“Slow down, Papa. We can’t go making accusations like this. We need evidence that can be backed up in the courts. Then I can arrest his ass ’n’ his associates,” Eloi told his dad.
“Well, now that we got names, we can probably get better information and get some of these folks to testify that they been bribed to commit crimes on our sites. I got a list of all the workers. No matter what, if you on the site, you had to be registered. There’s no walk-ons. Even the volunteers had to register,” Armand stated as he opened up his laptop and began to look up information.
“I’m printing out a list. We split it up and head out first thing in the morning for answers,” Armand stated.
“Sounds like a plan,” Remy added as he leaned back in the seat. They were all silent a moment.
“Then we can go get our woman and convince her move in here with us,” Marcel stated. They all agreed, and their father looked concerned.
“You ask Angelique to marry you?” he asked, and they all appeared shocked.
“We love her and want to be with her all the time,” Armand stated.
“Well, that’s nice and all, but she’s a good woman. She’s classy, sophisticated with her own business and home. She seems old fashioned to me,” he told them as he stood up.
“Shit, Eloi! Maybe that’s why she looked so concerned and on the verge of tears,” Remy stated. They all looked at one another.
“She grabbed her belly, too, when we mentioned wanting her to be our wife and the mother of our children,” Eli stated.
“She may be pregnant?” their dad asked. Their eyes widened, and a whole lot of comments went through the room.
“You have her address, Eloi. Let’s go get her,” Armand stated.
“Slow down there, son. You’ll scare the living daylights out of that fille and forget about her moving in with you. The four of you are going about this all wrong,” their dad told them, and they rolled their eyes and gave mumbled comments about being men.
“I know a thing or two about women. You fell in love with a fine one. She has a lot to offer you all. She can handle you fine, and she’s tough. But she has her own business. A successful one from my understanding from your mama and it’s about to get even better for her. You need to be supportive now, not putting more pressure on her. She’s making big decisions. Tye and Mike said she’s fabulous with her company and her products. She’s going to have a lot of big decisions to make, and having four overbearing men making unnecessary demands could spell destruction for your relationship. Ease up. Talk with her and build your trust between the five of you. When she’s ready, she will tell you,” he said.
“We go see her tomorrow after we take care of Bruce Vizier and this Williams guy. They mess with the wrong family,” Armand stated, and they all agreed.
* * * *
“So they want you to move into their house with them?” Mikayla asked Angelique over the phone as Angelique continued to sew some beads on a bodice.
“Yes. It was intense, Mikayla. I didn’t know what to do because I didn’t think this far ahead, you know. I mean, I finally come clean about my life, my business, and where I live. I love them so much, and it’s all so crazy right now.”
“You mean with Tye and Mike wanting to go into the partnership and bring Secret Pleasures national?” Mikayla asked.
“Yes. It’s been so crazy. I missed so many orders staying over their place yesterday all day then last night. They didn’t want me to leave. They looked so intense and I didn’t want to leave, but I was scared that it was too many big decisions to make in a breath’s time.”
“That’s understandable. I mean, moving in with four men is a bit out of the ordinary. Plus, you have that great house and your business.”
“I know. I mean, I could transfer all this stuff there. They have a huge house, and it’s so beautiful. But I love Orchidea, and I love my sisters.”
“Aww, Angel, you know no matter where you are that we’ll get together and still be close. Their place is only thirty minutes from here.”
“Twenty-seven minutes and forty-two seconds,” Angelique replied, and Mikayla laughed.
“Well, see, then it isn’t even a half an hour away.”
Angelique was silent a moment as she thought about the voodoo priestess.
“What else is bothering you? You got awfully quiet all of a sudden.”
“It was something Cherise said that night when y’all came over here.”
“What did that crazy voodoo lady say this time?”
“She said there was trouble coming. That five hearts are stronger than one and that the baby needs good fathers like the Lafont.”
“What? She thinks that you’re pregnant with their child?”
“She said so only after the first week I was with them. It’s been about four or so now.”
“And?”
“And I was due a week ago. Not a sign of nothing.”
“Well, you love them and they love you, so are you happy about the baby or what?”
“I don’t even know if I am pregnant or not.”
“Come on, Angel, if Cherise says you are, then you are.”
Angelique covered her belly with her hand and smiled.
“I guess I better get a testing kit and know what I’m dealing with, because I don’t know how the hell I’m going to deal with all these individual life-changing events simultaneously.”
Mikayla laughed.
“You’ll be fine, girl. You’ve been hiding and running a successful lingerie business for over two years and having a love fest with four brothers in New Orleans while maintaining your little-sister façade. I say you’ll handle it fine, and you remember that you are an Aubert and we sisters can handle anything together.”
“I’m going to hold you to that, sister,” Angelique stated then laughed.
* * * *
That evening, Angelique’s sisters arrived at her place just as she was getting off the phone with her men.
“I love you, too, and I promise to come out to your place tomorrow. I just have to get these orders done. Bye,” she stated as she hung up the phone. Her sisters came through the front door carrying in desserts and wine and bottled water.
