Sabotage: A Vigilante Justice Novel

by Kristin Harte

  I was ready to climb that big body like a tree.

  Not that I would any time soon.

  The next morning, I woke up to a number of text messages. All from Parris.

  I currently live in the motel attached to The Jury Room. I don’t consider it a home, but I’m on the hunt for something more suitable for my plans. Maybe something up in the mountains a bit.

  Something about that message pinged at a memory, but it wasn’t strong enough for me to grasp. I didn’t respond—unsure how to or what to say to that. It didn’t help that I had a lot to do anyway. Mondays meant school drop-off and work and pickup and all the things that kept busy moms busy. And while Parris didn’t interrupt any of that, he kept sending me messages. Ones that made me think he had a plan.

  I’ve mostly done security work as a way to make a living for the past few years, but I’m retiring from that. I’m not sure what I’m going to do going forward. Need a stock boy?

  I stared at that one, my memory pinging louder. Something about an argument and Parris leaving. Something about—

  And by security work, I mean being a soldier for hire. I just want to make sure I answer all your questions as honestly as I can.

  My questions. The memory of our fight, of me throwing questions at him rapid fire, of not getting answers—he was actually answering me. He’d remembered. I didn’t know what to do with that.

  All through the day and into the dinner hour, he sent me answers to the things I’d asked.

  I didn’t wear a city patch because I’d earned a nomad patch by saving the life of the Black Angels’ national president. It meant I could ride anywhere and not be tied to a home club. When I came to Justice. I’d been with the Vegas crew for two years.

  Even after dinner.

  My real name is Chase Fowler, as I told you. I was given the road name of Parris because of being a Marine—Parris Island is where I attended basic training.

  And one last message before bed.

  I intend to stay in Justice as long as you don’t kick me out. Forever, if you’ll have me. This place offers the same sort of brotherhood I’d been missing since leaving the military, but it’s not home. That honor sits with you. So, wherever you go, expect me to follow.

  Sweet words. And yet, I couldn’t respond.

  Not for many hours.

  Not until I woke up in the middle of the night, unable to fall back asleep. My mind repeatedly circling on all he’d told me. All he’d said.

  So I grabbed my phone, and I sent him a text.

  Thank you for all of that.

  It didn’t feel like enough, but it was all I could handle. His response came within seconds.

  You’re welcome. Get some sleep, beauty.

  And all was right with the world…for the moment.

  THE DAY of the wedding dawned bright and warm—the perfect fall day to say I do. I was up early to deal with all the little details I needed to check off to make sure the day went off without a hitch. Even after a night of girl time with Shye, Anabeth, and Katie, I couldn’t have slept in. Good thing there was coffee.

  “Come on, buddy,” I said, travel mug and clipboard in hand. “We should get to the restaurant to check in with Aunt Katie.”

  “Will Aunt Lainie be there?”

  The youngest Kennard, the only girl in the family, and one of my best friends from high school. Also, the person who’d jumped at the chance to stay with Beckett at my place so I could party it up with the bride. Why she hadn’t wanted to go… Well, I knew the reason. She had deep issues with her older brothers, Bishop and Alder, particularly. Hopefully, she’d get to know Shye, who was about as sweet as a person could be. I doubted, though. Lainie was good at holding grudges.

  “Yeah, she’ll be there.” She’d told me so just that morning when I’d come slipping into the apartment at the butt-crack of dawn to get ready. “Hurry up—Shye is going to be taking over the apartment next door soon, and we don’t want to be in her way.”

  We found Parris sitting at the bottom of the stairs by the alley door. Looking to all the world like a bodyguard at a club or something.

  “What are you doing here?” I asked, too focused on all that needed to be done to hide my surprise.

  “The bride is getting ready in Katie’s old apartment today. I’m on guard duty.” He looked me up and down, smiling slowly. “You look amazing, Mercy.”

  “Thanks. You look good in a suit.”

  He grinned. “I try.”

  Beckett high-fived the man, practically jumping to reach Parris’ hand. “Hey, Mister Parris. You want to watch me ride my bike?”

  Parris frowned. “I’m sorry, Beckett, but I can’t play today. I’ve got to work.”

  “Oh.” Beckett’s smile faded, making my heart hurt. “That’s okay. Maybe later.”

  “Definitely.” Parris knelt before Beckett, leaning close. “I’ll make you a deal—once the actual wedding shindig is over, I’ll come to the reception. We can share some cake.”

  Beckett’s eyes went super wide. “There’s going to be cake?”

  Parris’ chuckle brought a smile to my face. “Little man, it’s a wedding—there’s always cake.”

  Beckett ran off, heading for the restaurant. Not going too far for my comfort, though. Still, I had one last thing to say.

  “Thank you.”

  Parris frowned. “For what?”

  “For being so kind to him. You’ve really made Beckett feel special these last few days.”

  “He should feel special. He’s a really special kid.”

  He was, and knowing Parris saw that only made me like him that much more. “Well, thanks again, Parris.”

  I was halfway down the alley when he hollered, “It’s Chase.”

  I spun, cocking my head. He didn’t wait for me to reply, though.

