She swallowed hard. “I’m sorry about this. I guess I didn’t realize how scared I had been. I haven’t talked about it. I could only imagine how Cherokee feels.”
Lux caressed her hair. “It’s good that you are talking about it. We’re here for you, Mercy. We mean that.”
“I know, and I appreciate our…friendship,” she said, emphasizing the word friendship. However, one look into Lux’s eyes and then Fort’s, and she knew they didn’t just want to be friends. She was too nervous to look at Scout and Breaker. So instead, she changed topics.
“Well, I can tell you with a hundred percent certainty that Jessy didn’t learn his lesson,” she said.
“No?” Breaker asked, arms crossed and very monotone in his response. Like he knew she was changing the subject and avoiding the topic of attraction.
“He put a snake in my desk drawer yesterday morning.”
“A snake? What?” Scout asked, sounding angry.
“Yup, and it wasn’t so little.”
“You must have screamed down the classroom,” Fort said to her.
“No, I didn’t, actually, which surprised him entirely. God only knows what he will come up with next.”
“Maybe you need to talk to his parents,” Lux suggested.
“Already have. The principle talks to the parents on a regular basis. The kid is just a prankster. I honestly don’t think he means harm, he just wants to get that response of shock and awe.”
“Can’t blame the kid for that. Kind of like shock and awe myself.” Fort said, and eyed over her body. Scout stroked her hip, and Breaker and Lux stared at her with desire in their eyes.
She went to step away from Scout, but he held her more snugly.
“You stay right here. I like how it feels to have you in my arms and with my brothers right here with us,” he admitted.
His fingertip brushed the upper side of her ass. “Brothers?” she asked.
“Yup. I’d do anything for them, just as they would do for me. We’re close,” Scout said to her, and reached up and stroked her cheek.
“Very close,” Lux said, and she glanced at him and those big, brown eyes, that gorgeous smile, and that muscular body.
“We share everything,” Fort told her, taking her hand, bringing it to his lips and kissing her fingers.
She couldn’t breathe, and when Breaker pressed up against her back and kissed her bare shoulder, she tightened up. She was scared, aroused, and confused. How could she have feelings for these men, for any man or men, after what Canton had done to her?
Thoughts of Canton had her shaking.
“Whoa, easy, baby. What’s wrong?” Scout asked, cupping her cheek.
She held his gaze. “I think I should go back and join my friends,” she said to him.
“Why, when you’re enjoying our company and we’re enjoying yours? Friends first, remember?” he asked. It seemed like more than that, but then he was pulling her close and rocking her in his arms to the music. She held his gaze. He stared down at her lips and for a moment she wished she could not be so scared. He smelled good. Felt good, solid, muscular, and knowing he was part of Sons of Justice aroused her. His hand slid along her lower back, then up her back. She was lost in his embrace, intimidated by his size, his strength, and she thought how he could hurt her. One strike. One yank, one squeeze. One bullet.
Her eyes glazed with tears as he held her, and she tightened her eyes and pressed her cheek against his chest. She squeezed him and he held her.
His hand slid down over her lower back and then to her ass, shocking her both that he did that and also that she liked it. She pulled back. He cupped her cheek and neck and began to descend toward her mouth like he would kiss her. She stopped him, turning to the left. His lips hit her cheek and she locked gazes with Lux, saw his serious expression, and she quickly lowered her eyes and pulled away.
“I should really meet up with the others.”
“Wait, do you have a ride home?” Fort asked her.
“Bo is driving all of us.”
“Stay,” Fort said, holding her hand.
She couldn’t think. She wanted to stay. Right here with them. Between them. But it wouldn’t be a smart thing to do. Fort towered over her, and without looking away he said to Lux, “Order another round. I want to hear more about this wild side of Mercy. About how her being a school teacher, and maybe a few little secrets.” He reached up and stroked her jaw. When he gave her a wink she couldn’t help but blush.
She looked away and tried to gain some control here. She liked them. All four of them, but she couldn’t trust them. Friends first, they said. She could do that.
* * * *
Fort laughed even louder as Mercy told yet another classroom story. She had such a charismatic personality. He felt comfortable talking with her, and even Breaker and Scout were smirking more than they ever did with anyone. Mercy sat on the stool, legs crossed, looking sexy as could be, her hands moving as she told the tale with enthusiasm and made him envision exactly what was happening in her story. Lux stroked her shoulder, his arm around the back of her stool, and from where Fort was his eyes zeroed in on her breasts, now pouring from her top that dipped further as she put more enthusiasm into the character of her story. Currently, an eight-year-old boy with flatulence problems.
As she ended the story, they laughed. “Who would have thought that being a teacher would be so adventurous and funny? It wasn’t like that when we were in school,” Lux said to them.
“What? Mrs. Perkins was okay,” Fort said to his twin.
“Mrs. Perkins was ugly, and she yelled at the two of us all the time,” Lux replied.
“Oh no, the two of you were those kinds of twin boys? Maybe I shouldn’t have told you that last story,” she teased them, and Scout and Breaker chuckled.