“Okay, so we got us some food because everyone eats when they’re nervous,” Ellena stated as she pointed to the boxes of cakes and pies that Angelina carried in.
“A couple bottles of wine in case you aren’t pregnant and we want to relieve some stress, and a couple bottles of nonalcoholic wine in case you are pregnant so we don’t fuck up that baby growing in your belly,” Mikayla added.
“And we got a testing kit, because we know you didn’t go out to buy one today. You haven’t left that spot except to pee or eat,” Illeanna said and placed the items onto the table.
She laughed at their parade then swallowed hard as Illeanna passed her the pregnancy test.
“Well, go on. Get it over with,” she told her then pulled her into her arms and hugged Angelique tight.
Angelique tried hard to hide the tears. “I love y’all so much. You are the best sisters ever,” Angelique told them, and they all looked teary eyed as she walked toward her bathroom.
Angelique was so nervous her hands were shaking. Did she want to have their baby? Did she want to marry four men? she wondered. Then it hit her that they hadn’t actually asked her to marry them, just move in with them. They mentioned wanting to marry her and wanting her to have their babies, but that could have been after the heat of passion. The chemistry between the five of them was hot. She looked at the stick. This little thing was going to tell her if she was going to be a mama or not. She thought about her men, Armand, Eloi, Remy, and Marcel, and how much she loved each of them. Not one more than the others, but equally. She wanted them in her life, but she had her doubts and her fears. She took a deep breath and did the deed. How the hell am I going to wait a few minutes for the results? she asked as she placed it down onto the counter. Her eyes widened in shock. “I guess I don’t have to w
ait after all.”
Angelique walked out of the bathroom. Her sisters stood there holding wine glasses and water bottles.
“Well?” Ellena asked.
“I’m having a baby,” she told them, and they all cheered then ran to her hugging her and congratulating her as they gave her a bottle of water.
“What’s all the screaming about?” Mama Cherise asked as she entered from the front door. They all turned to her and smiled.
Angelique placed her hands on her hips.
“You tell me since you know everything,” Angelique stated.
Mama Cherise walked closer to her and eyed her in a way that told Angelique that she better watch her tone. Angelique’s eyes widened as Cherise placed her hand on her belly.
“Babies are well. You be fine and make a great mama.”
“Babies?” they all asked at once then giggled. Mikayla and Ellena grabbed Angelique’s hands and held them.
“Babies. Now don’t worry. Just take care of yourself and be with your men. In their arms or in their presence you’re the safest. So what’s for dessert?” Mama Cherise asked then headed toward the table.
“I sure could use a stiff drink right about now,” Angelique stated, feeling a bit sick to her stomach. Babies?
“Now, now, honey, don’t you worry. We’re going to take good care of you. We have to plan a dinner menu for meeting your men and help you pack up this place so you can go be with them,” Ellena stated.
“Wait one second. I didn’t say I was going to go live with them right away. I said they asked me to. Now with my company expanding and the baby situation, I’m not sure what I want to do. I mean, I need you all. I can’t do this without my sisters,” Angelique sated firmly.
“No one is saying that,” Illeanna stated, giving her sister Ellena a dirty look.
“You just take it one day at a time. You still planning on that dinner party this Saturday, right?” she asked.
“Of course I am.”
“Well, when are you going to tell your men about the babies?” Angelina asked.
Angelique was quiet.
“Angelique? When are you going to tell them?” Mikayla asked.
“I’ve got a lot to think about first. I need to arrange a few things and see where we stand. They never asked me to marry them, just to move in with them.”
“So you’re keeping this from them?” Ellena asked.
“No. I just need to make sure I am what they want,” Angelique stated then walked into the kitchen.
* * * *
It had been a long, restless night for Angelique. She tossed and turned and made herself crazy with worry over whether Armand, Eloi, Marcel, and Remy all loved her and would continue to love her. She worried about the babies and whether or not the Lafont brothers would be happy about them, and then of course she worried about their safety and the concern over their business. Of course there were her business concerns, her house, and moving away from her sisters. How was she going to work this all out?
Finally, by ten o’clock in the morning, she couldn’t take it any longer. She showered, got dressed in capris and a designer dress shirt that showed off her firm belly and belly ring. She looked in the mirror and knew that that firm belly may not look the same until after having a baby. Soon she would be round and showing and prayed her men would love her. The thought that their baby grew inside of her made her happy. Babies, she reminded herself and instantly had a funny sensation in her stomach. Come to think of it, she had been feeling funny all morning. Her gut instincts were in overdrive. There was reason for concern, but she blamed it on all the changes in her life and knew she needed to see her men and talk things through. If this relationship was going anywhere, then they were going to have to talk things through and figure it out together. She grabbed her keys and called her sister Mikayla on the way out the door.
* * * *
Armand and his brothers had spent the past twenty four hours trying to figure out exactly who was trying to sabotage their company and gain some concrete evidence. He met his brothers, and they discussed what their investigation revealed.
