Soldiers of Pearl 2: Healing Souls (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  Beau climbed into bed and moved close to Cora. He leaned up on his elbow and kissed her forehead, staying close enough to inhale her perfume and learn that she was indeed safe and sound in their home.

  “I don’t like this. I sent the text to Brock and the guys along with Wyatt. They’ll be here early, which means we’ll need to tell Cora first.”

  “I know. Let her rest. She’s safe and so are the kids and her mom.”

  “Wyatt put an extra deputy on patrol over there for the night. Cason said he’ll go in tomorrow and work out a detail with him later in the day.”

  “Good. Let’s get some rest. It’s going to be a long day for Cora. She’ll need us.”

  Beau settled in, pressing against Cora and holding her hip. Blade lay on his back, thinking of her life and what she had been exposed to. If this man came at them and tried to hurt her and the kids, or tried to take them away from them, then he would have to get through each of them. He would personally ensure that justice was served.

  Chapter 12

  Cora knew something was up when Beau awoke her and told her there was company coming and she needed to get showered and dressed. He stood there in jeans, no shirt on, and his hair damp from a shower. When she asked who was coming over he told her Wyatt and some of their friends. They needed to talk to her first and they were short on time.

  She showered quickly, worrying about what was happening until she got out of the shower to find Cason there.

  He wrapped the towel around her waist and pulled her close.

  “Last night, while we were talking on the front porch as Blade brought your mom and the kids home, Beau and I got this funny feeling. Once Asher and Avery brought you inside, Beau thought he saw a flash of something in the woods. Anyway, we checked it out as soon as you were safe with Asher and Avery.”

  He cupped her cheeks and held her gaze. She had a bad feeling, and she knew some bad news was coming. She worried about the kids, about the men, and about Arabella.

  “Someone was in the woods watching us. There were boot prints. Deep ones as if they stood there for quite some time.”

  His expression, the tone of his voice, and the way Blade acted last night in bed all filled her mind.

  Anthony?

  She stepped back, but Cason pulled her tighter and held her in his arms.

  “I know you’re scared, baby, but you have to know that you’re safe and so are the kids, your mom, and Arabella.”

  “The kids. I want Julia and Liam. Where are they?” she demanded to know.

  “Calm down and hear him out. Let Cason explain how this is going to go down,” Beau said from the doorway.

  “You think it’s Anthony, don’t you?” she asked, drying her body and letting the towel fall. Cason moved to the side and watched her as she dressed. When she was finished, he took her hand and brought it against his chest.

  “We aren’t sure, but we’re going to figure it out real fast. Wyatt, Brock, and the guys are downstairs. Arabella is there too. We didn’t bring over the kids or your mom, but Wyatt has Max Cantrell and Marco Lewis watching over them. They’ll be safe while we figure out what to do next.”

  “Now come on and get ready. We’re not going to let him get to you and your family,” Beau said, and they headed out of the bathroom.

  * * * *

  As the men discussed what took place last night and how Cason and Beau went out there in the dark with their night-vision gear to investigate, Cora became more agitated and upset. Asher kept his arm around the chair she sat in and softly caressed her shoulder, trying to infuse warmth and security into her. She wanted to let him help her. She wanted to feel his strength, the power and protectiveness he was offering, but as the men talked about Anthony, not truly knowing the side of him she knew, she began to panic.

  “I want my babies. I want them here with me now,” she whispered.

  Avery caressed her hand.

  “I can assure you that they’re safe, Cora. Let’s talk this through and then we’ll decide where the best place for them to remain is.”

  “I want Julia and Liam with me now,” she said, feeling the tightness in her chest and then the sensations begin to get worse. She was going to have an anxiety attack. She closed her eyes, kept her hands in fists, then released them and made them fists again. She kept repeating how she wanted Liam and Julia with her.

  She thought about Anthony, the violent side of him, and how capable he was. She remembered a time when she had gone on a job to ensure everyone was in place as she manipulated the security guard on patrol. Afterward one of the men screwed up and was nearly caught on camera. Anthony beat the man and then dragged him around the corner of the building. When he came back, he came back alone, fists bloody and so angry that he struck her for no apparent reason at all. She remembered him pulling her up by her hair and dragging her to the SUV.

  I’ll kill you and the kids if you ever try to leave me.

  You’re mine and no one else’s. You ever look at another man and I’ll slit his fucking throat.

  She shivered and could hardly make out Asher’s and Avery’s voices as her mind wandered to the past, and her concern was not only for the babies, but for the men she gave her heart and body too.

  “He saw us together. He’ll kill you all,” she blurted out and stood up. Hands reached for her, and she pushed them away. She fought to keep the panic attack at bay, the anxiety grew deeper, but she fought this time. She would not be weak. She couldn’t show weakness. Her children needed her to be strong. They could leave here. Run like they did before with Arabella.

  Arabella?

  She looked at her. The emotions so raw and real on Arabella’s face as Brock held her. Cora glanced around the room at all their grim expressions.

  “Cora, let us handle the planning. I promise we will get Liam and Julia here as soon as we’re finished,” Blade calmly told her.

