“Are you hungry? You must be starving,” her mother asked, drying her hands on her apron as Grandma smiled.
“I know I’m starving. Been waiting over an hour,” Lance teased and then gave a wink.
She chuckled. “Let’s eat then.” She took in the sight of them. All three brothers were taller than her dad by four or so inches, around six feet three. She was always the littlest one. Even out of all the cousins, male of course, she was the most petite. Which made times hard during family parties, but she kept up being the tomboy that she was until she became good friends with Tasha.
She couldn’t wait to see her. Tasha was a wild one, and already was planning a bunch of activities with some of their other friends who lived nearby. They had been texting and e-mailing the last few weeks nonstop. Even from a distance, Tasha had been a supportive and caring friend.
She stepped into the house and smiled as her eyes absorbed all the things that had stayed the same and the tiny things that had changed. She rubbed her side, feeling the ache, and her grandma covered her hand.
“You feeling okay?” she asked.
Serefina smiled. “Yes, Grandma. I’m just a little tired from the drive, but I’ll be fine.”
Her grandma gave her a wink and then rubbed along her side where the scar was. She gulped. “You’re beautiful, on the inside and on the outside. You remember that.”
Her eyes watered, but then Lance came up behind her and tugged her hair.
“Do you remember where the bathroom is, or do you need a tour, squirt?” he teased, staring down at her as he always did when they were growing up. Her three brothers watched over her, and protected her. That hadn’t changed at all.
She shook her head and gave his side a gentle slap before heading to the bathroom.
* * * *
Marty sat by Angelina and listened to his sons Eddie, Lance, and Tyler tell Serefina all about the new stores on the boardwalk and some of the cool places.
“If you’re still jogging, you can run along the bike path that was put in along practically the entire length of the boardwalk,” Lance explained. His daughter smiled as she sat on the couch between Eddie and Tyler. She was gorgeous, and all grown up. No longer a little girl, but always his little girl. He felt the tightness in his chest. He wished she hadn’t experienced the fire, the pain of losing the man she loved so much. He wondered why she hadn’t mentioned Matt sooner. Was she afraid that they wouldn’t like him? Did she really feel like she needed to hide things from her own family?
It worried him. Perhaps her being back home could help make her see how much they loved her and needed her, too.
“Marty, what’s the name of that little jewelry hut on the corner of Tulip? Angelic something. Or is it Angels and something?” Angelina asked.
“Oh, you mean Angel’s Wings. Fannie Higgins owns that place. She has such beautiful jewelry in there,” Grandma said. Marty smiled.
“You’ll have to go in there, Serefina. There are lots of little cards with inspirational sayings,” Angelina said.
“I’m not really into inspirational sayings, Mom.” She lowered her eyes and stared at her clasped hands.
“Well, check out Sullivan’s after your run. It’s a café and restaurant. Great food,” Eddie said in an obvious attempt to change the subject.
Marty knew what his wife was trying to do. She was so worried about Serefina’s depression and feared what she may do. So did he, but with his sons keeping an eye on Serefina, she would pull through this.
* * * *
Serefina yawned as she tucked both legs underneath her on the couch on the back porch. Her parents went to bed, and her grandparents had walked home down the street three houses away. Eddie was rocking in the big swing, while Lance and Tyler were talking about some of the upcoming beach events.
“The Jeep is still running okay?” Eddie asked her.
She smiled. “I’ve taken really good care of it.”
“But?” Tyler asked.
“Well, after the long drive, I noticed some pulling to the right.”
“Probably the alignment. May just need an adjustment,” Lance added.
“Does Mickey still work at his dad’s auto body shop?” she asked.
“Mickey is running the place now,” Eddie told her.
“Are his parents still around?” she asked, feeling concerned. She had dated Mickey in high school for a short period of time, but they both realized they were better off as friends.
“They are. His dad’s back is bad and can’t do as much as he used to do. Mickey runs the place now. He asks about you. I saw him at the Station a few nights ago. Mentioned you were coming back,” Lance said.
She nodded her head. “The Station is still up and running, huh?” She thought about the bar and local hang out place. It was big, mostly filled with firefighters, but regulars did hang there, too.
“That place will always be there. Hollywood is already planning his retirement and planning on helping his dad take over the place,” Eddie said and then chuckled as he shook his head.
“You have to admit, he’d make a great bar owner,” Lance stated.
“He’d make a great bouncer. The guy is freaking huge,” Tyler said.
“Like as in fat?” she asked, totally surprised. The Hollywood she remembered was pretty tall and muscular but not heavy.
“Oh, he’s changed in the last six years, Serefina. He and his brothers Jake and Bear are in great physical condition after the Marine Corps. Biggest, muscular guys around town. You know that Jake is the sheriff and Bear and Hollywood work at our station house,” Lance told her.
“That’s great. I guess a lot has changed in six years.” She closed her eyes, leaned her head back, and absorbed the peacefulness of the porch and the smell of ocean air in the distance.