“I don’t know how they were in elementary school. The four of us became friends later on in high school and then went through basic. Now that I think about it, there were a few incidences that were unclaimed by any soldiers at the time but did cause some additional calisthenics,” Scout said and narrowed his eyes at them.
Both Fort and Lux raised their hands up and at the same time said, “Wasn’t us.”
Now Mercy laughed, and the sound was so bubbly and infectious that they, too, laughed.
When they settled down, Fort held her gaze, reaching out and stroking her knee.
“Getting tired?” he asked her.
She glanced at her watch and her eyes widened. She slid off the bar stool.
“Oh my God. It’s three o’clock in the morning. Jesus,” she exclaimed and started to panic, looking around for her friends, and then Breaker touched her hand.
“We’re driving you home, sweetie. Your friends left thirty minutes ago,” he told her.
“They did what? They were supposed to wait and we were all to leave together,” she said, sounding panicked.
“I wasn’t even paying attention. We were talking,” she rambled on and looked really worried.
“Honey, they know you’re with us and that we would take you home. You’re safe with us,” Breaker told her.
She worried her bottom lip, held her purse in her hand.
“I’m not too sure about this,” she said and still looked around and then at her phone. Her eyes widened. She swallowed hard and Scout placed his hands on her shoulders behind her.
“Sweetie, we would never hurt you in any way. You’re safe with us. Channing knows that we’re giving you a ride home, too. Look at Breaker’s phone.”
Breaker showed her his cell phone and she made an annoyed face.
“Come on. Let’s head out,” Scout said, and she definitely looked worried, which made Fort wonder what happened in her life to put her on edge like this? She’d known them for quite some time. Knew what kind of men they were, and they were close with her brother and his team.
When they got to the truck and started getting inside, she grabbed onto the side rail, but Scout lifted her up and placed her i
nto the cab as if she were light as a feather. She gripped his arm and stared at Scout wide-eyed. “I could have gotten in.”
“I’m sure you could have, but then I wouldn’t have been able to feel you in my arms another time,” he said, and then kissed her cheek and stepped back. She slid over and right into Fort. Fort gave her a wink as Scout got in next to her, then Breaker drove and Lux took the passenger seat. All doors closed.
“So when is the first real break from school this year? Right before Thanksgiving or the week after?” Fort asked her.
“The day before Thanksgiving and then the week after, but we have to get through a lot of school work before then. Once December hits the kids’ brains begin to stop working for a spell with Santa on his way.”
“I bet that’s true,” he replied and then felt her tighten up as Scout placed his hand over her knee and began to stroke her skin. Her tan legs looked so good in that skirt she wore. They each took advantage of touching her as much as they could tonight. They didn’t even tell her they were leaving today for a mission. Staying out this late was going to hurt them later, but they would catch some sleep on the plane.
Fort placed his palm over her thigh and she looked at him.
“We had a good time tonight. It was nice just talking, and hearing more about you being a teacher. I bet the kids adore you.”
“I don’t know about that,” she said and went to look away. He reached up and stroked her cheek.
“Did you have fun talking to us?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said to him.
“Good. Can’t wait to do it again real soon,” he said.
“Fort,” she said, and he pressed closer and kissed her lips. He just couldn’t stop himself. When she tightened but didn’t pull back, he wanted to rejoice. He didn’t want to push his luck though, and he pulled back and then stroked her jaw.
“Delicious, just as I thought,” he said.
“Fort, you said friends,” she said to him, but then Scout cupped her cheek and turned her toward him.
“I think that kind of flew out the window the more time we spent with you tonight,” Scout said and pressed his lips to hers.
* * * *
As Breaker pulled the truck into the driveway of her house and turned off the ignition, he hesitated getting out. He wanted to. Wanted to kiss her goodnight, and have something to hold onto as they disappeared on a mission. He wondered if they should tell her, then thought they might sound like they were pushing for something more. This was just getting started. He got out when Lux did, who quickly pulled her into his arms and kissed her next.
She ran her hands along Lux’s back, and then Lux caressed her back.
“Hot damn, woman, I’ll be thinking about that kiss for days,” he said to her. She chuckled and then worried her bottom lip.
Breaker reached his hand out for her to take. She looked at it, then at him, with those light green eyes, those full, wet lips, and she placed her hand into his and he gave her a wink. Holding her close, he ran one hand along her hip to her ass and then other he cupped her neck and cheek, as she tilted her head back and he stared at her a moment.
“Gorgeous,” he said and pressed his lips to hers. The idea of being her friend first was definitely not going to last long. He wanted her. In his bed, shared between his brothers, as their woman. Now he didn’t want to leave for this mission at all.
Chapter Two
“We should contact your son, or go there, talk to Mercy, and find out what she did with the rest of the money that was taken from that barrel. We don’t even know how much was in there,” Canton said to Gyles Slayer.
Gyles shook his head. “It’s over. You pushed her way too far. I knew when she did that hit that it would be her last. I’m just glad that she didn’t purposely get us all caught. I shouldn’t have allowed you to persuade me to use her again.”
“How can you say that when her abilities and talent made us a lot of money?”
“She’s my daughter, Canton. I lost her by pushing her do the dirty work. She wants a new life, let her have it. We don’t need her and she isn’t worth it, can’t you see that? We’ve got the other racers. The business is booming and we’re making our way up the circuit.”
