“That’s weeks away, Lux, he should be moving around by then. We’ll see,” Scout stated, and then Spartan and John appeared.
“Well, good news is that we can move him tomorrow morning first thing. Dr. Genova can arrange transportation and be at your place when Fort arrives. He’ll have to have an IV set up and be on pain meds. He’ll need rest. No bullshit pushing himself to walk around. I find out he is, and he’s back in the hospital,” Spartan stated firmly.
“Yes sir, we understand,” Breaker replied.
“Good, now you’re all set to spend the night at the house if you want, or you can head back with John and me and get the house ready for tomorrow morning. Fort is going to be sleeping this whole time anyway,” Spartan stated.
“I’ll stay here with him, and the others can go with you and John to situate the house and get some rest,” Breaker said, and they agreed.
“We could stay, too,” Lux said to him. “He’s my twin. I don’t mind.”
“As team leader, you know the rules. I don’t mind, you know you’re all my brothers anyway,” Breaker said, and Lux nodded.
“Okay then, let’s grab our gear we put in the room,” Lux said, and he and Scout went into the room.
“You good?” John asked Breaker.
“As good as I can be. It was too fucking close. Too many inconsistencies to dismiss as bad intel. It wasn’t good intel at all.”
“Understood, and we are taking the proper measures to state our displeasure and complain so this doesn’t happen again. We’ll take care of it.”
“Good. I can’t wait to get him home and just be back on the compound.”
“I hear you. We’ll get you all there fine. You can rest up. Take advantage of a reprieve for a while,” Spartan said.
“If you need us for anything else we aren’t out of commission, just one man down,” Breaker said.
“Hey, take the time. We have plenty of other teams available. We’ll work it out.”
Then the others returned with their bags. They gave Breaker hugs and slaps on the back before they went with Spartan and John back to Repose.
Breaker walked back into the hospital room and looked at Fort sleeping. Too many thoughts were going through his head, but what he kept coming back to was Mercy. They left without telling her a thing, and now when they returned battered, Fort shot and needing to recover. What would her reaction be? Would she care? Did he want her to? None of them expected to feel so attracted to her that night before they left. They never, in all their years of dating or fucking around, spent time just talking with a woman, stroking her skin, absorbing her beauty and smile, never mind that infectious laugh she had. Jesus, he suddenly wanted to see her. To hold her in his arms, hell, make love to her and keep her in his bed with his brothers in arms and make her their woman.
So why did he have this bad feeling, like she wouldn’t want that? Like she just wanted to be friends because she was afraid, intimidated, and perhaps it stemmed from an experience from her past. He wasn’t certain. It was just things she did or ways she responded to things like she was on guard, or it reminded her of something. Who was he to talk? He continued to keep his distance and to not let his guard down. He never even conversed with a woman like he did with Mercy. Would anything come of this? Would she even visit Fort and them and care? He didn’t know. And he pushed those thoughts away and remembered what he and the team went through. All those women, abused, raped, tortured, and killed for what? For fucking kicks. He was glad Pardone was dead. Good riddance scum bag. Good riddance.
* * * *
Mercy was honestly shocked when she heard her doorbell ring. She wasn’t expecting anyone, and she wasn’t dressed for company. She smoothed her hands along her hip hugger lounge pants and then slid her palm along her bare belly and the off-the-shoulder crop top she wore. It was snug and hugged her figure tight. At least she had a bra on. She peeked through the peephole and was surprised to see Lux and Scout and, Jesus, they were bruised up, eyes swollen. She pulled the door open.
“Oh my God, are you okay? When did you get back?” she asked, and then their eyes swept over her.
“A couple of hours ago. Can we come in?” Lux asked.
“Of course,” she said and opened the door wide to let the two tall, muscular men into her home. They were sporting black T-shirts and dark blue jeans, but her concern was over their blackened eyes and bruises.
She stared at them as they both turned and looked down at her. She squinted.
“Those look painful,” she whispered.
