Vera looked at Elle who raised her eyebrows at her.
“What? What did you find out from Felix?” Angelina asked.
As Vera told Angelina about the video surveillance and how the guy kissed her and grabbed her breast, Angelina felt worse.
“Oh God, it was all on video?”
“Yep, and the word around the club is that Terrance, Lucifer, and his brothers were pissed off. No one working there had ever seen them so angry. The guys in security caught you on tape, fighting off the guy, despite the drugs, and then you were jumping Terrance’s bones.”
“Oh shit! I didn’t…oh, Vera, please tell me that you’re messing with me.” Angelina covered her face and shook her head. She slowly spread her fingers wider to peek at Vera in anticipation of her saying she was teasing her. But, no such luck, Vera shook her head then laid her hand on Angelina’s knee.
“Well, if they don’t want you now, then I guess it is really time to move on.”
“How embarrassing. I threw myself at Terrance. He must think I’m such an ass. That’s it. This is over. I’m done lusting over them. I can’t live like this.”
“Hey, it wasn’t your fault. No one blames you for what happened. Haven’t you read the papers, Angelina?” Elle asked.
“No, I was a bit under the weather the past few days.”
“Well, you should Google search the current missing women cases. Apparently, the police believe that someone is drugging women and then taking them. No bodies have been found, so they think that the women are either still alive or were taken out of New Orleans, maybe even the country,” Elle stated.
Angelina covered her mouth with her hand. “That could have been me or either of you.”
“No, not us. That guy was probably a wannabe. Just some dick that can’t get women the normal way and cuts to the chase using drugs,” Vera added.
“I don’t know about that. I was totally out of it. I don’t even remember having a conversation with him, just flashbacks of his face, especially at night.”
“Damn, that’s terrible. If you want me to stay here with you, I can until you feel safe?” Elle offered.
Angelina smiled. “I appreciate it, but I’m okay.”
“Well, I wouldn’t worry about trying to land one of the Bouchets anyway. The word from Felix is that their club is under investigation, too,” Vera added.
“They think that Terrance and Lucifer had something to do with this?” Angelina was in shock.
“The police have to follow all leads. Apparently, you could have been the third woman who disappeared from Dominate,” Vera said.
“Holy shit. I hope they catch whoever is doing this. It was scary not knowing what was going on and not having control like that.”
“I bet. Well, it’s over now and we’ll be cautious when we go out from now on.”
“I don’t think I’ll be hitting the club scene for quite some time.”
“Why the hell not? It was a freak thing, Angelina,” Vera stated firmly.
“You didn’t have the amount of people I’ve had come in here and try to explain to me about taking precautions and safety. My sisters are involved with men who were in the military, work in the sheriff’s department and are sheriffs, the CIA agents, and total Alpha males. I feel like the only words that didn’t leave their lips were, ‘You’re grounded until you’re thirty.’”
Elle chuckled.
“That sucks. We’ll think of something less risky but still fun. Plus in a week, they’ll feel less controlling and you’ll feel up to some fun again,” Vera said.
“We’ll see.” Angelina thought about what Vera had told her.
“I was really all over Terrance?”
“Felix said Terrance had the willpower of a priest to not touch you.”
“How embarrassing.”
* * * *
The front door opened, and Angelique arrived along with Mikayla. Everyone greeted one another, and then Vera and Elle stood up, prepared to leave.
“We’ll call you later,” Vera said. She and Elle said good-bye and left the house.
“So, how ya feeling?” Mikayla asked as she stood by the edge of the couch.
Angelina shrugged her shoulders.
“Didn’t your visit with Elle and Vera cheer you up?” Angelique asked as she took a seat across from Angelina. She was so worried about her and what had happened. Plus, all the calls from Mike and Tye were making her crazy.
“Not really. Worse now I guess.” Angelina leaned back and closed her eyes.
“Okay, spit it out, what happened?” Mikayla asked then took a seat on the couch alongside Angelina.
