Sons of Justice 3: Love Unexpected (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Read online

  He pulled her into his arms and wrapped her up tight. She gasped, her lips parted and he narrowed his eyes at her.

  “Are you playing games with us? We’re real men, soldiers, and we know you’re young, but we thought you were mature, sophisticated and sweet. This whole pushing us away thing and talking about no commitments and you being unable to make plans with us is all wrong. Talk to me. To us. Let us in.”

  Tears filled her eyes and he knew there was something wrong. Thor stepped in behind her and placed his hands on her hips and then kissed her shoulder over the sweater she wore.

  “Come on, baby. If it’s friends you need first, men you can trust, then please do so right now. Please let us know that we aren’t crazy. That the other night meant something to you, too, and not just some game,” Thor stated.

  “It wasn’t a game,” she said and her voice cracked.

  “Go on,” Philippe pushed, and Channing and Bubba were around them too now. She glanced up at them.

  “I don’t want you to think badly of me, or that I have baggage and problems. I’ve worked very hard to eliminate the problems and I really thought it was behind me, but it’s like they have a hold on me and now I’m scared because I’ll be all alone. I mean completely alone, and I won’t ever talk or see them again,” she rambled.

  Philippe stroked her cheek. “Baby, slow down. You’re not making any sense. Who won’t you see again?” he asked.

  The tears rolled down her cheeks.

  “My family, Philippe. The decisions I make affect my family, me personally, and my future.”

  “How so?” Channing asked.

  “My father wants me to accept a new position at the dance hall as the manager instead of office manager like I currently am. I don’t want it. In fact, I was planning on giving in my resignation.”

  “Why?” Bubba asked her.

  She looked away. A sure sign she was lying, or going to.

  “I just don’t like it anymore. It was supposed to be temporary.”

  “Why was that?” Channing asked.

  “My sister is involved with two brothers who are owners in the business. When she got pregnant with her first baby, and I was just out of college a year, the job was offered to me as a temporary position with great pay.” She swallowed hard and looked down and played with the material on his sweatshirt.

  “I should have never gone back home. Never,” she said, and pressed her face to his chest. Philippe hugged her and locked gazes with Thor.

  “Sounds like there were, or are problems. Why don’t you explain, and we can help you work it out,” Channing said to her.

  She pulled back and shook her head, wiped her eyes, and then ran her palm along Philippe’s sweatshirt.

  “I would rather not, Channing. This isn’t exactly the way a first date should go, or a friendly hike.”

  “It’s more than that, and there’s no set rules on what can or can’t take place on a first date. Honesty is important, Bo. We expect honesty from you,” Bubba said, and she held his gaze and nodded.

  “Well, I suppose I might as well just tell you what has been going on and what my dilemma is. I’ll understand if things change between us,” she said.

  Thor caressed her hair and gave it a little tug so she would look at him.

  “Baby, you’re beautiful, we want you, and nothing can change that. In fact, I get this feeling that whatever you tell us is going on that we’re going to want you even more and want to protect you, care for you even more than we already do now.”

  She blinked her eyes and her lips quivered. “I wanted to act so experienced and strong today. To force the fears from my mind, my body, and just let go, but you see, Thor, I’m not experienced at all. Not with men my age, or older. For good reason.”

  Philippe felt his gut clench and his heart race. Had someone hurt her sexually, physically? Was she trying to tell them that? He got angry, and this protective feeling started to really consume him.

  “Let’s sit down on the blankets and get comfortable. You explain at your speed and we’ll listen and see if we can help. Trust us to not hurt you,” Philippe told her and she nodded.

  Channing and Bubba placed the two large blankets down onto the soft grassy ground. They got out bottles of water and then gathered around her.

  She took off her boots, placed them to the side and then tucked her feet under her.

  “I suppose the best way to explain this is to tell you about my family, and about what has taken place in the last few years. You know I work at a dance hall as an office manager, and I explained about taking over the position for my sister, Sally, when she got pregnant. Well, it’s not what I wanted. Not what I intended to do with the money I’ve saved and the degree I achieved in college.”

  “What is it you want to do?” Thor asked her. She looked at him and gave a soft smile. “I would like to open up my own little bookstore and café. A place with lots of little spaces to just enjoy a good book, a peaceful time, and even outdoor gardens, and well, I have a bunch of ideas,” she said, lowering her eyes and chuckling. Thor reached out and caressed her knee. He smiled. “Sounds amazing.”

  “Sounds like you’ve thought about this for a while,” Philippe said.

  She looked up. “I have been. I have books of ideas, sketches of how I want it all to look. I’ve been trying to find a location, and well, I’ve missed a few opportunities out of Repose and well, there’s one place I think might work, and it’s here in Repose,” she said but seemed hesitant.

  “That’s great,” Bubba said.

  “It’s risky, trying to start your own business, and well that frame of mind I was in when I returned from college and started exploring my options was taken away from me. I was forced into that position for my sister.”

  “What do you mean forced?” Channing asked her.

  “I walked into my parents’ house one day, thinking that everything was going well. I was working at a small company making good money. My sister fulfilled my father’s dream and demand that she marry into the Percy family. But I got the shock of my life when they were all gathered around and waiting for me, and Sally looked triumphant.”

