Sons of Justice 5: Seasoned With Love (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Read online

  Andy chuckled.

  “There are a shit load of guys in that town she lives in and I’m telling you, she won’t be single long.”

  Brandon felt that bit of jealousy and then came the feelings of guilt. They got her caught in the middle of a potentially dangerous situation and it cost some promises he was still paying back in order to keep her out of jail and out of the situation. They made some stupid decisions but ultimately they got what they wanted. Except Gazleer Numon.

  The crazy fuck was loose somewhere, still causing them problems and popping up to make their lives a living hell. Getting Kendra out of harm’s way and completely out of their lives would keep her safe and alive. He thought about her. About what they shared. It could have been perfect but they fucked up. They did a deal with the devil, backstabbed her and would have brought her under with them. It was a fucking miracle they got out of the situation they did. Luckily Numon didn’t have more evidence on them or they would all be locked up. And Kendra? Shit, Kendra would have been taken by Numon as payback.

  He stared at Kendra’s picture. She was in incredible physical condition. He could see how toned her thighs were and how fit and sexy she was. Her hair was longer than ever, straight down her back to nearly her ass. Her thighs super toned, ass muscular and tight, and damn, did she look sexier than ever. No woman compared to her and he tried several times to get her out of his head. It didn’t matter though. She was the best thing that ever happened to him and his brothers and by cheating on her they screwed up. They lost her forever, by breaking every promise they made to her.

  “So how are Skylar and Paul?” Andy asked.

  “Beats the hell out of me. I haven’t seen either of them in about six months.”

  “What?”

  “Skylar I think is on some other mercenary mission, or at least has been for months and Paul is in Europe, maybe Spain. Not sure.”

  “Guess all the money went to his head,” Andy replied.

  “Something like that. So do you have any info for me on that guy I asked you to look up?”

  “Sure do. I’m sending everything over to you now. Out of curiosity, does this have something to do with Gazleer?”

  “What makes you ask that?”

  “Well, when I was searching there was a connection between this guy Lupee Solos and DCR Enterprises which I believe was doing business with Gazleer when the shit hit the fan with you guys and him seeking revenge.”

  “I thought you wanted limited information and not get involved?” Brandon asked.

  “Shit. Well, watch your ass. This Lupee guy travels a lot, especially in and out of Venezuela.”

  “I appreciate the information, Andy. I’ll touch base if I need something else.”

  “You got it. Enjoy those pictures,” he said and ended the call.

  Brandon shook his head and started typing on the laptop, trying to pull up the e-mail Andy just sent him. His eyes went to the left and down onto the desk. Kendra. Holy fuck, woman, you look hot. No wonder Skylar never sent him any update photos of her and took off for months. He would definitely have made a move.

  He glanced back at the computer and gathered the information. He had a feeling that Gazleer was running as a silent partner for Lupee and the car theft ring, among other things. It was a lucrative business as well as providing protection for street thugs who targeted tourists. He would get a percentage of the earnings for watching their backs and making sure no cops were around.

  Where the hell are you hiding out, Gazleer? It may be time to smoke you out a little and perhaps hit you where it hurts the most. Your wallet.

  He leaned back and picked up his cell phone.

  “I’m sending you some details. I want you to use it as you see fit but ultimately I want to find him and hit him hard, starting with these little side businesses. If you have the opportunity you take it. I want this dick on the edge of his seat, looking over his shoulder and sweating like the dirty fuck he is,” he told Isaac, one of his lead security guys.

  “You got it, boss. I’ll keep you posted,” Isaac said and then Brandon ended the call. He debated about contacting his brothers. He decided to wait and see Gazleer’s reaction and whether or not he would be pissed off. None of them could rest assured they wouldn’t wind up in prison, until Gazleer was good and dead.

