“Is she in danger?”
“Yes.”
“How bad? Wait, scratch that. It has to be bad if you think my connections and my assistance is necessary.”
“I took it upon myself to use my small connections to just check out this sheriff and the town Carina came from. What I got without sending any signals up was that something strange is definitely going on. I also got a call from a friend I served with. He’s with the Feds, and very politely, basically told me to back off.”
“Not liking the sound of that, Cesar.”
“Nor did I. So obviously this is something major, and you know as well as I do that when the Feds are involved with something they have tunnel vision. They’re after one person or group of people and everyone else is collateral damage.”
“Well, what did Carina tell you? How involved is she in this? Did she do something illegal?”
“This is the tricky part about confidentiality.”
“Wait, if Carina, the woman my brothers and I are set on making ours, is in some sort of serious danger, then that whole confidentiality bullshit can go out the window.”
“Well, it’s not my right to share what happened to her, and in all honesty, the four of you are going to need to really take your time and be patient with her. Be sure that you want her, because there won’t be going backward. It would destroy her if you guys used Carina, got tired of her, or just plain dropped her.”
“That isn’t going to happen. If we even thought that for a moment we never would have asked to be her guardians. Hell, from the moment I met her I knew. My brothers and I are older. We understand the commitment and we’re more than ready.”
“Good. Then I’m going to give you the next several days to try and get her to confide in you and tell you her story. Then we’re going to gather some of the others and make a real plan of action. Just know from what she told me, that I believe she is in danger. That the men who hurt her and caused her to run are likely to come looking for her.”
“What?”
“Yes. Talk to her. I already expressed where I stand with allowing you and your brothers to be her guardians and for her to trust you.”
Nevin ran his fingers through his hair and exhaled. He felt all his muscles tense and all he wanted to do now was to get to Carina, hold her in his arms and make her feel safe.
“I’ll call you in a few days, unless something changes before then,” Cesar said. Nevin stood up and they shook hands. As soon as he left he called his brothers. Milton and Jesse were already at Carina’s cottage and cooking up some dinner. Jack was on his way. Not knowing what exactly the danger was with Carina made him really feel on edge. He knew he would have to hide these emotions from her and just focus on gaining her trust. He couldn’t wait to get to her and see her.
* * * *
“Do you hear that?” Jesse asked Milton as he covered the chicken he made in a sheet of foil.
Milton scrunched his eyes and could hear the moaning sounds and then crying.
“I’ll go check on her.”
Milton made his way down the hallway and when he got to Carina’s bedroom and opened the door she was tossing and turning on the bed, crying and looking distressed.
“Carina. Carina, wake up,” he said to her as he approached. She moaned again and then he sat on the edge of the bed and placed his hand against her cheek.
She gasped and shot up. Milton grabbed her arms. “Whoa, slow down, you’re okay. It was just a bad dream.”
Her eyes were wide, the tears flowed, and she stared at him as if she hadn’t expected him to be there. He caressed her arms and then shocked him by throwing herself against him and hugging him. He shifted on the bed and pulled her on top of him as he lay down, holding her.
“I can’t take it. I can’t stop them. I don’t want to feel their hands on me anymore. I don’t want to hear their words, or feel the fists against my skin. Oh, God, Milton, don’t be disgusted with me. Please don’t hate me.”
“Shh…baby, I don’t hate you. I would never hate you.” He heard the floor creak and saw Jesse there looking upset. Behind him were Jack and Nevin.
Milton rolled her to her back and lay partially over her. He caressed her arm and she stared up at him and then glanced to the side. “You’re all here?” she asked.
“There’s no place else we want to be but with you, Carina,” Nevin said and moved into the room. He knelt on the other side of her bed then reached over and squeezed her hand.
“We’re here for you. Let us in, baby. Trust us to take care of you.”
“Trust us,” Jack said and he and Jesse stood at the end of the bed.
She looked at each of them and swallowed hard.
“I want to. I really, really want to.”
“Then do it. Talk to us. Explain what you’re feeling,” Milton said and used his thumb to stroke over the exposed skin on her hip.
Tears filled her eyes and she got all choked up. “I’m embarrassed, ashamed, and so scared of getting hurt again. I don’t think I could handle any more pain.”
Nevin brought her fingers to his lips and kissed her knuckles. “Do you know what I love, what makes me feel happy?” he asked her. She shook her head.
“Seeing you smile. That beautiful bright, gorgeous smile of yours lights up my heart, Carina. Did you know that?”
“No.”
“Okay, yeah, and your gorgeous blue eyes, how expressive they are, and mesmerizing. You’re a stunning young woman, Carina,” Milton told her and leaned down and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes so he kissed one eyelid and then the next.
“I love how petite and feminine she is. How perfect she fits in my arms. I could just hold you for hours, baby,” Jesse said.
“I love your strength and determination,” Jack said and she squinted at him.
“Me, strong?” she asked.
He nodded his head and smiled.
