Mace looked at him, feeling that same anxiety, but trying not to freak out.
“Fine, let’s do it. Then we need to talk with Justice and Seno. They need to know the deal before Ellie comes over for dinner Friday night.”
“At least she said yes, to coming over,” Hunter said as Mace pulled out of the parking lot and sped up until he was a good distance from Ellie’s sports car yet out of her view.
Mace couldn’t believe how nervous and angry he felt.
“Are you feeling what I’m feeling?” he asked Hunter.
“Like hunting down that fucker and showing him what it feels like to be beaten and held at knifepoint?” Hunter replied.
Mace chuckled. “That answers my question. But you know we need to be rational here. Any show of aggression can push Ellie away.”
Hunter was silent and then turned to look at Mace as they both saw Ellie turn into her development. “I know. I’ll do anything to make her happy and to gain her trust. She needs us, as much as we all need her, you know that, right?”
“I know it, and so do Justice and Seno. We’ll talk tonight. She’s the one. She’s definitely the one.”
Chapter 9
Ellie was working at her desk in the office when her cell phone rang. She had an hour before she needed to leave to meet Unc for lunch at Ray Ray’s. Peeking at the caller ID, she saw that it was Moira. She answered the call.
“Hey, I didn’t get to talk to you this morning before you left for work. How did the self-defense instructions go?”
“They were informative.” She felt her chest tighten. She also felt kind of embarrassed, yet relieved, to have shared some of her experience with Hunter and Seno. She was certain they would tell Justice and Mace.
“Informative? What does that mean? Did they teach you anything or did you wind up underneath one of them on the mat making out like I did when Sam tried to teach me some self-defense moves?”
Ellie chuckled. “Well, I did kiss them both.”
“Both Hunter and Seno? Yes!” Moira exclaimed, and Ellie laughed.
“It kind of turned into a mess, but ended well, I guess.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, things were going great, and I was learning some moves, and they seemed impressed with my abilities to evade being attacked from behind.”
“But?”
“But then they changed the scenario, and Hunter came at me with a knife.”
“Oh shit. Damn, Ellie, are you okay? Did you have nightmares last night?”
Ellie walked toward the window and looked out at the parking lot. It was a rainy day and rather gloomy. Usually these days made her feel down, but today she felt optimistic. It was because of the men.
“Actually, I did have a rough night, but every time I felt trapped, and as if I couldn’t escape, I imagined one of the guys. Hunter, Justice, Mace, and Seno would pop into my head. It’s wild, Moira, but I really like them. I think they’re good men that I can trust.”
“That’s fantastic. The best news I’ve heard in a long time. Which brings me to the other issue. What about Paul?”
“I filled out the paperwork for the order of protection. The problem is that his threats were not recorded on my cell phone, just text messages which do not incriminate him at all. He asked what was up, how are you, nice things. The phone conversation is my word against his word.”
“But what about what he did to you? He served time for that.”
“Moira, he was in jail for a week before his lawyers got him out and the judge ordered for him to receive counseling for anger management and to do community service. His record as a corrections officer and the fact he was a hero during the riot beat out what he did to me.”
“So what are you going to do now? Have you told the men about this?”
“I’m just going to live my life and just keep looking over my shoulder. What else can I do? As far as Justice and his brothers are concerned, I’m not going to get them involved. As is, last night Seno and Hunter followed me home because I told them about what Paul did to me.”
“You told them everything?”
“Of course not. I told them enough for them to get the gist of it. I don’t need to relive the details.”
“You can trust them. They like you a lot. They’re worth the risk, you know?”
“I like them a lot, too. But liking four men, dating them, sleeping with them, is truly freaking me out.”
“Of course it is. A ménage relationship is very different and powerful. It’s not something to jump into blindly. You have a lot of legitimate concerns that you need to share with them. I say just see where it leads. If it feels good, and you feel safe, take the chance. You deserve to be loved.”
“Thanks, Moira. I’d better go. I need to finish up a few things before I head out to meet Unc for lunch.”
“Oh great. Tell him I said hello. Oh crap. You didn’t tell him about them yet did you?”
“Of course not. I was planning on telling him today. He’s been a rock for me. Uncle Brian would be so happy to know that Unc is watching over me.”
“Well, they were best friends and he treats you like his family. Good luck with telling him that you may be engaging in sexual activity with four very large, dominant men who are retired soldiers and involved in law enforcement.”
“Thanks a lot. I think I’ll leave out the sex part.”
Moira chuckled. “Unc is a very attractive older man, I am certain he will question whether his favorite girl is able to handle such a relationship.”
“Well, I won’t be able to answer that question for him.”
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not certain of the answer. Wish me luck and I’ll see you later tonight.”
“Good luck,” Moira said and then chuckled before she disconnected the call.
As she started putting files away, and then sent out a few e-mails, she heard the knock at her door. Looking up, she was surprised to see her boss. “Hi,” she stated, and he smiled.
“Are you avoiding getting together for meetings with our client, Mr. Sentinel?”