“Apparently I made a complete fool out of myself at that club.”
“What? You were drugged up. Everyone knows that. What did Vera and Elle say?” Angelique asked, and she sounded on the defensive.
Angelina released a long sigh then looked at her sisters. “I was all over Terrance.”
Their eyes widened, and Mikayla placed her leg under her butt and scooted closer.
“Really? Like kissing him and touching him?”
“Mikayla! This is not funny. I apparently was all over him, and they saw it on video.”
Angelique chuckled.
“Hello?” Angelina said in a huff.
“Did this video show Terrance’s reaction to you throwing yourself at him?” Angelique asked with a smile.
Angelina shook her head. “The word is that Terrance had the willpower of a priest.”
“Oh Lordy, Lordy, Lordy, little sista,” Mikayla teased in a thick Cajun accent.
“Honestly, all kidding aside, Angelina, I wouldn’t worry about it. Just be glad that Terrance has such great security cameras there and that he was on top of things,” Angelique said.
“Yeah, the guys said that Terrance saw you on video and was heading down to talk with you. He was really pissed off. Him and Lucifer have upped security at the club and are totally cooperating with police,” Mikayla said.
“I heard that the police are looking at them as suspects.”
“That was initially, when they didn’t have anything to go by. You were the third woman drugged at their club, but the first two the Bouchet brothers knew nothing about until the police conducted a timeline. Those women were at the club, left from there, and disappeared,” Angelique said.
“Damn, I can’t believe this. I was just sitting there enjoying the atmosphere and people watching. It’s such a cool place, and then this guy comes over to me and it seemed like he ordered the drinks from the bar. I was sitting right there. But I guess I was too busy being caught up in the glamor of the place and the people. It was so Vogue and amazing.” Angelina closed her eyes as they filled up with tears. She hugged herself tighter and felt Mikayla’s hand on her knee.
“It’s okay now. It’s over.”
Angelina opened her eyes.
“How is your breast? Does it still hurt a lot?” Angelique asked. Mike and Tye had asked about her injury. Angelique didn’t want to tell them, but they were so insistent. Of course when she did, they looked about to explode. She wouldn’t tell Angelina. Angelique had a feeling that things would work out.
Angelina nodded her head and released a long sigh.
“I can’t stop thinking about him and especially at night.”
“Oh, sweetie, we told you that you could come stay with one of us.”
“And interfere in your time alone with your men? No way. I’m fine and I can handle this.”
“You wouldn’t be interfering,” Mikayla said.
“I would feel uncomfortable.”
“We’d keep it down so you wouldn’t,” Mikayla said then winked.
“Oh God, I definitely turn down your offer, Mikayla.” Mikayla and Angelique laughed, but Angelique felt tightness in her stomach. She worried about Angelina. She was lucky that instincts kicked in and she was able to kick her attacker as the security team and Terrance arrived. Their sister could have been raped, murdered, or taken. She wanted her s
afe, and the only way to ensure her safety was to insist that Mike and Tye come clean with Angelina about their feelings for her, so that they could protect her. But how could she? It wasn’t her place, and the men needed to work out their personal issues. She just hoped that they did it sooner rather than later or they could lose Angelina entirely.
Chapter 3
Terrance was staring out the window in the kitchen. Again, he couldn’t sleep, and he needed to get to the club by four. It was a Friday night and despite the bad publicity in the papers, it seemed to make the club even more popular. He bumped up security, and Lucifer had some retired military connections redo the camera system. Lucifer seemed just as irate and concerned as Terrance.
He thought about Angelina.
Fuck! I could have lost you.
He sighed then placed the coffee mug onto the counter, grabbed the edge, and lowered his head as he gripped the counter. He was freaking out, he was worried about her, but mostly, he couldn’t get the feel of her body and the scent of her perfume out of his head.