  He tapped his pen against his lip and glanced at the picture of Kendra again, but then flipped it over. They fucked up any chance of having her in their lives, never mind their beds. It actually hurt to think about how badly they hurt her. She was the only woman he ever loved, and he would still do anything for her. But he screwed up. Like he did getting into business with these assholes related to Gazleer. If Kendra knew the truth, and that they lied, paid off people to make it look like they were set up, she would really hate them. She turned the business into a gold mine. She was tough enough, smart enough and determined enough to succeed, and she did. His brother Skylar held on to that two percent of the business just to have a connection to Kendra. She could eliminate him completely but she didn’t because she had no idea that what they were accused of three years ago had been true, and they did some serious bribing and negotiating to get cleared, and to protect her. Making any kind of contact could put her back in danger again.

  He took her picture and ripped it up. He would always love Kendra and so would his brothers, but she was better off without them. They weren’t the men she thought they were or the ones she had loved and given so freely to.

  Chapter Two

  Big John and the crew’s place was crowded as Sam just returned home from the hospital two days ago. Everyone had been stopping in to visit and she waited for Kendra to come by. She overheard Tiny talking to Leather about Kendra’s capabilities and knowing the agents who had been involved in investigating the crimes Vinny and Jerry were involved in. There was a lot of talk about who Kendra was and why she was so unwilling to give information about herself. Sam knew that Kendra carried a gun and had a permit. She also knew that Kendra had other guns in her home and also ran a company from home that had to do with survival tools and equipment for adventurists. Pretty cool stuff, so maybe that was what she was into.

  The more she thought about Kendra and Quantico and the guys’ reactions to her, the more she wondered why Kendra wasn’t biting. The attraction was mutual. It was obvious as Sam caught Kendra watching Walker and Stone. She even complimented their bodies and stuck her tongue out behind Quantico and Walker’s backs after they made demands or gave an order or acted all in charge and bossy. Which was funny. Sometimes Sam did that to Big John and Tiny without them looking. Though Reeves and Flint caught her a couple of times and boy, did she get in trouble. She exhaled as Reeves complained about the visitors today and that she needed rest.

  “You should be lying down,” Reeves said to her with a scowl as he heard the doorbell ring.

  “It’s more than likely Kendra. I’ve been waiting to see her.”

  “Well, I want you resting. Yesterday was too much and your head hurt all night.”

  “I’m better today, Reeves,” she said, placing her hand on his forearm.

  She heard the voices, and was surprised that it was Walker. Big John greeted him hello and she saw he was carrying some folders with him.

  “Hey, Walker, what’s up?” Reeves said, joining him to shake his hand.

  “Not much, just needed to go over some stuff with Big John,” he said and then walked closer into the room. “How are you feeling today, Sam?” he asked her.

  “Better, thanks.”

  “Good to hear,” he said and then Big John excused them and he and Walker walked out of the room.

  Sam’s phone went off and she glanced at it. She scrunched her eyes as she saw it was Kendra, who asked if Leather was there. She was outside and saw him get dropped off. She texted back yes, then Kendra said maybe she would come back later. Sam texted her again telling her to come now, that she was up for the visit and may not feel well enough later.

  “Who is
that texting you?” Reeves asked her.

  “Kendra. She’s coming to the door now.” Just then there was a knock and Reeves went to go answer it as Tiny and Flint said a quick hello and then went to see Big John and Leather.

  “Hi, Reeves, how are you?” Kendra asked him as she hugged him hello.

  “Hanging in there, Kendra. How about you? Feeling okay?” he asked.

  “I’m great. It’s my best friend here that I’m worried about,” Kendra said and walked into the room. Sam was sitting up with a pillow behind her head. She was still bruised up but she wasn’t complaining.

  “Hi,” Kendra said and bent down to kiss Sam’s cheek hello, then she took a seat next to her.

  “I’ll leave you two to talk,” Reeves said and they smiled and he left the room.

  Sam turned to look at Kendra. She was wearing blue jeans, a pair of boots and a nice deep blue sweater.

