The Battlefield Series 2: Scars Run Deep (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  “Herman was using those binoculars and got a good look at the guy and at Antonia’s face,” his wife added, sitting on the arm of the couch chair then popping a piece of cookie in her mouth like she was watching an intense movie.

  “She was scared. Shocked, I would say, because she immediately covered her mouth and retreated into the house. He stepped inside, closed the door, and didn’t come out until 4:23.” Herman then looked at his watch. “You pulled up at 5:38. It’s past six now.”

  Cesar ran his fingers through his hair. This was bad.

  “It’s him, Cesar. It has to be. He must have been the one who set us up and sent the blonde,” Gino told him.

  “It makes sense. He knew she wouldn’t go willingly with him and he couldn’t abduct her, but if he tricked her and made her think that he was rescuing her from us—”

  Fox turned around and shoved out the front door.

  “Thanks for all your help. Zeke is going to get a description of the guy from you.”

  “No need, Chief, I got a photo of him, too. Downloaded it to my computer. I can print it off right now,” Herman told him.

  He was shocked and grateful as Herman printed off the picture. “Thank you so much for all your help. This is huge and has saved us a lot of time so we can catch this guy and get Antonia,” Cesar told them.

  Herman handed him one paper first. “You find your woman. She’s scared and sad. You can see it in her eyes. It’s like she lost hope.”

  Cesar looked at the picture along with Gino.

  “She’s got to be so confused and scared. I’m going to mess this guy up good when I find him.”

  Herman handed him the other picture.

  “So this is him,” he whispered and looked at the guy. He was tall, muscular, and very attractive. It was the look in his eyes, though, that Cesar focused on.

  “He’s going to hurt her, you know that, Cesar,” Gino said to him.

  “We’re not going to let that happen.”

  * * * *

  The whole police department was on high alert, calling in neighboring departments and using all the connections they had to track down the two SUVs. Damon stood in Cesar’s office as more information came in on sightings. He’d been pretty damn upset when he first arrived. He felt so out of control and scared for Antonia. He would have beaten down an army of men to get to her, but he couldn’t go running off, driving aimlessly. They needed help, and knowing as many people as he and his brothers did, the help was pouring in.

  Fox was on his phone, making demands and asking for help from people he knew in the government. He had everything set up to cease all banking accounts and suspend monetary transactions of any kind for Ray Meltrose. All airlines, bus stations, train stations, and police departments had been notified that he was wanted for an abduction.

  Cesar had just gotten off the phone with Brooklyn, who was a mess with worry. Finnian, Jagger, and Aero were offering any help, and Zeke and other officers were following up leads on sightings of both SUVs.

  “I can’t believe the guy went to such extents and that the blonde even confronted Antonia outside of the Filling Station. She must have been so hurt and shocked. Those fucking pictures. Jesus,” Damon said and ran his hand along the back of his neck, trying to ease the tight muscles.

  “We didn’t say anything to her the other night. Not after what she revealed to Cesar and how jealous she got about the sisters, indicating her lack of confidence. She would have been even more upset,” Gino said to him.

  “She would have known it was a lie, though, when those pictures came through. You should have told her.”

  “Well, I can’t take that back now, can I, Cesar? How the fuck was I to know that her ex was setting us up and coming to take her back? I fucked up. I shouldn’t have lied about the scratch. Then she would have called us immediately. Instead, she questioned our loyalty to her because of how badly Ray hurt her before. He broke her down, and she was only just beginning to trust us and let us in. Of course it was the right time for him to strike,” Gino said, raising his voice.

  “I’m not blaming you. I’m just saying that, when this is over and we have her back, we need to be completely committed to her,” Cesar said to him.

  The radio went off, and Cesar answered. Damon listened to the call and walked closer.

  “We found the black SUV with the guy who delivered the letter to the house. It’s also all scratched up and dented in the front with red paint matching Carina’s car color. He was the one who ran her off the road,” Zeke told him.

