Four Flames for Angela

by Rose Nickol

  Hunter reached between them and started rubbing her clit, giving her the added stimulation he knew she would need to come with them.

  Angie felt her body tightening and arched her back, driving River deeper. It wasn’t long before she was screaming their names as her release took her over. She dropped her head to Hunter’s shoulder and didn’t notice when she was lifted and wrapped in warm towels.

  Rock carried their beautiful woman back to the bed where he and Sawyer dried her and held her.

  After a few minutes Angie looked up and saw who was holding her. “When did you get here?”

  “We heard the shower start and came up to see how soon you’d all be down. We arrived just in time for the show. You were amazing. I can’t wait until Sawyer and I have our turn.” Rock took her mouth for a long kiss and held her, letting her rest.

  After breakfast, the men took her to pick up Todd. He was outside playing when they pulled up and looked like he’d had a good time. They visited a few minutes with Felicia and Charlie, before heading home.

  The brothers were all on duty at the firehouse, so they left Angela and Todd at their house so they could go home and get ready.

  They all called Angie several times during the next couple of days even while they were working. On Friday, Rock called and told Angie, “Hey, beautiful. Alvin called, and he has all the material to do your porch. He’s going to deliver it later today. We arranged to take the weekend off and will be there early tomorrow to get things started.”

  Not being one to wait on others to help her, Angie decided to start removing the rail around the porch so there wouldn’t be so much work to do.

  She was in the middle of pulling up some of the nails when an old beat-up car pulled in front of the house. At first, she didn’t pay much attention to it. She was concentrating on what she was doing.

  “Hey, sis. Where’s the little man?” Thomas shouted as he slammed the door of the car and jogged up the sidewalk.

  “Thomas! What are you doing here?” Angie said, standing up. She was holding a hammer and had both arms crossed over her chest.

  “Where’s the little man?” Thomas asked again.

  “He’s at school. Why do you care?” Angie stepped back as Thomas approached closer.

  “Good. He won’t interrupt us then,” Thomas said, walking closer.

  “What do you want, Thomas?” Angie stepped back again, and her back was against the door now.

  Thomas kept walking forward until there were just a few feet between them. “Have you got what I’m owed yet?” he asked, his voice low and menacing.

  “Thomas, all the money from Mom and Dad went to pay off the hospital bills. The bank took the house. There’s nothing left,” Angie tried calmly explaining again.

  “Why should I believe you? What did you use to buy this place? Is that what you did with my money? Is that why you won’t give me what I’m due?” Thomas took another step forward and stared down at her. Thomas wasn’t as tall as her men, but he was about six inches taller than she was, enough to be intimidating.

  “Thomas, I can show you all the bills that were paid. There’s no money,” Angela tried explaining again.

  “Why the fuck did you use my money to pay the bills? No one fucking asked me. I need that money, and you’re going to get it for me. Mom and that asshole she was married to are dead. What the fuck do you think was going to happen if the bills weren’t paid? Some asshole was going to dig them up to get the money. You fucking lying little cunt. I know you’ve got the money. Now get it for me.” He raised his hand to slap her, but before he did Angela heard the sounds of a diesel truck pulling up.

  Thomas lowered his hand and looked around to see the truck pulling up behind his car. He leaned in so close to Angela that she could smell his rotting teeth and putrid breath. “You better have the money next time I show up, or I don’t know what I’ll do!”

  Thomas stomped off the porch and Angie slid down the door to land on her butt. What was she going to do?

  “Miss, miss, are you okay? Should I call for help?” She heard a male voice asking.

  Angie took a deep breath and looked up to see a man she vaguely remembered standing above her. “No! I’m okay. I just need a minute.”

  “Sure thing, miss. I’m Alvin. I brought the stuff for your porch. If you’ll be okay, I’ll have my men start unloading it over here.” He pointed, indicating the yard on the side of the house.

  “That’s fine.” Angie nodded, wondering if she looked as shaken as she felt.

