Finding Happiness Read online

  “The poor thing must have been so scared. Where the hell did she go for over a month before getting here?” Manderine asked.

  “She traveled across the state, laid low, and then headed here. Day she arrived she was driving seven hours,” Shay told them.

  “Anything could have happened with her on her own like that,” Aldreck said to him.

  “Don’t I know it. We were all concerned, but she wouldn’t say where she was, and her concern was for her aunt. The ex can easily find out about her, and could use his police contacts to get an address. I spoke to her aunt’s sons, and they’re on board. Her aunt owns guns and knows how to use them, so hopefully that will be fine.”

  “Holy crap. This is crazy. She should not be coming and going to work alone,” Aldreck said to Shay.

  “She’s safe around town, and like I said, the guy knows nothing about Bridget. Even Autumn didn’t know about her because she was whisked off from a bad relationship at a young age, too. I think if we push too much, Autumn will close up and maybe even take off. Although she is getting along well with Leeann at the café, and Molly loves her to death already.”

  “A lot of people do and think she’s so sweet and beautiful and strong, too. Which led me to the whole idea of guardianship. Now you know I don’t really push for this, but all things considered and after what myself and my brothers went through with Athena, I’m leaning this same way for Autumn.”

  “Who would you appoint to her? I mean, can’t we remain her guardians for now?” Shay asked.

  “For now you can, but as more and more men come forward and try to get to know her, we’ll have to pick the right men,” Kane said and glanced at Manderine and Aldreck. They were hardcore, very serious men in their positions as law enforcement officers and retired soldiers. When they weren’t working they were training and helping out their brothers Flex and Hill with security details and other things.

  “I say let’s see what happens, and maybe she’ll get more comfortable around certain men and then we won’t really have to worry about making the wrong choice. In the interim, now you guys know a bit about her story and what brings her here. She’s strong and determined. Don’t look at her size and think she isn’t. Although Ken and Brady are trying to talk her into taking on some self-defense training. She has nothing. That dick really beat her down mentally, as well.”

  “Well, now that we know what she went through, we’ll keep extra watch over her, as well,” Aldreck said, and Shay gave a nod. They all shook hands, and then Manderine and Aldreck walked out of the room.

  Shay looked at Kane. “Autumn is so scared of those two she makes Leeann take their orders. Bridget told me,” Shay said to him.

  “Well, that’s understandable from what you told us about her ex, plus Aldreck and Manderine are six foot three, and she’s like, what, five foot two?”

  “Yeah, and a hundred pounds soaking wet. I think she looks at every man as if he might hurt her and how badly. I suppose it’s an instinct that grows from being in an abusive relationship. It took Bridget a long time to let my brothers and I in and to get close to her.”

  “It takes time after something so traumatic. She’s young, too, and it was probably a first real boyfriend, right?” Kane asked, thinking about his own sister Charlotte, called Charlie for short.

  “Yes, it was, and he was a bit older, too, but a total dick who knew what he was doing. The whole head games thing. I don’t get it, but I do get her fears of letting anyone close. It will take time.”

  “Don’t I know it. Look at Charlie.”

  “Her boyfriend was a soldier who had PTSD. He struck her one night, and she hadn’t been the same. When he left for another tour he didn’t make it back. Later on they discovered he died from a self-inflicted wound. She felt like she failed him despite forgiving him for hitting her. Then she turned that anger into something good and finished her education, got her doctorate, and started counseling soldiers. Yet, she has feelings for some other men, and she denies those feelings out of the fear of getting hurt, or losing them.”

  “Is that why she keeps taking on these therapy assignments overseas?” Shay asked.

  Kane nodded.

  “I don’t know how Titus Mullen and his brothers handle it. They’re so damn tough I could see any of them throwing her over their shoulder and demanding she admit to her feelings.”

  Kane laughed. “As the sheriff of Central Valley, he can’t quite do that. Plus there’s a bit of an age gap.”

  “That bothers you because she’s your sister?”

  “Yeah, and Titus and his brothers are hard asses.” Shay chuckled.

  “I guess we just wait and hope fate steps in and they take a chance.”

  “I guess so. Well, I appreciate the information, and if and when Autumn and I talk, I’ll keep it on the down low with any questions.”

  “She’ll know I spoke with you. I wouldn’t not tell her about today because I want her to trust me, to trust all of us.”

  “Sounds good to me.” They shook hands, and Shay exited the office.

