Soldiers of Pearl 1: Invasion of Hearts (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Dixie Lynn Dwyer

  She fixed her hair and prepared to attend the barbeque with her mom and sister. Smith, Brock, Rex, and Reno were meeting friends who’d flown in from out of state along with some other local friends in town who all served together. She was going to meet the guys there. Looking at her mom, Cora, and the babies, she saw the smiles on their faces as they gathered with the other women and children. Today she felt more like a part of Pearl than ever before. Diane had even placed Arabella’s business cards and catering menu pamphlets on her table. She’d asked that she sit there and meet new potential clients.

  It was going to be another wonderful day in Pearl.

  * * * *

  Rex, Reno, Wyatt, and Mark were talking with their friends Storm, Westin, York, and Zin. They were staying in town for a week of R&R at the bed-and-breakfast.

  “I absolutely love how this town is expanding and how everything is so clean and upscale. No wonder more and more people are moving out here,” Storm said as they walked around the barbeque. There were tables set up with items from local businesses.

  “Yeah, there are a lot of new businesses buying out storefronts and wanting to move here. The board has been approving one after the next,” Wyatt said.

  “Like Bella’s catering business. She’s really getting a lot of business now. Diane said she had to take out another box of business cards and pamphlets,” Mark told them.

  “She’s doing great,” Rex said.

  “Bella? Who is that?” Zin asked as Storm’s phone rang.

  “That’s our girlfriend. We’re headed over there now. We’ll introduce you to her,” Rex said, smiling.

  As they walked, Storm answered the call, noticing it was Winter. He headed in a different direction.

  “You’re not going to believe this, but I think I just found Arabella,” Winter told him over the phone just as they approached a table. He caught sight of her immediately and the huge smile she gave Rex and Reno. She came around the table and they both hugged and kissed her. His chest tightened.

  “Where are you?” Storm asked, feeling shocked and not knowing how they were going to handle this.

  “Fuck, I saw it, too. Our runaway is involved with our friends. What the fuck?”

  Storm disconnected the call as Rex and Reno began the introductions. Zin then York looked at Arabella and then at Storm. He gave his head a shake and they understood to keep quiet.

  “So you’re Arabella. So nice to meet you,” Storm said and then shook her hand. His buddies did the same.

  “It’s nice to meet you guys, too. Rex, Reno, Brock, and Smith have been talking about you for days. They can’t wait to have you over to the house for dinner. Are you able to make it tomorrow night?”

  Storm thought the woman seemed so sweet. His gut instincts were good at detecting frauds. Their theory that she was innocent and caught in the middle of something was coming back as a possibility. But they had seen the best of people turn into the worse out of fear or even greed.

  “That sounds great. We’ll be there,” he said, and then the conversation continued as Brock and Smith joined them, too.

  Storm had to talk with Mark about Arabella. Just as Winter came back over and they all spoke again, the sister, kids, and mom showed up, too. They were all there and together. He looked at Mark.

  “Mark, could you, Winter, and I talk a few minutes. There’s something we needed to run by you?”

  “Sure thing,” Mark said. They excused themselves and walked away.

  As they moved away from the crowds to a private area near the parking lot, Storm looked at Winter and then at Mark.

  “What’s up? I know those looks, what’s the deal?”

  “What do you know about Arabella and her family?” Winter asked.

  Mark’s eyes widened. He looked around them and took a deep breath. “Fuck, what do you know? Is that why you’re here? Are you working the legitimate side of your business or the criminal side?” Mark asked.

  “Come one now, don’t be like that. You know we’re trying to go completely legit but the shit is thick. This is bad stuff. When did she get here? How did she wind up involved with our friends?” Storm asked.

  “She’s a good woman. Her sister, her sister’s kids, and her mom were on the run for three years. We know about the ex-boyfriend Anthony, the kids’ father, and that he’s out of jail. Some other guy who tried to rape Arabella is still after her, but we don’t know. We didn’t want to bring attention to the town or Arabella. How are you guys involved in this?” Mark asked.

  “The guy Kever who tried to rape her, tried to kill an associate of ours. Arabella was present, did her part in seducing him to get him into the office alone for Kever to do the hit,” Winter said.

  “What?” Mark asked, looking pissed off and shocked. “Are you certain?”

  “Well, she was there. We don’t know her part. She was wearing a wig, but it’s believed that she was there and then left with Kever and the crew after they stole from our associate.”

  “Even if she was there, why wouldn’t this guy go after Anthony and Kever? What would he need with her?”

  “We don’t know, and considering that this whole thing sounds suspicious, we’d like to ask Arabella the questions and see. This associate of ours believes Arabella knows the whereabouts of the items stolen or perhaps has them in her possession,” Storm told Mark.

  “Goddam, this is bad. Why not just go after Anthony though?”

  “He was in jail. The shit they stole never surfaced, but it seems that Arabella made quite an impression on our associate. He seems to really want to get his hands on her.”

  “Well, you’re not going to hand her over to him.”