“Hey, are you okay?” Lucifer asked as he entered the kitchen. Terrance released the counter and looked at Lucifer. His brother was six feet three, had black hair and dark brown eyes, and was filled out with muscles. He looked like a linebacker, and that was the position he’d played in high school and college. He had a mean streak in him, but the other night at Dominate, he was compassionate when it came to Angelina. It was obvious that Lucifer cared for her.
“What’s that look for?”
“Nothing. My fucking head is all messed up.”
“Over Angelina?”
He took a deep breath, released it, then looked at Lucifer. “What do you think?”
Lucifer placed the palms of his hands down on the kitchen counter and stared at Terrance.
“She affected me, too. I can’t get the scent of her perfume out of my mind or the fact that she said she wanted us.”
“Yeah, well I can’t forget what it felt like to be kissed by her, touched by her, or the way her curves felt against me. She licked my fucking nipple, Lucifer.”
“What else happened before I got to your office?”
“Nothing. I didn’t touch her. I did everything I could to get her to keep her distance. Damn it, Lucifer, what if that asshole got her out of the club? You saw her and you heard her. She was ready for sex.”
“I don’t want to think about it. Especially after viewing the tapes. But she did kick that asshole in his nuts. It was a quick move despite her condition.”
“Yeah, I’ve been over the tapes a lot of times. I zoomed in on her face and could see her struggling with what was happening. He forearmed her in her breast and ribs.”
“I know. Mike and Tye talked with Angelique. She said that Angelina is a bit sore and bruised. She’s having trouble sleeping but being stubborn in regards to getting help.”
“Shit, I should call her.”
“And say what, Terrance?”
“I don’t know, just let her know if she needs anything, then we’re here.”
“She’s pissed off and embarrassed even though this wasn’t her fault. Listen, the others are coming over this afternoon. We need to talk.”
“Jacque, too?”
“Not sure. Jacque is helping out at Ryder’s place.”
“Okay, we’ll start without him and fill him in on the details. In the meantime I called Michael Fromm and spoke with Eloi and Johnny. We want to get word out to the public and around the town about these abductions. If we could help prevent an attack or someone getting drugged and taken, then it would be better than doing nothing at all.”
“I’m glad that they were open to doing this. How are Angelina’s sisters taking things?”
“Their men said that they’re concerned but glad that we intervened.”
“I can’t help but worry about Angelina. Do you think she’ll go out with those two girlfriends of hers again? They both seem so different from her and kind of fast.”
“I sure hope she doesn’t, but maybe after our family meeting, we won’t have to worry about that anymore.”
“Well, I’m in. After seeing her up close at the club and thinking about some other man touching her, I won’t be able to take it. I want her and she’s right for all of us.”
“But are we what’s best for her?” Terrance asked, and even Lucifer was silent.
* * * *
Angelina was dressed in her boxing gear. Gloves, head gear, boxing sneakers, spandex shorts, and a sports bra with a black tank top that only reached midriff. She was sparring in the private room and boxing ring with Jerry. She told him about what happened the other night at the club. He was pissed off, and he understood her upset, despite telling her that it wasn’t her fault.
She was dancing around the ring, taking a few shots. This was like an enhanced kickboxing class, but because she knew Jerry for years and he was Elle’s brother, he helped her let off some steam from time to time.
“You said you wanted to let off some steam after that piece of shit hurt you, so let it go. I’ve got the padding on.” Jerry egged her on and she gave a sidekick to his ribs. He was wearing more padding, so she could really give it her all and not hold back.
“Good one, do it again.”
She gave a right hook to the solar plexus then went for the upper cut, but he moved. They battled it out where Jerry took a few easy shots at her, but she either moved or took them.
* * * *
“Thanks for helping out today. Jerry should be around. I think he’s doing a private session with a friend of his,” Ryder told Jacque Bouchet.
“Private lessons with a friend, huh?”
