,” I pouted. He scowled before glaring at me.

“I hate that thing,” he mumbled before grabbing his crutches and heading out of the kitchen and up the stairs.

“That’s quite the influence you have on him,” Zebedee commented.

“It’s a mutual thing. Look, I don’t know why the hell he’s mad at you, and I know he won’t handle this like a civilized person, so I’ll have to liaise between the two of you,” I told him.

“He trusts you that much?” he asked.

“I know most things about him and he doesn’t want to hide anything from me – his words, not mine,” I replied.

“Fair enough. He’s mad at me because I sold our parent’s house in Madrid,” he informed me.

“What’s so special about it?” I asked.

“It had nothing special about it. It was just a party house for Mordecai when he’s there. Since the accident, I saw fit to get rid of it and of anything else that I think contributes to his wild side, and as you saw, he’s royally pissed off at me for that. I’m just trying to help my brother, but he’s blinded by fury to see that,” he explained.

“Then you let it be. There’s no use explaining anything to him when it comes to the things he was addicted to. Just let him be and he’ll come around,” I suggested.

“That’s why I wasn’t planning on leaving,” he smiled.

“Good on you then! Is the house still on sale?” I asked.

He frowned. “Yes, why?”

“No reason! If you’ll excuse me, I have a bomb to diffuse,” I sighed.

“Beverly?” he called me as I was leaving the room.

I turned to face him. “Yes?”

“Has he said anything about wanting you to be his wife?” he asked. I blushed instantly.

“Uh, yeah,” I replied.

“Welcome to the family,” he chuckled.

I scowled. “Thanks?”

“I’ll be in the game room if I’m needed,” he notified me.

“Ok,” I said.

I went upstairs, and for the first time in a long time, music was blasting from Mordecai’s room. From the classical music, I knew he was seriously pissed off. I was rather fascinated to learn that he listens to classical music only when he’s angry, and rock music when he’s calm.

Weird man this.

“Hey,” I said after turning down the volume.

“He told you,” he said.

I nodded. “He did.”

“And now you think I’m being ridiculous,” he sighed.

“No, I don’t. I do however, believe that the house does mean something to you, and that you never opened up to him about it,” I pointed out as I joined him on the bed. He looked at me with curious eyes.

“How are you able to read me so easily?” he asked.

“I don’t know. It’s just like how you read me so easily,” I responded. He was quiet for a while.

“He doesn’t realize it, but I had almost all my firsts there. Our parents loved that house, so we were there quite a lot. To him, the house is of no value, but to me, it’s more than a party house. I only made it a party house to keep the happy memories alive. I said my first word there, I took my first step there, I burned my first object there, I kissed a girl for the first time there, I realized my talent for acting there, I had my graduation party there, and it’s the last place where my parents told me how proud of me they were,” he informed me.

“Then buy it back,” I told him.

“What?” he asked.

“I asked Zebedee if it was still for sale, and he said it is. Just buy it back. It’s not like you don’t have the money,” I pointed out.

“You’re a genius!” he beamed as he brought me into his side.

“I know, but you’re only allowed to buy it back if you won’t make it a party house. There are other ways to keep happy memories alive,” I said.

“I know. Now that I have you, I’ve realized that. Maybe we could go sometime after I’m healed,” he smiled.

“You see me in your future after these next two months?” I asked.

“I thought I already made that clear gorgeous,” he replied.

“I guess it’s hard to take you seriously sometimes,” I teased.

“That’s a mean thing to say,” he feigned hurt.

I shrugged with a smile on my face. “You’re all about mean.”

“Whatever! Where’s Zeb? I know he didn’t actually leave,” he asked.

“Game room,” I informed.

“Stupid turd!” he mumbled.

“Kai!” I giggled.

“What? It’s true!” he smirked.

I raised an amusing eyebrow. “And you call me mean?”

“Don’t try and use me to redeem yourself,” he chuckled.

I mock glared at him. “You suck!”

“You’ll find out how well one day,” he smirked. I blushed a deep red while he laughed at me.

“You’re horrible,” I mumbled.

He kissed my nose. “And you’re adorable.”

“Kai, what are we?” I asked after a while of silence.

“What do you want us to be?” he asked.

I bit my lip. “I don’t know – more?”

“Ok,” he smiled.

I frowned. “Ok?”

“Ok!” he chuckled.

“Vague bastard,” I murmured.

“Did you mean to say that out loud?” he asked amusedly.

“Yep!” I smirked.

“Mean munchkin,” he commented. I smacked his chest as he laughed.

“I’m hungry,” I sighed.

“Ger isn’t here,” he reminded.

“God gave me hands and the ability to make my own food,” I said, deadpan.

“Ooh, you’re finally going to cook something for me. I’ve been waiting for this day,” he said excitedly.

“That’s not what I actually had in mind,” I laughed.

He pouted. “Aw, please?”

“Fine! But don’t blame me when you die,” I pointed out.

He rolled his eyes. “I’d be dead.”

“Then don’t haunt me,” I corrected.

“You have that much faith in your own cooking?” he chuckled.

I shrugged. “Pretty much.”

“It can’t possibly be that bad,” he argued.

Mordecai has no mercy!

