Sons Of Justice 4: Her Beast of Burden (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

“Restrained? What the fuck? Spartan, what other injuries?”

  “She wasn’t sexually assaulted, but her injuries resulted from an attempt.”

  “Fuck,” he exclaimed and then rubbed his chin as they headed out the door. John and Cherokee were there.

  “I heard. Can I go, too?” Cherokee asked.

  Spartan nodded. Big John could see the concern on her face.

  They got into the Jeep and headed over to Kendra’s place, which was on the outskirts of Repose. John tried getting in touch with his team, but they were in the field running strategic combat training.

  “I’ll have John get in touch with Quantico. One of them will head out to the training area and notify your team.”

  Big John turned his head quickly to the right when he felt Cherokee’s hand on his.

  “It will be okay. Whatever went down, she got out of there and she came here, closer to you and your team.”

  “She didn’t come to us.”

  “Why would she when you’re not dating her or have staked a claim yet? You haven’t claimed guardianship of her,” Cherokee stated.

  “We have plans for Saturday,” he said to her.

  “Then it will work out fine. She’s not one to talk about herself. She keeps things inside, and obviously none of us, her good friends even knew she had a sister or was dealing with any form of trouble. We just knew about her ex-boyfriend bothering her.”

  “Bothering her? Was it him?”

  “No,” Spartan said from the driver’s seat, and Cherokee leaned back in her seat.

  “Then who?” he asked.

  “Bo said it was her sister’s boyfriend. He was drunk, they were having a huge party at the house, and he came in after her as she got out of the shower,” Cherokee stated.

  “No, fuck, Cherokee, did he—”

  “No. She fought him off, but apparently her sister walked in and she found out that her sister told her boyfriend if he wanted to have sex with any other women it could only be Sam.”

  “What the fuck?” Big John stated.

  “Exactly. That’s all I know, and that was all she told Bo, Kendra, Merica, and Brazille. She’ll need all of us now. We’ll find out everything, and we’ll help her.”

  Big John was fuming mad and also had so many questions he didn’t know where to begin. As they pulled up in front of Kendra’s place, there were cars all over. All her friends, Channing, Philippe, Thor, and Bubba were outside, and they got out and greeted them.

  “Hey, Big John,” Bubba said and shook his hand.

  “Where is she?” he asked, wanting to get in there to see her.

  “Lying down. She’ll be okay. It’s a bad bruise along her jaw and cheek, so talking hurts. She’s very upset,” Bubba told him.

  Channing gripped John’s shoulder.

  “Be calm. I know it’s going to be difficult because it’s obvious that you and your team care for her, but we need to find out details. We need to know if danger is heading this way.”

  Big John squinted, and anger filled him once again. It must be bad for Channing to say this. That her pretty face was battered and bruised. He walked past them and into the house. The women all looked up at him, wide-eyed. He knew he was big, intimidating looking.

  “Which room?” he barked. Kendra stood up and showed him. “Thank you. For everything,” he said to her, and she nodded, and then he opened the door. Sam’s back was toward him.

  “Sam?” He said her name as he approached.

  “I don’t want you to see, Big John.” She sniffled.

  “Well, that’s not an option, baby. My team and I care so much about you. Come on now and let me see the damage.” He sat on the edge of the bed and caressed her arm. She slowly rolled toward him, and his anger was immediate.

  “I’ll be okay,” she said, cheek all bruised up, lip cut, and she reached out to touch him, and he saw the fingermarks, deep bruises on her wrists.

  “Fuck,” he whispered and reached out to stroke her hair. “Who did this, and where is the dick now?”

  “Please, John.”

  “I want to know where he is, and it better be in fucking jail!” He raised his voice, and she closed her eyes tight.

  “No.” She shook her head.

  “Why the fuck not? He assaulted you. Cherokee said he tried to rape you.”

  “He wasn’t successful. I fought him off. He was drunk.”

  “This time. Has he tried this before? Is this why you were resistant to us at first?”

