Southern Secrets

by Shelley Stringer

  “Here, there are five missed calls from them.” Banton handed me the phone and then crawled back into bed beside me. I hurriedly thumbed the text, and then hit “send.”

  “Speaking of cell phones, I guess mine is floating somewhere in the Mississippi River. I’m sorry.”

  “That’s the least of my concerns, sweetheart. I’m just glad you had it for us to find you. I’ll go and get you another one tomorrow.”

  “Did anything we sent help you to find us?” I asked. He leaned over and kissed me.

  “Well, actually, no…but it was clever of you to try. You do know that smart phones are equipped with GPS technology,” he answered warily, trying to keep from hurting my feelings. He could tell by the look on my face I felt a bit silly. Changing the subject, he murmured, “Ty said Constance finally moaned and turned over. He’s thinking it’s a good sign.” He pulled me back into his arms as he spoke.

  “I hope this doesn’t put a kink in our plans for this weekend, with all of us banged up, the Orcos on the move again…” I sighed as I thought about everything we’d been up against lately. “We need this celebration and a change of scenery!”

  “Well, I think we might get the break we’ve been looking for. Everett says the Aldon suspect the main core of Orcos left in the city were involved today. We cleaned about half of them out, and they are hot on the trail of the other half. If they are successful tonight, there won’t be enough of them left here to threaten us,” he answered as he kissed my forehead.

  “If you girls feel all right tomorrow, and you’re up for it, we’ll go ahead as planned. We’re still going to take separate routes and then meet at my parents. And they’ve taken some precautions at their house as well.”

  “I might have to change up my plans for a dress. I just finally got rid of the old bruises!” I exclaimed as I rose up to show him the new bruise that I knew had to be blackening on my shoulder where the Orco had dropped me.

  “I know…you have a few on your backside, too.” He frowned as he examined my shoulder.

  “Why, Lieutenant Gastaneau, I’m shocked! Did you sneak a peek, while I was asleep?” I asked, feigning outrage.

  “Couldn’t help but see those, when I had to undress you…I promise it was innocent,” he remarked, grinning at me.

  “Well, come on over here then and examine them again…” I pulled him down to my lips. After a few moments, he pulled away and sighed.

  “Chandler,” he mumbled as I snuggled into his chest.

  “Hmm?”

  “I came close to losing you today. I can’t…I can’t imagine life without you. When I got here and Brie told us how you and Constance had been taken, I relived the nightmare of your kidnapping before Christmas all over again. Andie, I swear it was as if my heart had been ripped from my chest!” He pulled my face back in his hands to look into my eyes. “I love you…more than any man has ever loved a woman before. I would have never stopped looking for you, and there is nothing I won’t do to protect you and the babies. You know that, don’t you?” he asked with tears in his eyes.

  “Yes, I feel the same way about you,” I whispered.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  By nine o’clock the next morning, everything was back to normal. I woke early, having slept so much my backside was aching. Banton lay just above me, with his arm curled above my head on the pillows in a protective arch; he’d been watching me as I slept. The dark circles under his eyes were back, betraying his exhausted state. I carefully touched his cheek before I slid out of the bed on the opposite side.

  I had never been the type to sleep in, even in high school. My back would always make me get out of bed. So I went downstairs while everyone else slept and made an enormous breakfast.

  “I swear, Bebe, nothing keeps you down, does it? I can’t believe you,” Everett startled me, waltzing into the kitchen.

  “Have you been here all night, Ev?” I asked as I kissed him on the cheek.

  “No, I joined in a little game of Get the Orco last night. I came back a couple hours ago, and I’ve been visiting with Stephan out on the porch…smelled the bacon, so I knew you were up.” He grabbed a piece of bacon and sat down on a stool next to me.

  “I’m hungry, and I knew everyone else would be, too.”

  “What can I do to help, Bebe?” Everett asked.

  “Well, you can take the biscuits out of the oven and start another pan for me.”