  “So, something happened between you and Leather, or his team to make you duff out on seeing me?” Sam asked.

  Kendra opened her mouth, then closed it and looked away to exhale.

  “Oh boy. What?” Sam asked.

  Kendra looked toward the doorway and then leaned back and whispered. “It was nothing. I handled it. Should be fine but I didn’t want there to be any discomfort.”

  Sam scrunched her eyes together.

  “What happened?”

  “It was stupid. They followed me back to my place after the Filling Station where I spent most of the time talking to Andy, one of the agents and the feds. I guess they were concerned and then maybe jealous. They followed me home, we talked, they made moves and I had to decline.”

  “Decline? Are you out of your mind? You like them.”

  “Shhh,” Kendra stated and then looked toward the door again.

  “I do not like them, nor am I interested in engaging in a ménage relationship. That’s it. It’s over, end of story.”

  “End of story? No way. Why? What’s the deal? You started to let me in on some stuff a few weeks back and you hinted about a bad relationship. Is that why you aren’t letting them into your life?” Sam asked.

  Kendra licked her lips and then swallowed hard.

  “I do not want to be in a ménage relationship, or any relationship for that matter.”

  Sam worried her bottom lip and stared at Kendra.

  “How do you know? A ménage is different than any other type of relationship. There’s trust, and understanding, honesty and you come first as the woman.”

  Kendra snorted. And then exhaled.

  “Listen, I’m so very happy for you, Sam, that you have Big John, Tiny, Reeves, and Flint to love you, protect you and truly be there for you. I’m happy for the others, too, who have found what they believe to be a loving, perfect relationship forever. I do, but it isn’t for me. It won’t work.”

  “You don’t know that. I understand that they’re older, like my men are to me, but with age comes wisdom, experience and a maturity guys our age just don’t seem to have.”

  Kendra shook her head.

  “I’m going to tell you something and I don’t want you to share it with anyone, okay?”

  “Okay,” Sam said, squinting her eyes at Kendra.

  Kendra took a deep breath and exhaled.

  “I have loved, with all my heart, my soul, my body, and all I had. It was reciprocated for about three years, and then things changed. I didn’t change. I still loved with all my heart and soul. I still gave a hundred and fifty percent, but it was no longer reciprocated. My heart was ripped from my chest, my soul scarred, and my happiness and hope for a future, a family, success in a relationship all diminished before my eyes.”

  “How?”

  “Indiscretion, affairs, lies, betrayal, all of it.”

  “But that was one man, one relationship. You can’t base your future, the decisions you made based on one guy breaking your heart and doing you wrong. Look at what Vinny had done to me and by taking a chance I’m happier, feel like I’m part of a family and I matter.”

  Kendra stared at Sam. “This is the part that I don’t want anyone to know about.”

  Sam swallowed hard.

  “It wasn’t one man, it was three, Sam. It was a ménage. A perfect, loving, amazing relationship that turned into a mess in two years’ time.”

  Sam covered her mouth and widened her eyes.

  “They lied to you? Cheated on you? Used you?”

  “And then some. So you see, I can’t do that again. No one can know that I was involved with a ménage before because they’ll look at me differently. Like sex is no big deal. It changed me forever but they went on. They screwed who they wanted, did things they wanted to do, and I live with the burden of my choices, of making the wrong decision and falling in love with three men who broke all their promises of love, devotion, commitment, and honor. That’s why I will not get involved in any relationships with a man, and definitely not with multiple men.”

  “Holy God, I’m sorry, Kendra. So sorry,” Sam said and felt terrible. It made her have more questions.

  “Where are they now?” she asked.

  Kendra leaned back. “Not sure. I don’t really hear from them. I have my accountant deal with Skylar. He still holds two percent of the shares in the business and I guess it’s to hold on to a connection, despite him being the one to cheat on me.”

  “Wait, you mean your small catalogue, online business?” Sam asked.