  She locked gazes with him as she moved around the room as if in a fog. She leaned against the wall, needing the solidity of it, the knowledge that nothing could sneak up behind her.

  “You don’t know what he’s capable of. You don’t know the monster that he is. I won’t survive this time. He’ll hit me, beat me until I’m begging for mercy, and then he’ll make me watch as he—”

  “Stop, Cora. We won’t let him get to you,” Blade said, taking her hand. She pulled away, and he looked hurt, angry. She looked at Arabella.

  “You know. You know he’ll succeed. I want Liam and Julia here now. I want my babies now.” She raised her voice, and Arabella pulled her into her arms and held her tight.

  “We’ll get them here, and Mom too. We’ll get through this together. You’re not the same woman, Cora. You’re not weak. You’re not going to let Anthony win. Not after the fight you put up all this time. Cora, you’re stronger now because of your determination and your men that love you.”

  Cora held her sister tight.

  “He’ll kill them because of me. He saw us together, kissing, Arabella. He was watching from right outside that door. He could be there now. He could be watching Liam and Julia and Mom just waiting for the chance to take them, kill them, Arabella. I want them here, with us. I want them right next to me.” She knew she sounded panicked and then heard Wyatt’s voice. She knew he was talking on his cell phone. She saw Blade give him an okay, and Blade approached her next. They were bringing the kids here. The second his hand caressed her back, she released some more of her anxiety.

  “We won’t let him hurt you or the kids. You’re our family now, and no one tries to hurt our family.” He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. Arabella released her hold and stepped back as Blade pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. Arabella smiled.

  “One team, one unit, one family. We have our own soldiers, Special Forces, to keep us safe and protected.” She smiled, but her words only eased Cora’s body momentarily, as Blade’s phone rang, making her jump and grip him tighter.

  * * * *

  Storm kn
ew the moment he was being watched as he exited the building and headed down the street to the little café on the corner. It was instinctual, an ability that saved his ass and his team’s asses more than a handful of times. He was always in soldier mode, never letting his guard down, and this was exactly why. In his type of business and in the businesses he partook in in the past, there always seemed to be a need for security and for eyes in the back of his head.

  He wasn’t intimidated, and then he spotted Karlicov, Nicolai Mercovicz’s right-hand man and bodyguard. The Russian was a very powerful man and influential on the streets. Their paths crossed many times over the years, but he wasn’t the type of man to consider a friend. He was an associate, an aide when needed for particular necessities, and Nicolai knew it. Besides, their relationship stemmed from something deeper than business. Something they never talked about.

  Storm made eye contact with Karlicov, who just gestured with a nod of his head which direction he wanted Storm to go. He walked toward the café, which looked rather empty for lunchtime, but then saw Nicolai sitting at a table near the corner of the room and close to the exit door but nowhere near the front windows. He kept his back to the wall, a perfect view of the scene around him in case he needed a quick escape. That was the life Storm left behind years ago before committing to the military.

  He looked around, and the moment he locked gazes with Nicolai, the man gave an almost smile. Storm saw the positive reaction in his eyes appear and disappear so swiftly most people wouldn’t have even taken notice. But Storm did. He had a lot of special abilities that Nicolai once or twice tried to entice him into using on a regular basis under his command.

  “Good afternoon, Storm. I hope you didn’t have plans for lunch. It seems we have some business to discuss.”

  “I always have time for you, Nicolai. But what business could we possibly have to discuss?” he asked.

  “Come sit down, Benny has prepared some nice things for us today.” He waved his hand, and Benny, the older Italian man who owned the café and pizza joint, came over with a platter of appetizers. Some fresh mozzarella topped with basil, a little extra-virgin olive oil, salt, and pepper. There were tiny toasts with eggplant and other diced vegetables, and an assortment of cheeses and grapes.

  Nicolai reached for the piece of mozzarella and nodded a thank-you to Benny. Storm nodded his head at the man and knew, from here on out, every time Storm came into the place Benny would treat him differently. Nicolai was a well-respected, made man.

  “So, you’re trying so hard to get out of something you were born to do. I understand this, as some days I wish I could just enjoy the benefits of my hard work, but that’s not how it goes. You know this, Storm. I want you to understand that if it were anyone else I wouldn’t even come here like this an offer the opportunity to make things right. But you have a calmer relationship with Sotoro, and perhaps you can resolve this little issue before it turns into a bloody mess.”

  Storm leaned back, wondering how the hell he could be pulled into this bullshit after how hard he and his team worked to legitimatize their businesses. Nicolai explained about the investments he had in the black market and how Sotoro was easing his way inside doing these jobs where men stole high-priced items from major security-construction sites.

  Immediately Storm knew where this was headed. He got a call from Blade two weeks ago about how to handle catching these guys and how his girlfriend, Cora, Arabella’s sister, thought of a way. It seemed these women who had hooked up originally with Anthony and Kever, the story he knew well, were somehow involved. Cora’s plan had worked and they caught some guys last night as they were in the process of stealing pallets of bulletproof glass.