“Well, Angelique was right about those public records, and it was a plus that Papa knows the town clerk so well,” Armand stated as he stood inside of the Sheriff’s Department. Remy, Eloi, and Marcel were in the meeting room with the investigator from the DA’s office. Apparently Bruce Vizier and Pierre Williams were wanted for numerous counts of illegal activities ranging from bribes of public officials to tampering with public records and a few other felony charges that would put them behind bars for a long time. It appeared that they were also behind the accidents at the construction site.
“So how the hell do we find him and Pierre Williams? Bruce hasn’t been seen since yesterday afternoon,” Eloi asked the investigator before Armand had a chance to.
“We’ve been following Pierre. He was seen hanging around your place last week,” the investigator told them.
“Our place? Why the hell didn’t you contact me?” Eloi asked. Armand was just as taken aback by the investigator’s admittance, but he allowed his brother to handle this.
“We are doing an investigation, Sheriff. We need to be careful about how many people know what’s going on,” he replied just as Deputy Leon Rue brought Dufrene Benson into the department in handcuffs. They could see through the glass divider in the meeting room.
“What the hell did he do now?” Eloi asked as he headed out of the office.
* * * *
Eloi had a bad feeling since yesterday. He didn’t like knowing that people wanted to hurt his family. He didn’t like not having Angelique nearby so they could keep an eye on her, and he didn’t like how serious she got when they asked her to move in with them. Maybe their papa was right. Maybe she wanted to get married first. That wasn’t a big deal. They could ask her tonight when she came to visit. He would feel much better knowing she was with them instead of so far from town with all this crazy business going on.
“What did he do?” Eloi asked Leon as he noticed Benson’s face was bloody and his clothes were torn. Leon looked out of breath, and his shirt was hanging out of his uniform pants.
“I brought him here right away. He was purchasing some items at the hardware store, and then when I questioned him, he took a swing at me. I had no choice but to put him in his place, Sheriff,” Leon stated.
“What things was he purchasing that got you to question him?” the investigator from the DA’s office asked as he approached behind the sheriff.
“Let’s see now, some duct tape, rope, burlap bags, a case of beer, and he had a wad of condoms hanging out of his back pocket. He was carrying on about getting lucky with a certain lady,” Leon stated.
“Meaning what?” the investigator asked, and Leon looked at Eloi, waiting for approval to continue.
“Go ahead,” Eloi told him.
“I asked him what he was doing, and he freaked out, ran through the store knocking things over, then out to his truck. I grabbed him before he could take off. In the front seat of his truck was your woman’s name and address,” Leon stated, and Eloi freaked.
“What? What are you doing with our woman’s address? What were you planning with the tape, the rope, and stuff?” Eloi yelled as he grabbed Benson by the throat.
“It wasn’t me. It’s Chester. He’s hot for your woman. He has been following her for weeks. He wants her to himself and plans on taking her away with him,” Benson cried out as Eloi shoved him to the ground.
“Lock his ass up and put out an APB on Chester Rousse. Get everyone on this now!” Eloi yelled, and the other deputies in the office began to scatter around.
“We have to call Angelique. We need to know where she’s at and get to her fast,” Armand stated.
“Definitely call her now,” Eloi yelled.
“I’m on it,” Remy stated as he dialed the number, and they headed out to their trucks.
* * * *
Angelique headed down the road out of Orchidea. Her cell
phone began to ring, and she debated about answering it. She was determined to get to the Lafont estate.
She peaked at the number and saw that it was Remy. She smiled as she answered the phone.
“Hi Remy!” she exclaimed. Out of nowhere, some shiny black pickup truck pulled from a side dirt road and nearly hit her. She swerved the wheel.
“Hey, watch where you going!” she yelled as she held on to the phone with one hand and the steering wheel with the other.
“Angelique, are you okay? What’s going on?” Remy asked as she put the phone on speaker.
“Some idiot just pulled out of nowhere and nearly hit me. Now he’s riding on my ass,” she told him.
“What type of truck?” Eloi yelled in the background.
She immediately got scared. Something was going on.
“A beat-up black one with patches of grey on it. Why? What’s going on?” she asked in a panic.
“Stay calm, honey. Where are you at now?” Eloi asked.
“On the way out of Orchidea…along the bayou,” she told them, and then she felt the bump to the back of her car. She screamed then cursed.
“Hey!”
“Angelique, what’s wrong?” Armand yelled. They must all be together. Shit, what is going on?
“He bumped me.”
“Okay, honey. Just take it easy, and whatever you do, don’t stop. We’re on our way. We’re in Eloi’s truck now,” Armand stated.
“What’s going on? Who is it behind me, and what do they want?” she asked in a panic.
“It’s Chester Rousse,” Eloi stated with anger.
“That guy from you mama’s store?” she asked.
“Yes,” he replied.
Dwyer, Dixie Lynn - Angelique [Orchidea: Love on the Bayou 1] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 22