Sons of Justice 9: Fighting Chance (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Read online

  She lifted up, and Hook cupped her cheeks, looked at the bruising.

  “You’re too damn gorgeous for this shit. You’re going to tell me who did it and what’s going on. My brother and his team will protect you.”

  “We’ll go see Cesar. You’ll press charges, and we’ll provide protection, guardianship over you,” Romano stated.

  Her heart sank. They didn’t want to protect her out of desire for her or for her to be their woman. They were doing it out of rules, regulations, out of responsibility.

  “No.” She shoved them away and stepped to the side.

  “I’m not your responsibility, your burden to bear for the sake of rules and regulations. I don’t need your protection, as good men of Repose, of Sons of Justice. Leave.” She walked around to her desk but faced away from them.

  “That’s not how this works, Merica,” Flick said to her.

  “This decision isn’t based on responsibility but on desire to protect you and have you as ours,” Greco said to her.

  She swung around to look at him, at them.

  “Are you kidding me? We fooled around a little. You’re talking to me about bringing me home, and you expect me to stand here and think you want to make a commitment out of desire when you basically just showed it’s out of responsibility because of rules of this town? I am not some slut, a woman who will be used by a man, controlled by one, and never mind five. You want to know what happened last night? My mom got smacked around by her boyfriend, and when I showed up, he made his demands on me then invited another guy over to party.”

  “Party?” Ricci asked.

  She stared at him.

  “To screw, Ricci, for sex, the four of us, okay? So believe me, I’m way more angry, pissed off, disgusted, and disheartened than all of you combined. So sorry I missed the date for lunch where you guys more than likely would have tried to seduce me into bed and ask me to go home with you again, as well. Now leave. I’m working, and I’ll get through this alone like I get through everything else in my life.”

  She went to her desk despite the curses that went through the room, until she went to sit and Romano grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms. He cupped her cheeks and head, and she gasped and held on to his forearms. He was breathing heavy through his nostrils.

  “You have a lot to learn about real men, about being the woman of soldiers. My brother and the others are going to teach you. Show you what it means to be cared for and loved, not just wanted for sex.”

  He pressed his mouth to hers and kissed her. As he plunged his tongue into her mouth and ravaged her, she couldn’t seem to get one coherent thought. Not until she relaxed in his arms and then he pulled from her lips.

  Romano held her gaze. Those fierce, dark eyes, the seasoned expression as he stroked her jaw and kept her pressed against his body, unnerved her. She stared right back at him as he looked at the bruising by her eye.

  “Was it your mother’s boyfriend who did this to you?” he asked her.

  She swallowed.

  “They were fighting. I got caught by his hand and watch trying to stop them.”

  “So what was with the whole sex party and another guy?” Hook asked, stepping closer. She looked at him as Romano stroked her jaw and kept a possessive hold on her.

  “He showed up when I was trying to leave. He stopped me.” She felt the tears rolled down her cheeks. She blinked.

  “What did he do to you? How did you escape, or didn’t you?” Rossi asked.

  “Rodge had my mom pressed over the table. The guy forcibly kissed me.”

  “And?” Ricci asked.

  “I couldn’t fight him. He was bigger, stronger, so when he grabbed me and kissed me, I had to wait for a chance to make some kind of move. I didn’t know what to do.”

  “You fought him off though? Got away, or no?” Greco asked, but in a hard, sharp tone that made her tighten up and had tears rolling down her cheeks.

  “I got away, just barely, as he grabbed at my body and kissed me. I kneed him, struck him, and then kicked him in the face when he fell to his knees. I turned to leave, heard my mom moaning and looked as Rodge…”

  She couldn’t say it. She covered her face with her hands and tried calming her breathing. She felt both Hook and Romano comforting her, and the others came closer.

  “I was so scared. I ran to my car and sped out of there. I went straight home, locked up every door and window, and it was horrible. I didn’t sleep. I was afraid they would come to finish what they started.”