  “Happy to.” He jumped up and grabbed the mitts off the counter. “Any injuries, besides the bruising?” he asked, removing the pan from the oven.

  “No, I’m just stiff and have just a bit of a hangover from the drugs they gave us. I’m fine. So, did you get any of those other Orcos who got away?” I asked anxiously.

  “Yes, we did. We got most of them, but I still have a feeling the ringleaders got away. The ones we captured didn’t give us any information, but I knew they wouldn’t. Did you get a good look at the ones who took you?” Everett asked off-handedly.

  “I described the leader as best I could to Banton last night. He stayed in the shadows, and we couldn’t see his face. The main Orco who took us, I knew already. He’s the same one who bit Banton and followed us to Colorado, and the one who tried to get me here at the house, the one you fought with upstairs, remember? The one you recognized…”

  “Yes. His name is Lucian,” Everett answered quietly.

  I turned and studied his reaction, and asked hopefully, “Did you get him last night?”

  “No, unfortunately. He’s eluded me a long time, that one.”

  “So you’ve had encounters with him before?”

  “Yes…a long, long time ago.” He continued placing biscuits in the pan to put back in the oven.

  “You aren’t going to tell me about him, are you?” I turned the bacon off, and then walked over beside him.

  “It was a lifetime ago, Darlin. I’ve just encountered him before, that’s all. I know how dangerous he is, and he has no soul. It’s all you need to know.” He had a tortured, faraway look, and I sensed he wanted to drop the subject.

  “Hey, what are you doing up so early? Should you be up at all?” John asked as he strolled into the kitchen.

  “I’m fine, and I couldn’t lay in bed another second. How is Brie?” I took the bacon out of the grease, and began to set all the food on the counter.

  “She’s good. Just a little banged up. She has a headache this morning…I came down to get her something for it.” Searching the cabinets, he found the pills he was looking for and then moved over to me and pulled me into his arms.

  “Sure am glad you’re all right, Andie-girl. We were shaken there for a while, until we got your phone call saying you’d gotten away from them.” He kissed me on top of the head.

  After John went back upstairs, Everett and I sat down at the dining room table to enjoy a cup of coffee. Stephan came in from outside, and soon the others began drifting downstairs.

  “Who cooked?” Ty asked as he came into the dining room with a heaping plate of food.

  “Sweet Chandler, who else?” Everett shook his head and laughed.

  “Well, the babies were hungry,” I remarked as I grinned at him. I buttered a biscuit, and placed a large sausage patty on it, making a sandwich.

  “I’m glad – this is good, Andie-Girl. You’re a good cook. We may have to move in here permanently, ‘cause I might lose weight in this relationship.”

  “What do you mean, TY-boy? Everett asked.

  “Constance can’t slice cheese!” he exclaimed.

  Banton rushed down the stairs. He strode across the entry into the dining room. After placing a kiss on the top of my head, he went down the hallway to the kitchen.

  “How is she this morning? Is she all right?” Everett asked.

  “She feels as if she drank an entire bottle of tequila last night, and then someone beat her up with the bottle,” Constance answered, her hands clasp on either side of her head as she came into the dining room. Ty rose and pulled a cha
ir out for her.

  “Can I fix you a plate?” he murmured into her ear as he brushed her cheek with a kiss.

  “Yeah, anything. Maybe I’ll feel better after I eat something,” she answered, laying her head down on the table across her arm. Then she raised her head back up, and added “and some strong, black coffee.”

  “Glad to see you up, Diva Doll. You had us all worried. Your snoring buzz-saw ran all night long, about sixteen hours, I’d say.” John teased as he came back into the dining room with Brie.

  “I don’t remember anything after Chandler fell in the river…who got me out?” she asked. Ty placed a plate of food and a cup of coffee in front of her.

  “That would be John, Babe,” Ty offered as he sat down beside her. “He and Sam got to the river first and jumped in, just as you let go. Sam was further up the bank and went after Chandler. The current picked you up, and you were out cold. John came up with you just as I jumped in. We both got you back to the riverbank and up to the vehicle.”