  “You have him in custody?”

  “Bringing him in. He isn’t exactly cooperative.”

  “We’ll take care of that. Bring him in.”

  Cesar ran his hand over his jaw as he looked at Damon. “Who do you want to take lead and question him?”

  “We’re not fucking around here. We know some of the things Ray did to Antonia. You think he isn’t going to punish her for leaving him, never mind for being with us? I’ll start off with you, Damon, and if he’s completely defiant, then we walk out and send in Fox and Gino,” Cesar said, and Damon nodded.

  “Don’t fucking kill the guy if we have to send you in,” Cesar said to Fox and Gino, and they waited for the prisoner to get there.

  * * * *

  “Have you heard anything?” Brooklyn asked Jagger. They were sitting at tables around the bar in the Filling Station. It was jam-packed with locals, all their friends and neighbors gathering together to be supportive and wait for word on Antonia.

  Brooklyn couldn’t stop her hands from shaking.

  “Nothing yet. Cesar will keep us updated and Zeke, too,” he said to her.

  They heard some activity coming from the front door, and Brooklyn stood up to see Carina coming in with Jack, Milton, and Jesse accompanying her. She was walking slowly as Brooklyn got up and headed toward her. Carina saw her, and Jack and Milton released their hold on her and she went to Brooklyn.

  “I can’t believe that he came for her. That this was all caused by her ex.”

  “I know, neither can I. Are you okay? Nevin doesn’t think you need a hospital?” Brooklyn asked and saw Carina glance at Jack, and then she shook her head.

  “I’m just a little bruised.”

  “Honey, your cheek looks terrible. Do you want some ice?” Brooklyn asked her.

  “I’ll take care of that.” Jesse walked toward the bar.

  Brooklyn raised one of her eyebrows up at Carina, who shrugged.

  “Come sit down with us,” Brooklyn said, and Jack shook Jagger’s and Aero’s hands hello as Milton guided Carina toward the table.

  “I told you that I’m fine. I can walk without help,” she whispered to Milton.

  He stared down at her firmly. “We’re your shadows while this is going on. Get used to it.”

  She swallowed hard, and Brooklyn pulled out a chair for Carina to sit in. When she did, she cringed.

  Brooklyn leaned closer to her. “Anything you want to share?”

  “Cesar asked that they watch over me until this situation is resolved with Carina.”

  “Guardianship?”

  “No. I won’t accept that, and that isn’t necessary.”

  “That may not be your choice,” Jack said, sitting down beside her.

  She gave him a look, and Brooklyn wasn’t too surprised by Jack’s forwardness. He and his brothers were just as commanding as Brooklyn’s men and even Antonia’s. It wouldn’t be a surprise to Brooklyn if they used this situation to get Carina to give them a chance.

  “Not happening, Jack.”

  Jack moved a strand of hair away from Carina’s cheek.

  “We’ll work on it,” he whispered and caressed her chin.

  Carina looked away. “It would be a waste of time. I’m not sure I’ll be staying in Repose much longer.”

  Brooklyn was shocked, but apparently not as shocked as Jack.

  “What?” he asked, and Jesse appeared with Milton as Jagger’s phone rang.


  He covered the receiver as they all listened. “It’s Zeke. They have a guy in custody. The one who ran Carina off the road. He was also the one to deliver those photos to Antonia.”

  “Photos? What photos?” Carina asked Brooklyn, and she explained.

  Carina covered her mouth. Jesse handed her the ice pack.

  “They’ll find out where that guy took Antonia. Don’t worry. Our cousins are good at what they do, and Fox and Gino are not the type of men you mess with,” Jesse said to her, and Carina placed the ice pack against her cheek as Brooklyn felt Finnian take her hand and Aero placed his hands on her shoulders in support.

  “Keep us posted. Thanks, Zeke, and be careful.”

  * * * *

  “How are you feeling, Antonia?” Ray asked her as she leaned against his side. She raised her hand to her forehead, and her eyes began to glaze over.