  “Hey, we’re as shocked that she’s here as you are. But these guys are our friends. Rex, Reno, Brock, and Smith saved my ass a time or two on the line. I don’t want some woman who may be pulling the wool over their eyes coming into their lives and causing them trouble and pain.”

  “That’s not Arabella, Storm. She’s a victim in all of this. We get her to tell her side of the story and we’ll know the truth,” Mark said.

  “Then do it. Right away, too, because we’re not the only ones looking for her and her family. Anthony is out. Kever and he are on the hunt, and our associate wants revenge,” Storm replied.

  “I’ll get Reno and have him gather everyone up. I don’t want this conversation going down in the station. We’ll discuss where and when and I’ll let you know, okay?”

  “Okay. I hope for our friends’ sakes she’s on the up and up.”

  “Me, too,” Mark said before heading toward Wyatt and Reno.

  “What do you think?” Winter asked Storm.

  “I don’t know. But if our buddies are in love with her, they’re not going to give her up without a hell of a fight.”

  “Fuck, how could this happen?”

  “We’ll deal with it. Our friends and our family come first.”

  * * * *

  “Something is up. The guys are all gathered around and talking to their friends,” Arabella said to Cora and her mother as they sat on the bench across the way.

  Cora was pulling her lip between her teeth. Arabella knew that look. One glance at their mother and she knew something was up.

  “What did you do?” Arabella asked. She could see Smith and Brock looking this way.

  Their expressions were blank. They weren’t smiling.

  “I was just trying to make things right,” Cora began to say as the tears filled her eyes. Her mom hugged her shoulder.

  “Arabella, don’t be angry with Cora. You’ve protected us long enough. It’s time for you to have a life and to be happy.”

  She was shocked and confused and one glance toward the men walking closer and she knew this was going downhill fast.

  “Get the kids, we’re leaving now.”

  She turned to move and Cora and her mother stood there shaking their heads, refusing to go.

  “Arabella?” Brock called her name and she turned toward him,
Smith, Rex, Reno, and Mark. Behind them two of the men she met held back a little. Storm and Winter. She remembered their names.

  “We need to talk.”

  “About what?”

  “Arabella, please, just come with us. You, Cora, and your mom. Millie said she’ll watch the kids while we all talk,” Brock sated.

  “I’m sorry, Arabella, but they said they could help and I believe them,” Cora whispered.

  Now the five other men joined the conversation, too. “We can only help you if you’re honest about Chicago and what took place. Please come with us so we can talk in private?” Mark asked.

  Rex walked closer and took her hand. “Come on and trust us. All we ask for is the truth, Arabella. Just the whole truth.”

  She took a deep breath and glared at her sister as they all headed away from the barbeque and toward the trucks.

  “Where are we going?” she asked as they got into multiple trucks and headed out of town.

  “To our place. We can all talk there,” Smith said, but as Brock drove, he wouldn’t look at her. She had the feeling that whatever they found out, they no longer felt the same way about her. She wondered how much Cora’d told them. Did she mention Arabella going on the job with Kever to save her life? She hoped not, because Cora knew nothing about what went down there and Arabella wanted to keep it that way. She wanted that event behind her. The fact that Sotoro tried to rape her until she stabbed his hand with the letter opener. And that Kever came in the room and shot him. No one would believe her story. She would go to jail as an accomplice to murder.

  “Why are your friends coming?” she asked them.

  “They’re from Chicago,” Smith told her.

  “What?” she asked, suddenly feeling panicked.

  “What does that mean? Who are they really?” Cora asked this time.

  “We served in the military with them,” Smith said and then Brock interrupted.

  “We’ll explain when we get to the house.” He was firm and he was in his leader mode. She got that. Her gut clenched and she imagined she was going to be losing her lovers just as quickly as she found them.

  Once they got to the house and everyone entered the living room, Brock and Storm seemed to lead where everyone would sit.

  Cora, Mary, and Arabella sat on the couch. The men gathered around.

  Mark spoke first. “Okay, we have a lot of emotions going on in this room right now and we don’t want to get off course. Arabella, Cora came to see me, Wyatt, and Rex a few weeks back. She told us a bit about Chicago, about the abuse, the attempted rape on you by Kever, and about how you recorded the abuse and got your family out of there. Our friends here are from Chicago. We filled them in on what Cora told us but it seems she left some things out.”

  “I didn’t leave anything out,” Cora said and their mom clutched her hand.

  “My daughters did what they had to stay alive and get away from those men. What’s this all about?”

  “It’s about a man, another one who hired us to hunt Arabella down.”

  “What?” Arabella, Cora, and Mary asked at the same time.

  “Arabella, I know that you don’t know us, but this is important, and we need for you to be honest with us about what went down in Chicago.”

  She shook her head.

  “Arabella, you need to cooperate. It’s not looking good for you right now so talk,” Brock ordered.

  She took a deep breath and then focused on the feelings she had, on the person who’d gotten through all this shit the last several years. She glared at Brock and then looked at Storm.

  “Who hired you? Anthony? Kever?” she asked, her voice shaking, but she held her ground.

  Storm held her gaze and she could tell that he was a man not to reckon with but what choice did she have? She didn’t know them so she didn’t trust them.