Canton grunted and then slammed his hand down on Gyles’s desk.
“I want her back. She belongs with me. She’s my woman.”
Gyles looked at him straight faced.
“She left you. It’s over.”
“The fuck it is. We know where she is. You have your son’s contact information.”
“I don’t talk to him and he doesn’t talk to me. He thinks he’s all high and mighty because of the Corps. Fuck him. He chose to leave the family and his sister did the same now. Let them have one another. “
“This is bullshit. There’s money she’s sitting on or spending. She’s my woman, and she belongs in my bed and under my control.”
“You pissed her off, Canton. You fucked up. It’s over.” Gyles said, rising from his seat.
Canton shoved Gyles back down into his chair. “The fuck it is. I’m going to get her back, and you’ll help me and so will your wife,” Canton said and then turned around and walked out of the office. He slammed the door closed, bringing attention to him by the other workers. They knew he was in charge. They also knew how pissed off he’d been the better part of the year. He wanted Mercy back. In his arms, in his bed, and at his command. He underestimated her abilities when pissed off. Being forceful with her the night of the hit, making her succumb to his commands while the others, including her father, were in the room right outside the bedroom was to make her weak and realize that Canton was in control of her life and her destiny.
Fucking other women wasn’t working or helping to put Mercy out of his head. It was like she sought her revenge and got the last laugh on him by leaving him, and by taking part of the money, never mind returning some to the establishment they ripped off. She had been so quiet, so strategic in her plan. When she cried and begged for him to stop, it just added validated more that he possessed her in every way. She was his, and no other man would have her.
Hell, she couldn’t walk after he fucked her long and hard. She should have been obedient and she wasn’t. She’d pay for that, and if she wasn’t being faithful, she’d pay for that, too. He needed to make a plan, not underestimate her capabilities.
He thought about that as he got into his truck and sped out of the parking lot. He gripped the steering wheel. She’d better be faithful. She better not be fucking some cowboy out in Texas. The anger and jealousy ate at his gut. He slammed the steering wheel and then pulled off the road and into the parking lot of a bar. He had some planning of his own to do. Mercy would be back in his bed, back behind the wheel of the race car working for her dad and him, and back where she belonged. If she didn’t want to do any hits, then so be it. They were few and far between now. They were all making money in different ways and with different people. In fact, he better not drink too much right now, he had a meeting with Scorpio. Now he had some deep connections. Maybe he could use his resources to get Mercy back, especially since her brother was military and perhaps protecting her.
A plan was forming in his head. He’d have Mercy back in no time. She feared him and his capabilities. All he would need was some rope and a hotel room, and she would be back where she belonged and under his control.
He smirked and then ordered a beer. She wouldn’t know what hit her.
* * * *
Mercy knew something was wrong and felt different right after work Monday. All day she had a funny sensation in her gut. So when she got out of school and drove to her place, noticing that neither Scout, Breaker, Lux, nor Fort were anywhere in sight and instead Channing stood by his truck outside her house, it hit her. Something was wrong.
She took an unsteady breath as her brother looked her over, smiled softly instead of with enthusiasm. “How was work?”
“Okay. What’s going on? Is it bad?” she asked him.
> “Doesn’t have to be bad. Why would you ask that?”
She took an unsteady breath as they walked to her front door and she unlocked it. She was afraid to admit her feelings and what was going through her head. How apparently she had become accustomed to Lux, Fort, Breaker, and Scout watching over her and showing up wherever she was as a form of protection. If she admitted that to Channing then he would think she could accept his friends as her guardians and even her boyfriends. She couldn’t do that. She wasn’t mentally or physically ready.
“You haven’t come over to stand guard by my house in months. Something is up,” she said to him as they entered.
She couldn’t help but wonder why Lux or Fort weren’t here. As much as it annoyed her, though she had rather gotten used to it, now that neither man was here, making sure she got home okay or just to say hello, her anxiety went up a notch.
“I’m just making sure you got home okay.”
“Want something to drink?” she asked, taking out two bottles of water. He nodded and then took a seat by the island in her kitchen.
He looked at her.
“What?” she asked.
“Things are going to be different. You accept this, it’s different than what goes on in town. Here, it’s more intense, Mercy. It’s serious shit being the woman of members of the Sons of Justice.”
“Whoa, what are you talking about?” she asked, her heart racing.
“Scout, Breaker, Lux, and Fort, being your guardians, your men.”
“What?” Her voice cracked and instantly her body was shaking. She wasn’t going to have them as her men. She couldn’t. She wasn’t even ready to let a man touch her intimately. The kisses they shared had been too much and sent her into nightmares when she finally fell asleep. In fact, she had been relieved that none of the men showed up on Sunday or tried to contact her. Then she actually wondered why they hadn’t, and then damned herself for having the feelings she did. She even thought they used her or played a game with her. Then she figured they abided by her need to be friends first. She went round and round and ultimately felt disappointed by not hearing from any of them. She was confused, and now her brother was adding more confusion to her brain.
Sons of Justice 2 The School Teacher Page 4