Southern Secrets (The Southern Series Book 2)

by Shelley Stringer

  “Never mind. One of them ran off, and Everett and Philippe took care of the other two.” I watched as Claudia lifted her eyes to mine, a look of disbelief on her face.

  “Will you please explain to me what happened just now? Were those the Orcos Dad told me about, the ones who kidnapped you?” she asked as she pulled Ava closer to her. Ava continued to sleep peacefully as she lay on the bed.

  “Yes.”

  “And they are vampire-like creatures? The ones my family carries the immunity to?” she continued.

  “Yes.”

  “Then explain to me how Everett and Mr. Philippe were able to fight them, without being killed?”

  “Because they are Orcos too,” I said slowly, but I knew she already suspected as much. “Not like the others, they are Aldon. The term means old friend, or wise protector. They are part of a secret society, they were born, not bitten and transformed. It’s complicated, but they are here to protect us. We aren’t supposed to know about the Aldon, so just keep quiet. We know nothing,” I warned her. I glanced up at Constance as Brie pulled away from me, nodding her head.

  “And they…they killed them?” Brie asked, her eyes still wide with fear. I pulled her back in close to me.

  “You could say that. They’re…they’re dead. Everett and Mr. Philippe are…disposing of them, or rather, what is left of them,” I shuddered. Constance sat down beside Claudia on the bed.

  I paced back and forth, unable to calm down. My adrenaline seemed to be pumping at an accelerated rate. A beep from my laptop interrupted my tenth trip across the room. I ran over to retrieve it off the floor, and plopped down on the bed beside Constance to open it, clipping the webcam to the top corner of the screen as I ran my fingers across the control. Banton’s face immediately popped on the screen.

  “Hey, beautiful. How are my babies today?” He grinned at me. As he gazed at me, his eyes abruptly turned dark. “What’s going on, Chandler? What’s wrong?” he demanded as he leaned in to the screen.

  “We’ve just had some trouble here,” I sighed. I wasn’t going to make the same mistake again. He could read me like a book, anyway. “Three Orcos just tried to break in on Claudia, Brie, Constance and me. I locked the others upstairs in our bathroom, and then tried to stall them until Everett and Mr. Philippe could get here.”

  “What the hell…Why were you alone, where were the Aldon,” he shouted.

  “Grant had just left, and he said Everett was on his way. We spotted the Orcos out the kitchen window, before they broke in. Everett got here just in time. They’d just broken in the back door, and caught me in the foyer…”

  “Why in God’s name would Grant leave before Ev got there? Is Everett there, I want to talk to him!” He sounded furious.

  “Calm down…we’re all okay. Everett and Mr. Philippe are busy cleaning up the mess downstairs. They made us stay up here until…until they were finished.”

  “What mess? Chandler, did they touch you? Are you hurt?” he demanded angrily.

  “I fought with one of them. He wasn’t trying to hurt me, just to hold me. I think they were trying to kidnap me again.” I looked up at Constance, deciding I’d better let them all in on what I’d overheard.

  “What do you mean?” He asked warily.

  “One of the other Orcos told the one holding me not to harm me or the blonde one. We were to be taken, unharmed.” I watched his eyes turn black with anger. I glanced over at Constance, and her face paled at my comments.

  “He dragged me up the staircase, but I managed to pull away to kick him…in the right place. He fell back long enough for me to get into John’s room, and lock the door. He broke it open just as Everett and Mr. Philippe got upstairs, Everett flew into him and they broke out the window and fell to the ground. That Orco got away.”

  “What about the others?” he asked.

  “They’re dead. Ev is disposing of them now,” I answered him quietly.

  “Where was Beau during all of this?”

  “He’d gone outside earlier and was off exploring. But…” I stopped as the tears began to flow. “Beau…Beau tried to save me. He’s lost a lot of blood, but Mr. Philippe said he’s still alive. He promised me they are taking care of him.” I began to sob, the shock of the ordeal having finally worn off.

  “Okay, Sweetheart. I’m sure he’ll be all right. Damn it, I need to be there. I’m so sorry about all of this. I cannot believe Grant left you unprotected!”