  Kane rubbed his jaw and thought about his sister Charlie. When was she going to get back? He hadn’t heard a word from her in two weeks. He got a call from Titus, and he was asking, as well. He couldn’t push. She had her own ways of working things out. He then went back to thinking about Autumn. She was attractive, feminine, and came off sweet as could be, but he could see the instant interest in Aldreck’s eyes that first day in the café. Would the Forester brothers pull their shit together, temper down those hardcore ways, and gain Autumn’s interest and trust? He didn’t know, but it was more than likely going to be one hell of a scene to watch. He shook his head and texted Athena. He missed her, and he worried despite knowing his brothers were with her. Who would have ever thought him and his brothers would settle down? He chuckled and then went back to doing paperwork. It was after four o’clock. He would head home soon enough.

  Connor Row sat there in the counseling session, trying to pretend that he was listening and learning the calming techniques. They were all bullshit. All made for a bunch of fucking pussies. His buddies on the force and at the boxing club teased him about having to come here. That one dick, Burger, thought he was so fucking funny when he said Connor wasn’t man enough to keep his woman in line and in bed. The worse was how other men told him he fucked up big time by cheating on a fine piece of ass like Autumn. He did fuck that up. He was drunk, wound up in bed with the two women, and then it became a habit. Autumn was so damn sweet and scared of him. Those two women he cheated on her with were tough. They boxed and did martial arts, and when he started smacking them around they hit back, and then it was all about the sex and taking them one after the next.

  That fucking aunt of hers must have been the one to help her escape, but where the hell did that bitch live? He couldn’t use his resources to get the information from the computer, and he sure as shit didn’t want to ask his cop buddies who were already telling him he fucked up and he was lucky he didn’t get fired. There was no way his ass would get fired because he had dirt on all the higher-ups. On the lieutenant, the chief, his sergeant, everyone. He knew who they were screwing and cheating with behind their wives’ backs, and he knew who liked to join in a little orgy type action being open to everything no matter what sex the person was. That was heavy shit. Then of course he knew about who had the cocaine habit, and who smoked weed on their break that worked in human resources and in town hall. This small fucking town was filled with little shits who thought they ruled a kingdom. There he was with the information and evidence to take them all under, and they knew it.

  As he pretended to exhale and then calm his mind, he thought about that bitch Lucy who worked in the PD and had a sister who worked in town hall. Maybe that was a way to get the information on Autumn’s aunt? He smiled to himself and then told the therapist he felt like that method really worked well for him. Then he asked some bullshit question which the guy thought was so wonderful. Finally he was out of there, and he hurried to his truck and went right to town hall as he called Lucy.

  “I don’t think I can assist you with that,” she said to him, and he figured someone was around.

  “I think you can. Just text her my number and tell her to help me out with whatever I need. I’ll make it up to you. Get you some good shit you like to smoke on the weekends. In fact, I can swing by after work. We could spend some time together. I sure could use a friend, Lucy.”

  “I don’t know. You never asked me out before.”

  “I’m not asking you out when we both know we can’t be more than a good time on a lonely rainy night. You know I have my eyes on you, and love the way your ass fills those sexy dress pants. Invite me over. We’ll celebrate your cousin helping me out with what I need, and you won’t be lonely and instead will be satisfied. I’m that fucking good.”

  “You better not be messing with me. I’ve had a crush on you for a while. I can show you how a real woman handles her man.”

  “I’m sure you could. Text her, and then I’ll meet you at your place by six.”

  “Okay.”

  He ended the call and licked his lips. She would have to do for now. Wasn’t anything like Autumn. In fact she was a tall, thin, and had medium-size boobs, but it had been a few weeks since he had sex. It could take the edge off. He waited for the phone to ring.

  “Come on, bitch, come through for me.”

  As he waited he thought about Autumn. About her long platinum-blonde hair that caught his eyes immediately. Then it was her round, firm ass in a short skirt she had on, and of course when he got to see her face, those big blue eyes, his cock got so fucking hard he nearly came. She was a fucking virgin to boot. A gift from heaven and controllable. Holy shit, she would shake when he spoke firmly, and clench her eyes when he yelled. She was obedient, trusting, all his in every way. He fucking went too far when she caught him cheating. He fucked up big time. He wouldn’t fuck up again. In fact wherever she was, he would find her, take her away to some special romantic place, and keep her there until she forgave him and complied with his orders and authority. He clenched his fist, opened and closed it, remembering striking her so hard and leaving bruises on her ribs, her face, too. He had lost his shit as he struck her and thought about her leaving him. He knew he sort of went out of his mind, lost focus of the present, and it had been years since he had an episode like that. He ran his fingers through his hair and then looked at his hands.