  “Victor Sotoro.”

  She gasped and covered her mouth. She was shaking her head. The tears stung her eyes.

  Storm squinted his eyes as Winter spoke up. “You need to tell us what went down.”

  “Kever shot him. I heard the shots, and when I turned around Sotoro was on the floor.”

  “Jesus,” Smith said aloud.

  “Arabella, please tell us exactly what happened. Why were you there? What was your part?” Storm asked her.

  “Oh God, Arabella,” Cora said. “It was that night that Anthony threatened me and was hitting me wasn’t it? I was sick, exhausted, and he wanted me to do a job, but I couldn’t so you stopped him from beating me and you volunteered.”

  “What the hell went down?” Storm asked firmly.

  “It’s like I said. She went for me. Her continued sacrifices for my fuckups have cost her everything,” Cora stated aloud.

  “Stop, Cora. You’re my sister. He was going to hurt you again, and I couldn’t stand there and watch it, allow the babies to hear it. I did what needed to be done.”

  “Because I’m weak. You’ve had men try to rape you, knock you around, and had to leave your dreams behind because of me. Tell them what happened that night. Let them help you get a new life.”

  “You changed that night. I saw it in your eyes when you came home. You had scratches on your chest, the dress you wore was ripped,” Mary said.

  “Stop,” Arabella whispered.

  “Is that the night that Kever tried to rape you?” Smith asked her. She shook her head.

  She looked at her sister and took her hand into her own. She held her gaze. Both their eyes filled with tears as Arabella revealed the truth. “Sotoro tried to rape me that night at the club.”

  “Oh God, baby,” her mother said and Cora cried. Behind her Arabella could hear her men getting angry.

  “You need to tell us how it went down. Everything, Arabella,” Storm demanded.

  She looked up at him. “Who exactly are you anyway?”

  He released an uneasy breath and held her gaze. “My team and I have connections to many different types of people. Half our business is legit and the other, well, let’s just say we have friends in low places, too.”

  “Great, so that’s how you know Sotoro? He sent you for me, why?”

  “That’s what we need to find out. So please explain what happened.”

  Arabella couldn’t take it anymore. She had to explain it all and get it off her chest. She talked about that night, not bothering to stop to answer any questions. She kept her eyes straight ahead as she stared at the wall. She couldn’t make eye contact with her lovers, for she knew they would hate her for having to come onto a man to keep her sister safe. But she explained what she did, what her part was and how things got out of control fast. As she neared the end of her story, she said, “I was so shaken up, scared at seeing that man get killed in front of me, yet grateful because Kever did arrive. My show of weakness as we got into the SUV was that I allowed him to hold me. I didn’t know what to do or how to react so I kept curled up in a ball on his lap. I didn’t go to work the next few days and then Kever showed up.”

  “That was the day he tried to rape you. It’s all my fault. You’ve done nothing but sacrifice yourself for me, for my children, and for Mom, and now this man, he wants you, too!” Cora yelled out.

  “Why does Sotoro want her?” Smith asked.

  She could see her men’s faces. They were angry, disgusted with her, she just knew it. Her sister cried and Storm began to explain.

  “We knew something wasn’t right about this situation. Sotoro brought up the fact that Kever and Anthony were responsible for our friend Parker’s untimely death. However, aside from getting us to help, his main focus was needing Arabella to prove that it was indeed Kever who shot him and that it was Kever, Anthony, and their crew who took these documents and thumb drives,” Storm stated.

  “But why not just grab Anthony and Kever and beat it out of them?” Reno asked.

  “Because I got Anthony arrested for assault by recording him beating Cora and almost hurting the babies,” Arabella said.

  “You
saved our lives. Plus, you also got that key,” Cora said, and Arabella nodded.

  “What key?” Storm asked.

  “I recorded Anthony and Kever talking about some key, a storage place, and making a big hit. They said where it was and I knew how important it seemed to be to them so I broke into the facility and got the key from the desk they said it was in.”

  “Were you out of your mind?” Brock asked her.

  “Desperate mostly. I had to save my sister, the babies, and my mom. We needed time to get out of Chicago. So when I gave the officer the video of the abuse and then gave the detective the key and the recorded conversation between Anthony and whomever he was on the phone with, it got him sentenced for three years. Plus, he lost custody of the children by threatening to kill them and Cora in court. We hightailed it out of town.”

  “Not before Anthony attacked you and you defended us until the police arrived. She was hurt, but she fought to keep us alive,” Cora said.

  “My God, what you went through, Arabella. All of you,” Wyatt said aloud.

  “So where does that leave me now? Are you guys taking me back to Sotoro?” Arabella asked. A series of gasps and no’s went through the room. Strom looked at Winter, Weston, York, and Zin.

  “That all depends on whether or not you know where those thumb drives and documents are located.”

  She swallowed hard.

  Cora spoke up. “Anthony had a safety deposit box under my name in Chicago. The documents and thumb drives are probably there.”

  “He would have opened that by now,” Winter said.

  “No one can but me. That was the point of it. I need to open it and sign into the facility,” Cora told them.