“We’re dealing with it. We wanted to see you,” Scout said to her.
She took a deep breath and exhaled. As she started to walk toward the couch, Scout grabbed her hand and Lux placed his hand on her hip. She stood between them and they both faced her.
“You’re probably pissed that we didn’t tell you we were going.”
“No, I didn’t need to know. We’re friends and it’s against the rules,” she said and went to move. Their holds tightened.
“We were trying to abide by your need to be friends first, but you see, we couldn’t stop thinking about you,” Lux told her, and she wondered where Fort and Breaker were. Why weren’t they here, too? Did they not miss her? Why was she even thinking this when she knew she couldn’t get involved with them? There was no way she could be intimate with them.
“And Breaker and Fort?” she asked.
Scout cupped her cheek and stroked her jaw as Lux caressed her hip.
“It was a fucked up situation. Things happened,” Scout said to her and stared at her lips.
“Oh God, are they okay? Where are they?” She couldn’t help but be concerned and to panic and ask.
“Breaker is with Fort. Fort took a hit to his side, right below the vest,” Scout told her. Tears stung her eyes. It was instantaneous. The concern, the worry that he wouldn’t make it and be okay.
“Oh God, is he going to be okay?” she asked. Lux slid his arm around her waist from behind and Scout caressed her cheek and held her hand.
“He’s going to be okay. He’ll need to take it easy. We have to get things set up at our place tonight. Breaker will accompany him home from the hospital, they’re letting him heal at the house under the doctor’s care.”
Her heart was racing. She closed her eyes.
“Thank God,” she said, and then felt Scout’s lips press against hers, and Lux squeeze her to him and kiss her shoulder and neck.
She tightened up a moment, but then she realized that they came here to see her. That they needed her and it made her feel important. Then all thoughts ceased as Scout deepened that kiss and Lux’s hand slid up under her shirt against her skin and over her breast.
“My God, you feel so good. We had to see you. To hold you and just inhale the scent of your shampoo,” Lux said to her. She tightened the deeper the kiss grew and in response to her body’s reaction to these two men. As Scout released her lips, he trailed his mouth along her neck and collarbone as Lux moved his hand off her breast, cupped her cheek and turned her head toward him so he could kiss her. Lux plunged his tongue into her mouth deeply as Scout slid his palm along her ass, squeezed and then cupped her breast with his other hand. It was all too much. She felt aroused and then feared that this could go too far. That they would want more. She pulled back.
“Oh God, we have to slow down. Oh,” she said panting for breath and pressing away from Lux and Scout. She moved away and fixed her top, ran her hands through her hair, and then caressed her forehead feeling heated and so aroused.
“We missed you. We just needed to be here with you,” Lux said to her. His words hit her heart and she damned the fearful feelings she had. The memories of Canton’s abuse, his strikes, and the way he forced himself between her legs that night and took her repeatedly despite her protests.
When the hand landed on her shoulder she gasped, turned and nearly stumbled backward.
“Jesus Mercy, what were you just thinking about? You didn’t hear us, not a w
ord,” Lux asked, and Scout reached for her hand, his brown eyes squinting at her.
Her lips parted and she couldn’t help the tears in them. “I’m so sorry. I should have stopped you. Both of you.”
“No, it felt good and right,” Scout said.
She shook her head. “I can’t give you what you want. I can’t be more than friends right now.”
“Why can’t you? Why just friends? Who hurt you?” Scout pushed for answers.
She shook her head. “Friends. I can be friends but nothing more. Do you need help preparing the house for Fort? What can I do to help?” she asked and walked away from them and over to the couch. Scout ran his fingers through his hair. She glanced at him and Lux, so attractive, the both of them were with perfect bodies, but those battered faces had her reaching out to Lux and caressing his chin.
“It looks painful,” she said, and then Scout sat on the other side of her. She looked at him and when she went to reach up she stopped herself but he grabbed her hand, placed her palm against his cheek and he turned his face and kissed her palm.
