The tall dark man studied the young man with interest. “Yes, we will.” He paused, waiting a few seconds, “What about you, young Mr. Trodat?”
“What about me?”
“This...” he waved his arms in the air, “...all of this, what do you do from here based upon what you have learned?”
Kevin inhaled slowly, “To be honest, I need more time to process everything.” He looked at Saxton, who had come for him twice and saved his life. Twice. He watched his sister fret over her husband, her eyes were filled with love as she directed the medics on how to properly treat the wounds.
“Time to process?” Agent Roget repeated.
“Yes, no matter where you go, there is always a Mateo because there will always be a Vanessa. I see them all the time on campus, following along behind the wrong man, not thinking, but dreaming inside of their heads. Never believing bad things can happen to them and devastated when they wake up with their underpants around their ankles and no memory of what happened.”
“That may be true, but no one deserves what these men do to these women. Everyone needs a champion or someone to come to their rescue.” Agent Roget said the words, but his eyes were on the Blakemores.
He handed Kevin his business card. “When you finish college, give me call.” He pulled his hat down over his eyes, waving goodbye and flashing a shiny watch, “Enjoy your cruise.”
Chapter Fourteen - On My Count
The ship did not actually set sail until Sunday night at 10 pm. The family arrived on Saturday morning, with the hustle and bustle of the wedding taking place Sunday morning on the beach at sunrise. The reception was a combination breakfast party, with everything occurring during the morning. Everyone had to pack up and head over to the ship by 7:00 pm, which left plenty of time during the day for the families to sightsee and enjoy the island.
Over dinner on Saturday night, everyone was pleased to see Saxton and Kevin chatting. The glazed look of idealism that the young man had in his eyes before they had left Texas was now replaced with the eyes of a man who had come close to real life. Odessa felt responsible for taking away something she knew could never be replaced- his hope.
“I’m okay ‘Dessa. Everyone has to grow up sometime, and this was mine,” he told her as he slipped his arms over her shoulder.
“I just hated showing you so much ugliness.”
He kissed her temple. “Most of the really ugly parts you sheltered me from, the warehouse, that tunnel we were going in, and I know a lot more.”
“I love you Kevin, but I also love my husband and what we do. I like to think we make a difference in the world.”
He squeezed her tighter, “I know that first-hand, and I saw the difference you guys have made in Puerto Rico for those women we set free...” he paused. “But there are so many more though.”
Odessa eyed him suspiciously, “What do you mean?”
He pulled the yellow paper from his back pocket. “Vanessa gave me the locations of at least four more on the island, six in Miami, and a map of the pipeline in the Caribbean.”
Her hands shook as she took the list from him. “What do you want me to do with this information?”
“I want you and Saxton to find every one of those warehouses and shut those fuckers down. I will help.”
There was nothing she could do about the remaining ones on the island or even in Miami, but she knew someone who could. She made a call to the Women’s Justice League and left a message for Lizzie Perkins.
Ryanne Trodat looked simply amazing in a white sleeveless dress as she stood on the beach under the Fairfield arbor decorated in island flowers. The wedding party was small and intimate, and members of the Wrights sat on the right side of the makeshift church while the Trodat’s sat on the left watching the exchange of vows. As they came to the ring portion of the ceremony, Saxton took hold of Odessa’s hand, removing the old gold band and replacing it with a diamond encrusted one, along with a solitaire ring. He mouthed the words, “With this ring, I thee wed.” Tears brimmed in Odessa’s eyes as Saxton’s hand covered hers, and when the bouquet was tossed, it landed in Kevin’s lap. He threw it sideways and it landed in the lap of Dwight’s cousin, Mary Jean.
She was a very unattractive young lady who licked her lips at Kevin, giving him a coy wink.
“Oh, hell no,” Kevin said with a shudder as he turned his back. Odessa heard Saxton snicker a bit. However, shortly after, at the reception inside the Marriott banquet room when all of the couples were called to the floor for Ryanne’s special number, Mary Jean grabbed Kevin by the shirt and pulled him to the floor.
Under a mound of weave, long fake eyelashes, and lipstick crookedly applied to lips that were outlined with a black eyebrow pencil, she told Kevin, “and I can keep up with whatever you dish out.” It was Odessa’s turn to snick as Kevin looked about the room searching for help.
Saxton had once more disappeared, leaving Odessa partner less since her brother was now taken. Big Sarge and Dora looked beautiful even with the hem of her dress stuck in her sock, showing off her .22. Dwight’s parents had received a copy of the routine and had practiced at home along with his family members. The music cued up. The eight count started as couples moved along the floor. A wide berth was made as the lights were lowered and a spotlight shone against the wall.