She was shocked at his question but recovered quickly as she stood up from the seat. “I cannot get work done at his penthouse nor do I think it professional either.”
Ernest Westerly walked further into the office. “Has he tried something?”
“You mean like to kiss me? No. Flirting, pressing against me, placing his hands on my waist or shoulders and squeezing? Yes. But that I can handle. I just think that I can get more done here and at the site. As a matter of fact, I have a lunch appointment in thirty minutes and then I’m headed over to the job site. I am supposed to meet Renaldo and Luke there.”
“Okay, that’s wonderful. The restaurant is coming together quickly. Renaldo is hoping to open in two months.”
“Two months? How the heck can that happen when he keeps changing the designs?”
“Well, that’s where you come in. You need to be there with him to pull on the reigns and get him to stop making these outrageous changes.”
“Me? How the hell am I supposed to do that?”
“By spending more time with him and whispering into his ear how perfect everything is going. Keep him focused on the art he enjoys so much. In fact, he called a little while ago asking if you could meet him at the art gallery downtown. He tried your cell phone but never got voice mail. Maybe call him and meet him there after your lunch date?”
“I was on the phone with Moira. I didn’t hear the beep. I’ll call him on the way out and meet him there. Does the manager have the paintings we were looking for?”
“Supposedly she does. Let me know how things go. Talk to you later.”
As she grabbed her bags and closed up her computer, she thought about Renaldo. He didn’t seem like such a bad guy, but he did seem to have a hard time taking “no” for an answer. But she had a job to do, so why fight it?
* * * *
“I wanted this to go off without a hitch. What th
e hell is up with these women showing up dead?” Luke asked Renaldo as they sat in Renaldo’s penthouse.
“I don’t know. They were sent by the company so we had a good idea of our investments.”
“Yeah, well someone is either onto our investments and fucking with us, or we suddenly have some serious bad luck. If those detectives search deep enough, they’ll find out those women were not your typical high-price call girls.”
“No, they won’t, Renaldo. As far as the cops are concerned, they can dig all they want. Those women chose their professions. The cops won’t find out about the international prostitution exchange. The plan has worked for a decade. It’s foolproof.”
“Nothing is foolproof, and nothing lasts forever. I think it may be wise to start slowly pulling our investments from this operation.”
“Are you kidding me? This is a multibillion-dollar operation. I don’t want to give up those kinds of funds.”
“Well, you may have to, Luke. Women who we have slept with to sample the product are being killed. It’s not me killing them. Is it you?”
“Hell no.”
“Well then, we need to start thinking of downsizing our investments. I have a bad feeling about this. I’ve screwed over a lot of people. Hell, I killed a few to get where I am. I’m not going to lose it all over some worthless whores.”
“Or some jerk who could set us up to the fall for the entire operation. That would be life in prison with no parole,” Luke added.
“They could just put a bullet in my head. I would never survive that.” Just then Renaldo’s cell phone rang. He answered it and smiled.
“Sure thing, Ellie. That will be perfect, thanks for calling me back. I’ll see you there.”
“Well?” Luke asked, and Renaldo smiled.
“That was Ellie. She’s going to meet me at the gallery in two hours.” Renaldo fixed his tie as he looked into the hallway mirror.
“You really like her, huh?” Luke asked.
“What’s not to like? She’s gorgeous, sexy, classy, and smart, and most importantly she fits.”
“Fits what?”
“In my plans to sweep her away to Venice and have my way with her perfect body.”
“Why, when you can have anyone?”
“Because, she could be my greatest investment. By the time I’m done conditioning her, I’ll make a lot of money just off her assets in Europe.”
“Are you fucking crazy? You’d prostitute her out? I thought you meant to keep her for yourself.”
“I could see myself with her for a very long time. But you know me. Things grow old to me quickly. I’ve never really committed my heart to anyone. And she has a lot to offer the right man. If I can profit off of that, then I’ll do it. Now let me get ready. I want to be sure that every moment I spend with her gives me insight as to how to help mold her into the woman I need her to be. Perhaps by next week, she’ll be in my bed, and I’ll truly have an understanding of her marketability.”
* * * *
“Say that again?” Unc asked her. He was shocked. Utterly speechless when she told him about Justice, Mace, Seno, and Hunter. She first explained about Paul and then the inability to get the order of protection. He was very upset.
“I know it’s a lot to take in, Unc. But I really need someone to talk to about this. I’m scared.”
He leaned back and stared at her. “Four men? How? How could this even be a possibility after what Paul did to you? I don’t think it’s a smart idea. I think you’re focusing on their professions and what they stand for as American soldiers. What if they’re not so perfect and they hurt you? Paul could have killed you that night, and he was one man with a knife.”
She ran her finger tip over the rim of her ice tea glass.
“I know. I’ve been thinking about all those things, yet I still come back to my feelings for them. I like them a lot. I’ve never considered a ménage before. Hell, I wasn’t even sure that I would ever want to date or be interested in dating. But I like them, each of them, for different reasons, but also the same ones.”
