“I’m fine, Mom. In fact, I had something to eat last night. I’m good for a while. I was able to buy some more food and milk for the kids this morning. You can cook the chicken up.”
“I heard those men yelling to you this morning when you got home. They’re getting more and more brazen. I think we need to leave.”
She swallowed hard. She was hoping that her mom hadn’t heard the men from the trailer behind them calling out to her to join them for a drink. She ignored them and they really started yelling toward her last night. She wondered what the hell these people did that they could drink and party every night. How could they afford it?
“It will be okay for a few more days. I’ll think of something.” She smiled, but she really didn’t feel her positive words to heart. She just wanted her mom to not worry. “I need to get ready. Be sure to keep the door locked.”
Her mom nodded and Arabella walked to the room to change and saw Cora sleeping on the bed along with Liam and Julia. This was her family. She needed to continue to protect them and make sure Anthony and Kever could never find them. Perhaps they wouldn’t even try? But that thought disintegrated easily. Men like Anthony and Kever enjoyed the hunt more than the kill. They weren’t logical men. They were criminals, killers, and ruthless thugs. She could never let her guard down. They would all live in fear forever.
She walked into the small bathroom and began to change. She started to step into the short shorts and looked down by her groin. She ran her fingertip along the line. The mark was so noticeable. It was deep, raised, and sort of pink in coloring. Her panty line could cover it. If she ever had a chance to wear a bathing suit, it would probably cover it, too. But she knew it was there. She remembered his words. That look in his eyes that told her she was going to be his or he would have no problem killing her. He had been a soldier. He told her he saw things and did things and he was capable of hurting her if she didn’t cooperate. “I can skin you alive, Arabella. From scalp to toes.”
Arabella closed her eyes. She remembered that night so clearly. He was warning her. Preparing to take her as his woman like Anthony took Cora. They weren’t even married. They had two babies. Liam was just an infant when Anthony attacked Cora that night and started hitting her.
Arabella had already been warned by Kever. He cut her. Told her she was going to be his woman as he pinned her to her bed. She shivered, remembering how he held the knife to her neck as he explained how he had skinned the enemy in war and that he could do that to her. Would do that to her if she fought him. She took him seriously as she cried and begged for him not to do it. His hands were everywhere, touching, stroking, and forcing her to widen her thighs to his barbaric assault.
She closed her eyes and willed the tears away, the memories of his painful touch and violent behavior.
She wanted to die, contemplated letting him skin her alive so he couldn’t rape her. But Kever was interrupted. Thank God.
She thought about the conversation she overheard, and all the incriminating information. Something about a big deal, money being stored in a locker, and some kind of weapons charge. Anthony was worried because if he got caught, he would go to jail for at least three years. That would be the minimum with early parole for good behavior. They had a lawyer friend. She heard about where the stuff was located. He even told Kever where to find the key to the security box and documents that could get him into a lot of trouble.
The jackass helped her set him up. She kept quiet.
Arabella was glad she hit the record button on the cell phone as Anthony made his threats. That was what ultimately got the charges increased by the judge and the ruling of no visitation rights and no right to custody. The judge threw the book at Anthony as he raged in court about killing the kids. When the detective told her and Cora, it sent Cora over the edge. A few phone calls to the police and a connection to that same detective who she was able to get the key for the safe, caused Anthony’s arrest. He was sent to jail for three years. In six weeks, he would be a free man.
Keeping on the move was the only way to stay safe. They couldn’t stay here. After Saturday night Arabella would pack up the car and move her family once again.
* * * *
Millie, Lena, Marco, and Kenny had arrived at Rocky’s an hour ago. They watched Bella working the tables. She was so busy. When she came over to take another order of drinks, Millie spoke up.
“Hey, on your next day off why don’t you stop by the shelter and I can show you the rest of the place?”
Her eyes widened and then she licked her lips as she looked around. “Um, listen, I appreciate your help, but I don’t know how long I’ll be in town for.”
Millie felt tightness in her chest. “You’re leaving town?”
“Please, don’t say anything to Rocky. He’s been so nice. But things have changed. It’s not working out,” she said, lowering her eyes and then straightening her shoulders.
“Honey, if you’re staying somewhere unsafe, then Second Chances could really help you and your family,” Marco offered.
She looked him over. “I need to get back to work.” She turned around and walked away.
“God, she’s scared. I have to get through to her,” Millie said.
“It’s us. Kenny and I represent the law even though we’re out of uniform. We’ll go walk around a bit, and when she comes back with the drinks, talk to her. Get her to see you two can protect her at the shelter.”
Millie smiled at him. “Thanks, honey.”
He winked at her and then he and Kenny got up and walked away.
“So what’s the plan?” Lena asked.
“Honesty and maybe a bit of begging, too. She needs help, and if we find out the problem, then we can assist.” They waited a little while and then Bella returned with the drinks.
“Bella, I think that something is really scaring you and you’re not sure if you can trust anyone. I’m guessing you have a lot on your shoulders,” Lena said.