  Hook hugged her from behind, and she leaned back against his chest.

  “You’re going to accept their protection and guardianship. You’re going to go see Cesar and press charges,” Flick ordered.

  “No. No, Flick. I can’t do that. There’s more at risk here than just me.”

  “How so?”

  “My mom. I can’t explain now, but the best thing to do is just stay clear of her and Rodge. It’s over. I’m never going back there again.”

  “Well, that’s a given. You aren’t allowed. I forbid it,” Romano stated firmly.

  She pulled forward out of Hook’s embrace.

  “You, forbid it?” she asked, voice shaking.

  “I’ll leave you five to handle this.” Flick pointed at Merica. “You listen to them. You trust these men. They’re the real deal.” He walked out of her office, through the main front area, and out the door, closing it behind him.

  Romano, with his military style hair that matched his macho, military attitude, stood in front of her as Rossi and Ricci walked beside him and Hook remained behind her.

  “We don’t play games. We don’t let anyone scare, never mind hurt, anyone we care about. Now I know this thing between us is new, just fucking happened, but I’ll be damned if I or my men are going to let you push us out of the way and not protect you. Now you feel the attraction between all of us. The fact that Hook is here, too, and feeling it, makes me realize how damn special you are, woman, but stubbornness, you handling this alone idea, is not going to fly ’round here. Now this is how it’s going down. You will not be in any contact with your mother or this Rodge guy. You’ll file a report with Cesar.”

  She started to shake her head even though she already knew he would flip out about her recalcitrant response to what she knew were direct orders. He was such a disciplinarian, and she didn’t know why her body got all tingly and she licked her lips.

  “You think I won’t throw you over my knee, right here, right now and spank your ass?” he asked, shocking her.

  She felt Hook’s palm go over her ass, caressing it, and she jumped. It gave Romano the ability to grip her blouse and pull her into his arms. Her hands went to his chest and shoulders, and he squeezed her to him with one arm wrapped snugly around her waist and one went to her hair and head.

  “Everything with you is instant. The need to have you close. The need to protect you. The possessiveness that consumes me inside just from the scent of your perfume, never mind the sight of your gorgeous face, sexy body, and what holding you close does to me. It’s fucking insanity, and I want more. My team wants more, and so do you. I can see it in your eyes. You’re a fighter, but we aren’t the ones to be fighting. Let down that guard, and I promise you, we will never hurt you.”

  She felt her eyes fill with tears, and she wondered if what he said was true, but then he kissed her. Softly at first, tenderly, and as she relaxed in his arms and kissed him back, things got hot and heavy quickly.

  * * * *

  Romano couldn’t resist this woman in his arms. It was like she’d come out of nowhere and was absolutely perfect for all of them. For Hook, too, and to know that he had feelings for her, like the rest of the team did, only validated that this was special and not a relationship to take for granted. That scratch by her eye, and learning what had taken place, had the anger boiling in his belly, but he kissed her deeper, ran his hands possessively over her curves and then up her skirt, against her sexy thigh and straight under her panties
to her cunt, and she moaned into his mouth.

  He thrust his fingers in and out of her pussy, and she moaned and came. Just like that she came in his arms, his fingers in her pussy thrusting and as they rocked their bodies against one another.

  He released her lips to breath, and she moaned aloud. He suckled against her neck only for Hook to join in. He slid his palm from the back of her to the front, and Romano pulled his fingers from her cunt, only for Hook to take his place. Romano cupped her cheeks and kissed her on the mouth again. Her hips moved back and forth, and Hook held her against his front as he thrust fingers into her pussy.

  “Ours. Every fucking inch of you will belong to us, and us to you,” Hook said to her as he whispered into her ear.

  Romano pulled back.

  “Come take a taste and feel of our woman.”

  Greco stepped forward. He cupped her cheeks, and she stared at him, lips parted, moaning softly.

