She felt a hand on her thigh and then Reno sat down next to her. He cupped her cheek and forced her to look into his eyes. “I want you to do us a favor and think about this for a few days. Think about what we have access to, who we know that are involved in professions that can help you. Think about finally being free from the fear and being able to settle down in Pearl. We can help protect you and your family. We can resolve whatever trouble you’re in.”
“I don’t care about what happens to me. I only care about my family. I’ll die protecting my family. This is none of your business or concern.”
His eyes darkened. “You don’t have to risk your life anymore if you let us in and allow us to help you.”
She shook her head. “I won’t place you or these people who helped us in danger. We have no choice but to leave Pearl and move on. Staying in one place isn’t smart. We’re used to it. We’ve been doing it for three years.”
“Three years? Damn, baby, that’s not a life, that’s a sentence,” Rex whispered. She glanced at him, at his beautiful green eyes as he leaned closer and caressed her cheek. She was shocked that she wasn’t pulling away. Her fear of men in general, never mind soldiers, seemed to be less around these four men. She wasn’t ready to analyze why that was the case. She just couldn’t tell them what she had done. It didn’t matter that she did it to save Cora and the babies. She’d still dressed up like some slut, seduced an older man into his office, and witnessed Kever shoot him. They wouldn’t believe why she did it. They wouldn’t understand the depth of her fears. No one could.
Reno brushed his thumb along her lip and held her gaze. “Please let us try. Please share your story, tell us who is after you. I can tell by that lost look in your eyes that you’re thinking about them now. You’re scared. I get that, but we can help you. We can stop them and end all of this, no matter how bad it is or how scared they made you feel.”
“They’ll kill the kids. I’m sorry but trusting anyone just isn’t an option at this point.”
“That’s not true. You can trust us, and we will protect the kids, protect you, your mom, and Cora. You don’t know how resourceful we are,” Reno insisted firmly.
Tears filled her eyes. “You’re right. I don’t know how resourceful you all are. I don’t know what you’re capable of and that scares me so much. I can’t pull you into my problems. I’m sorry, Reno, I can’t.”
“Why the hell not?” Smith demanded.
He raised his voice and she shouted out at him. “Because they’re just like you! Retired military, law enforcement, and men capable of murder, torture, and whatever other sick, cruel things they can come up with. They have connections and power. All I have is my determination to survive and save my family. I can’t do that here. I need to go. It isn’t safe.”
“Someone who was in the service, a soldier and cop are after you?” Reno asked, teeth clenched and appearing very upset.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath then released it. She opened her eyes. All four men were watching her and she whispered. “I can’t. I’m sorry, but this ends here.”
“Admit that you feel this connection, the attraction between the five of us,” Smith pushed.
“What for? So what little is left of my heart can be ripped out more? I just don’t have the strength anymore. Fighting, surviving, and protecting my family is where all the energy I have left has to go. I can’t do this with you. Please pick someone else.”
“There isn’t anyone else we feel this way about,” Brock confessed and it made her heart ache. How badly she would love to just give in to temptation and have even just a few moments of safety in their arms or in their beds. But it wasn’t an option. She shook her head.
“That’s a huge burden you’re carrying around. We can ease that burden,” Rex said. She swallowed hard.
Reno leaned closer. “I know you want us like we want you. You’re fighting to hold on to the reins and battle this alone but you don’t need to. We’re here now, Arabella. Let us in. Just feel and accept the connection.” He pressed his lips gently to hers and kissed her softly.
When he released her lips, his forehead was pressed gently against her own, and he used his finger to glide back and forth against her chin keeping her close.
“You’re making this so difficult.”
“Good,” Reno said. “We’re stubborn men who know what we want. We want you, trouble and all. So don’t even think about leaving Pearl anymore. We’ll get through this together. All you have to do is open up and explain it all.”
She thought about it a moment and it scared her to give in. She really didn’t know these men. Maybe it was just lust and her lack of sexual experience? “I need time. To think about this and to talk to my family. I have to find more work. Rocky’s isn’t enough.”
“Maybe we can help you find something else so that you can stick around here and get to know us?” Brock suggested.
“I don’t know. I need to talk to my family. We’re in this together.”
“Understandable. How about we show you the town and grab lunch. We know you haven’t eaten in a while,” Reno said as he stood up, holding her hand and helping her rise.
“Who said I didn’t eat?”
“We have our ways of knowing.”
Mom. What the hell are you thinking? First you tell them my real name and then you tell them I haven’t been eating. Great. Now my mom is playing matchmaker when our lives are still in jeopardy.
Chapter 9
“I get why that slimy bastard wants to know who this woman is, and I don’t trust that he’s not willing to hurt her or even kill her. Why would you even bother to entertain this?” Winter asked. Storm looked at the computer screen and then back to Winter. “Because Kever and Anthony were responsible for Parker’s brutal murder.”
“You don’t know that for certain. Nothing was ever proved,” Winter replied.
Storm slammed his hand down on the table. “Bullshit. I don’t need fucking DNA evidence to know that Kever tore the skin from Parker’s flesh. Who the fuck else do you know that does that shit?”
