Sabotage: A Vigilante Justice Novel

by Kristin Harte

  It was what I’d earned.

  Chapter Six

  MERCY

  IT TOOK me hours to calm down from what happened at Sam’s house, but I did. I had to. There was a little boy who had a birthday party, and no way was I disappointing him. Even though he was running around the apartment in his superhero cape, his Iron Man underwear…and nothing else.

  “You’d better get dressed, young man. You can’t go to dinner in your undies.”

  He swooped past me, giggling as he asked, “Why not? It’s my birthday.”

  That smart mouth had definitely come from me. I loved his confidence but knew that sass would eventually bite me in the butt. He was going to be a handful as he got older for sure. But for now, I could still grab him and snuggle him and force him to follow the rules. Most of the time.

  “Why not?” I captured him in the hallway outside the bathroom, tugging him into my embrace from behind and kissing his neck loudly. “Because it’s against the law. So, unless you want Mister Alder to drag your cute little booty to jail tonight, you’d better get dressed.”

  He laughed, the sound something I would never get enough of. “There’s no jail in Justice.”

  He was right—no jail, no police, no first responders. Just the Kennard family…and Parris. A thought that wouldn’t let me go even as Beckett raced away from me.

  The image of that big, hulking man infiltrated my thoughts for the millionth time that day. I owed him a big one for helping me that morning. He’d texted just as I’d gotten to the school to pick up Beckett, a simple Problem handled. Sam is fine. I sure hoped it was the truth because I certainly wasn’t okay. My hands wouldn’t stop shaking, and my heart jumped with every noise from outside. I’d even called Sam after that text to check in on him, but he hadn’t wanted to talk. He’d only said thanks for sending Parris up the hill and that he’d talk to me later. Didn’t really sound fine in any way, but there was nothing I could do. No way to make the man talk without being pushy, and I wasn’t really prepared for that.

  Nor was I prepared to have a naked Beckett—sans cape, even—go screaming down the hallway.

  That kid.

  “Beckett Cole Bell, I told you to get dressed, not run around this house butt naked.”

  “But it’s my birthday, and I’m wearing my birthday suit.”

  God help me, but I laughed. Really, really hard. He wasn’t wrong.

  “I’LL GET THE CAKE READY.” Katie patted my arm and stood from the table where we’d been sitting, taking her empty teacup with her. The birthday dinner had definitely been a success—friends of my parents sat at a table in the back, chatting with Vol and his wife, whom I’d known practically since birth. Shye and Alder had been sitting with Gage at another table, but the big, burly mechanic followed Katie into the back. Not that I could blame him. After the Soul Suckers had attacked her in this very restaurant and nearly kidnapped her, he’d finally stopped following her around like a puppy and had basically claimed her as his girl. He rarely left her side anymore.

  The lucky bitch.

  I kept my eyes on Beckett, trying hard not to think about the disappointment he must feel. Not that he seemed disappointed—his friend from school had come to the dinner, and the two were playing with cars along the bottom of the bar across the room. He seemed happy as a clam and silly as always.

  I was not feeling silly because the one person I’d invited who hadn’t shown up was the one who’d promised both Beckett and me that he’d be there. Parris had missed the entire dinner, something that would likely bother me for days.

  Weeks, maybe.

  Hell, months.

  I always had been one to hold a grudge.

  “You did well, honey. That boy is a good egg for sure,” old Vol said as he took the seat Katie had left empty, setting his cup of coffee down in front of him. The man had been great friends with my parents before they’d up and left for Florida. He was as much family as anyone else.

  “Thanks, Uncle Vol.”

  He sat back, watching Beckett with a smile on his face before looking my way again. “So, Beckett mentioned a man named Parris was missing. Want to fill me in on who that is?”

  I shrugged, feeling more like an idiot with every passing minute. Knowing everyone in town would be gossiping about my business if Vol’s wife got her teeth into this particular story. “I don’t really know much about him. He’s in town because of the Kennards.”

  “Well, if he’s with the Kennards, he must be good people.”