“Your touch heals the pain instantly,” he said to her, and a tear rolled down her cheek.
“Whoever hurt you, tell me this, is he coming, looking to take you back, to make you his woman again?” Scout asked her.
Her nose clogged up and felt like it got all red and the tears fell.
“Maybe. I’m not sure.”
Scout narrowed his eyes at her and clenched his teeth. Lux placed his hand on her leg. “You want him to? You want him back in your life?” he asked.
She shook her head. “God, no. No, I don’t, but it’s…complicated,” she whispered.
“It doesn’t have to be. Either you’re done with him or you’re not,” Lux said.
She pulled her hand away from Scout’s cheek and leaned back against the couch.
“It’s more complicated than that. I don’t want him in my life. I don’t ever want to see him again, but knowing him, he’ll want to see me, and I don’t know how I’ll react.”
Scout took a deep breath and exhaled. “You mean you might still have feelings for him and want him back?” he asked.
“No,” she said and looked down.
“What then? What?” Lux asked.
She hoped by telling them then they might give her the time and space she needed, and to be friends first.
“How scared I’ll be. I won’t know how scared of him I am still until I see him again.”
“Fuck,” Lux said, and eased back against the couch next to her and ran his hand over his jaw, but then he reached for her hand, squeezing it and placing it on her thigh.
Scout stared at her. “The picture is getting clearer. You have your fears and we have ours. You’ll learn to trust all of us, and most importantly you’ll learn that we aren’t this guy. I’m telling you one thing though, Mercy, if he comes here looking to hurt you, we won’t let him, whether we’re your friends or your lovers,” Scout said, and she was shocked by his words, by the idea of being lovers with him and his team.
He leaned back, lifted her thighs and placed them over her thighs and leaned against her. She snuggled up to both men.
“We could use a good friend right now, baby, and I think you could, too,” Scout said, and then they were quiet as they rested together on the couch. They didn’t talk, they didn’t kiss, they stroked one another’s skin, and enjoyed one another’s company, and a couple of hours later when it was time for them to head out, they kissed her tenderly, making Mercy want to be way more than friends. She wondered how she would avoid wanting them as so much more. Could she let them touch her? Be intimate with her? Allow them into her heart? Or would it be an even bigger mistake then Canton?
* * * *
“He’s out of it. The ride up was a bit much for him,” Breaker said to Scout and Lux.
“He looks pale,” Lux said, standing in the doorway to the bedroom.
“He lost a lot of blood out there, the stubborn jerk. I should have called in for a lift earlier like I wanted to,” Breaker said and exhaled, running his fingers through his damp hair. He had just showered and got on a clean pair of clothes.
“It was risky, and he knew that. You did, too. It was the right call to wait, especially the way things went down,” Scout stated. He nodded and they headed down the hallway and back into the kitchen.
They were quiet as Breaker grabbed an ice tea and then took a seat. He yawned.
“Maybe you should catch some sleep,” Lux suggested.
Breaker shook his head. “I’ll just wait until tonight so my schedule isn’t all fucked up. We’ll take turns staying in his room for the next week or so just to make sure he’s all right.”
“I’ll take the first watch,” Lux said, and Breaker nodded.
He looked at Scout, who glanced at his watch.
“What’s doing? Do we need to go shopping and shit?” Breaker asked, not in the mood to do anything.
“It’s covered. Chatham and the guys, along with Mercy, went shopping, and Channing and she are going to come by shortly. She got off work and they should be here soon.”
Breaker didn’t know what to say. He wanted to see her and he didn’t want to see her.
“Listen, some shit happened last night,” Scout said to him. Breaker squinted his eyes at him.
“Last night? What?” he asked.
When they explained how they went over to see Mercy, he was shocked. Apparently they missed her, too.
“She was sincerely worried about Fort, and she looked so damn sweet and sexy,” Scout said.
“She wore these lounge pants that hugged her hips and showed off her flat belly and this top that was tight and accentuated her breasts.”
“What did you guys do?”
