“Together,” Hendrick demanded and the three men began to thrust and stroke into her body and she accepted their dominance and control. She gave in to the sensations and then Rocky roared and came in her mouth. As soon as she finished sucking and slurping him until he pulled away, cursing, then she moaned and panted for breath. Paulie and Hendrick were relentless in their strokes and that coiling sensation doubled, then tripled until finally she cried out her release until her voice went hoarse. That sent Hendrick into rare form as he grunted, cursed and rocked his hips, coming in her asshole.
“Get out, I need more,” Paulie demanded and she didn’t know what he meant but Hendrick eased out of her ass, slapping it as he did so. She gasped but then Paulie rolled her to her back, lifted her legs higher against his side and he thrust and stroked into her, making the bed creak and moan from his thrusts and sending her body into another set of tiny orgasms.
“Paulie. Oh, Paulie. I can’t take it. You feel so hard and so big. Oh God, please. Please.” She cried out her release.
“Mine!” he roared and came. He rocked and thrust and growled like some possessed man as he wrapped her up tight and then held her against his chest.
“Never like this, Faith. Never.”
* * * *
Rocky watched them sleeping. Faith was between Paulie and Hendrick, lying on her bed and out cold. In the dark room he could barely make out the bruises on her back but he thought about what happened at her job, and how he was there. How she thought Brianna was his daughter. Thinking of that now, he could imagine having babies with Faith. She was so nurturing and motherly. Holy shit, he was falling love in with a Kindergarten teacher who was fifteen years younger than him. Thirteen years younger than Hendrick and eleven and a half years younger than Paulie. Their friends were going to tease the fuck out of them. He snickered to himself, stared at her sexy body, and the fact that no other men but him and his brothers ever got to make love to her and they would be the only ones to ever make love to her. That made him smile and also filled him with fear. He started thinking about her life, about her hanging out with her young single friends and trying not to tell her she couldn’t. He thought about being overprotective and ruining this. He was already possessive of her. Now he would worry about her when she wasn’t with them. Jesus, how the fuck did his friends do this shit? He had sworn off women for a while, and the whole commitment thing entirely. Not like he ever committed to a woman. There were times he felt like he should take Hailey and her daughter and provide for them in all aspects. Be a replacement lover and dad for his brother Keith. Of course he didn’t have those kinds of feelings for Hailey but he would do it so Keith could rest in peace. He ran his hands along his face.
Thank God he hadn’t or this wouldn’t have happened. Faith wouldn’t be their woman. He started to plan things in his head. Spending more time with her, working less, especially in the summer when she was off from work. Or maybe she wasn’t. Maybe she did other things. She wasn’t lazy or the kind of person to not keep busy. There was so much to learn, to explore. She was timid and shy. Did that mean she wasn’t up for adventure like snorkeling, parasailing, skydiving? He was starting to think of more firsts to do with her and then he thought about her virginity. She never had any lover. No other intimacy with another man. Just him, Paulie and Hendrick. Fuck, his brothers were going to be worse than him. They were going to piss her off. He looked at the clock. Four a.m. He needed some sleep. He leaned back onto the recliner, having dragged it in from the living room earlier, and he tried closing his eyes and resting. But then he blinked them open, took in the sight of his brothers holding their woman between them.
I can get used to this very quickly. Very quickly indeed.
Chapter 6
Why aren’t you replying to my texts? I’m worried about you, Faith
Faith swallowed hard as she sat at her desk in school while the kids prepared to leave for the day. She thought about Paulie, Hendrick, and Rocky. They spent the entire weekend in bed, making love, talking, and she had opportunity after opportunity to discuss Andrew and what he did but she was trying to keep this relationship perfect. Andrew had no right being part of it, or tainting it in any way. She was getting angry. Then her phone buzzed again. She hesitated looking at it, fearful that it was him. He texted her over the weekend, too, but luckily she plugged her phone in with the power off.
Brook texted. Dinner, just the ladies tonight at Corianno’s. You in or will your men be keeping you in bed all night?
She blushed and then laughed. Her friends were finding out through the grapevine about her, Paulie, Rocky, and Hendrick.
Let me get back to you in a little bit, she replied and then she texted Rocky because Paulie and Hendrick were working and at the training facility all day. That thought made her think of them in uniform and all those muscles and the way they learned different techniques. In fact, Hendrick seemed to really enjoy putting her into some crazy positions and making her beg for mercy, which ended with him making love to her.
She glanced at her phone and thought about Andrew. She wasn’t going to allow him to ruin this for her. She didn’t know where he was or what he was doing with his life, but he wasn’t part of hers anymore. In fact, Everly called her this morning but she ignored her call. She didn’t need her cousin asking questions and especially if she was hanging with Greg again. That life, and their friendship, was all behind her. She had Rocky, Paulie, and Hendrick now, and good friends like Brook, Emma, Casey and the girls. Tonight would be fun to get together with them.
