Soldiers of Pearl 1: Invasion of Hearts (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Read online

  As she slowly made her way deeper, she noticed the many homes and ranches on the outskirts of town and then the shelter where all the activities were going on today. There was a huge park across the street where people were actually picnicking. She didn’t think people actually did that. She couldn’t help the lump of emotion in her throat at the sight. Would she ever be able to do something like that? She paused, watching them in awe as moms pushed strollers with babies in them, dads played catch with their sons, and kids ran around as parents stood talking and cooking on grills. It was so storybook and old fashioned. Something in her came alive with appreciation of the sight and then came the dreadful, dark feeling that loomed as a reminder that her and the family could never have such things. Not on the run.

  Everyone was dressed very nicely, too. Some people dressed more casually while others were dressed up. She immediately took notice of the types of people who were walking around. One woman with three men, another women with four, and one with two men. After working in Rocky’s she’d learned about the ménage relationships rampant in the surrounding towns. At first it shocked her. She thought it was some sort of backwoods cult, but as she had the opportunity to people-watch she saw the love in their eyes. These relationships, these people involved in them were truly devoted.

  What she would give for the safety, security, and affection of one man. To feel the embrace of big strong arms, a sense of true security and care would be amazing. But that just wasn’t reality. What she desired, what she desperately yearned for was not important. Keeping her family safe, healthy, and protected was priority. She swallowed hard, straightened out her shoulders, and walked closer to the shelter and some vendor tables.

  The people were very friendly. Everyone was saying hello, but they sure did take security very seriously. There were police everywhere, and also video surveillance cameras. High-tech ones. It made her feel nervous and guilty. Back in Chicago she’d witnessed what she thought was a murder, helped lure the victim into his office as Kever stole whatever from the safe. She was a criminal in a way, and even now on the run. God knew she had to do some crazy shit to keep her family safe. Misdemeanor stuff to protect them and remain untraceable. They needed the car and the insurance so she snuck into car rental parking lots and removed the registration and inspection stickers from the windshield. As long as she obeyed the traffic laws and didn’t speed, then cops wouldn’t pull her over and check for authenticity. She couldn’t speed even if she wanted to in her hunk of junk.

  By the looks of some of the men standing around trying to blend in, they appeared military or maybe well-trained undercover officers. It made her feel on edge, like a criminal about to get caught. She didn’t care for cops or military because of Kever and Anthony. Just because they wore a uniform, took an oath, and wore a badge, it didn’t mean they were the good guys. Evil lurked in even the most respected professions. She wouldn’t make that mistake ever again.

  She could spot a cop anywhere and even a soldier. This town was loaded with men, and very attractive ones at that. It was intimidating for a lot of reasons. But before she hightailed it out of there, she needed to know if this place could help her take care of her family. What would she have to do to get their help? How did the program work? Could these people keep confidentiality and not know her story, where they came from and who they really were? She couldn’t take chances telling them the truth.

  Anthony’s buddies Tysen and Willie nearly found her last year when she was checking into a shelter in Madison, Wisconsin. She realized that they needed to head farther away from Chicago and in the opposite direction of where they first started.

  Taking a deep breath, she decided which woman to speak to and ask questions to. Both of them at the information table appeared friendly.

  Arabella made her way closer, noting how one of the deputies checked her out and watched her then looked away. He kept glancing back and it made her nervous, but she wanted so desperately to learn more.

  “Hi, honey, how can I help you?” the woman asked.

  Arabella cleared her throat. She was so nervous. “Can you tell me about the shelter?” she asked, looking around her, even though she was trying to pull off just being curious, as opposed to desperate for help. She lifted up one of the brochures about the shelter, but she was so nervous, on edge, she couldn’t even make out the words.

  The woman looked at her and then smiled. “Sure thing. Want to come sit down and talk?” she asked.

  The other woman looked over at Arabella and smiled. She then brought her attention back toward another couple who approached the table wanting to thank the woman, named Anna, for all they had done. Arabella listened as they complimented Anna.

  “My name is Millie. What’s your name?” the first woman asked. Arabella looked Millie over. She was very pretty, but it was the look in her eyes that gave Arabella the strength to reply.

  “Bella,” she said after thinking it over.

  Millie squinted her eyes slightly as if knowing she was lying but she didn’t push. “So, Bella, what would you like to know about Second Chances?”

  Arabella looked around. She noticed more people nearby, and then as they dispersed, she caught sight of a big man. The uniform and badge indicated he was the sheriff. She swallowed hard.

  “Look at me, honey, don’t worry about the sheriff. He’s a very friendly man. His family helped to develop Pearl many years ago.”

  “Oh,” Arabella said, glancing at him and the deputy who now joined the sheriff. They were no longer looking at Millie and Arabella. Instead they were focusing on something to the right and smiling.

  “Well, I was wondering what kinds of services you offer. How does a person or people apply for help?”

  Millie pulled over a sheet of paper. “Well, we ask a few questions because we need to know what happened to bring you here.”

  “Why?” Arabella asked, pulling back slightly. She couldn’t risk being found. The last time nearly cost her her life. Arabella shivered just thinking about it. She felt Millie’s hand cover hers and Arabella pulled back and nearly jumped up.

