Have Mercy

Content Warning: This naughty yet hilarious story explores the complex subjects of identity, stigma, and sex work. The issues of passing and colorism within the African American community are lightly explored. Due to the coarse language and explicit sex scenes, this story is intended for readers over the age of 18. Mercy Higgins. Cantankerous Widow. Prized Teacher. Beloved Escort. In an industry where erotic skills matter, she sucks. But, not in a good way. Mercy is a cantankerous fifty-eight year old African American widow who still mourns the deaths of her husband and stillborn daughter. When catastrophic medical bills threaten her retirement savings, Mercy decides that morality is left to those who can afford it, and she becomes a prostitute hoping to earn money to settle her debts. To garner a client list, Mercy hosts evening soirees, and her house unjustly earns the label of Washington D.C.’s newest brothel. Soon drawn into Mercy’s mad scheme, her middle-aged tenants revel in the spotlight their notoriety has created. As they navigate the murky waters of social stigma and wield the mercurial moods of their powerful clients, the ladies will test their moral limits and sexual boundaries. Particularly for Mercy, as she handles a young, new–and White–client, Major Jackson Ransom, who is hell-bent on having the older woman, even if it means barreling through her emotional barriers to get to her heart.