  Sure, he was. “If he were that good, he wouldn’t have told Beckett he’d be here and then not shown up.”

  Vol nodded, a frown forming on his face. “Maybe something came up.”

  Something came up, my ass. “Maybe.”

  I gave Vol a quick side hug then headed into the kitchen to help Katie, needing a minute to clear my head from thoughts of errant bikers and disappointing men.

  “Oh, good,” Katie said from where she stood before a two-tier, red, white, and blue cake with superhero figures all over it. “I grabbed a candle in the shape of a six because I was worried Beckett wouldn’t be able to actually blow out six candles. What do you think?”

  I passed Gage, who stood in the corner like some sort of sentinel, and came around the counter into the cooking area of the kitchen. The cake was even better up close—bright and shiny and colorful. Exactly what Beckett would want.

  “I say go with the six. He’s got a lot of hot air in him so I’m sure he could blow the individual ones out, but he might spit on the cake doing it.”

  Katie nodded. “Fair point.”

  With that, she set a blue six candle into the top tier, moved Iron Man off to the side, so he wouldn’t melt, most likely, and then grinned.

  “Time to light it up.”

  Gage appeared at her side, lighter in hand, pulling her away from the counter as if she might ignite. “I’ve got this.”

  Katie’s bottom lipped popped out, a firm pout on her pretty face. “I can light a candle.”

  “I know you can.” He kissed her hand, the one with the burn scars along the palm from her run-in with the Soul Suckers. “I just want to help.”

  God, they made me jealous. And slightly sick. There was no doubting they were in love. Meanwhile, I was on the outside looking in. Alone. Katie had Gage all over her ass on a daily basis, and I couldn’t even get Parris to show up to a party he’d promised to attend. Not that we were dating or anything, the way Katie and Gage were. Not that it should have mattered so much to me that he hadn’t showed. Beckett might have been disappointed, but there was no reason for me to be.

  And yet, I was.

  Super big idiot.

  Gage led the way into the dining room, holding open the door for Katie to carry the cake and cutting the lights as she and I strolled toward the table where Beckett sat with his friend. I focused on his smile, his glowing grin, as we all began singing happy birthday to him. One voice powered over the rest, making my skin go cold.

  Parris stood directly behind Beckett, one hand on my son’s shoulder. Smiling as he belted out the words. As if he’d always been there. He hadn’t, though, and as grateful as I was for him showing up, I had to remember that he was a couple hours late.

  “Happy birthday, buddy,” I said as Katie set the cake down in front of Beckett. “Make a big wish.”

  Beckett grinned up at me, that holey smile embedding itself into my mind like a snapshot, before closing his eyes and blowing out his lone candle. Birthday done—wish made—cake about to be served.

  “Who wants ice cream?” I asked, cataloging those who said yes or nodded as I glanced around the room, trying really hard not to focus on Parris for too long. He looked good. Tired, though. Exhausted, really. I couldn’t help but wonder what he’d been up to all day to make him look that way. Not that it was any of my business.

  Katie and I served cake and ice cream to the crowd, both of us working in concert to accomplish the task in minimal time. I even smiled at Parris
as I handed him his plate, nodding at his whispered thank you. I might have thought evil things about him, but I held myself together. That was about the best I could do.

  I was standing near the bar watching my friends and family chat and celebrate with my son when Parris finally made his way over to me. My entire body went stiff, my muscles locking down as if ready for an attack. Which wasn’t at all what I got.

  “Sorry I’m late.” His voice cracked, that weariness evident in the tone.

  I almost felt bad for him. Almost…but not quite. “You should apologize to him, not me.”

  “I did. But I’m apologizing to you too.

  “I don’t know why.”

  “Because I’m an asshole.”

  I snorted, unable not to laugh. “I figured that out already.”

  Parris grabbed my hand, tugging me around until I faced him. “But I’m not a big enough asshole to break a promise to a kid. Not without one heck of a reason.”

  God, his eyes always froze time when they locked on me. “So, what’s the reason?”