“Hey, Storm, there are seriously ill people out there. We’ve dealt with them, and anything is possible, but we’re trying to go completely legit and get out from the old ways. There are things we’ve discussed wanting and working for. The Cuban is not the way to get legit.”
“We’re not working for him per se. It’s more of an agreement, a way to seek a little revenge and keep good relations with the Cuban. You know as well as I do that we’ll never be a hundred percent legit, and having a few of the gangsters in our pocket is a plus.”
“I don’t know about this.”
“Well, let’s check it out and see what we come up with. Here’s her picture, and this was her last known address.”
Winter took the photo and stared at the brunette. “She’s hot, looks sweet, too.”
“That hot, sweet woman helped get Kever or Anthony into Sotoro’s office to kill him. The lucky bastard survived.”
Winter looked at Storm. “You know he’s going to want to hurt her. Just to seek a little revenge himself.”
“We won’t let him. All she has to do is name the names and confirm it. She lives and everything is fine.”
“I sure hope so. We need to be sure. Sotoro could be giving only his version.”
“Well, he’s paying top dollar, so let’s do what we do best and smoke out this woman. Hopefully she can confirm that it was Kever or Anthony who attempted the hit.”
“I doubt this case will go down so smoothly and tied with a neat bow. I sense trouble. We should be sure to get the others in on this. Maybe before we head to Pearl.”
“That’s in a week.”
“We’ve found missing women in less time.”
“Not this one. This one seems to have evaded everyone for three years. Something isn’t right.”
* * * *
Cora sat on the lounge chair in the garden along with one of the therapists, Camille. She had spoken
to her many times since they’d all arrived here three weeks ago. She had a lot on her mind today. The counseling was helping. Talking about what happened in confidentiality and expressing her fears, the anxiety and nightmares she had less frequently, seemed to really be working. Her sister Arabella on the other hand was still in combat mode. She was the least trusting, even though she was the one who found this place and brought them here. Cora knew she was worried about Anthony being released any day now and about Kever finding her. Both men were evil, but Kever had this look in his eyes that she could imagine would be on the devil if she had the misfortune of ever meeting him.
“So tell me what’s on your mind today. Did you want to pick up where we left off yesterday?” Camille asked, as she sat alongside Cora on another lounge chair. Two glasses of sweet tea sat on a tray between them, some fresh mint on top, and a small bowl of pretzels. The air was warm. There was a slight breeze with the scent of flowers on the tip of it. She inhaled deeply, absorbing the scents, her heart heavy with fear that they would have to leave this special place sooner rather than later.
“I guess what’s lying heavy on my heart is Arabella. I’m really worried about her. She isn’t eating well or sleeping well. She keeps asking if we’re ready to leave. Says it’s time to move on and we can’t stay much longer or they’ll track us down and find us.”
“And what was your response?”
“I told her I love it here. Mom and the babies do, too. It’s more than we’ve ever had. To be honest it would be nice to stay and take advantage of the job placement program. I could even try to finish my degree I couldn’t finish back in Chicago.”
“You sure could, and with your mom here, she can watch the kids. We would still provide for all of you. It could work for your sister, too. Did Arabella leave school early?”
“No, she has a degree and was a chef at a nice restaurant back home, plus she taught martial arts.”
“That explains her impressive abilities in the rec center. Sammy and the other women have really learned a lot from her in a couple of weeks.”
Cora smiled. “I wish she would let the men help her. Even with Arabella liking Anna and respecting Wyatt, the fact he’s a sheriff doesn’t make her trust him enough to share our situation. Arabella has sacrificed so much to protect us and provide for us. I owe her my life, my children’s lives, and my mom’s. I truly believe that we wouldn’t be here right now if not for her. I can’t explain what she did, what she had to do for me. I was so weak,” Cora said and then began to cry. Camille reached over and held her hand.
“It’s okay, Cora. What little you have told me I could see that Arabella is the rock of the family. She held it together, and she got you out of there so your boyfriend couldn’t do worse to you, Liam, and Julia. But the fact that you’re talking about these fears, these times of weakness as you call them, are all part of the healing process. You’re gaining the strength to move on, to start a new life. You’ve all gained new friends, alliances in your fight for that better life. It’s going to work out. We’re all here to help. We’ll get through to Arabella and gain her trust and help her to heal, too.”
Cora wiped her eyes and looked out toward the water.
“I’m afraid Arabella won’t trust anyone, won’t take the chance to accept Brock, Smith, Rex, and Reno as anything more than symbols of what she fears. Soldiers, cops, men like those who hurt us, and we’ll have to leave this place soon enough.”
“Do you really think that’s necessary? We have lots of security around here. Plus, in town we have men and women who work for the government. There are even retired agents and some active. Brock is a good friend with a Texas Ranger and a few other men who are federal agents.”
“I know she likes them, but she can’t get past the fear, the threats from the man who hurt us. Camille, they were soldiers at one time. The one man who wants to hurt Arabella was Special Forces. She barely got out alive. She saved all of us.”
“That is a lot to handle and then to come here and meet those men and have an attraction to them. They sure have been trying to break down her defenses. Maybe they’ll be successful.”