“Started kissing her, touching her, and just loving how she felt in our arms.”
“You slept with her?” he asked feeling jealous, angry, envious.
“No, but we wanted to. Hell, any other woman and she would still be in our beds right now, but not Mercy. Fuck, Breaker, we found out some shit last night,” Lux explained.
“So she might have feelings for this guy still?” Breaker asked, another jealous angry feeling hitting his gut.
“No, not an attraction to him, a fear,” Scout stated with a serious expression.
Breaker sat forward in his seat. “A fear? What the hell?”
“I know. We talked about it more on the way home and then this morning. We think the guy hurt her, maybe physically and emotionally,” Scout said.
“It makes sense, the way Channing suddenly brings her here, when he hadn’t spoken to her in years. But his behavior and level of protectiveness didn’t coincide with this fear she has. Then Channing calls and says his team, the guys, are watching over Mercy. That he’s going to be picking her up from work.”
“That doesn’t sound good at all. Who the fuck is this guy? Is she in danger? Is he going to come here looking to hurt her or want her back?” Breaker asked.
“We really don’t know, but she is pushing this friends thing, despite her attraction to us. Hell, man, when we were both kissing her it was fucking amazing. I don’t know how I’m going to hold back and not want more. She’s so sweet, petite, and sexy and fits perfectly in my arms, hell, in all our arms,” Lux said to him.
“Can we talk to Channing?” Breaker asked.
“We wanted to talk to you first and see how today goes with her bringing over food with Channing,” Scout said to him.
Just then they heard the pickup truck pull up outside.
“We need to know more. Before this mission we agreed that we want guardianship of Mercy and for her to be our woman. Nothing has changed, except maybe the level of security she gets from here on out. I’ll speak to Channing when I get a chance,” Breaker said, and then they heard the men coming to the door. Lux greeted them.
Breaker stood up and shook their hands. Channing, Philippe, Bubba, and Thor, and then Mercy came into sight. She wore a slim fitting black s
kirt that fell past her knees but hugged her hips, a tan top that accentuated her large breasts and dipped only slightly in front and strands of beads decorated the front. She looked him over.
“Thank God, no bruises like these two,” she said, and Channing and the guys chuckled and started taking out the shopping. Breaker reached out, took her hand, and pulled her close. He hugged her and she hugged him back. He inhaled her perfume, the smell of her shampoo, and closed his eyes and took deep breaths.
“Thank God you’re okay. How is Fort?” she asked him, and he felt her pull back but he wasn’t ready to release her just yet. He pulled her against his side and looked at the others.
“Yeah, how is he doing?” Thor asked.
“Sleeping. He’s pretty pale and weak. Lost a lot of blood on the way out of the danger zone. Got some at the hospital though,” Breaker said and looked at Lux.
“Sure the fuck took a lot from me. Same blood type and his twin, you know I wasn’t going to let them give him just anyone’s blood,” he said and they chuckled. Breaker slid his palm along Mercy’s hips and then to her hand. He squeezed it as he gave her a wink.
“Can I see him?” she asked, sounding scared like he might say no.
“Sure. He’s out cold though from the pain meds and the trip here this morning.”
“I won’t make a sound,” she said.
“We’ll unpack and get a few beers,” Channing said to them.
“Then I’ll help get things started for dinner,” Mercy told them as Breaker took her hand. He held her gaze, stared into those light green eyes, and then walked her out of the room. He placed his hand on her hip as she stood by the doorway of the bedroom. Her hand went to her mouth. He wrapped his arm around her midsection and pulled her back against his front, whispering into her ear, “He’s okay, Mercy. He’ll pull through fine. It’s just that he lost a lot of blood. We had a long trek out of the danger zone until we could get him medical attention.”
He couldn’t resist kissing her neck, breathing in her scent. She held onto his wrist with her delicate, feminine hand. He thought about the man she was involved with and whether he was abusive, and why she was scared of him, which made her scared to let them be more than friends.
Sons of Justice 2 The School Teacher Page 6