  “Sweetie, I’m not going to hurt you. You’re safe here,” Millie said. Arabella’s move had drawn some attention toward her and Millie.

  “I’m sorry. I don’t think I have more questions. I didn’t mean to waste your time.” Arabella turned around. She caught sight of that sheriff again and some other guy, a deputy maybe.

  Millie stood up, too.

  “Why don’t we walk and talk. That way you feel more comfortable?” Millie suggested.

  Arabella tried to back out of that idea, but she figured if she were on her feet and walking, she could run if need be. She was a fast runner.

  The woman Anna looked up and smiled. “Why don’t you show Bella the place so she can see it all?” Anna suggested and Millie smiled.

  ‘That’s a great idea. Come on. I can give you your own personal tour.”

  Arabella nodded, cautiously looking around her as she and Millie headed toward the entrance to Second Chances.

  “So, I’ll tell you all about the place and then if you have any questions just interrupt me and I can answer them. How does that sound?”

  Arabella nodded her head and glanced around the place as Millie, who seemed very kind, explained about the facility. Again, that burgundy and green motif of flowers and matching signs as they walked through the facility all matched and continued throughout the place. She prayed this wasn’t some sort of cult and that this woman wasn’t setting Arabella up for something terrible. It just looked so inviting and nice. She never saw any shelter look anything like Second Chances.

  The knot in Arabella’s stomach grew stronger as she desperately prayed this place could help her family. Maybe miracles did happen? No, they didn’t.

  Be smart. Stay on guard. Trust no one.

  Millie talked about having four social workers on staff, two therapists, and a college program that received grant funding from the government. She explained that a l
ot of the funding came from donations and many women who were able to start new lives and move out of the facility and get great jobs donated back money.

  “So why did you start the place?” Arabella found herself asking. Millie told her about her friends Stacy and Anna as well as two other women Sage and Lena. She explained about the way the town worked and that there were more men than women, and all women and children were protected.

  “Is that why you have all the extra security cameras around the facility and the outer perimeters?” she asked.

  “You noticed those, huh? We try to keep them hidden but we take the extra precautions because some women who come here are on the run and distrusting. The town of Pearl is an amazing place. Everyone watches out for one another and there is barely any crime. Thanks to that big sheriff of mine and his crew.”

  “They look like military. There are a lot of soldiers around here.” She looked around, making sure no one was watching her or maybe going to try and grab her.

  “Honey, are you in some kind of trouble?”

  Arabella stepped back and shook her head. Millie pulled her hand back. “Don’t be afraid. I was where you are now, once. That scared, petrified look in my eyes and fear that no one could help me and I needed to fight alone. We understand because we’ve been through it, my friends and I. We can help with anything you need.”

  Arabella swallowed hard. She hadn’t realized that her own pride would get in the way of asking for help. Did she really need strangers to assist? Would she be placing her family in jeopardy? She didn’t know these people, yet this woman seemed so sincere.

  “Bella, what can I do or say to convince you to trust me and let me help you?”

  “I don’t know.” Arabella looked around her. It seemed like a nice place. The little cottages set up were ten times nicer than the trailer. She looked around her, heart heavy, emotions almost getting the better of her. Cora needed professional help. Arabella was at her wits end trying to work the long hours, take care of Cora and Mom, plus the kids, too. She took a deep breath.

  “I promise that you can trust me. I won’t cause you more danger. If you just accept my help, tell me what’s going on and what you need. I can help you, Bella.”

  Arabella swallowed hard. “You said families are welcome, too?”

  “You have children?” Millie asked her.

  Arabella thought about Liam and Julia. They were her children as much as they were Cora’s. She would never let a man try to hurt them or their mother again.

  She looked at Millie. “They’re my sister’s, but they might as well be mine. I’ve been taking care of her, the babies, and my mom. We’ve been traveling for three years, moving from place to place to be safe. But my sister went through something very traumatic. She’s scared and has these attacks and I can’t handle trying to help her, work long hours wherever I can get work, and take care of my mom and the babies alone anymore. I need help. Three years and I’m burnt out. I’m tired, I’m untrusting, and I don’t really know if this is the right thing to do or not.” She looked around the place and motioned with her hand as she spoke to Millie. “This place, what you offer, seems so unrealistic. There must be a catch. I’ve never seen any shelter look like this one. Is this some sort of cult?”

  Millie chuckled and shook her head. “No, it’s not a cult. I guarantee that. It’s privately owned and the donations help us to maintain a beautiful, well-maintained facility. We’re trying to offer women and families in need a second chance at getting their lives back together.”

  Arabella swallowed hard. “Sounds too good to be true.”

  Millie held her gaze and nodded her head. “You’ve been running on adrenaline for far too long. It’s why we wanted to create this place, Bella. Lena, one of my best friends, was living on the streets in Detroit. She had to escape a very bad man and wound up here after talking to an older woman on the bus. I think that woman was a resident of Pearl and saw that Lena needed help. You and your family will be safe here. Why don’t you bring them by? Let them see the place and see for themselves that we can assist?”