  “What was in this?” she asked, lifting the water bottle up.

  He smiled at her as he took her hand and brought it to his lips. He kissed her knuckles and held her gaze. She fought to not lay her head back, but the stuff he’d given her was good. It worked slowly, easing her into sedation.

  “Just a little something to help you to relax. It’s funny, but if you had just taken something like this that night of the party, none of this would have happened.”

  “You drugged me?” she asked, tears filling her eyes.

  He cupped her cheeks and brought her face closer to his. She tensed up but not too much. He knew the drugs were beginning to fill her system. If she continued to resist as it wore off, then he would give her more. He had plenty. His recent investment in selling the drug ketamine to local college fraternities was a lucrative business. Cat Valium, green, honey oil, Special K—as it was known on the streets—was undetectable. Slip it in a drink and snap. One very sedated woman with no recollection of what was taking place, even after she woke up.

  He caressed Antonia’s cheeks and thought about all the ways he would take from her body tonight. She would learn to forget those men she was with and never think of them again.

  “Things are going to change, Antonia. This is going to be our new beginning. I never should have let you go.” He pressed his lips to hers and pulled her closer. She gripped his arms and pushed away from him.

  “No. Don’t touch me. I don’t want this. Help me. Someone help me!” She screamed and reached for the door, but he pulled her back, and she struck him across the mouth, shocking him. His temper flared, and he gripped her hair and struck her back. Blood splattered, her lips split, and she cried out then covered her head with her hands.

  “You will obey me. I am not going to be lenient with you this time, Antonia. This time you will be pleading for mercy. Begging me to be gentle and to hold you, love you, and accept you into my bed once again. You have some training to do. Don’t fight it. You of all people should know that I always get what I want.”

  * * * *

  “Here’s the deal, Phillip. No shit. Bottom fucking line,” Gino said to him, staring at the man who’d helped Ray abduct Antonia.

  His brother Fox stood by the wall, ready to interrogate this asshole Special Forces style. They were all on edge, especially as friends of Gino and Fox pulled up heavy evidence on Ray and his lucrative drug dealing business. He was providing ketamine, a form of date-rape drug, to local college students. An influx of accusations of rape had been reported across many of them, but because the form of the drug was undetectable unless a toxicology report was done immediately on the victim, men were getting away with raping women. It disgusted all of them. Their investigation, along with Damon and his friends in the Rangers, had produced an undercover operation being conducted by the NYPD drug task force. Ray was going down, but all they cared about was getting to Antonia before he seriously hurt her. The thought that he was drugging her and would possibly rape her was a great possibility. Right now their friends had initiated the plan to freeze all of Ray’s bank accounts and credit cards and were raiding his businesses and anyone associated with him. He was a dead man walking.

  Phillip just stared straight ahead.

  “Your boss, and you, are going to be charged with so many things you can kiss the outside world good-bye. You’ll be behind bars for life. Not just for this abduction but for dealing drugs and securing deliveries to college students, who used those drugs to rape innocent young women. That’s just the beginning. You see, your good boss just fucked you. He’s free, enjoying life with his woman, while you’ll be rotting in jail.”

  Phillip looked at him, squinting his eyes and seemingly biting his cheek, as Gino noticed his cheek cave in.

  “Any money, any payoffs and promises to you are done. They don’t exist. From here, this little shithole police department, as you liked to call it earlier, several Texas Rangers are waiting outside this office to take you away. You’re finished, done. Oh, by the way, we got some more information about those drug deals you helped coordinate. There’s video surveillance of you, only you, conducting the transactions. Apparently the feds have been onto your boss’s little operation, and he was smart enough to have you do all the dirty work and take the fall.”

  “That’s bullshit. He’s the one running the operation. He should take the fall for it, not me. I did some deliveries. Big fucking deal.”

  “Oh, that’s where you’re wrong. Ray is going to say you were conducting the business without his consent or knowledge. Hence why he never touched anything himself.”

