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  Sons of Justice 2: The School Teacher

  Mercy is trying to move on after being betrayed and abused by not only the man she loved but also her own family. It isn't easy moving on and being a school teacher pretending to be so shy when really, she is scared and has lost that independent, self-confident woman she used to be. Mercy even raced cars and did crazy stunts for her dad's racing team. All her experience and knowledge remains hidden. Why? Fear. It runs her life and keeps her from getting close to anyone, and even feeling an attraction. Her battle wounds run too deep, and her past could come back to find her at any time.

  All she can do is wait.

  Scout, Breaker, Lux, and Fort are four members of Sons of Justice, plus friends with Mercy's brother, and they've set their eyes on the sexy, gorgeous school teacher. She's resistant, but the connection is strong and deep and eventually they break down the walls she has put up and help her feel empowered once again. The last thing they expected was trouble to arrive, and to lose the one woman they ever loved together.

  Genre: Contemporary, Ménage a Trois/Quatre, Romantic Suspense

  Length: 46,549 words

  SONS OF JUSTICE 2: THE

  SCHOOL TEACHER

  Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

  SONS OF JUSTICE 2: THE SCHOOL TEACHER

  Copyright © 2017 by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  ISBN: 978-1-64010-512-6

  First Publication: July 2017

  Cover design by Les Byerley

  All art and logo copyright © 2017 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

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  PUBLISHER

  Siren Publishing, Inc.

  www.SirenPublishing.com

  DEDICATION

  Dear readers,

  Thank you for purchasing this legal copy of The School Teacher.

  Mercy is struggling with a secret. One that scars her deeply as well as a fear that danger is not behind her. It’s tough trying to be so tough yet feeling so weak and vulnerable. It isn’t until she is in the arms of four men she cares so much for that she realizes in order to move on and rid herself of the fears of the past she needs to take a chance and trust again. But can she let down that guard? The walls she has conditioned herself to keep up and protect her heart, body and soul?

  It can mean the difference between gaining back control of her life and her happiness or succumbing to the power of the man from her past and his determination to break her down and destroy her.

  May you enjoy Mercy’s story.

  Happy reading.

  Hugs

  Dixie

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  People seem to be more interested in my name than where I get my ideas for my stories from. So I might as well share the story behind my name with all my readers.

  My momma was born and raised in New Orleans. At the age of twenty, she met and fell in love with an Irishman named Patrick Riley Dwyer. Needless to say, the family was a bit taken aback by this as they hoped she would marry a family friend. It was a modern day arranged marriage kind of thing and my momma downright refused.

  Being that my momma’s families were descendants of the original English speaking Southerners, they wanted the family blood line to stay pure. They were wealthy and my father’s family was poor.

  Despite attempts by my grandpapa to make Patrick leave and destroy the love between them, my parents married. They recently celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary.

  I am one of six children born to Patrick and Lynn Dwyer. I am a combination of both Irish and a true Southern belle. With a name like Dixie Lynn Dwyer it’s no wonder why people are curious about my name.

  Just as my parents had a love story of their own, I grew up intrigued by the lifestyles of others. My imagination as well as my need to stray from the straight and narrow made me into the woman I am today.

  Enjoy The School Teacher and allow your imagination to soar freely.

  For all titles by Dixie Lynn Dwyer, please visit

  www.bookstrand.com/dixie-lynn-dwyer

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Dedication

  About the Author

  Prologue

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Epilogue

  Landmarks

  Cover

  SONS OF JUSTICE 2: THE

  SCHOOL TEACHER

  DIXIE LYNN DWYER

  Copyright © 2017

  Prologue

  “I don’t want to do this,” Mercy said to her mother, Maggie.

  “You have no choice. This is our life now,” her mother said while she continued to work at the stove cooking up dinner for her husband. Mercy’s father, Gyles Slayer, was a mean son of a bitch. Mercy had been fooled for far too long by his conniving ways. He was a manipulator, someone who went after whatever he wanted and did whatever he had to in order to get what he wanted. It didn’t matter who he hurt. Not his wife, not his daughter, no one but him mattered.

  Mercy was scared. She didn’t want to do this hit. She didn’t want to be part of this family, this race team, any longer. So what that she was a woman and pretty damn good at driving obstacle courses. She had no fears, or so she thought until Canton Brigade came along. Until she fell in love with him and then his true colors came out. Now he had her by the throat. He had threatened her with a gun, and he would kill her mother and her father if she didn’t come through on this hit. Did her parents even care? She was starting to think that no one did, and her mom was too scared and used to her husband’s ways to ever fight back.

  “Why can’t we leave, Mom? Just disappear and never come back here?” Mercy asked, placing her hand on her mom’s shoulder and whispering to her just in case her father was around.