“I’ve watched you from afar, Carina. Seen how hard you work at the Filling Station, how good of a friend you are to Antonia and Amber, and how determined you are to be stronger, to train at a dojo and learn self-defense to better protect yourself. As much as I’d rather you see my brothers and I as your protectors and guardians, it turns me on knowing you’re working that body, getting all toned and sexy, and I want to explore every inch of you and make you my woman. I hope that doesn’t scare the hell out of you.”
Her cheeks turned a nice shade of red.
“Maybe that was a bit too much,” Milton said and they chuckled.
“No. Not too much, it’s how we all feel, I think.”
“We know we want you,” Jesse said.
Again she got all flushed and looked like she was trying to hold back tears.
“I’m so scared. I’m afraid to open up my heart, never mind my body.”
Milton caressed her cheek.
“Baby, could you tell us what happened so we can help you heal?” Milton asked.
She looked at each of them and Jesse and Jack got comfortable, and sat on the edge of the bed by her feet.
Milton looked at her and could see the struggle in her eyes. He ran his palm along her belly and let his thumb caress under her breast line. She was well endowed, sexy, petite, and so lovely. He licked his lips. A protective, possessive feeling began to consume him.
Nevin moved onto the bed next to her on the opposite side of Milton.
He leaned on his forearms and stomach and looked at her.
“Trust us,” he whispered.
“I was involved with a guy back in Missouri.”
“Missouri?” Nevin asked, squinting his eyes at her.
“Yes, it’s a small town, and for the most part everyone knows everyone else’s business. I met Steven when I was in high school and he was home from a tour from the Army. My grandparents were pretty protective of me, especially after my dad left for the service on another tour and didn’t return. I kept to myself and studied a lot because I was hung up on Steven and waiting for him like he asked me
to.”
Milton clenched his jaw. He never had a relationship with a woman while in the service for exactly that reason. He didn’t want to have her on his mind where he couldn’t concentrate and worry about her feeling lonely or if another guy was hitting on her or taking her away from him. It was easier to be single and have no commitments or burdens like that. Then again, he hadn’t met any women like Carina. Maybe his thoughts would have been different. Steven was one lucky bastard to have this gorgeous bombshell waiting on him. Now Milton felt a little envious of the man. His emotions were killing him.
“Before I knew it high school was a blur and I was looking into colleges and my grandparents were pushing me to go away.”
“They didn’t want to take care of you anymore?” Jesse asked. She looked at him and shook her head.
She licked her lower lip. “I didn’t understand why, but I figured it out later, that they were trying to save me from making a mistake and getting stuck in Starling Grove, the town I grew up in. But I fell in love with Steven. I waited for him,” she said and tears filled her eyes. Milton felt his heart ache and his chest tighten. He was surprised by the amount of jealousy he felt hearing Carina say she was in love with a man. It wasn’t right for him to feel that way.
“We started dating and got pretty serious. I gave him my virginity,” she said and a tear fell from her eye.
Nevin reached up and wiped it, giving her a smile.
“I’m sure he loved you and it was special to share that with him. You trusted him.”
“With my life,” she said and another tear fell. Nevin squinted and Milton glanced at his brothers, who all seemed on edge, too.
“I decided to attend the community college and I moved into a small apartment with some friends just to get the whole living on my own experience, plus I could see Steven whenever I wanted to and not have to deal with my grandparents making me feel guilty for loving a man they obviously didn’t trust. The girls were friends from Starling Grove. Two of them I had known for years. Anyway, things were great,” she said and her nose got red, her eyes welled up with tears and she sniffled.
“Go on,” Nevin whispered and caressed her hair from her cheeks.
She looked at each of them.
“I loved him. I truly thought he was perfect and that he made me happy and we could have everything together. He was a little older, and we talked about getting engaged and getting married. We were with one another all the time. He supported me when I graduated and got a job thirty minutes from home. We worked it out and he was proud of me. Things were great and then things just seemed to change.”
“What happened to make them change?” Jack asked her and caressed her calf while he held her gaze.
“Well, there were these parties and overnight events that a bunch of big shots in town went to. It was a guy thing but like the sheriff went, the head of the town board, the mayor and other young men who were part of the group of friends. Anyway, I never really knew what they did wherever they went, but I heard things. I chose to ignore things,” she said, lowering her eyes.
“What do you mean?” Jesse asked.
“I was stupid. I didn’t want to question Steven but it was like suddenly those girlfriends of mine were reporting back to Steven on what I was doing when I wasn’t with him. I complained to my friends about these two guys who always seemed to show up when I was doing laundry. They were nice, but they were flirty. I didn’t like it and I didn’t tell Steven, but somehow he found out about them. There was a general laundry room in the basement of the apartment we rented and I didn’t like going down there at night alone but it was the only time I had to do the laundry and didn’t want to try and use my grandparents’ place all the time either. So Steven told me to go to his house and use his. So I started doing that.”
“Was he abusive, Carina?” Jack asked her.
“He never struck me, but he was controlling and it got worse and worse. So when his partner and friend Collin started showing up at his house whenever I was there alone doing laundry, I told Steven Collin made me feel uncomfortable. Then it was like Steven got funny.”
