Bear

  Copyright © 2022 by Mandy Harbin

  BEAR

  ISBN: 978-1-941467-57-2

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  Edited by Delilah Devlin

  Cover Art by Najla Qamber

  This book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any existing means without written permission from Mandy Harbin or Mandolin Park Publishing.

  This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental. The characters are products of the author's imagination and used fictitiously.

  For more information, please join Mandy Harbin’s Newsletter!

  Contents

  Introduction

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Mandy Harbin

  About the Author

  He might be the leader of a mercenary group, but he is not the boss of her. Nuh-uh. No way.

  Theodore “Bear” Knight owns the Bang Shift Garage, but it’s his role as team leader of a secret mercenary group that forces him to keep one fiery redhead at arm’s length. With no other outlet for their magnetic attraction, innocent flirting turns into heated bickering. Although he’d rather her hate him than risk her life, that stance is put to the ultimate test when a hit on the garage thrusts her right into the path of a notorious mafia assassin. Nothing will stop Bear from protecting the woman he craves. Not even the little spitfire herself.

  Roxie Willis has it bad for the bearded hottie she calls Teddy, but any hope of something real shattered one drunken, passionate night years ago. He either doesn’t remember their wild ride or pretends it never happened. Now, Teddy not only revs her engine but her attitude, and she dishes out a big ol’ helping of it when her life is suddenly in danger because of him. She refuses his ridiculous plan of protection, but she should’ve known the bossy leader of the Bang Shift mercenaries wouldn’t play fair.

  Bear and Roxie continue to fight temptation and each other, but when they learn it might not have been a coincidence she was at the garage that fateful day, neither are prepared for the fallout.

  Will Bear and Roxie finally get their happily-ever-after, or will painful secrets from the past ruin their chances of ever having a future together? Find out in this explosive finale of the Bang Shift Series!

  Prologue

  Then

  Sweat dripped from his brow, slightly blurring his vision, as he sucked in a smoke-filled breath. His eyes and lungs burned, but he ignored all other pain because he couldn’t risk one second dwelling on the agony. Any hesitation could mean death, and that wasn’t an option. It never was. That golden rule had been shoved down his throat the moment he’d been able to stand on his own two feet, something he struggled greatly with right now.

  Locking down all feelings, he harnessed his strength and powered through as he’d always been taught. Although his screaming muscles could be silenced through sheer will, the shouting in his ears amid all the chaos wasn’t as easily tuned out.

  “Guard your left!”

  Theo Knight’s forearm shot up, blocking the hit.

  “That’s what I’m talking about, son. Take him out.”

  His father barely uttered that last demand before giving into another nasty coughing spell. The cheap cigarette smoke engulfing them wasn’t helping his pop’s diseased lungs, but that damn coot was too hardheaded to stay home. The old man had refused to miss the match, saying there was too much riding on it, which was true, but his father’s guilt also played a part. He knew Theo wasn’t here, fighting in this illegal match, just because he wanted to be. Oh no, he was doing this for his dad. If he didn’t win, his father would lose the farm. Literally.

  Defeat wasn’t an option.

  With that thought fueling him, Theo sunk his fist into his opponent’s abdomen and landed a mean uppercut, courtesy of the many boxing lessons his father had given him over the years. Theo became a mean little shit after hitting puberty, and impromptu boxing sessions with his pop became both a makeshift training and an aggression outlet. His dad always knew Theo didn’t harbor the same passion for boxing as he did, though. No, his love was football.

  All he’d ever wanted to do growing up was play for the Bears at the state university, a fantasy his dad had helped turn into a reality. His father had sacrificed years of spending extra early mornings and late nights working in the soybean fields just so Theo could spend every spare minute on the football field practicing. If his dad hadn’t given up so much, Theo would never have made the team a few years ago, and he sure as hell wouldn’t be starting first string this fall. He knew his own hard work had gotten him through this journey, but his dad was the one who had truly paved his way. With any luck, Theo would graduate next year and get drafted to a professional team. There’d be no need for any more of these underground fights and their big paydays to supplement a shitty harvest season, but it wouldn’t do them any good if his dad lost his home and livelihood in the meantime.

  Theo had no choice but to do what he could to help his father, but the farm wasn’t the only thing at risk. If word got back to his coach, he’d be off the team. His scholarship would be toast, and the future he’d been rushing toward one down at a time would crumble.

  At least they were out in the country using one of Mr. Sanders’ barns. The man had been doing this a long time and had never gotten caught.

  “C’mon, Theo,” his dad yelled, which spurred another round of hacking.