  “It couldn’t have been more than ten minutes, at the most. He couldn’t have known what would happen. It’s been so quiet here.” I took a deep breath, trying to get control.

  “Sweetheart, listen to me. When Everett and Mr. Philippe come back upstairs to get you, I want them to call me. We need to make some plans. I need to know you’re safe.”

  “Okay, I’ll tell them.”

  “You look so tired, Baby. Are you sure you’re all right? You’re not hurt?” he asked again.

  “I’m a little shaken up, maybe a couple of bruises where I landed on my rear again, but I’ll be okay.”

  “What were you thinking, going back downstairs? You should have locked yourself in the bathroom with the others.”

  “I know, but I had to buy some time. I’d already been bitten, and I knew I was stronger than the others, that maybe I could stall long enough for Ev to get here. I knew he was on his way,” I argued, knowing he wouldn’t be happy with my reasoning.

  “Don’t ever do that again. I know you wanted to protect the others, Chandler, but you’re pregnant!”

  “I know. I’m sorry, don’t worry about us, it’s over, and we’re fine.” As I watched his face, I detected a movement behind him in the room.

  “Are you talking to Andie?” John’s voice came over the monitor.

  Banton turned, and answered him. “John, the girls had a scare, some Orcos tried to break in on them at our house. The girls are shaken up, but all right,” he explained quickly. John shot a look back at Brie.

  “Brie, are you all right? Is everyone okay?” John asked, his voice frantic.

  “We’re fine, John, thanks to Andie. We’ll fill you in later…” she trailed off. We could hear other voices in the background.

  “…what the…was Constance there? What happened?” We could hear Ty’s voice as he came into the room. “Let me talk to her…Constance! Are you hurt?”

  Now they were all three hysterical.

  Banton’s voice broke in, “Guys, I’ll fill you in on what happened. Command is calling, we’ve got to go. Chandler, I love you. Tell Everett to text me with your plans. I’ll call you as soon as we get back.” He sounded tortured as he had to shut his monitor, the others voices still audible in the background. Then the screen went silent. I shut the laptop, and then raised my eyes to Constance. She was shedding silent tears, evidently the shock had worn off or the tone in Ty’s voice had made her emotional.

  “He’ll be worse than ever, now. This is what he was afraid of.” She dropped her hand into her lap, and then lay back on the bed in frustration.

  Brie got up and moved over to the window seat, curled up with a pillow, and stared out into the darkness. We all sat quietly, until I heard Claudia’s cell buzz in her pocket. She flipped it out and began talking in hushed tones. Will had obviously answered her missed call to him, and I could tell she was relaying our ordeal. As Everett opened the bedroom door, she flipped her cell shut and sat up.

  “We’re through downstairs, and Grant brought several more of our friends from N’awlins to help clean up and guard you. We’re seven strong tonight, not including Dr. Renault, so you can sleep easy, Ladies. No Orco would dare come back here tonight,” he stated emphatically, crossing the room slowly.

  I began to shake uncontrollably. It was a crazy reaction, I told myself, it’s Everett, for Pete’s sake. I just couldn’t get the image of the carnage at the bottom of the staircase out of my head, the carnage he and Mr. Philippe had been responsible for. No matter how grateful I was they’d killed the Orcos, t
he violence that had to have occurred…I shuddered as I raised my eyes to meet his.

  “Bebe, it’s all right. I know, I’m sorry you saw …We had to…I’m so sorry, Bebe. Please, don’t be frightened of me. We would never hurt you, I promise.” He stood, his palms outstretched, inviting me into his arms. I stood and glanced at the others as they watched me curiously, the horror of what must have taken place downstairs dawning on them all.

  I walked to him hesitantly as he drew me into a gentle embrace. He kissed the top of my head, and then lay his cheek over on my head, rocking me back and forth in his arms. “You’re all safe now. I’m so sorry this happened. I can’t believe they attacked during the few minutes you were unprotected; they must have been watching and waiting for days.”

  “Will is flying in tonight, and he’ll be here at midnight. He’s taking me and Ava back to Mother and Daddy’s in N’awlins in the morning,” Claudia said calmly, kissing Ava on the forehead. Then she turned to me, “Andie, you need to go too. You’ll be safer at Mother and Daddy’s house.”