  “Wait, what do you mean your father wanted your sister to marry into a certain family? Like an arranged thing?” Thor asked.

  She nodded her head. “They were business partners. My dad was always trying to keep up with Mr. Percy and his business ventures. They both made good money, but my dad was insistent that one of us get involved with one of the Percy males. My father always pushed for it to be me because he saw the attention I got from men,” she said and licked her lips.

  Philippe clenched his teeth. “What do you mean?” he asked, straight faced.

  She stared at him. “He thought I was more marketable, Philippe. I guess I was to spread my legs and do whatever was needed to land a Percy.”

  “What?” Bubba asked, after being so quiet.

  “Don’t worry, I was defying my father’s ideas long before returning from college. I don’t know why I even went back, aside from the fact that my father would more than likely think nothing of sending someone to get me and make me come back. He had plans.”

  “He sounds like an asshole,” Thor said.

  She chuckled, and wiped the tears from her eyes.

  Then she got serious looking. Her face, those blue eyes that usually sparkled looked sad, angry. “I refused to be ordered around, controlled by him or told to spread my legs to get a man. It pissed him off, and he went back to his abusive tactics like when we were kids.” Before Philippe could ask her more about that she continued.

  “Sally was a party girl. She was weak and fearful of our father, who was abusive both physically and emotionally. It had been years since he lashed out because he was happy and getting what he wanted. So when Sally started screwing Corey and Jake Percy, he couldn’t be more thrilled. I don’t think the two men truly love her though, and they started drifting a little, and I remember hearing a muffled argument in my father’s ho
me office between him and Sally. A few weeks later, she’s pregnant.”

  “So what you’re saying is that your sister purposely got pregnant to seal this deal and marry into the family?”

  “Yup.”

  “That’s fucked up,” Bubba stated.

  “What the hell, your father told her to do that and she did?” Channing asked.

  Philippe stroked her knee.

  “She did, and to be honest with you, it took pressure off of me. Because my father was getting pushy about me getting involved with one of the Percy men. So when I was asked to take over her position temporarily, I figured I was clear and free from this man controlling my life because his focus would be on Sally, the baby, and planning the wedding.”

  “But it isn’t, is it?” Philippe asked.

  She shook her head. “My sister has not returned to the job, and she’s pregnant again, and I can’t help but to believe she’ll keep having babies so she doesn’t have to work. She stated she didn’t want to or have to because her men make a lot of money. She’s hiring a nanny, and you wouldn’t believe how she doesn’t take care of the baby. It’s so sad. Lilly is adorable and sweet, but so melancholy when her mom is around. It’s like she knows her mother doesn’t care about her. It’s sickening. Then my mom. Who is weak and no better for just accepting my father’s demands and control, takes over caring for the baby. I even suggested Sally go back to work and that my mom could care for the babies and even bring them by the offices and they freaked out on me.”

  “That’s terrible. The poor baby. What about the fathers? They don’t say anything or even care?” Channing asked.

  “I can’t figure it out. They hold the baby the most, but they try to get my sister to take her and it’s a fight, and effort. My father created that mentality of hers. It was like Sally is saying she did what he wanted and now she deserves to live like a queen. It makes me sick. Then to top it off, her husbands are there, and they and my dad tell me that I’m being offered a different position. The manager of the whole dance hall, which basically would mean later nights, more stress and aggravation, and dealing with horny drunk cowboys constantly trying to feel me up as I walked the hall. I’m so sick of that. Like any man thinks they have a right to touch a woman or do what they want. It’s aggravating.”

  “You’re dealing with men hitting on you all the time there?” Bubba asked, sounding pissed off.

  “I didn’t mean to make you angry. I’m just venting.”

  “What’s between us is different, Bo, you get that, right?” Philippe asked.

  She covered his hand with hers and squeezed it, making him feel a bit better. “I know that. If I had any concerns I sure wouldn’t be hanging out my dirty laundry right now with you guys,” she told them.

  “Go on and explain what happened next. What happened recently to upset you so?” Philippe asked her, and she suddenly got a little red in her cheeks.

  “They want me to take the position. So when they offered it, I figured now was the best time to start laying the ground work for the fact that I was going to be moving on and doing my own thing.”

  “And?” Thor asked, eyes squinted.

  “It went badly.”

  “How so?” Philippe asked, feeling concerned and hoping the crazy thoughts in his head wouldn’t be what happened.

  “I told them I was actually planning on giving my resignation soon. That I was looking for a different job, and that I had my own plans and dreams. I figured my father got what he wanted with Sally doing what he commanded. I could move on and be done being around these screwed up people. But that’s not what happened. My father basically commanded me to take the position and to work with some of the other Percy men I have been working with, and to ensure that I did what was asked of me and make the place run smoothly. I had reorganized the main office and have it set up so that anyone with a decent brain could come in and get it all done. I worked my ass off on purpose so I could leave without any guilt or ever hearing that I left them high and dry and with a mess. It’s completely organized,” she stated firmly.

  “I believe you. That was smart so that you could leave when you were ready. But what do you mean your father commanded you to take the position?” Thor asked.