  “Are you out of your mind? They’ll hunt you down,” her mother replied sharply.

  “I don’t think they will. They’ll be too busy trying to plan another hit or spend what they made already. I just want to drive the jeep and win races.”

  “Well, that isn’t going to pay the bills,” her mom replied.

  “I don’t have any bills. I’ve been teaching and working in between racing. Eventually I won’t race anymore because my teaching job will take up all my time.”

  “Have you discussed that with Canton? He is your boyfriend and will be your husband. That’s a decision for Canton to help you make.”

  “What? How could you say that? It’s my life and I went to college to become a teacher, not a race car driver.”

  Her mother rolled her eyes as if saying that Mercy’s dream and profession were unrealistic. Like racing cars and hitting ticket booths, robbing them, was a profession? When had her mother lost her sanity, or was it fear and s
he was just trying to pretend this was all normal and acceptable? She worried about her mother, about the abuse she sustained over the years from her husband. Mercy didn’t want that life, and seeing how Canton became possessive, controlling, and then abusive to Mercy, she would be heading down the same path if she didn’t get the hell out of here soon. This hit could put her behind bars, and she didn’t even want to do it. Her driving capabilities around small, tricky obstacles were impeccable. That was why she did so well in obstacle course racing, dune buggies, jeeps, and other smaller vehicles that involved high speeds and typically crashes. She rolled dozens of vehicles and only came out with some bruises and nicks. She loved the adrenaline rush, but not this. Not stealing to help her father and Canton make money.

  “Your father and Canton have the racing team to try and promote and establish. Every bit of money helps, and this hit will be perfect. Don’t fight with them, just do it. Do as Canton commands. He’s your man and he is in control,” her mother told her, and Mercy growled under hear breath.

  “He doesn’t own me. I don’t want this life. I don’t want to wind up as used goods, or in jail over some grand idea of a hit my boyfriend and father had.”

  “Watch your tongue, and abide their rules. It’s easier this way. Believe me,” her mother said, and Mercy exhaled. From there on out Mercy knew that her mother would never leave her husband, and would never stick up for Mercy and her decisions against Canton and her own father. She needed to make a plan, and a plan she definitely would have.

  “Listen to your mother. You have no say in this. You do as Canton commands or you die. It’s that fucking simple.” Her father appeared in the doorway and Mercy was shocked. She didn’t know he had come in. She gulped and turned to look at him. Her father eyed her over.

  “Canton adores you. Don’t go fucking this up. He’s got plans for you, and I approve. Do whatever he wants and asks. Now go get ready. I believe he’s taking you to dinner.”

  She couldn’t believe that this was happening to her. She was being forced into Canton’s possession like some object. He had no respect for her, not love really, just obsession. His cars got more respect than she did.

  “And if I say no? If I decide that I don’t want to be part of this and I leave, then what?” she asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

  Her father’s evil eyes roamed over her body as he smirked. “Canton won’t allow that. You do as he says. Learn from your mother, and you won’t wind up spending more time injured and crying than you will being loved and cared for.”

  “What the hell is that supposed mean? Like I’m to accept being smacked around by him, ordered around like some animal?”

  Smack.

  Mercy gasped as the strike to her cheek shocked her.

  “Gyles, please.” Her mother stepped forward and grabbed Mercy by the shoulders and pulled her to the side.

  “You defy me, woman?” he roared at her mom.

  “No, no of course not. Just don’t hurt her. She has a dinner date with Canton. Her face is going to be all red and bruised now. Please.”

  “It will be worse than that if Canton thinks she’ll screw up on purpose. You get caught, and he will kill you, but not before he tortures you. Mercy, you don’t know what Canton is capable of. He adores you. Accept your fate. This is your life and Canton will be your husband very soon. Now go get ready. Make him happy and you won’t feel any pain,” her father said and then walked closer. Both women tightened up, but he reached for a fried potato her mom had just finished cooking that sat on the plate by the stove. He popped a piece into his mouth.

  “Keep those warm. I don’t eat cold potatoes,” he said to his wife and then headed out of the room.

  Her mother gripped Mercy’s shoulders and hugged her back.

  “Do as you’re told. Don’t defy their orders.” She pulled back and then walked to the stove.

  “I took out the red dress. Canton likes that one a lot. Make sure you’re perfectly groomed for him, too. After the job, we’ll go do some shopping. You’ll need to look perfect all the time for Canton. I’m sure he’ll go over the rules tonight.”

  Tears flowed and her heart ached. Her parents sold her out to a man. To Canton Brigade, a psycho, a batterer. How the hell was she going to get out of this mess? How?