Dressed in a black tux with a red rose in his mouth, the music flowed as a very dapper Mr. Blakemore made an enormously grand entrance. His body did not miss a beat as he stalked his way to Odessa and snatched her body into his arms. The couples began to move again as he clapped his hands like a bull fighter in a Paso Doble as he raised his hand, accepting hers, expertly maneuvering her through the basic eight steps of the Argentine tango. Odessa’s skirt flowed as he allowed her room to complete her windmills before making room for her fancy footwork on several ochos.
They cleared the center of the floor as other couples came through the middle of the room, moving down the line in back ochos. Ryanne and Dwight took to the center of the dance floor, gracefully and beautifully moving as they perfectly executed the sandwich moves with a few leg decorations. The family clapped as Ryanne’s leg shimmied up Dwight’s. It was all very beautifully danced. The men separated from the ladies, who all stood on one side of the room. The gentlemen yelled, “Saxton!”
Odessa felt as if the room was being warmed incrementally when her husband moved towards her and grabbed her arm, spinning her on her heel so she nearly hit the floor, and he softly drug her across the middle of the room to lift her gracefully into his arms, turned, and dipped her low.
The group all clapped as the rose was exchanged from his mouth to hers, and a breathy Odessa was almost at a loss for words as through clamped teeth she asked, “I thought you said you couldn’t dance?”
He pointed at his chest, “...spy remember, I can do almost anything with this perfectly trained body.” The music ended as everyone clapped at the beauty of routine. The videographer gave a thumbs up, and everyone was called in for breakfast.
They stood toe to toe, smiling at each other. “Aren’t you full of surprises today, Mr. Blakemore.”
“Yes, but I have one more,” he said as he called Kevin’s name loudly. Kevin turned too late to the see the paintball pistol pulled from Saxton’s jacket.
Odessa was mortified, grabbing at his hand, “You are not going to ruin my sister’s reception by shooting my brother.”
Kevin froze, asking in amazement “Saxton, you wouldn’t embarrass me in front of all our family?”
“Why not? You were okay to embarrass me in front of them. Besides, a promise is a promise, Kevin...” he told him as the weapon went from being aimed at his head to a lower spot on Kevin’s body.
“Tell me you are not going to do this to me here, Saxton. Tell me you aren’t going to do this?”
Saxton lowered the weapon. You could almost hear everyone in the room breathe a sigh of relief. It was short-lived. Saxton raised the weapon and fired. The first paint ball hit Kevin in
the stomach, gushing black ink on his white tuxedo pants; the second was a rubber ball that hit him in the walnuts, buckling him to his knees.
Odessa’s hands covered her mouth, “Saxton, you shot my brother!”
“Fuck yeah!”
It took a while for the family to settle down after Odessa sent Saxton to the room to pack up for the ship and an afternoon excursion away from death and danger. Ice packs were applied to Kevin as Mary Jean tried to administer care to his swollen walnuts. Kevin looked at Odessa with sad puppy dog eyes, begging for help, as Mary Jean periodically removed the ice pack to check the swelling. Three times she watched Kevin catch the woman’s hand as she tried to touch his life givers.
Dora was ready to end Saxton’s life for hurting her baby in his special place. At 3 in the afternoon, the couple, managing to escape Dora’s rage, headed to Old San Juan to the shops to pick up a few last minute items before boarding the ship.
A beautiful, fair complexioned black woman, in a large brimmed hat and a colorful sundress, entered the shop behind the Blakemores. Odessa slid the yellow slip of paper into the lady’s shopping bag before making her way out the door. Lizzie had arrived in Puerto Rico.
By the time everyone boarded the ship and checked in, Saxton and Odessa were exhausted. They joined the family briefly on the lido deck for the bon voyage party while the ship cast off and the conga line commenced. A waiter named I Putu sold them souvenir glasses of rum punch as the moving party line passed their table. Saxton dropped his drink when he saw Agent Roget in line behind Dora, holding on to Odessa’s mother’s hips and shaking his shimmy. The man still had on sunglasses at 10 o’clock at night.
Odessa dropped her drink when, three people behind Roget, she saw her sister Ryanne, grinning and smiling, unaware that the man behind her was Victorio Rentería, who was also grinning and smiling.
He jumped out of the Conga line. “I truly needed a vacation and you two are so exciting, I thought I would come along. I have never taken a cruise in my life. This should be fun. I get to be a tourist!” His eyes were sparkling while he swayed to the music.