  “It’s a long screwed-up story, and I don’t know what I’m going to do. It hurts to talk though. My head hurts, too. I’m just angry and hurt, and I didn’t want you to know about any of this. About my struggles and what life has been like. Please, Big John, it really does hurt to talk. Give me some time. Let me rest and gain my energy and strength to explain things. Please,” she said, voice cracking.

  He stared at her, at the bruises, at her tears, her red nose and blotchy chest, and how feminine and sweet she was. She needed protection.

  “He belongs behind bars.” He stroked her hair then cupped her good cheek. She blinked the tears away.

  “I can’t press charges.”

  His scowl grew deeper. “Why the fuck not?” he asked in a strong tone.

  “He’ll hurt my sister and the baby.”

  He squinted at her. “The same sister that told him it was acceptable for him to cheat on her but only with you?”

  More tears flowed.

  “I was so scared, John, and hurt, betrayed, especially because I’ve been helping Cass all this time and my mom and the baby, and they were using me. I was so stupid, and it’s my own fault for sticking around and feeling guilty for some stupid reason. I wanted a family. I wanted everyone to care, but apparently I’m the only one who cares, and it’s created more burdens, more pain than even these damn bruises. But I realize now that we aren’t a family. We never will be a family. That I’m alone in this world, and I need to face that. To focus on me and on surviving. They’re self-centered, and I’ve been stupid. I wanted to break free. I was working on getting out of there and leaving them all for good.” She closed her eyes and sniffled.

  “It hurts so much to talk,” she added.

  “You need ice, and you need to explain what’s going on to all of us.”

  “I know.” She caressed his arm. “Help me get up. For some reason, my whole body aches.”

  He was fuming mad and wanted to rage, to hunt down this dick and put a beating on him. What type of man did this shit?

  Just as he pulled her up and hugged her to him, he heard the footsteps, and then Flint, Tiny, and Reeves headed into the room all dressed in camo and looking angry and intense.

  “She’s okay. She’s here with us, and we’ll take care of her, protect her together,” he said, and she pulled back and looked at them.

  “What the fuck?” Tiny exclaimed and closed the space between them.

  She pressed her palms to his chest.

  “It will be okay.”

  Tiny looked at Big John, and no words needed to be said. They would handle this, and no one would get close enough to hurt Sam again. No one.

  Reeves and Flint stood side by side, and Reeves had his hands on his hips.

  “This has something to do with why you lied to us? Why you were pushing us away?” he asked.

  “Yes.”

  “What the fuck happened?” Flint asked, stepping closer and cupping her chin, tilting it up and then to the side as he inspected the bruising.

  “He could have broken your fucking jaw. Did you see a doctor?”

  “No.”

  “We’ll call Dr. Genova and have him look,” Reeves stated, looking angry but distant.

  Until they knew everything that was going on in Sam’s life and what danger she was in, they would all have questions, feel on edge, and worry that she wouldn’t commit like they wanted her to. That maybe she truly wasn’t ready for this relationship. It made Big John feel sick, and then he realized he wanted
her. As his woman, to protect her, possess her, and make her his and his team’s woman. They would handle this, one step at a time.

  Chapter Four

  “So let me get this straight. Your mom caused the accident, was drugged out, and you had to pay the medical bills and the damage on the vehicle? Your sister didn’t do shit?” Kendra asked.

  “No. My sister is…weak.” She looked around the room at all the faces. At the people who seemed to really care about her. Why hadn’t she left Cadenville sooner?

  “So her boyfriend, this guy Jerry, as he attempted to force himself on you claimed that your ex Vinny covered the debt so now you owe him?” Reeves asked her, and she nodded her head.

  “I should have known when he came into work earlier last night that he was up to something,” she said to them.

  “He came into work to see you? What did he say? What did he want?” Tiny asked firmly.

  She swallowed hard.

  “What he always wants, except this time he was cockier than usual.”

  “What do you mean? What does he always want?” Bo asked.

  Sam stared at her with tears in her eyes but then looked down at her wrists.

  “Me. Under his ownership and under him in bed.”