“Yeah, a good-looking one. She comes here a lot and takes Jerry’s kickboxing class. She’s gorgeous and the body on her, hey, you probably know her, too,” Ryder said as they slowly opened the door to the private boxing room.
Jacque’s eyes immediately focused on the woman’s long tan thighs, her stance, the short tight spandex shorts and the black top. She had an amazing body and a nice round ass.
“You said I know her?” Jacque asked as they moved closer.
“Yeah, your brothers did some business with her sister Angelique.”
His mind processed the information just as Jerry took a swing, the woman ducked then punched and side kicked Jerry, before sweeping his feet out from underneath him. Jerry fell to his ass.
Angelina! Holy shit.
“Yeah, baby, that was fucking hot, Angelina!” Jerry yelled as he got up and pulled off his headgear. Angelina was breathing heavy, and she looked so tense.
Jerry placed his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes. He was only about five eight or so but a great fighter. “You’re okay now and you did great.”
Jacque immediately felt on edge. Was there some kind of relationship between Jerry and Angelina? He felt the pain in the pit of his stomach. Why he even cared he didn’t know. Well, he did know. His brothers told him what happened the other night at Dominate. They had been talking about Angelina for the better part of a year. He had only met her once briefly, and she was so busy, she hardly even noticed. But he noticed. What man in his right mind wouldn’t notice a knockout woman like Angelina Aubert?
“Hey, Jerry, Angelina, what was that all about?” Ryder asked them as he and Jacque approached.
Angelina pulled off her headgear and smoothed out her hair. She was fixing her ponytail, and as she raised her arms back, he could see the muscle and definition in her arms and of course the large cleavage of her chest. She was also sporting some sort of tattoo on her hip. It disappeared down those tight shorts she wore. Jacque stared in annoyance as Jerry placed his arm around her waist and smiled, giving her a little hug.
“Just burning off some steam,” Jerry said, and Angelina smiled as she lowered her arms.
“Thanks for the workout, Jerry. I’ll see you later.”
“Hey, you going to see the band play in the Quarter tonight?”
“Not sure if I’m
ready to venture out.”
“I can tag along with you. You know, watch over you,” he said then winked.
“Where’s the band playing?” Ryder asked as Jacque stood there listening in.
Jerry began to speak with Ryder as Angelina looked at Jacque and squinted her eyes. They widened, and he realized that she remembered him.
“Jacque, right?” She bent down under the double ropes and walked toward the side. There were no steps, so she had to jump down. When she did. She landed on her feet, but Jacque was absorbing her body.
“Good memory,” he replied, and she reached next to him by the table and picked up a bottle of water. She took a long sip, and he watched her. She was only about five feet six. He towered over her big-time, but she didn’t seem intimidated.
“You’re into martial arts right?” she asked.
“He’s an ultimate fighter champion,” Ryder yelled over, and she smiled as Ryder and Jerry looked over their schedule.
“Impressive.” She bent over to get something out of her bag, and that was when he saw the bruising on her ribs.
“Hey, that didn’t just happen did it?” he asked her as he touched her side. She jerked away from him and then stared at him as if he had totally insulted her.
“You know what it’s from so why even ask.” She pulled out a T-shirt and put it on.
“I don’t know what you mean.”
She stared at him as if she didn’t believe him.
“It’s not from today.”
He didn’t want to argue with her, but for some strange reason he was completely turned on by this woman and her attitude.
“You looked good in there. Have you been boxing long?” he found himself asking and trying to keep a conversation going with her.
“I’ve been taking Jerry’s kickboxing classes for years.”
“That looked a hell of a lot more intense then kickboxing.”
“I needed to let off some steam.” She grabbed her bag. “I’ll see you later, Jerry.”
“Okay cool. You call me if you need a ride. I hope to see you later.”
She smiled then waved good-bye.
Angelina [Orchidea: Love on the Bayou 5] (Siren Publishing LoveXtreme Forever) Page 3