Both Odessa and Saxton sat with their mouths open. Agent Roget, in a new hat was still in conga form, making the steps while swinging his hands as he said the words aloud, “Da, da, da, da, da, Dah!”
A different waiter, also named I Putu, brought Roget a blue drink “Yeah, when the Seňor said he was coming on the cruise, I thought I would tag along as well. Odessa,” he said while wiggling his eyebrows, “your cousin Hilda is really cute.”
Rentería was grinning like an anonymous fool, “My wife is going to join me when we hit St. Thomas in the morning. I have the presidential suite on one of these decks, so tomorrow night, margaritas in my room!”
The conga line was coming back around the swimming pool, with Ryanne looking over at them. “Victorio, jump in!”
“That’s my cue,” Rentería said, as he popped back into the line, holding Ryanne’s hips.
Ryanne had managed to do something neither of them dared; she had penetrated Rentería’s barriers and was obviously on a first name basis with the man. A man who owned a yacht. A man who owned a yacht that was now on a very public cruise ship. Thinking about it was all too exhausting.
Saxton picked up their room key. I should have shot myself when I had the chance. He looked at Odessa. “Say good night, Mrs. Blakemore.”
She looked at Agent Roget, “Goodnight.”
-Fin-
A Note from the Author
Writing the Blakemore Files is truly a joy for me. I love this couple and writing the development of their relationship. I do address some very serious issues in this edition, but truth is far stranger than fiction. I have seen a great deal in my travels and have often stopped young women and men, who were getting a little too comfortable in a foreign land.
You don’t have to believe me, you can read it for yourself.
Always be careful when you are traveling.
Virtual Book Release
Join me for my Virtual Book release party on June 5th, for your chance to win some goodies from one of my favorite stores, the Pilgrim Soap Company in Augusta.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Olivia Gaines is the author of numerous best-selling novellas and books including Two Nights in Vegas, A Few More Nights, and have had several number one best sellers with The Blakemore Files including Being Mrs. Blakemore and Shopping with Mrs. Blakemore.
She lives in Augusta, GA with her husband, son and snotty cat, Katness Evermean.
Connect with Olivia on her FaceBook page at http://on.fb.me/1eorEAr or her website at http://oliviagaines.com.
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Also by Olivia Gaines
Modern Mail Order Brides
Oregon Trails
On A Rainy Night in Georgia
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Sunflowers and Honey (Coming Soon)
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Serenity Series
Welcome to Serenity
Holden
Farmer Takes A Wife
Slice of Life
Friends with Benefits
Slivers of Love
The Cost to Play
Thursdays in Savannah
The Blakemore Files
Being Mrs. Blakemore
Shopping with Mrs. Blakemore
Dancing with Mr. Blakemore
Cruising with the Blakemores
Dinner with the Blakemores
Loving the Czar
Being Mr. Blakemore
A Weekend with the Blakemores
The Davonshire Series
Courting Guinevere
Vanity's Pleasure
The Delgado Files
Killers
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The Men of Endurance
A Walk Through Endurance
A Return to Endurance
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Blind Fold (Coming Soon)
The Value of A Man
My Mail Order Wife
A Weekend with the Cromwells
Cutting it Close
The Zelda Diaries
It Happened Last Wednesday
A Frickin' Fantastic Friday
A Tantalizing Tuesday
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Watch for more at Olivia Gaines’s site.
About the Author
Olivia is a USA Today Best Selling and multiple award-winning author who loves a good laugh coupled with some steam, mixed in with a man and woman finding their way past the words of “I love you.” An author of contemporary romances, she writes heartwarming stories of blossoming relationships about couples not only falling in love but building a life after the sensual love scene.
2015 Swirl Award Winner, Best Erotic Romance, Thursdays in Savannah. 2017 IRAE Award Winner, Best Contemporary Romance, Wyoming Nights 2019 IRAE Award Winner, Favorite Series, The Men of Endurance 2019 IRAE Award Winner, Reader's Choice Award 2019 Nominee, Top Female Authors, The AuthorShow.com
When Olivia is not writing, she enjoys qu
ilting, playing Scrabble online against other word lovers and spending time with her family. She is an avid world traveler who writes many of the locations into her stories. Most of the time she can be found sitting quietly with pen and paper plotting more adventures in love.
Olivia lives in Hephzibah, Georgia with her husband, son, grandson and snotty evil cat, Katness Evermean.
Learn more about her books, upcoming releases and join her bibliophile nation at www.ogaines.com Subscribe to her email list at http://eepurl.com/OulYf Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/olivia.gaines.31 Twitter: https://twitter.com/oliviagaines Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gaines.olivia/
Read more at Olivia Gaines’s site.
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