“How so?” Nevin asked her.
“Collin began to tag along with us.” She started breathing a little differently and her chest got all blotchy and she started talking a little faster.
“There was this party and all our friends were there. My roommates, they started telling me that I wasn’t being a good girlfriend and that Steven wouldn’t marry me unless I obeyed him and did whatever he wanted. They told me I was being resistant to the ways of Starling Grove.”
“What did that mean?” Nevin asked.
“At the time, I didn’t really know. When I think back, I was so far gone head over heels for Steven and trusted him completely that nothing else mattered. I figured he would always protect me, be my rock, my own soldier and police officer,” she said and swallowed as more tears fell. She looked at Jack.
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“It’s the uniform, Jack, not you.”
Jack squinted his eyes and looked emotional about that statement but before Jack could speak Carina began to ramble.
“So when we were at this party and Steven kissed me, I felt a second set of hands on me from behind and knew it was Collin. When I went to pull back, I not only felt everyone watching us, as if they were waiting for my reaction or to see me accept Steven and Collin touching me, but Steven pressed harder, making it difficult for me to pull away. So when I felt Collin’s mouth on my neck and then his hand move under my skirt to my panties, I freaked out.”
“Holy shit,” Jesse whispered.
“What did you do?” Milton asked her.
She looked at him. “I got away from them and I ran out. Steven caught up to me and he was pissed off. He started telling me that I was to do what he said. That this relationship of ours, and this town had rules. He was out of control and drove me home. When we got there he pressed me up against the door and warned me. He said that changes were coming and that I needed to accept them. He said the order would step in and it wouldn’t be pleasant for me.”
“The order? What is that?” Nevin asked.
She shook her head.
“I didn’t know what the hell he was talking about. I cried when he yelled at me and told me that I needed to accept Collin, too. That they would both take care of me and I would be theirs.”
“No,” Jesse said.
She nodded her head.
“I was so angry but also so hurt. How could he do something like this? I mean, I didn’t see any signs. We dated for more than two years, how could I not see that he would want to share me with another man. I just didn’t understand it. I cried myself to sleep. I didn’t change, or do anything. I collapsed to the bed and passed out from exhaustion.”
“That must have been terrible. To feel so betrayed like that,” Jack stated.
She looked at him and more tears fell.
“I was sound asleep when suddenly I realized there was someone in my bedroom,” she whispered.
Oh fuck no. Please God, no.
Milton squinted his eyes and held her gaze as she explained about the noises and then the hands on her throat and her body being straddled.
“It was Collin,” she cried. “I tried to fight him off but he held my throat so tight as he ripped my panties and forced himself between my legs. I was begging him not to do this, that I was going to tell Steven and Steven wouldn’t want this when…when Steven appeared in uniform and he joined in.”
“Motherfucker,” Jack exclaimed and Carina clenched her eyes closed and cried hysterically. They couldn’t do anything but caress her skin and listen as she explained every detail, every strike and threat to her life and the things they said to her as they raped her one after the next and then cuddled with her in bed as she moaned and cried.
Milton saw red and Nevin pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. He caressed her shoulders, her back and her arms as her body shook. Milton ran his hand ove
r his mouth and jaw and looked at Jack, who was breathing through his nose and standing at the end of the bed with his fists by his sides. Jesse stared at Milton, no words said. None needed. His brother was already contemplating a visit to Missouri, to Starling Grove to kill the two fuckers.
When Carina finally settled down Nevin asked a few more questions and it made Milton realize that he was getting information from her. He had called and said Cesar met with him. The things she said indicated that something more complicated and despicable was going on in that town. They would get to the bottom of it, and make these men all suffer for what they did to Carina.
* * * *
Carina pulled back slowly and stared into Nevin’s blue eyes.
“I’m sorry. I know this must be difficult to listen to and learn about me,” she said.
He squinted at her and then rolled her to her back and cupped her cheeks.
“Sorry? Why are you apologizing to me when you’re the victim? You’re the one who was betrayed by the man who you thought would love you and protect you from harm. What he did was criminal, despicable and my brothers and I will make sure that neither man can ever lay a hand on you again.”
“How, Nevin? How, if there’s some sort of cult, or army of men in that town that do things like this to women, or worse?”
“That’s not going to be your worry, baby. It’s ours, and Cesar’s and our friends.” He used his thumbs to caress her jaw and she felt so in tune to him and trusting. Now that she told them everything it was like a huge weight was lifted off her chest and she could breathe again and process everything again.
As she absorbed the scent of his cologne, and being in Nevin’s arms with Milton now pressed up against her back, she felt safe.
She closed her eyes and snuggled closer to Nevin. Her mouth and nose were against his shoulder and neck, the scent of his cologne consumed her and she reacted. She kissed his neck and his hands stopped moving.
He tilted his head, giving her better access to his neck and skin, perhaps indicating that he liked the way it felt to have her kiss him. So she continued a pathway along his jaw and then opened her eyes to see him watching her, holding her hips. Behind her Milton shifted closer.
The Battlefield Series 3: Trusting Love (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 10