  Chapter Twelve

  Alvin walked over to his truck and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He wasn’t sure what was going on, but he knew it wasn’t right. He watched as the man appeared ready to hit the small woman.

  He couldn’t hear what was being said, but he could tell the man raised his voice and his hand to the woman. There was no reason for that.

  Rock and his brothers needed to know what was going on. They were supposed to be meeting him at the woman’s home, but he wasn’t sure how soon they were coming.

  He made his phone call quickly and gave his men instructions before going back up on the porch to check on the woman again.

  She was still sitting where he’d left her and looked like she was in shock. “Come over here, honey, and sit down.” He helped her to a seat and called to one of his helpers to bring him a bottle of water.

  “I’m fine. Really. You don’t need to bother with me,” Angie said, taking the water from his hands and looking at it.

  Alvin took the bottle from her and opened it. He held it to her mouth. “Drink. It will help.”

  Angie took a couple of swallows of water and thanked him.

  “I called Rock. He and the others are on their way. They should be here in a few minutes. Try and relax.”

  “Okay. I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Angie said and stared at the bottle of water on her hand.

  Alvin wished he knew what to do to help the woman. She looked so lost and sad.

  It seemed like hours but was only a few minutes before Rock and his brothers pulled up. “What’s going on?”

  Alvin hadn’t told them much over the phone, just that they needed to get there soon. He explained what he’d seen and what he’d done for Angie. Then he left Angie to her men while he finished supervising the unloading of the materials he’d brought to fix Angie’s porch.

  Rock shook Alvin’s hand and turned to his brothers. “I’ll go up first so we don’t overwhelm her. You guys come up one by one.”

  The others nodded and Rock ran up the steps.

  “Hey, beautiful. What’s going on?” he asked as he took both of Angie’s hands in his. She was shaking.

  He picked up the water bottle that was sitting beside her. “Can you drink a little of this?”

  He watched as she took another sip of water. “Can you tell me what happened?”

  “Thomas was here,” Angie answered with a shaky voice and looked deep into his eyes.

  “I don’t know what I’m going to do.” Angie’s voice was shaky, and Rock pulled her into his arms.

  “Let us hold you. Do you want to go in the house and talk?” River asked, standing behind Rock.

  Angie nodded, and Rock picked her up and carried her through the open door Sawyer was holding.

  Rock sat in the big comfy chair Angie usually sat in and settled her on his lap.

  “Was Thomas after money again?” River asked

  “Yes. He won’t believe me that it’s gone. He got mad when I told him it was used to pay the bills. The lawyer paid all the bills and sent me the little bit that was left. Even if I gave him half of that he wouldn’t be happy with it. It’s a small amount, a few thousand dollars, and I’m sure he wants more than that.”

  Hunter draped a blanket over her and Rock. She was still shaking.

  River headed into the kitchen to make a cup of hot tea.

  Sawyer sat on the arm of the chair and brushed a strand of hair out of Angie’s eyes.

/>   Hunter stood in front of the chair, arms crossed over his chest. “There should be something we can do! Maybe we can get a restraining order against him so that he can’t contact you.”

  “I don’t think he’d pay any attention to that. He’s not going to leave until he gets what he wants.” Angie buried her head in Rock’s shoulder and let herself cry. How did she always manage to get into these messes?

  River came back from the kitchen with a cup of hot tea just in time to hear Angie's statement. “Don’t worry, honey. We’ll take care of you and Todd.”

  “Todd! What time is it? I have to get him from school!” Angie pushed away from Rock and started to stand up.

  Rock pulled her back down. “Hunter and Sawyer will go and get him. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be alone right now. River’s going to go out and make sure Alvin doesn’t need anything. You are going to sit here and relax while you and I talk about Thomas and how we’re going to handle the situation.”

  River, Hunter, and Sawyer nodded and headed off to take care of what needed to be done.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Angie listened to Rock as he explained how they were going to make sure she wasn’t alone. “If you and Todd don’t want to move into the house with us, then I or one of my brothers will be with you at all times.”