  “My name is Chase, and I’d really like to hear you say it sometime, beauty.”

  Much like the Grinch from my childhood, my heart grew three sizes. Or at least that’s what it felt like inside of my chest. “Thank you, Chase.”

  He grinned, nodding once. “See you at the wedding.”

  “Yeah. Okay.”

  THE GOOD THING about weddings was that they eventually ended with people full and happy and in a great mood. Usually. At least, that’s what happened with Alder and Shye’s nuptials. Everyone seemed to be happy as could be when we shut the party down. Everyone except Beckett.

  He was fast asleep.

  “I’ve got this,” Parris—no, Chase, though that would take me a long time to remember—said, stepping in front of me to pick up my sleeping son. The man had been pretty scarce all night, not partaking of any of the usual wedding traditions like the garter toss—caught by Gage—and dancing. I had actually missed him for that. The idea of Chase holding me against him for a slow dance or two had been something I’d been looking forward to. Alas, the man had been asked to keep watch just in case, and I could understand that.

  I could also be thankful that nothing bad had happened.

  Parris carried my son into the alley, holding the door for me so I could follow.

  “I can take him,” I said, reaching for Beckett.

  “It’s fine. I was going to walk you home anyway.”

  “You don’t have to do that. It’s been a long day for you.”

  “I know I don’t have to, but I want you two safe, so I will. Now walk, beauty. Or do you need to take off those shoes first?”

  I glanced down at my heels. “I’m good.”

  “Then lead the way.”

  So I walked, all the while remembering the last few days with Parris—no, Chase. Thinking over every moment, every sweet gesture. Every second of wanting to give in and bring him back into my life. But I couldn’t just do that—couldn’t just break and give in. Not without getting a few answers.

  So when he offered to carry Beckett up the stairs, I let him. And when he came back from tucking my boy in, I was ready.

  Mostly.

  “Why ar
e you doing this?”

  The man froze, looking as if he might be expecting a firing squad all of a sudden. “Doing what?”

  “This. Spending all this time with us. Why are you doing it?”

  He shrugged. “I promised Beckett.”

  “You promised to teach him to ride a bike. He knows how now.”

  He sighed, leaning against the doorway. “I’m trying to let you get to know me.”

  “I know you.”

  “No. You know Parris the biker. I want you to know Chase. The man.”

  Parris versus Chase. Something that reminded me of an earlier conversation. “Jinx said you gave up your club colors.”

  “I did.”

  No reason, no excuse. Just…done. “I assumed when you were texting me about your nomad patch that you’d go back to that life.”

  “Past tense.”

  “What?”

  He shot me a steely gaze. “Those messages were in past tense—I was a nomad, I was allowed to ride wherever with no house affiliation. Was. Not anymore.”

  “I’m sorry you lost your…lifestyle.”

  He inched closer, stalking me like a predator, not letting up for a second. “The possibility of what I could gain is worth a fuckton more.”

  That wasn’t enough. I needed more—details. Confirmation. “You gave them up—stopped riding with the Black Angels—for us?”

  “Yeah. I did.”

  No excuses or hedging that truth. He’d changed his entire life, given up his place in a group he’d been part of for years and years. All for me. Well, me and my son. For our little family. He made it so hard to resist him.

  “Beckett deserves to be loved,” I said, no longer wanting to fight the feelings building within me.

  Parris—no, Chase—didn’t even hesitate. “I love that kid.”

  “He deserves stability.”

  “I’m stable as fuck.”

  I stepped closer, unable to hold back. Needing to feel him and soon. “He deserves—”

  “What about you?”

  “What about me?”

  Par—Chase—closed the gap between us, towering over me. Enveloping me in his scent and his heat and just…him. “Beckett deserves the world, but what about you, beauty? What do you deserve?”

  I couldn’t hold back. I rose onto the balls of my feet and pressed a soft, sweet kiss to his lips. “I deserve a man who will fight the world for me then draw me a bath.”

  “I’m not afraid of a tub.”

  Of course he wasn’t. He also wasn’t afraid to grab my hips and tug me into his body. “I deserve someone who will break the arms of other men trying to grab my ass—”

  “Done.”

  “I wasn’t finished.”

  He slipped his hands down my hips and gave my butt a squeeze. “Sorry. You distracted me with talk of your ass. What else can I do for you, beauty?”

  Good lord, I was about to melt. “I deserve a man who will stand up and fight for me but also let me do my thing, who will respect me and my boundaries, who won’t cheat or lie or walk away.”

  He bent closer, shaking his head slowly. “Never again, Mercy. If you let me back in, I’ll never leave you again. And I’d never cheat.”

  “How can I know that?”

  “Because I swear it. On my life. This is me, groveling. Whatever you need to forgive me and let me try to build back that trust, I’ll give it to you. I’ll do it.”

  The claws of doubt lessened, the bloom of hope growing bigger and brighter, taking up so much room in my chest. “I deserve a man who is a good father to Beckett and a good protector of my heart.”

  “I am that man.” Chase bent me over backward, leaning in to kiss up the length of my neck. “Jesus fuck, beauty. I will be that man and more for you.”