  “Goddamn, you’re beautiful.” He pressed his lips to hers. He then eased his hand between her legs, and Hook pulled back, and Rossi took his place behind her.

  “So wet and tight for us. You’re hot, baby, so damn beautiful,” Rossi said to her and then suckled against her neck.

  Greco pulled his fingers from her cunt, and Rossi replaced them with his.

  “Oh God, please. Please, I can’t take it.” She moaned and grabbed onto Greco.

  He cupped her cheek. “You will take it because you want it. You want more and more, and soon you’ll have all five of us making love to you, making you beg for more and beg for mercy.” He kissed her again.

  She moaned, and he pulled back so Ricci could join in. Rossi slid his fingers from her cunt, and Romano watched him lick them clean.

  “So fucking delicious. Goddamn, I think we need to do lunch and dinner at our place.”

  “Dessert will be Merica,” Ricci stated and then slid his fingers into her pussy, and she cried out another release.

  When they were done making her come, kissing her, and then holding her, she smoothed out her skirt and then kept a hand over her neck and chest as she calmed her breathing.

  “I need to go use the ladies room.”

  “I’ll walk with you. We’ll discuss the training you’re going to get pronto.”

  “Training?” she asked Hook.

  “Yes,” he said firmly, and she pulled her bottom lip between her teeth and didn’t argue. Smart woman. That would be one hell of a mistake. The man was relentless and stubborn, Romano thought as he watched them walk out of the office.

  “What do we do first? I want the dick that hurt her and the mother’s boyfriend,” Greco stated.

  “Calm down. First we go see Cesar. This is his territory,” Romano said to him.

  “The boyfriend?” Rossi asked.

  “We may have to wait. You know we aren’t civilians. We don’t even fit under that title. We’re SoJ, and that means there are additional rules and a process to go through. I’ll talk to Spartan. We’ll let Hook handle watching over her while she’s here and have him bring her to our place, or we’ll meet them at hers later to go over things before meeting with Cesar.”

  So we’re dong this right? We’re going to claim guardianship of her?” Greco asked, sounding antsy.

  “We have to talk things through. She isn’t going to accept that right now. She’s going to resist and think we’re only offering out of responsibility to rules.”

  “We’ll change her mind,” Rossi said.

  “How, she’s resistant and untrusting?” Greco stated.

  “She’ll think differently once she’s in our bed,” Ricci stated.

  “You think that’s going to solve it, or make matters worse, Ricci? That’s what we need to discuss. This isn’t just about fucking her, claiming her body for the time being. It’s a serious commitment. We’ve seen our friends engage in them. They’re all in. There is no halfway in,” Romano said to them.

  “We’ve never committed to a woman before. Not alone and certainly not together,” Rossi added.

  “Exactly. We could use the time to get to know her and for her to get to know us.”

  “Are you fucking talking about dating? Holding hands, movie theatres, dances and shit?” Greco asked.

  “You didn’t seem to mind dancing the other night and making out with her to get her attention. It will be natural. You’ll want to do it,” Romano said.

  “I’m in,” Ricci stated and rubbed his beard. “Never felt so compelled to make a woman mine before. Sharing her with you guys feels right, natural, plus it will help when one or more of us needs to leave for a mission or something. She’ll never be left alone.”

  “We’ll talk more later. Let’s change our schedules and plan on meeting with Cesar. Greco you call him, and I’ll call Spartan and see how we can handle this and not make Merica even more distant,” Romano said, and they all agreed.

  Chapter Six

  Merica washed up in the women’s locker room. She was grateful she’d brought the bag of clothes to change into later to learn some self-defense skills. Her plan to ask Flick had backfired on her, and now she would be rolling around on the mats with Hook.

  Hook? Oh God, I can’t.

  She stared at herself in the mirror and felt the tears emerge. One look at her eye and she recalled the circumstances of how it happened. Were Cesar, Spartan, and the men going to make her press charges? She couldn’t.