“It’s great to have you back, Fina,” Lance whispered. She opened her eyes and saw all three of her big brothers watching her. Eddie with his black crew cut hair and always so stern expression. He was the serious one. Lance, with a smile, was the jokester. The girls were always chasing after him, and for good reason. Lance as well as Eddie and Tyler, were good-looking guys, and they were well built, too, as firefighters. She looked at Tyler, the compassion in his eyes, the concern on his face.
“I’m glad to be back, too. It’s going to take a little getting used to, but I’ll be fine.”
Lance looked at Tyler and then Eddie. She could see their concerned expressions.
“We’re here for you, Serefina. You’re not alone,” Lance whispered. She felt the tears sting her eyes. She swallowed hard.
She couldn’t speak, couldn’t get out any words. She didn’t want to cry, to lose herself in emotions so strong that she was hollow inside. That was basically how she felt. Hollow.
Serefina stood up and looked at them. “I think I’m going to head up to the apartment. I’ll see you guys tomorrow?”
“Probably at supper. We’re on days this week, except for Tyler,” Eddie replied.
She smiled at him. “Be safe.” She walked out and across the back walkway to the apartment. She hoped her brothers understood that she needed time. Time seemed to be the only cure anyone suggested for a broken heart and a loss as great as what she felt.
* * * *
“I’m worried,” Lance whispered after Serefina walked out.
“Like we’re not all worried, too,” Tyler stated.
Eddie was still standing by the door, ensuring that Serefina made it to the apartment okay. As the oldest he took his role as guardian so serious, especially when it came to Serefina.
“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m just making a statement. You saw her, you can read the sadness in her eyes and in her expression,” Lance replied.
“She’s beautiful, and she needs to move on with her life,” Eddie stated.
“That’s easy for any of us to say, Eddie, but we don’t know what she went through. Hell, she never even told any of us any of the details,” Lance replied.
&n
bsp; “Do you blame her? She could have died in there like all the others. She’s living with survivor’s guilt. I guarantee that,” Eddie replied.
“I guess all we can do is just be here for her, try to make her feel at home again, and hopefully with time, her heart will heal,” Tyler stated, as he stood up and headed toward the door. “I need some rest. My night shift starts this week. You two enjoy the easy shifts.”
“Easy, my ass. Let’s just hope for quiet days and nights all around,” Eddie replied.
“Amen, brother,” Lance added as he stood up prepared to leave as well.
Chapter 4
“Have you lost your fucking mind, Kent?” Duggy Perrone asked as he stood in the main office at Kent Real Estate and Construction.
Kent shot him a look. That expression, the custom business suit, and the arrogance of the multimillionaire was hard to stand up to. He wasn’t exactly standing up to him. He just thought the fucker was out of his mind.
“I’m dead serious. You can handle this process, can’t you?” Kent took a deep breath and released it as he ran his hands through his shoulder-length hair.
“Fuck. Are you certain you want to do something this extreme? What will it get you? The property still belongs to Shannigan.”
Kent clasped his fingers under his chin and stared at Duggy with a very smug expression. He was up to something, that sneaky bastard.
“I will handle the paperwork, the behind-the-scenes process, per se. You, and that connection you have, begin planning the destruction.”
“But, Kent, there are hundreds of people living in that condominium by the water.”
Kent slammed his hand down on the desk. “That piece of shit condo is blocking my hotel’s beachfront, ocean views. That land should be mine. I’ve made Shannigan offers over the years, but the old bat refuses to give it up. Now can you handle this job or what?”
“It’s going to take some time to plan this accordingly. I mean, abandoned buildings, clubs, restaurants, are one thing, but a whole condominium complex with that many people in it?”
Kent stood up and walked around the desk. He stared at Duggy.
“Hey, didn’t I help get your brother out of the area months ago? He fucked that job up, almost cost me.”
“No one was onto him. He needed the time off anyway,” Duggy replied, but in his head he thought about Denis. His brother’s obsession had been getting the better of him. He swore that he heard voices in his head, and that a higher power, his master, was telling him what to do.
At first Duggy didn’t mind how his brother knew how to rig wires, and set off fires and explosions without leaving forensic evidence for the arson investigators. It made them a shitload of money fast. In fact, they could probably get the hell out of here, but Duggy owed Kent big-time. After Denis set that fire at the club in North Carolina, killing all those people, he became obsessed. Kent knew people that could help him. Give him drugs to stop the hallucinations. It had been nearly nine months since the incident and no records were on file of his brother’s treatment or any indication that the cops were on to him. Kent had saved his brother’s ass.
“Let me talk to Denis and see what he thinks. But I think this may be our last job.”
Kent smiled. “You pull this off, and there’ll be a hundred thousand sitting in that savings account I set up for you. Do it right. No loose ends and no fuckups.”
Duggy nodded and then headed out of the room. He wondered if Kent would really let him and his brother go, or if it were too late. Kent was big-time, and he had money, power, and a family name that could wipe out any bad publicity. From experience, Duggy knew that name could even wipe out murder.
* * * *
Eddie and the rest of the crew were exhausted. They had three calls back to back and still a half an hour left in their shifts to go.
“Damn, I’m starving,” Lance told Ice as they checked over the equipment on the truck, along with Bull, Ace, and Eddie.