  “No she won’t, but you will be. They would just follow Chandler and Constance. You and Ava Grace need to get away from here, and Brie too,” he glanced over where Brie sat on the window seat.

  “I can’t leave Baton Rouge, I’ve got classes…” she began nervously.

  “Then we’ll send someone to stay with you in a hotel room or at your apartment, just until John gets back. I don’t think they would bother you,” Everett said emphatically.

  “How do you know?” I asked. “Aren’t they after any of us, to get at the SEALs?”

  “I don’t think the reason is revenge. It’s not personal, not for them all, anyway. They want you and Constance for a reason. Dr. Renault is convinced of it.”

  “Dr. Renault?” I asked, turning back to him.

  “Yes, Bebe, I’ll explain everything later. Right now, we need to get everyone to rest. It’s getting late, and none of you have eaten anything. Dr. Renault wants to check you over, Chandler. We have seven Aldon posted around the house, and sweet Olivia and Patrick are downstairs too. They thought they could stay with you and help. Although they’ve embraced the Aldon, they are in-tune and schooled in the ways of the Orcos, and can detect their presence immediately, anticipating their moves. They’ll be helpful in keeping you all safe.” He hugged me tighter, and pulled me away to look into my eyes.

  “I talked to Banton on my laptop. He called right after the attack. The SEALs were called out, and he told me before he had to go he wanted you to text him with your plans for us,” my voice was still shaking as I relayed Banton’s instructions to Everett.

  “I will. Come now, let’s get you all downstairs, and settled for the night” Claudia picked Ava up and crossed the room with her.

  “I’ll just go in our room, and put her gown on her, I think she’s down for the night.” She turned to go into Banton’s old room. I glanced over into John’s room, a man I’d never seen before was already replacing the glass in the bay window in there. Another man was hanging a new door on the hinges; the remnants of the old door piled in a heap beside the landing at the top of the stairs.

  “Your friends sure work fast, Ev. They are amazing,” Constance observed as we started down the staircase. Several large, dark stains mottled the wood floor in the entry hall. Brie shuddered as she stepped around them and into the dining room. Another man was just finishing up hanging a new kitchen door. I quickly turned and glanced where Beau had been in the floor.

  “Where is Beau? Is he…” I asked Everett frantically.

  “Mr. Philippe and Patrick took him to the vet. He’s lost a lot of blood, and he’s pretty torn up, but I think he’ll make it,” he said gently as I teared again.

  “He’ll be fine, Bebe. We’ll make sure of it.” He pulled me close to him, rubbing my good arm with his hand. Olivia came out of the kitchen to meet us.

  “I placed some sandwich stuff out in here for you to eat. Mr. Everett had me to go and get some food for you.” She smiled at me, and rushed to hug me. “Dear Chandler, you’ve had quite an ordeal. We will take care of you, please, come in and eat something.” She took my arm and led us in to the kitchen.

  We all sat silently, picking at our food. No one had an appetite. I managed to drink some tea, and a few bites of a sandwich. As the activity died down around us, and the tools were stowed away by Aldon, Claudia stood and stretched.

  “Well, I know I’m not sleeping alone, I don’t care how many bodyguards we have. Brie, will you sleep in Banton’s old room with me and Ava?” she asked, walking around the table.

  “Sure, I’m exhausted. I think I’ll go on up.”

  “Olivia will be up to watch your room,” Everett said as they passed him in the hallway. Claudia stopped to hug him. “Thank you, Everett. You saved us tonight,” she whispered, continuing down the hallway.

  “Come on, Bebe. You need to rest. I’ll stay in your room with you and Constance,” Everett called from the doorway. He escorted us upstairs, and fixed his usual mattress on the floor as I went in the bathroom to take a shower. As I pulled my sweat top over my head, I glanced back in the mirror and stopped cold. My back was covered in bruises, circling around my ribcage and across my stomach where the Orco had grasped my waist as he drug me up the stairs. The new bruises were mixed with older, yellowing bruises. Paired with the cast on my arm and the tired, drawn look on my face, my appearance was appalling. I wrapped my cast in plastic and showered quickly, and then pulled a pair of flannel pajamas out of the drawer, hoping to spare my roommates the sight I’d just seen in the mirror. I worked my cast through the armhole, and then pulled the pajama bottoms on one-handed.