  “Well, it’s a big larger than that, Sam.”

  “How large?”

  “I gross a million a year.”

  Sam’s mouth gaped open. “What?” she exclaimed.

  “Shhh. I don’t want anyone to know.”

  “Holy shit, you’re rich,” Sam stated.

  “I do okay.”

  “Bullshit. You’re filthy freaking rich. What the hell are you doing living in that small two bedroom apartment in Repose?”

  “I like it here. It’s near some friends and it’s quiet, and peaceful. I don’t need to be hands on with the business at this point. I do a lot from the home office, travel and things, and to be honest, I thought living out here would be temporary.”

  “How did you find out about Repose?”

  “By accident. I went skydiving with an old friend from the…”

  “From the what?”

  She exhaled.

  “The military.”

  “Huh?” Sam asked, feeling confused.

  “Well, I guess since I’m letting all my life secrets out of the bag I’ll tell you,” she said and then Sam squinted at her.

  “I was in the Marine Corps since eighteen. I had to leave at twenty-two because of some crap that happened with the business and of course with Brandon, Skylar, and Paul cheating on me and destroying our relationship.”

  “You’re a Marine?” Sam asked, wide eyed.

  “Yes, with a specialty in arms and survival techniques. I was going places, really establishing a name for myself when the shit hit the fan and problems started with the guys. Someone tried to claim we were smuggling in illegal items from foreign countries and even shipping out US weapons supplies. It was bullshit but I was forced to retire so I wouldn’t get a dishonorable discharge and had to improvise on a new profession. I was so pissed at what Brandon, Skylar, and Paul had done to me that I continued the business, patented several survival tools, making huge money and then just to rub it in their faces I took over the company.”

  “Holy shit, you’re super woman,” she said to her and Kendra chuckled.

  “I’m super stupid,” she replied and exhaled then rubbed her temples.

  “You stood your ground, you established this multimillion dollar company plus invented shit, and you showed those three men that you are just fine on your own and a success. You shouldn’t have any guilt or feel like you aren’t good enough.”

  “I know that. It’s what has kept me going.”

  “I bet. I’m sorry I pushed about Quantico and the guys. They are older though and so in
tense. They’ve gone through heavy shit in their careers.”

  “I’m sure they have, but after what I went through, and the heartbreak, the betrayal like that, there’s no way I can let my guard down right now.”

  “Well, maybe with time. Spending more time around Repose and them. I bet they want to even more so considering how worried they were about you following Cass. I bet if they knew about your military background it would have been different.”

  “Well, I don’t want them knowing about it, or anyone. I won’t be spending any time alone with them either. I can’t take that chance. Besides, I leave for Costa Rica soon. I’ll be gone at least two weeks, if not three. Depends on how the new equipment holds out. There’s a bunch to do.”

  “That is so cool. A lot can happen in three weeks.”

  “I know that.”

  “They could miss you terribly and you could miss them terribly and then have tequila and throw it up to weakness,” Sam said and they laughed.

  “Tequila and I don’t mix well,” Kendra said.

  “I know that. I’ve been with you when you’ve had too many shots.”

  Kendra gave her arm a light tap. “Thanks a lot.”

  “Hey, it’s a weakness of yours.”

  “What’s a weakness of hers?” Reeves asked, coming into the room.

  “Tequila,” Sam said and Kendra smiled but then her face went straight as Walker came into the room with Big John, Flint, and Tiny.

  * * * *

  “Where are you heading now?” Big John asked Walker. Walker glanced at Kendra, who stood up as if preparing to leave, too.

  “I have to head back to the house and then we need to take a trip into town for some supplies for the camping trip. The temperature is going to be dropping and we’ll need some insulated blankets but not the bulky ones.”

  “Can’t you grab some from the surplus on site?”

  “We want the better ones so we can reuse them each night.”

  “Sounds good. Enjoy the camping trip,” Big John said and then Walker waved good-bye and headed out of the house.