  “Will you?”

  “Yes. That’s what I want. To prove to you that I’ll be the man who shows up, who doesn’t leave, and who will take care of you the way you deserve to be cared for.” He pulled back, keeping hold of me but moving so he could look me in the eyes. “I know I’ve screwed up, but I’m done. Done with the lifestyle, with the clubs, and with walking away from my deepest desires. I want you and Beckett in my life. Every single day of my life. So if you let me, I’ll do everything I can to be the man you both deserve. I’ll try really fucking hard, beauty.”

  And really, what more could I ask for but for him to try? Words could sometimes have magic healing properties. The right apology, the correct phrase to ease an ache, the promises you had to take a leap of faith to believe.

  Thankfully, I’d never been afraid of falling. So I leaped.

  “You know what else I deserve?”

  Chase hummed. “What’s that?”

  I ran my nose along his jaw and up so I could bite his earlobe before whispering, “A man who will make me scream his name.”

  He hoisted me up the length of him with a growl, pressing his hard cock right where I wanted him to be. Heading straight for my bedroom.

  “That I can definitely do. But only under one condition.”

  “What’s that?”

  He set me down at the end of my bed, stripping me of my dress before shucking his shirt and pulling us back together. “The name you’ll be screaming had better be Chase.”

  I reached between us, unfastening his suit pants. Pushing the fabric down his legs so I could cup him over his boxer briefs. “And if I forget?”

  “We’ll just have to start again.” He picked me up and tossed me onto the bed, crawling up my body with a hungry expression on his handsome face. Thrusting inside and beginning those long, slow pulses that drove me absolutely out of my mind. Filling me with every inch of himself. Making me want to come so very quickly.

  “We need a condom,” I said, biting my lip as he angled himself to bump my clit. “Fuck, Parris.”

  He pulled out, growling as he bit my neck. Reaching for his discarded pants as he glared at me. “What’s my name again?”

  “Parris.”

  Head shaking, he sheathed himself before plunging back inside me. Fucking me hard and fast, virtually pounding me up the bed.

  “Try again, Mercy,” he said, gritting out his words. “What’s my name.”

  But I wasn’t brainless enough yet not to be willing to play with him. “Parris.”

  He grabbed my legs and pulled them up onto his shoulders, changing the angle and making me grip the bedsheets so I didn’t go flying into the ether. My god, this man knew how to play my body. Every note, every stanza, was exactly what I needed. If I weren’t so happy to have him back, I might have been embarrassed by how fast he could make me come.

  “Try again,” he said, slowing down and dragging his cock almost all the way out of me. “I want to hear it, beauty. I need it.”

  I shook my head, still playing. “You’re going to have to earn that.”

  He tugged my legs onto one shoulder and twisted my hips, changing the position again to something even better. Something where he could slide deeper. The pressure of my closed legs teasing my clit in the best way.

  “Oh, Ch—”

  “Not now,” he said. Still breathless. “If you say it now, I’m going to come.”

  Jackpot. “Oh, Chase. Come for me, Chase. I want to feel you, Chase.”

  He had to stop thrusting, he was laughing so hard, his face going red. “That was exceptionally not sexy. Are you ever going to take this seriously?”

  I reached for his shoulders, pulling him down to kiss me. Groaning as the movement brought him deeper inside of me. “I will. I promise. Just…not tonight.”

  He nodded, moving his hips once more. Fucking into me as he released my legs so I could wrap them around him. “Okay. Not tonight. I can be patient.”

  “You can?”

  “Sure. You’ll get it right eventually. Besides.” He slid a hand between us and rubbed his thumb against my clit, making me arch into him as I tried not to scream. “Messing up is going to be so much fun.”

  I had a feeling he
was very, very right about that.

  Epilogue

  CHASE

  Christmas had never been a big deal to me. When I’d been in the club, I’d spent it drinking with all the other single guys, enjoying a dinner usually provided by one of the old ladies, and basically trying to ignore the holiday since I didn’t have a true family to celebrate with. I’d paid my dues that way.

  This year, the very idea of Christmas morning might have been the most exciting thing I’d ever had to look forward to.

  I stood in the kitchen in a house I owned, one that sat within the Justice city limits. One I’d moved both Mercy and Beckett in to less than a month before. It had been a fight to get her out of that apartment over the hardware store—Mercy was one hell of an independent woman—but I’d managed to make enough promises for her to take the risk, and I was planning on living up to each and every one. Starting with making sure I treated Beckett to the best Christmas possible.

  “He’s finally asleep.” My beauty walked into the kitchen, looking radiant and excited. So fucking beautiful, it hurt. I may have started our relationship being cocky as hell and saying she’d fall in love with me one day, but it still surprised me that she had. I would never, ever, take that woman for granted.

  “You ready for this?”

  She slipped into my arms, rising onto the balls of her feet to give me a kiss as I grabbed hold of her perfect ass. “You’re going to help me, right?”

  As if I wouldn’t. “Of course.”

  “Then I’m ready.”

  I smacked that ass a little harder than just for play, a little lighter than I would later in bed. Much later. We had shit to do. “Let’s go.”