  “I don’t think that’s necessary, is it? I really don’t want to upset Todd. He won’t understand why we have to move or why one of you is staying with us.” Angie turned and looked deep into Rock’s eyes.

  “Todd would be more scared and upset if Thomas comes back and tries anything. You will both be safer with one or more of us around. This isn’t negotiable, Angela. I will not leave you in a situation where you or Todd could get hurt,” Rock said firmly.

  “You don’t think Thomas will hurt us, do you?” Angie asked, her voice high and scared.

  “I don’t know what he’s capable of, and neither do you. Neither of us know him or what he might do. You said he was mean to you and your mom when you were growing up. I don’t think he’s changed for the better. Do you?” Rock was slowly rubbing circles around her back.

  “I don’t want to scare you, but we still don’t know who vandalized your house and I don’t want to take any chances with you or with Todd. Do you?” Rock brushed a soft kiss against her mouth.

  “Sawyer and Hunter will be back soon with Todd. Let’s go outside and see how River’s doing with Alvin. I thought we might get part of the demolition done on your porch today. It will be better for you and Todd if you are at our house while we are working on the porch. It will be easier to take the puppies in and out. That’s what we will tell him. Okay?” Rock set Angie on her feet and stood to place one arm around her as he walked her to the door.

  Angie knew Rock was right. She didn’t know what Thomas might do, and she would feel safer for her and for Todd if one of the men was around. She couldn’t handle this herself, and she needed help. “Okay,” she said softly.

  “Okay?” Rock repeated.

  “Okay. I agree. I can’t handle this myself and I need help. I want to take Todd and stay with you guys until this is over and Thomas either gives up or we know for sure he’s gone.” Angie didn’t say it out loud, but the only way Thomas was going to give up was if he was dead or back in jail. She didn’t wish either thing on him, but that was the only way he would leave her and Todd alone.

  * * * *

  Angie was standing outside talking with Rock and River when both men’s phones starting buzzing with text messages and phone calls. Both men stepped away from her and Alvin to take the calls.

  Angie watched their faces and knew something was up. “Don’t worry, Angie. We’ll take care of this. We’ll figure out what’s happened,” Rock said, pulling her into his arms.

  “Figure what out? What’s going on?” Angie cried frantically. Something had happened to Todd. She just knew it.

  Rock held Angie tight as he felt her knees start to give out. “Todd wasn’t at the school when Sawyer and Hunter got there.”

  “What do you mean he wasn’t there? He has to be there! Where else could he be?” Angie looked frantic, and Rock slowly lowered them both to the ground, pulling her into his lap.

  “Maybe he went home with one of his friends. Do you know of any of his friends he might have gone with?” River asked, squatting down beside Angie and Rock.

  “He knows. He knows he has to wait until I come to get him. He knows not to go with anyone else. He knows…” Angie sobbed, fisting both hands in Rock’s shirt.

  “I’m sure it’s just a mix-up. Sawyer and Hunter will figure it out,” Rock tried to reassure her.

  “I need to go to the school. He’s waiting for me. He knows not to go with anyone else. He’s waiting for me.” Angie started pushing and fighting, trying to get away from Rock. “Let me go. I have to go get him! Let me go!”

  “Angie, listen. Sawyer and Hunter are at the school. They are talking with the teachers and will figure this out. We need to stay here in case Todd comes here. Until we figure out what’s going on, the best place for us is here.” River started rubbing Angie’s back, trying to calm her down.

  “Are you sure? He never walks home. He knows he’s supposed to wait for me.” Angie looked at both men as if willing them to figure this out.

  “The best place for you to be is here. Sawyer and Hunter will figure this out.” Rock’s phone buzzed, and he handed it to River. “You deal with the calls. Angie and I will try and figure out where Todd might have gone.”

  Rock started asking Angie about Todd’s friends.