  Chapter One

  Breaker watched Mercy run along the path before heading east instead of south. Where the hell was she going? He was on his way to do a training with a group of men, but he sent a text message to Lux, Fort, and Scout. One of them should see where she headed. All that was over that way was the construction they were doing on the race pit for the upcoming two-week event. A bunch of the guys were participating in the races, and this year was going to be pretty dangerous. But that was how these men liked it. The greater the danger and adrenaline rush, the better it was.

  He was feeling a little antsy himself, and burning off some steam would definitely be good for him today. He would also do a bit of shooting at the range later on, as it seemed a mission could be coming up any day now. There was talk with him and Spartan about a situation in Costa Rica that could need some handling. Lately, there had been several delicate situations to handle and many teams from Sons of Justice were sent out, including Reeves, Flint, Big John, and Tiny, who had to handle a controversial invasion of a small town in Afghanistan. He felt uneasy with thoughts of the Middle East. He and the team had spent plenty of time there over the years. Most of their training and experiences in both hand-to-hand-combat and weaponry were developed over there. Their specific team was sent into situations in the dark of night, or the midst of sandstorms to eliminate full enemy forces by catching them by surprise.

  He, Scout, Lux, and Fort had done more dangerous shit than he personally cared to remember. In fact, those experiences are what landed them in their positions here with Sons of Justice. Eventually, they hoped to transition to a more domesticated, civilian job with the organization that would have them handling situations on US soil instead of abroad. They were in their thirties with plenty more years of active duty in their systems, yet recently their ideas for their future—which was basically wondering what the next mission was—now went to wondering if they could pursue a relationship with Channing’s sister, Mercy? Would it be fair, never mind smart, to get involved with her, and ask that she be their woman? He wasn’t too sure he could handle it himself, and knowing his brothers in arms had his back helped. Ignoring the attraction and the protectiveness they instantly had for Mercy, was getting more and more difficult to ignore. Especially as men constantly asked the sheriff or Spartan and John for guardianship of her. That just pissed him off entirely. When she arrived in town, she did so discretely, and with Channing’s assistance. Breaker and his team just so happened to be meeting with Spartan and John over a training schedule when she first arrived, and boy did that first impression affect them.

  He hadn’t wanted to admit that instant attraction he felt, and a curiosity of who she was, what type of person, and where she came from. The more he spoke with Channing, the more he understood that she came from a dangerous situation, and though he wasn’t sure what happened, he knew her family life was unstable. That concern and protectiveness grew stronger. Day in and day out, he and his team wound up in the same places as Mercy, and soon took over watching her, making sure that she was safe, and telling Channing they had her back. It worked out well, especially when Channing and his team, Philippe, Bubba, and Thor needed to head out for missions.

  Then, when Cherokee was abducted that night a few weeks ago and wound up being abducted while she and Mercy were in the haunted house, his concern for her well-being grew immensely. When he, Scout, Fort, and Lux held her close and watched over her as she cried with concern over Cherokee missing and then Cherokee in the hospital recovering, he knew he wanted her as his woman. So did his men. They all agreed it would be complicated but could be well worth it. They continued to go round and round, and Mercy continued to resist their efforts of getting
closer to her. In fact, when they held her close, kissed her head and shoulders as they watched Cherokee sleeping in the hospital bed, she let down her defenses and allowed them to hold her. But soon after, she pushed them away. Two whole weeks of Mercy avoiding coming close to him and the team. Perhaps they read her wrong and she didn’t feel what they felt. He shook his head.

  She felt the attraction, but was fighting it. Why? Did it have to do with her past and where she came from? Channing did say that their parents weren’t good people and that they hurt her. How so? He wanted to know. He wanted to protect her, but she just wasn’t accepting them. His worry about her off running on her own heightened. He thought about looking for her as he headed toward the training buildings, glancing one more time in the direction Mercy had jogged off to. He couldn’t go looking, he had the training to do, and she wasn’t his woman. Not yet, anyway. His phone went off and he read the text.

  “We got it. We’ll watch over her.”

  That worrisome feeling that she was unprotected and out of sight instantly disappeared. His brothers would make sure she was safe. He exhaled and headed inside.

  * * * *

  Mercy Sayer ran faster and faster. It was her way of trying to keep the worrisome thoughts from her head. She also changed up her route so that Scout, Breaker, Lux, or Fort couldn’t find her or follow. She screwed up. She let her guard down, had been lost in thought the other day and leaned back against Scout as her emotions got the better of her. Seeing Cherokee hurt, and knowing that she almost died, had really hit Mercy hard. Cherokee’s circumstances made Mercy realize she was stupid to think that Canton wouldn’t try to find her. Her father, too, as she was an asset to the business both the legit and illegal sides, and they wanted her involved. Hell, Canton told her she would be his wife and that things were going to change.