  “You fished me out?” she asked John in amazement.

  “Well, yeah, I’m kind of attached to you too, Diva-doll. It would be dull without you around.” He grinned at her from across the table. “Besides, I can’t imagine how it would be to put up with Ty, if anything happened to you. He was bad enough just being separated from you while we were in N’awlins.” He grinned at Ty as Ty winced.

  “Oh, speaking of N’awlins, that’s where you were, last night…according to Chandler’s text to your mom. She and your dad burned your cell up last evening, and Chandler texted them you’d gone with Ty to N’awlins and left your phone here. She told them you’d call them this morning,” Banton offered as he came back into the dining room with a plateful of food. He sat down next to me and leaned over to kiss me good morning.

  “Smells great, Andie. I can’t believe you got up and cooked breakfast for everyone,” he commented as he pulled back away from me.

  “And speaking of, Mister, I’ll have you know I can slice cheese…I can bake brownies and cookies, and I know how to make spaghetti,” Constance countered at Ty as John chuckled.

  “Everybody knows how to make spaghetti, Diva-doll! Don’t sweat it. There are plenty of other ways to a man’s heart, besides cooking. Everybody can’t be Rachel Ray like Chandler.”

  “Mmm. I know the way to your heart, I heard your approval loud and clear, about an hour ago…Might want to sound proof those walls, Cowboy,” Constance shot back. I giggled and shot a glance at Banton, his eyes were twinkling. The short truce between Constance and John was over before it began. Brie blushed bright crimson as Everett spoke up.

  “Okay, enough kids…Are we still on track for our little road trip and Mardi Gras parties this weekend? Do you still feel up to it, Bebe?” He turned to me.

  “Sure, I’m game. I might need something to cover my shoulders, or a different dress, in light of these new bruises,” I commented. I pulled the sleeve of my t-shirt up to show Ev the new bruises I’d acquired.

  “We’re on it, ladies, never fear. Constance…Brie, are you all right to go?”

  “Yeah, I don’t think my bruises will show in my dress, and I can part my hair on the side to cover the stitches. Just point me in the right direction and have some tequila waiting when I get there,” Constance retorted. She lay her head back down on the table as Ty rubbed her back and chuckled.

  “Sure, I’m in. I’ll be good as new by tomorrow,” Brie promised, leaning over to kiss John.

  “Okay, then, it’s all settled. You all get packed, and then we’ll stay here until you’ve left town…we’ll be the last to leave the house and lock up. We’ll bring your dresses and accessories and have them at the Gastaneau’s tonight. Ladies, be sure and pack something to wear out, in case we decide to take you on the town. And everyone is invited to Grandmother Wellington’s for brunch on Saturday.”

  “Sounds as if you have our whole weekend planned out for us, Ev. Anything we need to do?” Banton asked.

  “Just keep these dear girls safe until we can all get out of town. The extra Aldon will stay here at the house today.”

  Banton leaned over, and pulled me in close, placing a kiss on the top of my head. “Don’t worry, Ev. I don’t plan on letting any of them out of our sight.”

  * * *

  The rest of the day was a flurry of activity. Classes had been suspended for the long weekend as Mardi Gras was a sort of a holiday break at the schools in Southern Louisiana. I was relieved there wasn’t much going on the week before, because I’d missed enough school as it was. Constance, Brie and I raided each other’s closets looking for stray clothes as we packed our bags.

  Banton and the SEALs steered clear of the upstairs portion of the house as we stressed over our clothes and packing. When our packing activity quieted down a bit, Banton bounded up the stairs.

  “Ladies, I forgot to tell everyone, my parents have a large patio area and they are planning late night drinks around the fireplace…there will be a heated pool and hot-tub involved. You might want to pack your swimsuits,” he suggested as he stuck his head around the doorway into our room.

  Constance looked up, exasperated as she was trying to force her over-stuffed suitcase closed. She darted back to the nursery, evidently to hunt for a suit. Moments later, she came back and flopped on the bed beside me.