  * * * *

  Sawyer thought it’d be a quick, easy trip. Show up at the school and pick up Todd. They got there a few minutes before school let out, but there was nowhere to park.

  “They need more parking around here,” Hunter muttered, driving down the same block for the third time.

  “Well, let me out. I’m gonna walk up there. We don’t want to miss him.” Sawyer shook his head and looked at all the parents lined up waiting for their children.

  “We should have left an hour ago,” Hunter said not quite under his breath.

  “We weren’t even at Angie’s house an hour ago. I’m sure she would have already been here if she hadn’t been dealing with Thomas,” Sawyer said, waiting for Hunter to stop so he could get out. “Just pull up here. I’ll get out, and you can circle back and pick us up.”

  “Did we find out which door he comes out of? There are several doors.” Hunter looked around, trying to figure out where the best place to stop would be.

  “Shit! I don’t know. You drive around and I’ll watch. The kids are coming out. Find a place to park and help me.” Sawyer looked at Hunter. There were so many kids.

  Hunter finally found a place to park and walked up to join Sawyer standing in front of the school.

  “Did you see any kids that looked his age?” Hunter asked, watching as what seemed like hundreds of kids came out of the school.

  “Shit, they all look his age,” Sawyer said, running his hand through his hair.

  “We should call Felicia. Dustin’s the same age as Todd. She’ll know how this works,” Hunter told Sawyer, grabbing for his phone.

  When Felicia answered Hunter quickly explained where they were and what they needed.

  After she stopped laughing, she told them, “Just stay where you are. I can see you from here. As soon as Dustin and Todd come out, we’ll walk over there.”

  Hunter told Sawyer what Felicia had said, and they waited, and waited, and waited. It wasn’t long before no more children were coming out of the school and still no Felicia, Dustin, or Todd.

  “Call her again,” Sawyer said. “Something’s not right.”

  Hunter nodded and pulled his phone out of his pocket. He talked for a few minutes and then started walking, motioning Sawyer to follow him.

  “Todd didn’t come out with Dustin. We need to go back into the school and talk with the teacher. Dustin said Todd got sick and le
ft early. Something’s not right.”

  In the classroom the teacher was sympathetic, but stern. “I’m sorry, unless you are a parent or a guardian I can’t divulge any information. Ms. Kennedy needs to speak with me. I’m leaving in twenty minutes.”

  “Twenty minutes. I’m not sure she can get here in that amount of time,” Hunter tried to explain to the teacher.

  “I’m sorry. I need to finish some things now if you’ll excuse me.” The teacher turned away and started moving things on her desk.

  “Great. What do we do now? You call Rock and tell him what’s going on. Felicia and I are heading for the principal’s office.” Sawyer grabbed Dustin with one hand, and they started walking down the hall.

  Hunter headed outside to call Rock and River while Sawyer went with Dustin to find Todd.

  Sawyer thought Dustin was leading him to the office he wanted to go to, but when Felicia stopped, he knew something was wrong, again.

  “Dusty, this way. Where are you going?” she asked, grabbing the boy’s other hand and pulling him the other direction.

  “We got to go this way, Mom. This is where they take the sick kids until they get picked up. He’s down here.” Dustin pulled on Sawyer’s hand, leading him where he wanted to go.

  Sawyer let Dustin lead him down the hallway until they came to a door marked “Nurse.” Dustin reached up and opened the door. There was a small cot inside and lying on it was Todd.

  He was all curled up in a ball and sucking his thumb. Sawyer approached him carefully, saying, “Hey, buddy,” as he got closer.

  Todd turned his head and looked at Sawyer. “You came,” he said quietly. “I thought it’d be Angie. I’m happy you’re here. Where’s Angie?”

  “Angie’s at the house waiting on us to bring you home. Can you tell me what the problem is? Why are you in here?”

  Todd sat up and reached for Sawyer. Sawyer picked him up and sat on the cot with Todd on his lap. “Tell me what happened, Todd.”