“I said I’m probably leaving.”
“But you don’t have to keep running. We can help you. It’s the safest place to be and the security is so high. We have doctors available to treat anyone who needs help.” Millie saw Bella’s eyes lock onto hers. That was it. Someone needed medical attention.
“My husbands’ father is the town doctor. A real sweet man. He’s wonderful with children, too,” Lena said.
“Your husbands? I noticed that about Pearl, and even around here. There are more men than women, and a lot of military.”
“They’re all good men and they protect any woman and children who live in Pearl and in the shelter. It’s why we’re really careful about who we allow near the shelter.”
“How can you protect the people inside? What if someone is after them and wants to hurt them and won’t stop at anything until they have them?”
Millie swallowed hard. “Honey, if someone is after you, then in Pearl is where you’ll be completely safe. We have men around who not only provide security as local officers, but we have federal agents, government agents, and other people who can really help.”
Someone yelled out for her to go over to their table. “I need to go.”
“Will you think about it, Bella? Come see me this weekend and we’ll talk. I’ll be there Saturday and Sunday,” Millie said.
Bella just walked away.
“What do you think?” she asked Lena.
“You left a seed in her head. It’s all we can do, Millie. She needs to take the first step and ask for help.”
Millie leaned back and sighed. “That was us at one time, Lena. That feeling of loss, lack of trust, and determination to survive. She’s in survival mode and I get the feeling that she’s afraid to make the wrong decision for her family. I pray she comes to us this weekend.”
“Me, too.”
* * * *
It was the end of her double shift. Arabella was exhausted, but she had a pocket full of money, enough to pay the rent, maybe get her mom’s medicine and the kids vacci
nes at a clinic as soon as she found one. She wasn’t in the mood for the bullshit she pulled up to at the trailer. The party in the back was going strong. They had a fire started in an area very close to the other trailers including her own. Now she would stay up all night worrying that the drunk assholes would set the trailer park on fire. She locked her door and put her keys in her pocket.
“Hey, baby, we’ve been waiting for you.” She heard a deep voice and swung around to see two fat drunk guys looking her over. They held red cups in their hands and she could smell them from where they she stood.
“I don’t think so. Not interested.” She continued heading toward the trailer.
As soon as she felt a large hand grip her arm, she twisted and shoved him off. The other guy whistled like he was all impressed with her. “She’s a tough one. Looks like you’re going to have to work a little to tap that,” the one guy said and then took a sip from the cup he held.
The first guy came at her again and she dodged his attack only for the second guy to join in. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, his forearms pressed over her breasts, but he was thick in the middle and couldn’t quite get around her. “Holy fuck, her tits are fucking huge,” he said. His beer breath collided with her hair and cheek. The other guy stepped forward.
“Hold her and we’ll check her out.” He reached for her and she made her move. She swung her head back hard, head butting the asshole holding her. She heard him holler and then ducked and punched the second guy who came at her. In a flash the second guy pulled up and struck her in the face. His hit was hard. She definitely was too tired for this shit. She would have never allowed such a hit, and that pissed her off. She was tired of being treated like this. Tired of living around trash and tired of men who just wanted to take what they wanted from a woman. She took out her anger on the guy’s face and then his buddy’s. Before long she saw them lying on the ground moaning.
The trailer door opened and her mom was there with a frying pan.
“Get back inside. It’s over,” she said and climbed the stairs.
As she told her mom what happened and she felt the throbbing in her cheek get worse, they could hear the men yelling.
“Do you smell that?” her mom asked. Arabella could smell smoke. She ran to the small bedroom that was nearest to the other trailers and saw the smoke coming through the window.
“Get up. Get up, Cora, fire!” she yelled. Arabella ran to the bedroom, grabbed the small pouch she secured under the bed. The thumb drive she’d taken from Kever that he stole from Sotoro along with the others was in the pouch. She didn’t know what was on it, but it was another piece of security in case the police hunted them down as an accessory to attempted murder.
They were grabbing the kids. Arabella grabbed Liam who instantly woke up crying. Cora grabbed Julia, and their mom was screaming for them to hurry. In the distance they could hear the sirens blaring. The fire department was coming. As they ran out of the trailer, the men were there laughing and carrying on all drunk and bloody from the beating she gave them. She was so disgusted. They found this amusing. Arabella and her family walked further into the road away from the trailer as the fire department and police arrived.
“How did this happen? What the hell is going on?” one officer asked.
“We did it. To get back at that crazy bitch,” one man said.
“Stay here,” she told Cora and her mom as she passed the baby to her mom. Arabella recognized the officer from going to Rocky’s.
“Kyle?” she asked.
“Hey, Bella, what are you doing here? Did you just get off work?” he asked, eyeing her outfit over.
“I did, and then these two drunk assholes tried to attack me.”
He looked at her cheek. “Did they do that?” he asked, face scrunched up. He was legitimately angry.
She nodded. “But I did that to them.” She pointed.
He looked and he shook his head. “Assholes.”