  When I opened the door, Mr. Philippe greeted me.

  “Chandler, I just wanted to let you know, Beau will be fine. The doctor gave him some blood and stitched him up. He’ll need to stay a couple of days, so the vet will call you when you can pick him up.” He patted me on the shoulder, and then turned to leave.

  “Thank you, Mr. Philippe, for everything.”

  “If we’d been here sooner, this would have never happened. We are responsible, and we’ll take care of you from now on,” he stated emphatically as he left the room.

  Constance was already in the bed, having just pulled her jeans off, leaving her sweatshirt on for a nightshirt. She watched silently as I checked my cell and placed it on the nightstand.

  “Bebe, Dr. Renault wants to see you before you go to sleep. He’s in John’s room.”

  “All right, I’ll be right back.” I opened the bedroom door, and an Aldon was seated in a chair by the top of the stairs. He nodded to me as I crossed to go into John’s room. Dr. Renault greeted me; he was seated in a chair by the window, watching out into the night.

  “I want to check you over and make sure you aren’t having any problems, pain or bleeding,” he commented as he rose, picking my cast up and surveying the ER doctor’s handiwork. “You’ve had quite an eventful few days, young lady,” he said knowingly as he watched my expression. “He broke your arm, this time in your dream?” he asked, almost disbelievingly.

  “Yes, but I’m fine. I fell again tonight, and the Orco bruised my waist when he pulled me up the staircase, but I haven’t had any pains or bleeding. I don’t think anything else is broken.”

  “Let me see,” Dr. Renault pulled my top up, and examined my waist and ribcage, and then turned me around to look at my back. “Young lady, you’re going to be sore for a while.” He gently probed my ribs with his fingers, and I winced. I was in more pain than I’d first thought.

  “You might have a cracked rib or two.” He pulled my shirt back down, and then stated, “I think you might need to come in to the clinic in the morning. I want to run a couple of blood tests, and I want to do another sonogram, just for my own piece of mind, with everything that has happened.”

  “Doc, Everett said you think the Orcos are after me and Constance specifically. Why do you think that?”

  “It’s just a theory. I
think they might want you for different reasons than we first thought. You and Constance are different; you know you draw them in, because you carry the gene. But yours is different than the SEALs. I didn’t run a test on your genetics at first, we already knew you were a carrier, and the tests I ran on you were for the pregnancy. But when I ran the tests on Constance, I needed to compare them to yours. I re-ran a panel on your blood, and you have the variant as well. I’m not sure what it means yet, but I suspect it’s the reason the Orcos want you and Constance so badly.”

  “How did you know they were after me and Constance, tonight?”

  “Everett and Philippe managed to get a little information from the scum, before they disposed of them,” he stated softly as he watched me shudder.

  “We will get to the bottom of this. You need to get some sleep, now, and I suspect you need to plan to take it easy tomorrow, and rest after your appointment. Your bruises alone will bring on enough soreness to slow you down a day or two.” He patted me on the shoulder, and opened the door for me.

  “Thank you, Dr. Renault. I didn’t know you made house calls,” I said as I grinned at him.

  “For patients as beautiful as you, I do. Anytime.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  I lay awake until the wee hours of the morning. Everett rested on his pallet beside me in the darkness, reading as usual, while Constance slept curled up close to my back. Every thirty minutes or so, Everett would rise to pace over to watch out the window, and then back to his pallet. Sighing, I turned over for the hundredth time to watch him.

  “Bebe, I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Am I keeping you awake with my pacing?”

  “No, I can’t sleep anyway, Ev. It’s not you.” I shuddered again, playing the scene downstairs over again in my head.

  “Scoot over, Bebe.” Everett commanded. I slid over closer to Constance as Everett lay down on the bed next to me, pulling me up so my head lay over on his chest. He kissed the top of my head, and sighed. “Now, relax and sleep,” he commanded. I shut my eyes and finally began to drift.