  Theo shut down his worry for this father’s health, the farm, and his team to channel everything he had into a hard right hook. Seconds later, his opponent bit the floor of the makeshift boxing ring, but Theo lunged, ready to keep striking. The greasy-looking referee blocked Theo’s next hit and started counting. Cheers and heckles engulfed him, but Theo’s focus stayed on the man drooling in the dirt, ready to attack the moment he got up.

  He didn’t.

  The ref grabbed Theo’s wrist and lifted his arm, shouting out he’d won. The breath whooshed out of his lungs. It was over. Thank fuck. He needed a soothing shower, a gallon of water, and a cold beer.

  Theo moved toward his red-faced father, ready to get the man out of here and into some fresh air for his starving lungs. Before he reached him, though, a commotion on his left drew him up short.

  “Police! Everybody on the ground!”

  Theo whipped his head around just as officers swarmed the barn. Shit. They were all over the place. Everywhere. And still, more were rushing through the openings on both ends.

  In what felt like seconds, bodies were shoved to the ground with plastic cuffs securing them. Theo’s blood rushed through his veins as he ran toward his father, but an officer wrestled the elderly guy to the dirt before he reached him.

  “Dad!”

  Theo kept going, but then a body barreled into his back, knocking him to the ground, too. He was already exhausted from going rounds with his opponent, but seeing his dad being taken into custody spiked his adrenaline or whatever rese
rves remained. Theo wrestled with the man on top of him, grunting with effort and spouting off every curse word he knew.

  “Knock it off, kid. You have the right to remain silent—”

  “Fuck you,” Theo ground out, bucking up and almost dislodging the guy, but another set of hands grabbed his other arm and wrenched it back. Theo struggled with the two officers, but they were able to cuff him anyway. “I didn’t do nothin’!”

  One of them laughed, but the sound was strained. “Whatever, kid. We’ve had eyes on you the whole time.”

  Theo stilled. “Don’t know what you’re talking about. Just came here with my pop.” It wasn’t exactly a lie. He’d come here because his dad had asked him to, but it wasn’t like the crowd had known Theo would be fighting ahead of time. The roster was always finalized at the last minute.

  “Dad,” he yelled, trying to get a look around. The barn was quickly being cleared out. Those who hadn’t fled when the cops had first shown up were being hauled off by officers. Jeez, small-town law enforcement had nothing better to do than this? Sure, it was illegal, but it wasn’t like they were out here killing babies or anything.

  “He’s headed to the station,” the prick said. “If you don’t quit resisting, I’mma break your goddamn arm. Then your playing career’s really gonna be over.”

  “It’s over anyway,” the other said. “Bears will never let you wear their jersey again after today.”

  If Theo hadn’t already been flat on the ground, his knees would’ve given out. These guys knew who he was, but why? Besides helping his dad out by fighting a couple of times a year over the last two years, he didn’t break the law, and the last time he’d fought was six months ago. No, they weren’t here for him. They must’ve gotten wind of who was fighting during the match. Yeah, that had to be it, and Theo would get out of this before word got back to his coach. The boys in blue out here were just this side of rent-a-cops.

  “Get him up,” someone said from the other side.

  Theo turned his head and saw a man standing beside him in a state police, bulletproof vest. His gaze flitted around, and he noticed some men with the letters FBI emblazoned on their shirts. Oh, fuck. State police and the feds? That meant these guys busting up the fight weren’t just some Gomer Pyle county fuckers. What the hell was going on?

  The men holding Theo down got off and pulled him to his feet, and he immediately searched for his father.

  “He’s being transported to the jail,” the officer in front of him said, shoving his hands into his pockets.

  Theo panted and glared at the man as he quickly assessed this messed-up situation, but no scenario flying through his mind made any sense. “Look, man, he’s sick.”

  “It’s not him we’re after. We’ve been investigating Sonny Sanders for crimes much more serious than this underground fighting ring. Things like human trafficking, smuggling Mexicans across the border under the pretense of a wonderful American life only to be forced to fight…among other things.” He cocked a brow. “Y’all just got wrapped up in it.”

  Theo felt the blood drain from his face as the gravity of the situation came crashing down on him. He was really going to jail. The officer actually looked a little sad as he clutched Theo’s arm and guided him to a police cruiser. With a numb body, Theo followed along and got in. From this day forward his life would never be what he’d envisioned, but it wasn’t just his future at risk. Regardless of how this played out, Theo would eventually move past this. It was his father he was worried about.

  “My dad’s sick,” he said again as they pulled into the station.

  “A halfway decent attorney could argue your father had no knowledge and get him off. Just gonna take some time.”

  Time his father did not have.

  In a surreal haze, Theo was booked and put in a holding cell. He sat there, staring at his fingerprints that were now logged in some criminal database. Hours, or maybe just agonizing minutes, passed while he drowned in this horrible situation before a man finally walked in.