  “Chandler, do you have an old suit I could borrow? I don’t have any of mine with me.”

  “Sure, take your pick. They are all in the bottom drawer of the dresser. None of mine are gonna fit me now, anyway,” I sighed.

  “I remember a little white lace number you wore in the hot tub on our honeymoon…I loved that one.” Banton grinned, playing with the hem of my t-shirt.

  “You’ve got to be kidding! I’m not wearing it now, not with my babies-in-the-pouch tummy. That one is definitely out,” I murmured.

  “You’d look better in a bikini at six months preggers than the rest of us now. You can’t possibly be showing much yet,” she commented over her shoulder as she searched in the drawer. She came across the swimsuit from our honeymoon and held the bottoms up as she stood up, and quietly mouthed “Ohhh,” and grinned.

  “See what I mean!” I exclaimed as I shot a look back at Banton.

  “Here, take this one, the bottoms cover up more, and you can always wear a t-shirt over it or something,” she commented. Throwing the red bathing suit at me, she exclaimed, “Zip it up, sister…’cause I’m ready to get this show on the road!” As she started to drag her suitcase off the bed, Banton jumped up and took it away from her.

  “We’ll load these. You two stay put, and rest. We’ve got some last minute things to do, before we leave.” He picked my suitcase up, and then leaned over and kissed me.

  “What are we going to do with Beau?” I asked as he started to leave the room.

  “We’ll take him with us this time. He’ll be fine…he loves it at Momma and Daddy’s,” he answered over his shoulder as he went downstairs.

  The act of getting out of Baton Rouge turned out to be an adventure in itself. We all took separate vehicles and left the house at different times. Banton took me on a little shopping excursion, stopping at several shops and making a show of buying me things. We even stopped in a children’s shop, and bought some little LSU night shirts for the babies and a cheerleading outfit for Ava Grace. I finally gave up and asked what we were doing.

  “Throwing them off, if there are any Orcos following us,” he replied as he checked his rear-view mirror for the hundredth time. He then drove across town, to a car rental place close to the airport. Pulling into a parking garage with a card he retrieved from his pocket, he drove through several levels. He parked next to a large Black SUV with dark tinted windows, and then began unloading my car, reloading everything into the rental.

  “Is this necessary?” I asked as he looked around, Beau circling both cars as Banton repacked everything neatly in the rental.

  “Yeah. No one can follow us in here, without stopping to
get a card for access. They would have to rent a car first, and that takes time. We’ll be loaded and out of here by the time they can come in and check…John and Brie changed vehicles at a friend’s private garage, and Ty and Constance did this same at another place. Everett and Mr. Philippe are picking up Ben and Colin, and they are traveling with the Aldon. We’ll all meet up at Mom and Dad’s in about three hours.” He checked his watch, and whistled for Beau to load as he shut the back doors.

  “Wow, I feel as if I’m in a James Bond movie,” I joked as he shot me a look, and then checked all the mirrors one last time, before pulling out of the space.

  “I wish this wasn’t necessary. I’m hoping after this weekend, we’ll get the news we need from the Aldon as well as the military. I’m ready for all of this to be over so you girls can have some normalcy again.” He sighed, and then took my hand in his, kissing the back of it as we drove down the interstate.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Banton insisted I recline my seat and take a nap as we traveled. It didn’t take much encouragement; apparently traces of the drugs were still in my system. It seemed I’d barely closed my eyes when he whispered in my ear.

  “Wake up, sleeping beauty. We’re here.”

  As I stretched and looked out the window, Julia skipped out the front door, followed by Mrs. Elaine and Mr. Matt.

  “Bant-dweeb!” Julia exclaimed as she characteristically jumped into his arms.

  “Ju-bean!” he called back, swinging her around.

  “Son, we expected you earlier. What took so long?” Mr. Matt asked as he bent down to greet Beau.

  “I took a little side trip in case we were being followed and changed cars. We all did a little dance this afternoon, in case…” Banton trailed off as he glanced at Julia and his Mother.