  “He did. He has big shots interested in his product and getting in on the action. He’s met with them. He parties with them at his penthouse.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t think that’s his priority right now. He got what he wanted. Antonia. You get to take the fall for all the drugs he was pushing, for the attempted rape charges and legalities of the cases, and who the fuck knows what more the feds will charge you with because they have you in custody, not Ray.” Gino shook his head. He leaned forward, seeing the anger building in Phillip’s facial expression. He was turning bright red. “He fucked you. Big time.”

  Phillips gripped the table and roared. He looked from Gino to Fox and then back at Gino.

  “I rented a house for him. An estate some rich dude owns but leases out for months when he’s in Europe. It’s an hour from here.”

  Gino slid the paper and pen along the table. “Write down the address, and it better not be a fucking lie.”

  * * * *

  Ray stared at Antonia as she lay on the bed. The house was huge, more than sufficient for a couple of nights’ stay, but it seemed things had changed. He was getting notifications about his bank accounts being frozen, and he had no access to his money. Something wasn’t right. Could those asshole men she was fucking have that kind of pull?

  He was getting nervous. His obsession with Antonia had become top priority, and now the cops, maybe even the feds—because they were the ones who had the ability to freeze his accounts—were hunting him.

  He paced in front of the bed, glancing at Antonia wearing only white panties and a white lace bra. Her skin was red with welts and her face swollen from him beating her. She was conscious and staring toward the wall on the right. She was finally submitting to him. Did anything else really matter?

  He ran his hand along his chin. He stood there in his boxers, prepared to take from her body next. His mind started to plan their escape. He couldn’t stay in the States.

  He could get some help escaping the country. He knew one person who could assist, but it would cost him. He had a private account under a different name all because the government took and took from businessmen who were successful like him. The more he made, the more he paid in taxes, in fees and payoffs to the right people. It was all a fucking game. Selling the drugs was a cash business and he had kept that money in another account overseas. He was good. He could do this. He could forget about all the other businesses he owned and flee the country with Antonia. Why the fuck not?

  “Cesar, Fox, Gino, Damon, are you the
re?”

  He scrunched his face, clenched his teeth, with his fists by his side. She was hallucinating, thinking those men she had been fucking were there with her.

  “Please, I need you.” She moaned and rolled a little on the bed, looking like some sexy model as she raised her arms above her head. He felt his cock harden. Even the sight of the blood spots on the crisp white sheets from her injuries turned him on and made him feel in ultimate control.

  He eased closer, knelt, and slid his hands along her ankles, spreading her thighs.

  “Fox?” she moaned.

  He closed his eyes and willed the anger away. He would make love to her over and over again. When the drugs wore off, she would see it was him she made love to, not them. He felt triumphant when he lowered over her, leaned down to kiss her lips, and her arms came up around his neck in acceptance.

  “Mine forever, Antonia,” he said after he kissed her mouth. He took his time exploring her skin. They had all the time in the world. He finally had his woman back. In his bed, in his arms, and soon he would be buried deep in her body, re-staking his claim.

  He cupped her breasts and licked down her check.

  She tilted her pelvis up. “Gino,” she whispered.

  He gripped her wrists, pulled them from around his neck, and pinned her to the bed.

  “Oh, God, Damon. Damon, please. I need you.”

  He squeezed his eyes closed. She was thinking of them, all of them, and probably how they made love to her together. He shoved her arms down hard.

  “Keep them up there. Don’t fucking move,” he commanded.

  She moaned and rolled her head side to side.

  He stared at her body, ran his palms from her neck down to her breasts, cupping them, admiring their size and feeling the need to possess her once again grow stronger.

  He ran his palms lower and gripped her hips, loving how petite, feminine she was, and controllable. So fucking controllable.

  He stared at her panties, knowing what treasure lay beneath the dainty white material. His sweet little woman, a delicacy he would have forever. He’d started to pull them down when the lights went off.