  “I’m not sure. What do you need from me?”

  “Eventually, I’d like to know your real name so we can be friends, Bella,” Millie said.

  Arabella felt kind of guilty but she was just so scared to give in. “Will you need to know everything about us? Is that the catch to this place?” she asked, on the defensive.

  “You’re scared. You’re on the run with your family, that’s why we’re here. Bring them here and let them see the place, visit with some of the other women, and talk with a social worker. Thy can get three square meals a day, snacks for the kids, and we even have a park and swimming hole with lifeguards. If you don’t like it or feel uncomfortable, then you all can walk out that front gate and not come back. It’s your choice.”

  “I’ll think about it.”

  Just as she said that, two of the deputies came walking toward them. Arabella stepped back. “It’s okay. That’s one of my husbands, Marco, and one of his deputies, Reno. You’re safe.”

  “Howdy, is everything okay over here?” Marco asked as he smiled at her. She looked away and at Millie.

  “Yes, of course. Just giving a tour of the place. Meet Bella. She’s just passing through, came to see the activities today.”

  “Hi, Bella, nice to meet you. I’m Marco.” He stuck out his hand. She stared at his hand and looked him over. She took a step back. His eyes squinted and she glanced at the deputy with his hand on his holster. She shivered from his intense stare and his good looks. She needed to play it cool here.

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude. I had touched one of the tables before and got something sticky on my hands. I wouldn’t want to get anything on you,” she lied to him as she twisted her fingers together and continued to walk backward and away from the deputies. He nodded his head but she knew she was too late to cover her mistake.

  “Well, thank you so much for the information. I think what you’re doing is wonderful. Enjoy the rest of the day. Bye,” she said to them and started walking away.

  “Bella, are you going to come back to visit?” Millie asked.

  “I have work tonight but maybe. We’ll see. Thanks, Millie.” Millie smiled and waved.

  * * * *

  It wasn’t until nearly noontime when Smith and Brock stood by the truck along with Rex and watched the crowds of people. It was habit to scan a crowd and make sure everyone was safe. Reno walked over with Marco to check on Millie. She had disappeared about twenty minutes ago and Wyatt was getting nervous.

  Smith was leaning against the truck looking around. He was thinking about that woman from the bar last night. When he thought of her face, and the way she caused a reaction in him, he thought she looked sweet. Almost like she didn’t belong there in that bar.

  “Hey, what’s that look for?” Rex asked him, and Brock chuckled.

  “He’s probably thinking about that sweet, sexy woman from last night. I know I haven’t stopped thinking about her.”

  Smith shot his head up to look at Brock. “Really?”

  “Who is she?” Rex asked.

  “She works at Rocky’s. She’s gorgeous and sure seemed able to handle herself,” Brock said and then explained what happened. That had pissed Smith off to see a guy try to take advantage of a woman. But she sure did know some moves. Shocked him, too.

  Just like Smith, Brock was a hard man, not too sociable and people just knew to get out of their way when they were coming down the street. Rex and Reno had learned to be a bit more tolerant of people and their habits. They had to in order to be deputies in Pearl.

  Just then Smith saw a woman heading out of the gates from the shelter, and Marco, Millie, and Reno were walking way behind her. From Smith’s perspective she appeared to be in a hurry.

  As she got closer, he looked her over and something in him reacted. Long legs, great body.

  “It’s her,” he whispered.

  Brock said, “Where?”<
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  She turned and looked right at him and gasped. Smith headed toward her. She backed up.

  “Hey, legs, what are you doing around here?” he asked. But then he saw how she backed up and appeared frightened. He glanced to the left where she looked, and there was Millie, Marco, and Reno. Millie was shaking her head saying no. Like don’t talk to her. He scrunched his eyes and looked at the woman.

  “Are you okay?” he asked.

  “I’m sorry, I don’t know you.” She turned and started walking away, and he knew she remembered him. Hell, he knew she felt that spark between them last night at the bar.

  He hurried to catch up with her. “Hey, I know you remember me from last night. What’s your name?”

  She stepped slightly away from him and just kept walking. She pushed a strand of her long brown hair behind her ear.

  “What’s the hurry? I’d like to talk to you and find out your name.”

  She stopped abruptly and stared up at him, sunglasses and all. “Listen, buddy, I don’t want to know anyone. I don’t need to tell you my name, and to be honest I’m not interested. Please leave me alone.”

  He stood there in shock as she turned and headed through the crowd. She picked the thickest groups of people to get lost in and sure enough she was gone before he could figure out what route to take to go after her.

  She really seemed angry but also scared. That just didn’t sit right with him at all.

  “What the fuck happened?” Brock asked with Rex coming up behind him then Marco, Millie, and Reno.

  Smith ran his fingers through his hair and looked back to where the gorgeous brunette disappeared. “I don’t know.”

  “You know her, Smith?” Millie asked, pushing between the guys to get closer.

  “Brock and I were at Rocky’s last night. She works there.”

  Millie widened her eyes. “You talked to her last night?”

  “Just complimented her on a move she pulled on some guy who put his hand on her ass and then her chest.”