“Like what? Because they’re highly trained, they have big muscles and sexy bodies?” he asked and she felt her cheeks warm.
“Well, that is a definite plus. But I guess it’s how safe I feel when I’m with them. I don’t feel on edge except well, my anxiety about the attraction.”
“Have you slept with them?” he asked, shocking her. “Don’t look so stunned. Any person’s first reaction to finding out that their friend, a woman, was considering engaging in a ménage relationship would focus on the sex. Have you been able to get that close to them?”
She shook her head.
He leaned back in his chair, stared at her, and released a sigh. “But you want to?”
“I like them. I like how Justice is so strong and authoritative. He acts tough but he really is a softy. I like how Seno is meticulous and calm. He’s always so in tune to emotions and has this way of watching over me. Then there’s Mace. He’s such a character. He makes me laugh, he understands my obsession with collecting shoes because he collects, too.”
“Shoes?” he asked, and she chuckled.
“No, he collects John Wayne memorabilia, and swords and knives.”
“Swords and knives?” He raised his voice and sat forward.
“I know. It’s crazy, and I hate knives, but I trust him, Unc. I trust the others, too. And then there’s Hunter. “
“Which one is he, the perfect soldier or the detective?”
“No, Justice is a detective, Hunter teaches self-defense, and works in computers for the government. He’s an amputee. He lost part of his leg while serving in the Marine Corps.”
“Damn. That’s a lot to handle. You’re not turned off by that, or fearful that he may be mentally unstable?”
“What do you mean? Because it’s difficult to face being an amputee and trying to live a normal life? Hell, you should see him, Unc. He’s incredible. He took first place in this special race on Saturday. He was the first amputee to ever accomplish that. Hunter does not know the words ‘give up.’ He’s a fighter, a survivor like me.”
She lowered her eyes to her lap and then Unc took her hand.
“You are a survivor and a fighter. I just want what’s best for you. Brian would want me to ensure that you were safe, loved, and well cared for.”
“You’ve been a great friend,” she replied as her cell phone began ringing. She pulled her hand away from his to answer the call.
“Okay, I can bring the painting to the site. Can you have them wrap it really good? It’s raining so hard out there. Great, see you then.”
“What’s going on?”
“Oh, it’s the client I’m working for. He’s really into artwork and special one-of-a-kind pieces for his new restaurant chain. You probably know him, Renaldo Sentinel.”
“Sentinel, the multimillionaire?” he asked.
“Yes.”
“That guy has a reputation with the ladies. He also was questioned by the police in regards to those murdered women. I don’t like this, Ellie.”
“It’s okay. Justice said that Renaldo had alibis. He doesn’t believe Renaldo or his assistant, Luke, to be the killers. I’m sure the detectives will figure things out.”
“But this guy Renaldo is a slimeball from what I’ve heard. Has he tried anything with you?”
“Unc, I handled it. He knows I’m not interested.”
“But you’re meeting him now, at the gallery? For what?”
“It’s work related. We need to go over some other pieces that came in from Venice. Then we’re headed to the work site. The builders are already Sheetrocking everything and adding all the decorative finishing touches. I have to make sure that Renaldo doesn’t go changing things last minute. We’re on a deadline and I have the commercials ready to air and the cost below budget. If I can make the company some more money, then my bonus will be higher. It’s hell, but it will be worth it.”
“You work so hard. You be sure to
let me know if this guy tries anything. I mean I know now you have four other men who you’ll go to first, but I want to know.”
“Unc, it’s only the beginning stages with me and the guys. I need you in my life. You’re my rock, the one person I could always count on, just like Uncle Brian.”
Unc smiled. “I’m always here for you, Ellie. Even if everything and everyone else fails to come through, I’m here.”
She smiled as she stood up and grabbed her things.
“Be careful driving. It’s really coming down hard.”
“I will. I’ll talk to you soon.”
* * * *
Sam was talking with one of the arresting officers on the side of the main highway. They had a large tractor trailer pulled over, and a team of officers breaking open the locks on the back of the truck. The driver of the vehicle failed to provide proper identification and registration for the vehicle when the highway patrol officers pulled him over for a broken taillight.
As they got the doors open, and shone the lights into the back, they were surprised by the contents. The driver was kicking the windows and doors from inside the patrol car as officers opened up the doors and climbed up into the truck.
Sam shone his light toward the rear of the container. He felt the shock to his heart as three women sat tied up and gagged in the back. Around them were various crates and pieces of fine art.
Thirty minutes later, he was on the phone with Vin and Justice.
“You’re going to want to come out here and see this. Looks like Phillips and Sentinel may not be so detached from those murdered women.”
“What’s going on?” Vin asked, and Sam explained what he found.
“Shit, Sam. Ellie is at the gallery now with them. Justice got off the phone with her an hour ago.”
“Well, tell him to call her and to get her out of there pronto. I’ve got officers heading there now to bring Phillips and Sentinel in for questioning. This doesn’t look good for them.”
The American Soldier Collection 8: She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 11