  “Fuck.” Big John exhaled.

  “That isn’t going to fucking happen. We want their full names. We’re going to contact whoever is head in the department there in town, and you will be pressing charges against Jerry,” Tiny stated.

  “No. I can’t do that. He’ll take it out on Cass and on the baby.”

  “This is the same fucking woman who sold you out? The one you have been carrying, doing work for so her asshole boyfriend, which I remind you tried to rape you and put that beating on you that we’re trying to handle seeing, and didn’t do shit to help pay the debt and you’re worried about her? Are you out of your mind?” Reeves asked her.

  “I don’t want to be responsible or feel responsible if he hurts her and the baby. I need to pay the three thousand, and then I’ll be free and clear.”

  “Done,” Flint said, arms crossed.

  “No, Flint,” she whispered.

  “Yes, Sam, because that’s what guardians do. That’s what we will do for our woman,” Flint stated.

  She opened her mouth to speak.

  “Spartan’s here, and Cesar, too. Do you accept us as your guardians?” Tiny asked.

  “Accept us claiming you as our woman?” Reeves asked. Her eyes widened, and tears filled her eyes.

  “Say yes, so we can care for you, protect you, and help you to put all this bullshit and heartache behind you,” Big John stated.

  “Are you sure? I mean I understand if it’s temporary. We were going to seal the deal Saturday on our date,” he stated confidently and firmly. Reeves said to her.

  “It isn’t temporary. Now give your answer so we can continue and figure out how we’re going to resolve this situation with your mother, your sister, and these two assholes,” Big John said to her.

  “Sam, do you accept Reeves, Flint, Big John, and Tiny as your guardians?” Spartan asked her.

  She looked at Bo, who smiled and nodded, then at Cherokee, who did the same, and then Kendra. She closed her eyes.

  “Follow your heart,” Kendra whispered.

  “Yes, Spartan, I accept them as my guardians.”

  Cheers and congratulations filled the air, and Flint slid his chair closer, reached out under her hair, cupping her head, and then pulled her toward him.

  “Everything is going to be okay. No more fear and pain, baby. No more.” He pressed his lips to hers.

  She gripped his thighs and kissed him back as the others celebrated the decision. Flint’s kiss instantly made her feel better, and the thought that she truly could have a better life, and happiness with these men and all her friends, lifted her spirits and made her feel ready to fight for it all.

  * * * *

  Big John held Sam’s hand as she went over everything with her family from the start of the trouble and all she was doing for her sister. She cleaned her house, making sure everything was perfect so that Jerry wouldn’t beat up Cass. It was insane. Their woman truly had sacrificed so much for these people that should have been her family. She still had reservations about this ménage relationship, but he figured it was due to trust issues from her ex. They could work through those. They would make Sam realize how important she truly was. She leaned her head against his shoulder and exhaled.

  “I have to go back there, you all realize that.”

  “Not alone you don’t.” Tiny caressed her knee.

  She glanced at him. “If I work another two weeks at Cotton John’s and then do a couple of private parties bartending, I can make the three grand needed to pay off the debt for my mom. I could also try to go see her and find out if she has money and why she isn’t helping me. Maybe she’ll have it.”

  “She won’t give it to you. Even we realize that from what you’ve told us about her. She isn’t a good mom,” Reeves said to her.

  “I’ve known that for a long time, Reeves, but I still have to give her the opportunity to help considering it’s her debt but I got stuck with it.”

  “I say we tell them to go fuck themselves, and if they want to get that money, then they can come through us,” Flint stated.

  She swallowed hard, and Big John squeezed her to him.

  “We should do that. It’s not like the debt is through some collectors or like it will ruin your credit report. You said you paid those bills, and the last three are from the damage to the car. That Jerry paid them. He passed that to Vinny, then that’s Vinny’s problem. Your mom doesn’t own you, and she can’t make some deal with your ex so that you belong to him and are under his control. That’s fucked up, and I would be happy to meet this Vinny face to face and teach him a thing or two about respecting a woman and reality,” Tiny stated.