He didn’t even spare my feelings when he threw up the bean soup I ended up making. He threw it up, drank a whole bottle of water in one go, and then ordered pizza. He even brushed his teeth to ‘get the bad taste out of his mouth’.

No mercy whatsoever.

“I’m sorry,” he apologized for the millionth time. I just ignored him for the millionth time.

“What did you do?” Geronimo asked as he walked into the kitchen. He had grocery bags with him. I found out that he does the grocery shopping, and not Eloise, Mordecai’s helper.

“I made him food and he threw it up and ordered himself pizza,” I was the one to reply.

“Is your cooking that bad?” Geronimo chuckled.

“It’s on the stove. You try it,” Mordecai told him. He headed that way and tried my soup before spitting it out.

He scowled. “That isn’t food Beverly.”

“I can’t cook ok? I can make a mean sandwich, but cooking just isn’t a strength for me,” I huffed.

“And you couldn’t make me a sandwich?” Mordecai asked amusedly.

“You were excited about my cooking,” I whined.

“You’re too adorable gorgeous,” he chuckled before kissing my forehead.

“What did the two of you get up to anyway?” Geronimo asked.

“Just chilling,” we both replied.

He rolled his eyes at us. “You’re such an adventurous couple.”

“There’s not much to do in the house that we haven’t already done,” Mordecai argued. He had a point.

“So, you’ve had a games night?” Zebedee asked as he walked into the lounge.

“Well no,” I replied.

“Then let’s have a games night tonight. You two against Ger and I,” Zebedee suggested.

“You’re on!” I smirked.

The pizza arrived, while Geronimo made burgers and fries on top of that. We had dinner, laughing and joking around. Mordecai opened up to Zebedee about the real reason he didn’t want the house in Madrid sold, and Zebedee said he’d cancel the contract with the estate agents since the house hasn’t been sold yet. Mordecai was fine with the sale of the other estates and things.

“Are you ready to eat dirt?” Geronimo asked Mordecai and I.

“You clearly have no idea who you’re talking to,” I smirked. I had that much confidence in Mordecai and I.

We settled for Scrabble, a short game of Monopoly and charades. As expected, Mordecai and I kicked ass at both Scrabble and Monopoly, but it was our understanding and chemistry that amazed me when it came to charades.

“Lord of The Rings!” I shouted.

“She got it,” Geronimo mumbled as Mordecai kissed me... again. He’d been doing that for every answer I got right.

Which was every answer!

Zebedee shook his head. “How the fuck did you get that right? He looked like he was convulsing at some point! I would’ve never guessed that shit!”

“She’s my soul mate brother. She gets me like no other,” Mordecai smiled. I also smiled, despite my blush.

“You’re definitely not going anywhere,” Geronimo commented as Mordecai checked his phone.

“Excuse me,” he said before getting up and heading to the kitchen.

“You guys really think this could work?” I asked Zebedee and Geronimo.

“He’s my brother and I’ve never seen him like this before. He’s probably in love with you, and he might not even be aware. Personally, I do think that the two of you are suited for each other. It’s interesting watching your bond. It’s so natural – like you’ve known each other for years. You put up with things that most of us want to kill him for,” Zebedee chuckled. He had already apologized for being rude to me when we first spoke.

“Ain’t that the truth! But on a serious note, Zeb is right. I’ve also known Kai basically my whole life, and it took you coming into his life for me to understand what he truly meant when he said if he ever said he wanted to marry a woman, we should help him. The two of you just work,” Geronimo smiled. Before I could reply, voices came from the lobby.

“Bev!” Mordecai called.

“Coming,” I said before getting up and going to him. When I got there, he was standing with some other guy.

“This is Dean, my lawyer. He’s brought over some papers for me. Please do me a favour and sign on the indicated areas,” Mordecai told me.

I raised an eyebrow. “What am I signing?”

“It’s nothing bad. I promise,” he smiled.

“It’s not an NDA or shit like that right?” I asked.

“I would never make you sign anything like that,” he said, deadpan.

“Just checking, though I don’t like signing things I don’t know anything about,” I said, deciding to trust him by signing all the pages he made me sign.

“Well Miss Rhymes, it gives me pleasure to be the one to tell you that you are officially, the co-owner of everything Mr Hart-Tedder owns,” Dean told me.

WHAT?

“I’m sorry what? I thought you said I co-own everything Mordecai does,” I said as I choked on air.

“You heard correctly, though technically the Merc is now fully in your name, not mine,” Mordecai was the one to respond.

“Why?” I asked him.

“Because this is my answer to your question,” he smiled.

I was confused. “What question?”

“You asked what are we, and this is my answer. You’re my partner, even if we’re not bound legally,” he explained.

I could’ve died right there and then.

“I...” I trailed off, speechless.

“Beverly Rhymes, would you do me the honour of being my girlfriend?” he asked. I was about to answer when the door bell went.

“Hold that thought,” he said before opening the door.

A blonde woman stood there with a guy behind her. The guy looked like her driver since he was carrying bags. I could remember seeing her face somewhere, but I just couldn’t figure out where. She stood there expectantly.

Mordecai scowled. “Mendel Gold?”

That’s it! She’s the pop star.

“Where’s my room?” she asked.

Mordecai raised an eyebrow. “Excuse me?”

“I’m moving in!” she stated.

WHAT?