  “I think the problem may have resolved itself for the time being. A group of men were busted just last night for stealing off a construction site,” he told Nicolai.

  “I heard about that, but this goes deeper. Sotoro has been trying to push his way into my territory.”

  “Nicolai, this isn’t my problem. I’m not involved with this lifestyle so much anymore. Do what you do best and let him know.”

  Nicolai leaned forward. “This is not about that. Of course I could just come straight out and make a threat and start a fucking war with the asshole. There’s more at stake here. Things I’m not going to get into. Sotoro has been watching you. Watching that security firm and the investments you’ve been making trying to go legit. He’s got plans to take you over right from under your nose. Do you really want to be out of this business and out of the protection I and the family have to offer you?”

  Storm opened his mouth to start to say something when Nicolai cut him off.

  “I know you’re tough. I know you’ve gone through heavy shit, but this asshole will take everything out from under you and leave you with nothing. You’re in this still. There’s no way of getting out of this business. Not with your past. I’ve got something you can use that will surely send a message to Sotoro that you mean business and you’re not so blinded by going legit that you let your guard down enough to let the fucker take you over.”

  Nicolai leaned forward and talked. Storm listened, and with every word and detail he realized that he might never be able to go legit. As the anger built and he planned a confrontation with Sotoro, he realized that he might never be free from the lifestyle, from his past. It may be better to hold on to the position he had and the connections that would only die when he was six feet under.

  He left his surprise lunch an hour later and quickly got on the phone with Winter.

  “I need you to check something out for me.”

  “Hold up, Storm. I was about to call you. I bumped into one of Sotoro’s guys, Marcus.”

  “Marcus? Where the fuck did you bump into him?” Storm asked as he spoke on his cell and headed back toward the office building.

  “In O’Leary’s restaurant. Pat was having lunch with him and a few other guys in the back. Seems to me that little fuck may be doing some shit behind our backs. You should have seen the shocked expression on Marcus’s face. He tried to play it off as if he didn’t give a fuck, but that dick knows I would kill him in a heartbeat.”

  Storm felt his blood pressure rising. Seemed Nicolai was right about Sotoro.

  “There’s definitely some shit going down, and we need to all talk. I’ll explain later,” Storm told Winter.

  “Wait, there’s more. The one guy Marcus was with, he worked with Anthony and Kever. Louie, my cousin’s friend who works the bar there at O’Leary’s, said there was a big card game a few weeks back. Sotoro was there along with O’Leary, and a couple of Anthony’s guys. Said that Roland was drunk and talked about Anthony being alive and him waiting on a call to finish what they started in Texas,” Winter informed him.

  “Did you call Brock or even Blade?” Storm asked.

  “I just got off the phone with them. Seems they already believe Anthony is in Pearl. They’re making arrangements.”

  “Call them back and tell them about Roland. We can have his phone tapped pretty quickly and place one of our men on him.”

  “Already done. Those women have been through enough, never mind those poor kids. Anthony should be fucking dead just like his lowlife partner Kever.”

  “I agree. Keep me posted on any updates. I’ll meet you in a little bit,” Winter told Storm.

  “No problem. At least the women and kids have Blade and his team. Beau wouldn’t think twice about pulling a trigger or slitting a throat.”

  “That was the old him, in his past life.”

  “He’s got a woman and kids to protect. He’ll do what’s necessary just like any of the rest of us would.”

  Chapter 13

  Cason stared at Cora as she watched her children sleeping. They had been restless the past few nights, unable to sleep in the new place and wanting their mother by them at all times. They had no idea what was going on or that their father could possibly be in the vicinity. However, seeing all the action going on inside the home, showing
them the panic room and how to lock themselves inside in case of an emergency, gave them nightmares.

  It had been Beau’s brilliant idea to talk to the kids about being a soldier, surviving in rough terrains and relying on his trusty, secure tent for protection. That got them asking questions and eventually to his idea about camping inside of the house. Now here they were, two doors down from their own bedroom and at an official indoor campsite, lanterns and all.

  He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her to him. Inhaling her perfume, feeling her feminine body against his chest and thighs, made him think how fragile and vulnerable she would be to a man like Anthony. A man who obviously lost his head years ago, and was truly in some psychotic state.

  Her soft skin, petite body brought on a surge of protectiveness and possessiveness he never had before. He thought about what he knew of Anthony, and what Brock had gotten from Matt and Quaid. Their friends were pulling all strings to get more info and to track Anthony down. Beau and Blade were discussing going out alone and tracking him to snuff him out. They were discussing every scenario and coming up with making a final decision. It was stressful, and scary, especially with two children, their woman, and her mother now living under their roof.

  “They’re finally asleep. Are you ready to come to bed?” Cason asked her, kissing her neck. She tilted her head sideways to give him better access to her skin.

  “I can’t seem to get myself to leave them.”

  Blade walked down the hallway and peeked into the room.

  “Beau’s crazy idea seems to have worked. They’re out cold,” Blade whispered and smirked.

  Cason squeezed Cora to him, grateful to be sharing her with his commander and the rest of their team. She was so special, so sweet, and so were the kids.