  He spread them wide and saw that he was shaking. “I need you, Autumn. I fucking need you,” he said, and then his cell phone rang. He smiled and said hello.

  “Hello, Lucy’s cousin. Tell me you’re even more attractive than your cousin Lucy,” he said and heard the giggle. This was going to be a piece of cake.

  Chapter 3

  “Long day?” Aldreck asked Hill and Flex as they walked into the house around nine in the evening.

  “I’m so damn tired, but by tomorrow afternoon this job should be done. We’re just finishing off a few details,” Hill told him. Hill was tall and stocky. Six feet three, wide shoulders like a linebacker, the man looked beyond intimidating. Anyone would think twice before challenging him. He looked like some crazy Russian boxer. His blond hair was more dirty blond, crew cut, and his other brother Flex looked almost identical except Flex’s hair was closer to a light brown color with blond highlights. Both men had exactly the same build. Which made for great security jobs where presence alone was a deterrent.

  “So by tomorrow you’ll both be finished with this job?” Manderine asked, pulling some beers out of the refrigerator and passing them to his brothers.

  “Thank God yes, and I’ll tell ya, we’re taking a break for a little bit. I haven’t been able to go work out at the gym, and Kenderick is busting my balls telling me he’s going to take me in a match.” Hill shook his head before he took a slug from the bottle of beer. They chuckled.

  “Kendrick is a wise ass, and he wants to get under your skin so he can beat you. You got him good the last few times,” Flex told him.

  “Sure as shit did. He was sporting that nice black eye, too,” Aldreck added and chuckled.

  “Hey, I didn’t mean to do that. He shot his head up as I rolled toward him, putting him in that hold.” They laughed. “He sure as shit deserved it. He was talking smack for days and then added that you gave him a cheap shot,” Aldreck said, and Hill shook his head. Manderine was by the counter, and Aldreck knew he was still upset about the conversation and information they learned about Autumn in the sheriff’s office.

  “What’s going on around here? What did we miss the last week?” Flex asked, taking a seat by the kitchen table.

  “Same shit really. Caught those kids who were vandalizing the fence by the old Westin house. Turns out that Mr. Westin got pissed at them for setting a little campfire on his property one night, and it nearly caused an out of control fire. He didn’t call the police but instead handled it himself, and the kids got pissed and sought a little revenge. They’ll be spending a bit of time doing community service,” Aldreck told Hill.

  Flex shook his head. “Fucking kids these days, they got no respect for anything.”

  Hill and Flex looked at Manderine.

  “What’s up with you, Manderine? You’re real talkative?” Hill asked.

  He made a funny face and then took a sip from his bottle of beer.

  Flex leaned back. “Okay, what’s the deal? You got a bigger bug up your ass than usual. I mean we’ve been passing through the last week hardly getting a few words in, so what’s up? Something has to be brewing.”

  “It’s Autumn,” Aldreck said to Hill and Flex. Flex and Hill exhaled.

  “What did you find out about her?” Hill asked, straight-faced. When Autumn first came to town a few weeks back, Aldreck had talked to them about how scared she seemed, and wouldn’t engage in further conversation giving any information about herself. Then Hill and Flex had caught sight of her walking from the café to her car and immediately she stood out to them, but they didn’t date either. Had been a while for all of them, and considering the types of women that frequented Harper’s, Finnian’s bar, and McCormick’s pub, they just hadn’t been interested.

  “So what did you find out?” Flex asked in a hard tone, eyes narrowed.

  As Aldreck explained in detail what they learned in Sheriff Kane’s office from Shay, his brothers looked more concerned.

  “Why doesn’t Shay just call his contacts and take the dick out?” Flex asked.

  “It’s complicated, I guess, and seriously, he isn’t going to ask that kind of favor. This isn’t a military operation.”

  “Could be, and should be. From what we saw of her she’s petite, and couldn’t defend herself against anyone,” Hill added.

  “Well, the plan is to be diligent about her safety, keeping aware of the guy looking for her and making sure she’s safe,” Aldreck said and Manderine snorted.

  “What is it, Manderine? She isn’t accepting the protection?” Hill asked.

  “She won’t talk to many people. Puts on a smile while she’s working, but because of the broken ribs, she’s still in pain.”

  “Broken ribs and she’s working at the café?” Flex asked and stood up.

  “Are Shay and his brothers out of their minds letting her do that? What is wrong with them?” Hill asked.

  “She’s determined to handle things on her own like she’s been doing since getting away from that dick ex-boyfriend of hers,” Aldreck said.

  “Well, that isn’t a bad thing, her showing independence and determination to start a new life here in Cherry Hill,” Flex said.

  -->