  Her cell phone rang, and she glanced at it and then felt her heart racing when she saw that it was Kerry. She picked it up as she walked farther into the locker room and away from the women who were coming in there for an upcoming class.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, I’m sorry I missed your call.”

  “Yeah, well, where were you? Did Brick and Burrow come home?”

  “Yeah.”

  “And?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “I can’t.”

  “No, I meant that sarcastically. We need to talk, Kerry.”

  “I can’t. I’m sorry, but this is between the guys and me.”

  “Unfortunately you’re wrong about that.” She went on to explain about Rodge wanting to place a bet and about the guy that showed up and attacked her. She told her everything that had happened, including fooling around with Hooker and the men.

  “Hook, too, and he’s Romano’s brother? Oh shit, this is bad. So very bad. Please, Merica, you can’t tell them about Brick and Burrow. You can’t.”

  “They’re going to ask more questions. They want me to press charges against the guy who assaulted me and against Rodge.”

  “You can’t. If it was one of the loan shark guys or something.”

  “It was that guy with the dark hair and big muscles who I saw the day Lucky fought Hook.”

  “I don’t think I know who that is. Who was he with?” Kerry asked.

  “I think friends of Lucky’s.”

  “Shit, that isn’t good.”

  “No, it isn’t. Why are Brick and Burrow doing this? Can’t they see it’s dangerous and they could wind up dead?”

  “You don’t understand it. You haven’t been involved with anyone who fights or is trying to get into MMA fighting. The competition is fierce, and what started out as a few matches to make some money turned into a debt to a loan shark. A bad one. Anyway, they got out of a one bad situation, and now they tell me they’re working on really getting out of it and they just need to do a few more matches. I know one is next week.”

  “That’s the one Rodge wants to place his bet on.”

  “I don’t know. We should get together and talk. What are you going to do about Romano, Hook, Greco, Ricci, and Rossi? I mean are they seriously going to force the guardianship issue? Those men seem so not the commitment types. I actually thought that Talia said they stay off campground, that they do off-the-wall, dangerous missions and get called away a lot. Doesn’t sound like a stable type of relationship to me.”

  “Me e
ither, but they sure can kiss, and oh God, I’m honestly not thinking long term when they kiss me and I’m in their arms under their spells, that’s for sure.”

  “Sounds like you like them even though it may lead nowhere.”

  “I know. That’s the problem. I guess I need to play it cool and take my time. Either they’ll get called away for a mission or I’ll break things off. Whatever comes first. Keep me posted on the situation.”

  “Will do, and you should stay clear of your mom, her house, and Rodge. Let him figure out how to place that bet himself.”

  “I will. Thanks and I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

  She ended the call and then exhaled. She had this uneasy, guilty feeling in the pit of her gut. She wasn’t going to tell the men anything about this. She wasn’t going to accept guardianship, and she needed to try and not let them kiss her. Well, kiss her so much. It wouldn’t be smart. Seriously, how could she get involved with any of them? Individually, it would be a mistake, as a group, a team, holy God no way. She looked at her arms in the mirror, how thin yet toned they were. Roman’s hand could practically go around her entire upper arm. The thickest part of her arm. The others would be able to, as well. What if they were so demanding, controlling, and manipulative that they became abusive? Would she wind up like her mother? Drinking to numb the pain? Accepting to be dragged along, ordered along by a man, hell, five men? Five soldiers? She felt sick and scared. So very scared, but then came the thought that it wasn’t right to feel that way about Romano, Hook, Ricci, and Rossi, and Greco. They were good men. Had to be to become part of SoJ, and also to be friends with her friends’ men, like Luke, Farrow, Cole, and J.T.

  She felt mentally exhausted. What should she do? How should she handle this? She straightened her shoulders and decided that she had to try her hardest to remain in control here. She would have to go see Cesar about the guy who attacked her at her mom’s house. She wouldn’t press charges. She would stand her ground and protect Kerry and her men because this had to have something to do with them and the situation.