She heard the bell ring and couldn’t look at her cell phone. It was dismissal time so she grabbed her things, placed them into the bag under her desk and then had the children line up to leave for the day. She was definitely looking forward to tonight.
* * * *
Conan was at his desk when he got a call from private investigator Marty Fagan. He used to work for the department until he was shot four years ago and couldn’t meet the requirements to work the streets like he used to. Police work was in his blood so he started to work for a private agency as an investigator all over the state.
“To what do I owe the pleasure of this call, my friend?” Conan asked Marty.
Marty chuckled. “Well, first of all, how are you, and how is that gorgeous woman of yours? All healed up and back to work?” he asked.
“Brook is doing well, and yes, back to work even though I think she should take a little more time.”
“Of course you do, and your brothers, as well, I’m sure. Can’t keep a great detective like that out of the job for long.”
“No, we can’t. How about on your end? Any new babes in your life?”
“I don’t like to brag, you know.” Conan chuckled.
They bullshitted a little more and then Marty told him the reason for his call.
“So what are you thinking?”
“I’m thinking that the wife of this guy Strayffer could be on to something bigger. As we get this case and start looking into the affairs he’s having, including pictures and video, we realize that obviously someone wanted his wife to know about his indiscretions. The dead animal being delivered to her front door? Not sure about that.”
“Maybe the one who sent the photos and video is an old lover of his?” Conan said to him.
“We thought about that, too, then did more digging. Came up with a connection to Alonso James. You remember that guy?”
“Oh shit, yeah. He was running that scam with O’Rourke and Manillie through Manillie’s construction company. O’Rourke got five years and Manillie got a slap on the wrist and changed his company name.”
“Yup, and as we’re digging up shit on Strayffer and his company, also construction, we find out from a driver who operates machinery that Strayffer is possibly running illegal gambling games out of various warehouses.”
“Nice.”
“So I heard about this case you’re working on from Detective Fenner in Sussex. He says a guy, Feldman, was found dead, that his
body washed up to shore. I got information that says he was at one of these warehouses gambling three nights earlier, and that he was the money carrier for Strayffer.”
“You confirmed that information? Because we just got this case a few days ago, and it’s documented that he works for a small private electrical company near Mercy.”
“His day job, I guess.”
“This is good information, Marty. We need to work together on this.”
“I’m thinking the same thing, but you know how this private gig works. I’m in it for this wife who is paying me to ensure she gets a shitload of money in the divorce she’s filing for. However, her husband’s indiscretions just exposed his dirty side work. The feds are coming in on this because of tax evasion and money laundering. The fact that Feldman, his money carrier at the illegal gambling sites, turns up dead and no money to be found is an investigation of its own. In fact, my sources say inquiries are being made.”
“Any names?”
“Not yet, but it’s only a matter of time. Either Manellie is back to his old tricks again, or someone is seriously out for revenge against this guy Strayffer and is trying to destroy his life. His wife is done with him, Alonso James is pulling out from deals with him, and private companies are backing out of contracts with Strayffer’s construction company. He’s going under.”
“Well, you keep your ears out for me in regards to this case and who may be a suspect in screwing over Strayffer. The same person could have something to do with Feldman’s death, never mind stealing what I assume was a shitload of money.”
“Six hundred thousand.”
Conan whistled.
“Motive indeed.”
“My partner and I are getting ready to dig a little deeper. Any incidents at the construction company in the last several years that may be a culprit or reveal a suspect?”
“Just some disgruntled workers here and there, some confusion with payments and checks but nothing too suspicious. Like I said, the feds are involved and I don’t think the business will be standing much longer.”
“Great, then we better push the search now while we can.”
“Thanks, Conan.”
“Any time.”
* * * *
Marty Fagan ended the call and then his partner Danny knocked on the door.
“Dead body in a hotel in New Orleans. Another associate of Strayffer’s.”
“New Orleans? Isn’t that where we tracked that guy Andrew to?” Marty asked.
“Sure as shit is.”
“He still there?”
“No, but we don’t know where he is. The coroner is saying the body is a week old. A maid from the hotel found the body. Greg is in Mercy though.”
“Shit. Any contact with Strayffer?”
“We’re working on trying to track his cell phone. It’s been changed again. Last one we got the guys to pick up on was to a private cell number in Mercy.”
“I want more information on these two guys. Let’s start digging up their pasts, ex-girlfriends, old places they resided and shit. Maybe something will pop up and even a connection to the construction company other than his employment we’re missing.”
“Got it. We’ll catch these guys and prove they killed those men or that Strayffer paid them to do it. It’s all about the money, I’m telling you. Marty. The greedy fucks.”
“Could very well be. Something will give, soon enough.”
* * * *
Andrew was pacing the hotel room. Why wasn’t she responding? How could she ignore him? He looked down at his hands. They were shaking. It was something new that started last week in New Orleans. He was getting more and more antsy. This whole operation and idea of Greg’s to destroy Strayffer from within was taking too fucking long. The feds were starting to investigate the company and he was going under. That was going to have to be good enough.