  “For being late?” He sighed when I nodded. “Bullshit stuff with the clubs.”

  “That answer is weak.”

  “It is, but it’s the best I can do right now. I don’t want that life affecting yours. Or Beckett’s.”

  And that right there might have been the only thing he could have said to make me melt even a little for him. “You could have called to tell me you’d be late.”

  He cocked his head, looking decidedly arrogant. “Check your phone, woman. I called and texted.”

  I tugged my phone from my back pocket, nearly smacking my head when I saw I’d left it on do not disturb. Four texts all from Parris and two missed calls, plus a voice mail. Yeah, he’d tried, all right.

  “Oh.” A simple response. Not enough, but the most I could do.

  Parris accepted my nonanswer without hesitation. “He looks like he’s had a good time, though.”

  “He has.” I took a deep breath, reaching for his hand, squeezing those rough fingers. “Thank you for showing up.”

  His eyes burned into mine, the lust there obvious. The interest clear. And God help me, but I knew my own looked the same way. There was something between us, some sort of connection that refused to be ignored. Chemistry, people called it. Attraction.

  Whatever the word, the feeling was likely going to get me in far too much trouble.

  “You’re welcome,” Parris said finally, weaving his fingers with mine and holding on. Sending shivers racing up and down my spine. His hands were as rough as I’d expected, something that I’d definitely remember in my dreams tonight.

  “Time for presents,” Beckett yelled, breaking the moment. I pulled away from Parris, looking up at him as I moved toward the gift table. Giving him a smile. He grinned back, his eyes holding mine the entire time. Have mercy, the man had a way of looking at me that was better than foreplay.

  Beckett managed to behave with manners through most of the gift opening, though he did toss the clothes I’d bought him over his shoulder with a whiny “Mmmooommm” when he opened them. I made up for that with a set of Legos I knew he’d been wanting and some premade slime. I hated the stuff, but he loved it. For his birthday, I would deal with the gross substance.

  His last present wasn’t a present at all but a card. Beckett didn’t read much, but he could make out sight words and chop and blend simple ones, so it wasn’t a real surprise when his eyes grew big after he’d been staring at the opened card for a few seconds and he began to practically vibrate in his seat.

  “Are you serious, Mister Parris?”

  Parris nodded, shooting me a wink as he said, “Sure am.”

  “What is it?” I asked, moving to read the card over Beckett’s shoulder.

  “He’s going to take me to get a bike.”

  Another promise. Another chance for disappointment. I stared right at Parris, cocking my head. He nodded as if he knew where my thoughts had gone, catching my little boy who’d basically flung himself across a table into the big man’s arms. Everything inside of me melted at the sight, the backbone of steel I’d developed as a single mom turning to mush in three-point-two seconds. And still, I worried.

  Don’t be like his dad.

  “When can we go?” Beckett asked, bouncing in Parris’ big arms. “I’m ready now.”

  Parris laughed as if that level of enthusiasm hadn’t been expected. “The bike shop is closed right now, but how about Sunday? That gives you all day tomorrow to look at the website and pick the bike you want.”

  And plenty of time for him to back out.

  But Beckett wasn’t as negative as I could be, couldn’t remember how his dad had up and left us with nothing. He still held on to hope. A luxury I didn’t have.

  “Mom, can I go on that site and look? Please.”

  I gritted my teeth, pulling a smile for my baby from deep within me. “Of course you can.”

  Beckett jumped down and raced toward his friend, the two boys talking excitedly about all the places they could go once they both had bikes. I only had eyes for the man of the hour—the one who’d just promised my boy something big.

  The one who had better not disappoint my son.

  I kept my voice low as I cornered Parris along the bar. “You know he’ll expect you to follow through on that.”

  “I do.”

  “Don’t flake on him.”

  He nodded once, watching Beckett play with his friend. “I made him a promise, and I’ll make good on it. I swear.”

  Somehow, against my better judgment, I believed him. Either I was losing my edge, I was a bigger idiot than I’d thought, or Parris was just that darn good.