“We all are. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we just did our last call of this shift. I’m looking forward to a few beers and a nice, thick, rare steak,” Ice said as he hauled the extra hose across the way and placed it into the holder.
“Sounds good to me. How about you guys? Are you up for some beers and steaks at Sullivan’s? I can guarantee a rare steak,” Ice teased and Eddie chuckled. Of course he could. His parents own the place.
“We need to check in first. We weren’t sure if we were eating at home tonight,” Lance said as he pulled out his cell phone.
“You’ve been eating home the last week, which is fine, but usually you guys are hitting the Station for beers, burgers, and broads,” Ice teased.
Lance laughed but Eddie was too occupied thinking about his sister. She had been quiet all week. Maybe he expected her to just break out of the shell she was in, but she didn’t. It was frustrating. She hadn’t even ventured off the property except to their grandparents’ for lunch yesterday.
“Hey, you in, or are you eating at your parents’ house again?” Bull asked Eddie.
He nodded toward Lance who called home to talk to their dad.
“Hey, what’s going on?” Ace asked him. Ace was a good friend. He was also a big guy, standing at over six feet three inches. They had very similar personalities.
“Nothing,” Eddie replied and then grabbed his gear after checking it over. He walked toward the back room where they stored their extra stuff.
Ace followed.
When Eddie turned around, Ace was leaning one shoulder against the door staring at him.
“What’s the deal, junior? You’ve been acting off the last few days. Meanwhile, last week you were in a great mood.”
“It’s nothing. Just personal stuff.”
Ace raised his eyebrow. “Really?” He chuckled. “Not so long ago you were talking to me about getting my shit together. What’s up?”
Eddie took a deep breath and then released it. “My sister moved back from North Carolina.”
Ace stood up straight and undid his arms. “When? You guys didn’t mention this. That’s what you all wanted, even the old man, right?”
Eddie looked at Ace. “It’s just tough. Too much to explain.”
“How about over some beers then?”
Eddie smiled, and before he could answer, Lance was interrupting.
“We can go to Sullivan’s, Serefina went out with Tasha.”
“Where?” Eddie asked. He couldn’t help but to worry about her.
Lance cleared his throat, looked at Ace, and then back at his brother.
“I didn’t ask. You think I should call back, or maybe call her cell?”
“No. It’s okay. I’ll text her. We’ll go to Sullivan’s.”
“Yeah, and grab those beers,” Ace said as he turned around and headed out of the room.
Eddie walked toward Lance. “Hey, this is a good thing that she went out with Tasha. It can help her to relax and take her mind off of it all.”
“I hope so. This is going to be crazy, I can see that.”
“What?” Lance asked as they headed out of the room.
“Worrying about what guys are going to be hitting on her, and what they might try. We lost some years protecting her and I’m not taking any chances this time.”
“Eddie, she’s a grown woman.”
“Who’s a grown woman?” their dad asked as he came up from behind them.
“Serefina.”
His dad scrunched his eyebrows together. “What about her?”
“She went out with Tasha. We just spoke to mom,” Lance told him.
“I know. Mom called an hour ago to let me know. They were meeting some of her other old friends from town.”
“Great. And you’re not worried?” Eddie asked his dad.
“Eddie, the last thing we need to do is smother her,” he said as he placed his arm over Eddie’s shoulder.
Lance laughed.
“Mom told you to relax, too, didn’t she?”
�
�Sure as shit did. I’m headed home soon for dinner. What are you two doing?”
“Going to Sullivan’s,” Lance said and then headed out of the room toward the lockers.
“I don’t know why, but I feel like I should be watching over her, making up for lost time, I don’t know, maybe just protecting her from any further harm.”
“Believe me, son, I know how you feel.” His dad looked around them and then whispered. “So many times I wished I could turn back time and changed the things that happened to her, but I can’t. All I can do now is be supportive, and let her know how much I love her. Same for you and your brothers. Besides, Tyler saw her before she left and got the low down of where they were going, who was with them, and when she would be back.” He winked.
Eddie chuckled. “I guess with four men to watch over her like this, she’ll be as safe as we all want her to be.”
“Bet your ass. Have fun tonight and don’t stay out too late. If tomorrow is anything like today, you’ll be sleeping all weekend.” They both laughed as they headed toward the garage bays.
* * * *
Serefina was trying to enjoy the dinner and conversation with old friends. Each time she found herself engrossed in the subject, she had the tinge of guilt deep within her belly. It was always there, that question of why she was alive. Different things triggered it. She ran the tip of her finger over the rim of the glass of wine she’d only sipped twice since dinner.
The place was lovely, set out on the boardwalk, nowhere near the rides and attractions just on the outskirts. It was a step up from the other places on the boardwalk that were a bit more rowdy and crowded. The live music was another special addition.
She looked at the woman singing on stage. She kind of appeared nervous. Serefina remembered the days so long again when singing brought her joy and pleasure. As a teen she and her friends sang for special events around town and in school. Serefina always landed the role that had the most solos. She swallowed hard. She hadn’t sung a song, or hummed a tune since losing Matt.
Hearts on Fire 1: Serefina (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 3