  She got quiet, and then placed her hand over her mouth and closed her eyes.

  “What is it? What happened?” Thor asked. She uncovered her mouth and the tears fell. “I was determined to be strong. To set things straight once and for all that I’m not Sally. I’m me and I have dreams and plans and I don’t need them. Any of them in my life. I never should have returned there. Never,” she said and cried harder. Thor moved closer and caressed her hair as Philippe stroked her thigh.

  “What happened, baby?”

  “I walked away from all of them and went into the kitchen. It was like I dismissed what was being ordered and I didn’t even hear the swinging door open when I slightly turned my father…my father shoved me hard causing me to hit the island in the center of the kitchen.”

  “What?” Thor asked.

  “What the fuck?” Bubba said and then Channing knelt down closer.

  “The fucking bastard,” Channing said, and she knew Channing could relate. His father was supposedly abusive, too, and Mercy suffered from his wrath, as well.

  “I was shocked, so hurt and I don’t know why. I shouldn’t have expected anything less from him. He’s a monster and always has been. But I’m twenty-three years old. He hadn’t struck me or made demands in years, and I truly believed that Sally’s decisions helped to make it easier for me to separate, and after his demands, I was surely going to leave. But then he gripped my arms so tight, he shook me and made demands and told me I was taking the job and that was final.”

  She rubbed her arms and tightened.

  “You’re hurt? That’s what you’re in pain from? Him grabbing your arms and shoving you?”

  She nodded. And when Philippe went to move her sweater, she shook her head.

  “It got worse,” she stated, and now he was fuming mad. He wanted to rip the fucking dick’s head off.

  “What did he do?” Bubba asked.

  “I was so angry I pulled away and I yelled back, and defied his command and he swung at me. So fast, so hard, but somehow, I turned and the strike hit my upper back and I fell to the floor crying. My mom came in and he struck her when she told him it was enough and that I would do what he commanded. Then he fixed himself and walked back out of the room to Sally’s husbands like it was settled and fine. It isn’t fine. I don’t want to take that position. I don’t want anything to do with any of the Percy men, but I know they want me. In their beds, as their wife, and I will continue to refuse.”

  “What?” Bubba asked, and now Channing and Bubba were standing up pacing, and Philippe pulled her into his arms and then lay back on the blanket. He cupped her cheeks as the tears fell. “You aren’t taking that job. You aren’t going back to your parents again, and as far as this job at the dance hall? It’s behind you.”

  She went to shake her head but he wouldn’t let her talk. He pulled her down and kissed her tenderly. She kissed him back harder, and he rolled her to her side, being careful to not fully roll her to her back. They would look at her injuries as soon as they could, but for now she would know she was protected and this was real.

  * * * *

  Bo felt relieved to get everything off her chest. Well just about everything. Seeing their reactions to knowing that men hit on her told her she better not tell them specifically about Lance and Travis Percy. There was no need to know. She would keep her distance and hopefully be done with that job in two weeks time. In a state of anger, she wrote her resume and would send it tomorrow, and also bring a copy, as well, to hand it over to Mr. Percy.

  She pulled her lips from Philippe’s and he stroked her hair.

  “We will protect you. Do you understand me?” Philippe said to her.

  “I don’t want my problems to be yours. It’s why I didn’t want to come today.
”

  “And why you were trying to push us away. That isn’t going to happen. I’m fuming fucking mad, baby. Fuming. This is bullshit. Your father can not get away with striking you and hurting you like this. He needs to be charged. That will give him a fucking wake up call,” Thor demanded.

  She sat up, cringing in the process. “No, Thor. I’m not pressing charges against my father.”

  “Why the hell not?” Bubba asked.

  She looked at Channing. “You should understand where I stand? Your father was abusive. Look what he did to Mercy. What he allowed to happen to her. I’m not allowing him to predict who I lose my virginity to.” She covered her mouth and then quickly stood up. Philippe did, too. She hadn’t meant to blurt that out. Oh God, she turned around and then Thor was hugging her.

  “What did you just say?” he asked, his voice sounding funny.

  She slowly turned and all four men were surrounding her looking over her body and waiting for clarification that they heard what they did. Thor gripped her hip bones and narrowed his eyes at her. “Say that again,” he said.

  She felt so hot and flushed, and she swallowed hard.

  “I didn’t mean to blurt that out. God, I’m making a mess of things.”

  “No, you aren’t. We asked for honesty and you have been completely honest. Baby, you’ve never had sex before?” he asked her.

  “No,” she said, and his serious expression turned to a small smile.

  He cupped her cheeks and stared down into her eyes.

  “You’re too perfect. Too sweet, too beautiful for the likes of us. For me,” he said. She gripped his wrists, shocked at his declaration.

  “No, Thor. No, it’s all four of you that are perfect. Your bodies, your capabilities, your personalities. Why would you want to pursue a relationship with me and all this bullshit attached to me? Why?”

  “Because of the way you make us feel,” he said, and then lowered down and kissed her lips. He plunged his tongue in deeply and then ran his palm along her ass and squeezed her to him. When her side hit his body, she pulled from his mouth and then covered it.