  I really hoped it was the latter.

  I sighed, wishing this uncertainty would go away. Wanting things that made me nervous. “You didn’t need to buy him a present, you know.”

  Parris twisted his face into an expression of pure insult. As if that hadn’t even crossed his mind. As if my even stating the obvious fact was somehow a shot to his character. “What sort of man comes to the birthday party of his girl’s son and doesn’t bring a present?”

  His girl. As if he’d laid claim to me, like how Gage had laid claim to Katie. Like Alder and Shye, who I could see cuddling out of the corner of my eye. His girl? I hadn’t even gone on a date with the man. Hadn’t even gotten to know him.

  I hadn’t been anyone’s girl in a long damn time, and that wasn’t changing tonight. “I’m not your girl.”

  He pinned me with a steely gaze, stealing my breath as he said, “Not yet.”

  Alder appeared at Parris’ elbow, giving me a break from the look that had just set my panties on fire. This was bad. So bad. The man seemed to want to give me everything I could have asked for, and yet he didn’t seem like the type I should want to be with. What was that saying? The heart wants what the heart wants. My heart suddenly wanted Parris. As did the rest of my body.

  “Mercy,” Shye said, totally stealing my attention. “I was hoping to talk to you about a business opportunity.”

  Business. Lady business. Lady parts. Good lord, was Parris still watching me? I needed a fan. “What sort of business opportunity?”

  The little blonde smiled shyly, living up to her name as always. “You know Alder and I are getting married in a couple of weeks, right?”

  The invitation hung on my refrigerator, so I nodded.

  “Well, there’s so much going on, and all the planning is really tricky. I was hoping I could hire you to help me.”

  I…hadn’t expected that. “You want me to plan your wedding?”

  “Yes. I’m afraid I’ll forget some detail that might be important, and Alder says you’re really organized.”

  I was, always had been, but I’d never worked as an event planner. “You know I don’t do that for a living, right? I never have.”

  “I know, but Alder’s sure you’ll do great, and I trust him.”

  Trust. I shot a look at Parris, the word
rebounding in my head. Such a fragile thing. Such a foreign concept. The very idea of being able to trust a man so thoroughly nearly unnerved me.

  Shye was a very lucky lady.

  And I could always use a little extra money.

  “Okay. I’ll do it.”

  I shook hands with Shye as if we’d made some sort of business arrangement—which I guess we had—and listened as she began laying out what she wanted and whom she’d already contacted or hired for various parts of the event. Meanwhile, I kept feeling watched. Couldn’t stop from sensing someone staring at me. When I looked up, that someone was Parris, and the look said so much more than words could.

  I want you.

  I need you.

  You’re mine.

  I was in so much trouble.

  Chapter Seven

  PARRIS

  AS I LOOKED across the restaurant at the good people of Justice celebrating the sixth birthday of one of their own, there was only one thought in my head. I shouldn’t be here.

  “You shouldn’t be around that kid,” Alder said, appearing beside me out of nowhere and confirming my thoughts.

  Not that I would let him know my own doubts about the entire situation. “Why not?”

  He looked past me to where Mercy stood with Shye, the two women deep in conversation. “You sticking around once this whole Soul Suckers thing is over?”

  Damn. When that man went in, he headed straight for the jugular. “I might.”

  Gage sidled up to us, the big man appearing more deadly calm than usual. He looked across the crowd to where Beckett and his little friend sat on the floor with a pile of metal cars between them. “You think he’s safe with you? If your biker friends see you with him, are they going to target him?”

  Fuck. “I’m not putting him at risk.”

  But I was, and they both knew it. As did I.

  “You got two options, the way I see it,” Gage said, those dark eyes locked on mine. “Either you hustle the fuck up on this whole wooing thing so you can keep an eye on them twenty-four seven, or you walk away. Your call. But Mercy’s stubborn—she won’t leave that hardware store. She wouldn’t even move in to one of Alder’s properties when I took Katie home with me. She and Beckett are alone on Main Street after dark.”