“Well, if they are, I hope it happens soon. I really don’t want to leave. But time is running out. A decision needs to be made. Our lives depend upon it.”
* * * *
Arabella got a ride into town with Millie. She was running some errands and going to see two of her husbands, Jeremy and Anthony, who owned a local construction company. As they drove the short distance from the shelter to a brand-new development going in, Arabella was shocked at the gorgeous houses. The main entrance was spectacular and the houses spread out so far, they were like private ranches.
“The guys said they were working on a new place, finishing up some painting and molding. We’ll pull up over here and head inside.”
“This is gorgeous. These homes must be so expensive,” Arabella said as Millie parked the truck and they both got out. Arabella had never seen such stylish, classy ranches and houses. The one they were at now looked like a dream home. She swallowed hard.
“The styles and prices vary depending on the homeowner. Smith and Brock work with everyone and their budget.”
“Smith and Brock?” Arabella asked.
Millie turned to smile at her. “Smith, Brock, Rex, and Reno own and operate Liberty Construction and Development. They built all of these. Well, subcontracted out to the local contractors like my husbands. They work together with the communities and try to keep the money within the town. It helps everyone from the contractors, painters, and landscapers to the hardware store owners, the hotel, and then restaurants. It goes with our whole theme of everyone helps everyone out. We’re all family.”
Arabella realized that Brock and the guys were probably very wealthy. That made her feel so inadequate. Back in Chicago they lived in a small two-family brick home with no backyard, one narrow driveway, and a neighborhood filled with criminals taking over old-timers. She struggled to make money, to put herself through culinary school, but she still loved the neighborhood and wanted to make a difference by becoming a police officer.
Those dreams were stomped with the increase in drive-by shootings, gang-related homicides a block away, and of course the need for money. Working as a chef had paid the bills, but when the academy wanted her, Cora was going through hell involved with Anthony. She declined and kept working. Then she was forced to do that job with Kever. She swallowed hard, feeling the guilt, and then heard the front door to the home open.
“Hey, baby, I thought I heard a truck pull up,” one very attractive man said as he greeted Millie.
“Arabella, meet Anthony Lewis.”
Anthony looked Arabella over and smiled. “So you’re Arabella. It’s a pleasure meeting you, darling.” He reached a hand out to shake.
Just then another man walked out of the house, a bit younger looking than Anthony but just as attractive. “Hey, baby.” He pulled Millie into his arms and kissed her. Arabella felt her own cheeks flush. These men were good looking and very affectionate.
It made her feel a twinge of jealousy. She may never experience anything like that. Who could possibly love her?
“This is Jeremy. Jeremy meet Arabella.”
“Arabella? Nice to meet you.” He shook her hand hello.
“You brought over lunch, come on inside. You have to see the paint color in the living room. It looks great,” Anthony told Millie as he placed a hand to her lower back.
Arabella followed them inside and was stunned by the layout of the home. It was gorgeous and had a lot of special details like crown molding and etched glass. But what impressed her most of all was the kitchen. It was a gourmet kitchen with industrial stove, multiple ovens, and a large island.
“Oh God, this is stunning,” Arabella said as she slowly walked around the kitchen. She would love to cook in this kitchen. It had been so long since she made any culinary masterpieces. She missed that.
She felt the hand on her shoulder and tur
ned to see Millie.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
Arabella nodded. “I used to work as a chef,” she admitted and then lowered her eyes and cleared her throat.
“Really?”
Arabella nodded.
“Where did you do that, like in a restaurant or diner?” Anthony asked her.
“In a very upscale place in Chicago. I went to culinary school. This kitchen is to die for,” she said.
“Hey, Millie mentioned that you were looking for some other work aside from Rocky’s. Have you ever done any cooking for private parties?” Jeremy asked, and she shook her head.
“What are you thinking?” Millie asked him.
“We were in town earlier picking up the paint when we bumped into Mark Santos. He said that Diane and her sister were hosting some sort of lingerie event in Keanter this weekend. Some people were going to attend an after-party, dinner and drinks at her house. The personal chef and hostess they hired backed out because of some stomach virus. They were hunting for someone really good to take their place. Diane has a few big shots from New York coming over from the magazine, too.”
“Let me get Diane on the phone and get the details,” Millie said and pulled out her cell phone.
“Wait, what are you doing?” Arabella asked.
Millie smiled. “Hopefully getting you a little job to make some cash. My friend Diane and her sister own a local boutique in town. Diane has done some professional modeling in the US and in Europe. She hosts these types of events often and the money is amazing.” Millie then started talking into the phone.
Arabella listened and then Millie looked at her watch. “Okay, I’ll have her there in twenty. Should we pick up some ingredients? Oh, okay. Bye.”
Millie smiled at Arabella. “Well, what do you say? Want to make fifteen hundred dollars in one night?”
“What? Fifteen hundred? What the heck do I have to do?”
Jeremy and Anthony chuckled.
“Come on. I’ll explain on the way over to Diane’s house.”
Soldiers of Pearl 1: Invasion of Hearts (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 12