  “I don’t want you to do any such thing. This is why I didn’t tell you. I don’t need my battles fought for me. I fought back against Jerry. He didn’t succeed.”

  “He was drunk, Sam. Besides, a woman shouldn’t have to defend herself physically against any man. His intentions were sick and criminal,” Reeves told her.

  “Well, he didn’t succeed, and now she’s safe here with us. We’ll help you to make the right decisions and support you,” Big John said and squeezed her to him.

  “Now, let’s work out going to that town, grabbing your things, and ending this once and for all,” Flint stated.

  “Okay, I guess we’ll decide tomorrow. I already made you miss most of work.”

  “We’re not leaving you,” Tiny said.

  “You have to. You need to get back and train those men. I’ll be fine here. I’m going to talk to Bo and Cherokee about the cottage and possibly renting it for a spell.”

  “You’re not renting a place. You’ll move in with us,” Tiny stated.

  Big John waited for the argument, the outrage Sam would express, but it didn’t happen.

  “Seriously, Tiny, do you actually think I’m going to move in with you? We haven’t even gone on a date.”

  “Well, Saturday is our date, and then we’ll discuss where you’ll be living,” he replied.

  “She can stay here as long as she needs. I’ll enjoy the company. Believe me,” Kendra said, and then Big John looked to the others.

  “Sounds good for now, but we’ll be picking you up and bringing you out, including to our place to get used to it. We’re your guardians now, Sam. We’ve staked a claim, and very soon we will be consummating this relationship and making you our woman officially. Understood?” Big John asked, and she nodded her head slowly, holding his gaze while he lowered down to kiss her.

  Chapter Five

  “Jerry, please. I don’t know where she is or why she didn’t accept this. Please don’t hit me again,” Cass begged as she knelt on the floor in front of him.

  Jerry had a terrible black eye and swollen nose. Sam had really fought back hard and g
ot him off of her. She didn’t know why Sam wouldn’t just spread her legs for Jerry. It wasn’t like she was a virgin or something. Unless she still had feelings for Vinny, but Vinny thought Sam was weak and controllable. She’d changed over the last year or so. Cass could see it in her eyes, her verbal responses, and her demeanor.

  “Vinny said she was incredible in bed. That she knows how to please a man and make him want more and more,” Jerry said to her.

  She reached out and rubbed his leg. “I do that for you. I let you do whatever you want to me.”

  “You don’t try hard to please me. But that will change in about fifteen minutes.”

  “What do you mean?” she asked, and he started to unbutton his shirt. “I did what you asked. I said it was okay that you wanted her, too.”

  He stared at her, looking her over. “Well, we missed that opportunity, so I arranged another one. You had your chance to get your sister to cooperate. Now I bring in whomever I want when I want, and you’ll join in, too.”

  She squinted at him. “Other women?”

  He smirked. “Maybe you’ll learn something.” She heard the doorbell ring, and he smiled as he glanced at his watch.

  “Five minutes early. She must really be excited about this.”

  He headed out of the room, and Cass waited there, on the floor, hands on her knees, and hoped that the baby stayed sleeping. If Evan awoke and Cass had to leave the room not fulfilling whatever fantasy Jerry wanted, then she would truly suffer his wrath.

  She heard the footsteps, took a deep breath, and waited to do whatever he asked. Before the blonde could even enter the room, Jerry picked her up. She straddled his waist, kissed him hard on the mouth, and he fell with her to the bed. Cass watched, waiting, feeling both sick to her stomach and nervous as hell. She had nothing if she didn’t have Jerry. She needed him. He was her breath, her life, her everything.

  He glanced over his shoulder then stood up and tore the woman’s dress open. She had one hell of a body. Big breasts, taut abs, and tattoos along her hips that appeared to spread around her back. Had he chosen her because of the tattoos? Because Sam had one along her groin, over her hip, and lower back, too? It was feminine, intricate in tiny cherry blossoms. Gorgeous realistic colors done by a true artist. Not this woman. Hers were hardcore, black and deep purple, and not feminine at all.