  “You my public defender?” Theo asked, standing as he eyed the man. He had thinning hair, even though he only looked about ten years older than him.

  “Nope. Name’s Cole Shepard.”

  “Sorry, don’t really know the order of these things. This is my first time getting arrested. Didn’t have a record until today.”

  “Maybe you won’t have one after today either,” he said casually.

  “I don’t understand.”

  “What if I said I could get you and your father out right now and make this all go away?”

  Theo frowned. “You just said you’re not my attorney.”

  “I’m not, but I know the right people. I can make it happen.”

  Even though Theo didn’t know the process here, he knew whatever this man was talking about didn’t have a thing to do with due process. “Sounds shady.”

  The man laughed but didn’t otherwise comment on that. “Saw you fight today,” he eventually said. “You’re powerful but controlled. I could use someone like that.”

  “Why? Who are you?” Theo asked, trying to wrap his head around what was happening.

  “Already told you my name. I can walk right out that door and leave you and your dad to deal with these charges, or I can help. Simple as that. Of course, without me, your dad might live his dying days fighting these charges.”

  Theo gritted his teeth. He didn’t want his dad spending the rest of his life behind bars. He wasn’t sure how much time the guy had left because the old man was cagey when it came to answering Theo’s questions regarding his prognosis. Frowning, he said, “Wait. How do you know about—”

  “His cancer?” the guy smirked. “Like I said, I know the right people. People who can ensure you not only finish your degree but keep playing ball. People who can send you and your dad home right now.”

  Hope filled him that they might actually get out of this, but that wouldn’t solve all their problems. Something deep inside told him that he needed to air it all out with this man. “Won’t have a home much longer since I ain’t getting that boxing purse.”

  “That debt will be gone, too.”

  What? Theo blinked. “Just like that?”

  “Yeah, just like that.”

  Theo eyed him, trying to gauge his motives and coming up with nothing on the level. “And what do you want from me in return?” he asked. Another thing he’d learned a long time ago was that nothing in this life was free. Everything was earned.

  “Right now? Just the choice you have to make. I’ll collect on your debt later. You’ll be free to walk right on outta here and play your final year as a Bear.” He shrugged, glancing away like the decision would be a no-brainer. When he looked at Theo again, his eyes hardened. “But that’s where your football career ends. After that, you’ll be my Bear.”

  Theo swallowed at the intensity of this man’s stare. Even if he wanted to trust the system, his father couldn’t risk it. There really wasn’t a choice to be made. Dreams of a professional football career—no matter how far off they’d been—dissolved. Whatever this guy wanted, Theo would do it to keep his father’s health secured and his home safe. Slowly nodding, he asked, “What do I have to do?”

  “Well, that depends, Bear. What do you know about cars?”

  Not knowing how to address the man, Theo said, “A little, Mr. Shepard.”

  He smiled. “Good. I’ll teach you the rest.” He stuck his hand out, and Theo slowly raised his own to shake it. “And drop the mister bullshit. Call me Colonel.”

  Chapter One

  Now

  “Give your momma some sugar,” Roxie Willis said with a smirk before leaning across the car’s console to present her cheek to her son.

  “Mom,” Chad whispered, exasperated as he grabbed his backpack off the floorboard. His gaze darted toward the bus unloading beside them, probably to see whether any of his classmates were in earshot.

  Yeah, she knew her son had grown out of the openly affectiona
te stage right around the time he’d discovered girls his own age could cause his little heart to flutter, but she couldn’t help teasing her young man.

  “There was a time you couldn’t keep your lips off me.”

  Chad groaned and clutched the door handle. “I’m eighteen, not eight.”

  “Yeah, yeah, you’re big and strong.” She waved him off. “Call me when you get out of football practice, and I’ll come get you.”

  “Don’t have to. Scott said Brody was pickin’ us up.”

  “Oh, good.”

  Not for the first time, Roxie was so thankful Xan and Scott had moved in across the street from them a couple of years ago. Chad and Scott were the same age and had become best buds, but they weren’t the only ones enjoying a newfound friendship. Scott’s mother, Xan, had also become Roxie’s BFF. Xan had been a bit skittish, at first, but Roxie was a persistent gal. It had taken time for the newcomer to spill the beans on her past, but when Roxie had learned that Xan had relocated to this small town because she’d been on the run from her soon-to-be paroled, mafia ex-husband who’d tried to kill her, she’d made sure nothing happened to her new bestie and Scott.

  She hadn’t been the only one, either, and now, Xan was happily married to Brody, who was not only extremely protective of Scott, Xan, and their new baby, Xander, the man would do anything for them, including chauffeur around a couple of sweaty teenaged boys after football practice.