“They set fire to our trailer we’re renting.”
“I’ll talk to Jerry, the owner. Where will you be?”
“Around,” she said and then walked away. She looked at her mother who was crying, Cora who looked like she was in shock, and to the kids who were both only wearing underwear. They were all coughing even though they were only caught in the fire for a short period of time.
“Let’s get into the car. I need to think,” she said.
An hour later, as they drove down the road and her mom kept coughing and wheezing, the decision was made. She couldn’t go on like this. She needed to accept help. She prayed that she made the right choice.
“Where are you going?” her mom asked.
“Someplace that just might be able to help us get our second chance at a real life.”
* * * *
Millie couldn’t believe her eyes, nor could Anna, Lena, and the others as the old beat-up car made all this noise as it pulled into the parking lot of Second Chances. She had no idea who it could be, and then Bella stepped out of the car.
Millie and Lena ran toward her. “Bella? Are you okay? My God, what happened?” Millie asked as she reached out and touched Bella’s chin and saw her swollen cheek.
“I’m okay. It’s my family that needs help. I don’t know what else to do anymore. Every time I think we’re going to be okay, and we might make it, something happens. We were caught in a fire at the place we were staying at. My mom needs a doctor and the kids need stuff, too. We lost everything we had, including the food and clothing. It’s all gone.” Millie could hear her quivering voice and see the exhaustion and defeat all over Bella’s face.
Millie stepped back and Bella opened the back door. There was a young woman holding a toddler maybe around three and an older lady holding a little girl. They all looked scared and were wearing hardly any clothing.
“We have nothing. Just the clothes on our backs and the money in my pocket from working the double shift at Rocky’s. We’ve been up all night, staying in the car. Everything burned in the fire, Millie. Can you…Can you help them?” she asked.
“Lena, Anna, Sage, can you come over here and help me? Call Doc. Get him over here with his medical bag.” Millie reached out her hand to the young woman in the backseat with the baby.
“Come on out, honey. Let’s get these babies something to eat.”
The young woman looked at Bella.
“It’s okay, Cora. She’s good people. They all are. It’s safe here. They’ll help you and the kids and Mom. Come on now.” Bella moved near the car and reached for the boy. The young woman handed him off to Bella and then looked at Millie. Millie smiled and helped her out of the car. They all smelled like smoke. Millie’s heart tightened.
“Let me help you,” Lena said and offered to take the baby. She handed him to her as Stacy helped the older woman from the car and Sage lifted up the other child and carried him around the car.
“Let’s get you all inside. It’s going to be okay,” Millie said, feeling the tears in her eyes. They followed them into the main building where others gathered around and greeted them.
Chapter 6
Wyatt sat back in his chair and sighed. Every time Anna called him to talk about the new women who arrived at the shelter, it was both great news as well as heartbreaking news. So many women were abused or neglected and just needed a safe place to go. The newest arrivals were indeed down and out. His wife and the other women were so concerned about the woman Bella who’d showed up over a week ago to ask questions about Second Chances. Millie believed the woman was scared, on the run, and in need of help. But Reno and Rex along with Smith and Brook said she worked at Rocky’s. Apparently that was the only form of income she was bringing in to support a whole family. Two toddlers, a sister who had been traumatized, and a mother who needed medical attention. The kids needed vaccines and the mother medication for asthma they never could afford. A phone call from Keanter had just solidified the fact that this family needed help after two drunk men attacked Bella and then set th
eir trailer on fire. He was feeling pretty damn pissed off.
He heard a knock at the door and saw both Reno and Rex there. He waved them in.
“What’s going on?” Wyatt asked as he tried to clear his head for a moment before thinking about the next step, which was asking Bella and her family what exactly they were running from.
“We heard something about Kyle calling over from Keanter and a woman that was described like Bella. Was it her? Was she assaulted and then caught in a fire?” Reno asked.
He looked the two men over. They were fairly new to Pearl but were good friends with Gunny McCallister, a Marine and Texas Ranger whom Wyatt had known for years. It was Gunny who recommended Reno and Rex to become deputies when the positions became available. Another good friend vouched for them. Plus, Dale London knew one of their cousins well. They were good men as were their housemates, Smith and Brock. Smith helped out Dalton and Hank Lewis with training self-defense at the women’s shelter and in town. The four men owned and operated Liberty Construction and Development. With the town expanding, so were a lot of the local businesses.
“Come on in and close the door,” he told them.
Both men came in and he motioned for them to sit down. They were big men, just like Wyatt.
He leaned back knowing that Smith and Brock had met this Bella woman already and seemed interested.
“So what’s your interest in Bella?” he asked.
Reno looked straight at him. He was a no-nonsense type of guy despite his very warm personality. People took to him and Rex quickly, but piss them off or break the law and they got tough and mean real fast. Wyatt loved that about them.
“Well, if it was Bella who was assaulted and caught in the fire, we’d like to know and so would Smith and Brock.”
Soldiers of Pearl 1: Invasion of Hearts (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 8