He looked at the duffle bag on the bed. It was a lot of money. He could do a lot of things for Faith and him. He could show her the world. Could make her fall in love with him again.
His phone went off. He glanced at it, hoping it was Faith but it was Greg.
He answered the call. “Hello?”
“You need to lay low. I got word that some private investigator is looking for you, which means they are probably looking for me too.”
“What do you mean, a private investigator?”
“Just like I said. Stay fucking put. I’ll call you in a few days.”
“No. I need to see Faith. She isn’t responding to my texts.”
“Don’t text her again. When I say lay low, I mean it, or this will blow up in our faces. I’ll drive out at the end of the week and we can split up the money then go our separate ways. Strayffer’s company is going under. He’s losing his contracts and people are leaving. We did it, man, we got the revenge we were looking for.”
He smiled to himself. “I just need Faith and then I’m gone.”
“What do you mean? You plan on taking her out of Mercy? She’s still teaching.”
“She’ll get a new teaching job. School is out in a week for the summer. Who cares if she leaves early. I did this for her, for us.”
His hands continued to shake and he could sense his mind trying to think of things he didn’t like to think about, including recent activities.
“You’re taking a chance.”
“Come on, you know this is why I did it all.”
“Shit, okay, listen, I’ll contact Everly, flash a little money, ease things over with her and then make a plan. I think it’s better if you don’t show your face in town. Stay put and I’ll call you. It will all work out.”
Andrew dropped the phone on the bed and then clenched his fists. This wasn’t going down the way he planned. Faith should be with him right now.” He looked at his hands and stretched them out. It was getting worse. He needed to control his anger, the sensations and need to attack. Killing that fucking guy in New Orleans screwed with his head and brought back memories from the war. Son of a bitch, he needed something to calm him down. He walked over to the bag, grabbed the prescription drug bottle and then popped two pills. He then got a drink of water and paced the bedside.
She better not be with any other men. Fuck, he needed her. How was he going to last another week? Call me, Faith. Text back.
He reached for the phone again and stared at the text he sent and no reply. He texted again.
“I got plans for us, baby,” he said and typed away, stared at the words then pressed Send. He walked over to the bed, lay down and stared at the screen until his eyes began to close and his mind shut down. “Reply, Faith. Come on, bitch, reply.”
* * * *
Faith was laughing as Emma had them in tears over a recent event at the hotel.
“So this group of totally serious and boring computer geeks decided that they would pull a prank on one of the major leaders of their club. In their defense, the company was supposed to provide one monkey to come walk into the room and go sit up on this guy’s lap. However, others thought it would be hysterical to order several monkeys and have them come in at ten minute intervals apart. Needless to say, chaos erupted, monkeys start fighting and one escape artist takes off in the hotel,” Emma explained and they all began to laugh and ask questions.
“So what did you guys do? How did you catch the monkeys?” Casey asked.
“Mercy’s Finest and Bravest needed to be called. One of the monkeys was on the ledge of a window and we feared he was going to jump,” she added.
“This is ludicrous. No way it happened,” Afina said aloud.
Emma pulled out her cell phone. “Proof, baby, and over a million hits so far,” she said and then turned the phone to show the screen and started playing the video and passing it around.
As they talked some more and were enjoying the dinner and now some dessert, Brook gave Faith’s arm a nudge.
“Did you get any more texts from him?” she asked.
Faith looked away and then Brook turned in her seat. �
�Faith, he texted you again?” she asked. Emma looked over and so did the others.
“I didn’t respond, and tomorrow I’m going to get a new number.”
“That won’t work. Have you told the guys about him? About what really happened?”
“No.”
“Why the hell not?” Emma asked.
Faith looked at her friends, who all got quiet.
“Because it was over a year ago and it has no place in my life, in my happiness with Paulie, Hendrick, and Rocky.”
“He’s texting, and he sent flowers wanting forgiveness,” Brook replied and stared at her with that cop look Faith knew well.
“If I ignore him then he will get the message. I also heard from Everly. I know she’s seeing Greg and debating about getting back together with him.”
“Then you need to stay clear of her,” Casey said to her.
“Exactly,” Emma added.
“What’s going on?” Afina asked and Brook explained and now Afina, Amelia, North, and Kai looked concerned too.
“Okay, we need to stop talking about this and ruining the night. That’s exactly why I’m ignoring him and the texts and getting the number changed.”
“You can’t ignore someone stalking you,” North said to her.
“Oh God, he isn’t stalking me.”
“Technically, texting you constantly, sending flowers is harassment and has the potential to escalate to stalking soon enough,” Casey said.
“Why don’t you want Paulie, Hendrick, and Rocky to know?” Emma asked her.
“Seriously? Look at them. They will freak out and be even more protective of me. School is almost over, I may not be taking the summer position this summer so that I can have more time to spend with the guys and with all of you. I’m making changes and I’m in control of my life. Andrew is not going to weasel back in and ruin it. I won’t allow it.”
Healing Hearts 8: Teach Me What Love Is Page 11
