Southern Spirits (The Southern Series Book 3)

by Shelley Stringer

  This argument wasn’t going anywhere, so I stepped over into the tub and sank down into the water. Now every bone in my body hurt. I felt I’d been unhinged at all my joints and reassembled the wrong way.

  Banton turned and strode out of the room silently, leaving me to brood in silence.

  On a deep breath, I began to shake as I tried to relax in the warm water. The Adrenalin rush I’d experienced when I fought the Orcos outside was incredible, and that kind of physical exertion was completely foreign to me. Tears threatened once more at the images…Will running to save Claudia…Claudia crumpled on the kitchen floor watching in horror…Everett carrying Will’s limp body across the yard.

  “Banton, please…do something for him! You can’t just leave him, you can’t…”

  “Please, Banton…don’t let them take him,”

  I wiped my eyes angrily. I’d tried to be strong. In my mind, I did the only thing I could do.

  “NOOOOOO! He can’t leave me like this, he promised me…”

  I began to shiver uncontrollably as a sob escaped. The memories came flooding back as I relived the moments after the Navy visited in July, informing me of Banton’s disappearance.

  “He can’t leave me with these babies! He has to come back! I can’t live without him!”

  And the dam broke. I lay my head back against the tile surrounding the tub as I cried out my frustration. The Orcos were back. The past couple of months had only been an interlude. And now, because of their relentless pursuit of me and Constance, Will was dead.

  “Shhh. I’m so, so sorry, Chandler. I’m angry with myself, not you.”

  Banton’s deep, beautiful smooth voice whispered close to my ear. I opened my eyes to find him staring down at me as he sat down beside the tub. The expression on his face startled me. His eyes were red-rimmed, and he looked as if he’d aged ten years. He placed his hand on my shoulder and rubbed his thumb back and forth across a bruise as he gazed down at me. My tears spilled over.

  “Damn. Baby, come here,” he breathed out, pulling me over against his strong chest. He held my head in his hand, stroking my hair with his other hand as he laid his cheek on top of my head.

  “Sweetheart, it’s okay. I’m an ass. My anger is still an issue, and I lost it when I thought about what could have happened to you and the babies. We never should have let our guard down. I’m angry we weren’t here when they attacked. I’m angry at Will for trying to fight them. I’m angry my involvement in all of this has endangered both our families.”

  I was so emotional since I’d replayed the last two hours in my head. I couldn’t reply so I just nodded. Banton pulled my face up between his hands and kissed me softly.

  “Are you really okay? Some of those bruises look pretty bad. Dad called Doctor Renault to come and help with Claudia, and Ty wants him to check Constance over. I think he should see you too.”

  “Okay,” I whispered as I nodded up at him.

  “Here, I brought you some tea.”

  He reached over and picked a glass up off the floor and handed it to me. I took a couple of swallows. I didn’t realize how thirsty I was. I took several more swallows as Banton pushed a strand of my hair back behind my ear.

  “Constance told me just now how hard you fought out there. She said you took one of them down by yourself,” his eyes darkened.

  “Well, she’s exaggerating just a bit. She had to help me. She’s the one who’s been training like a SEAL. I think Claudia and I would be dead or kidnapped by the time you got here, if it hadn’t been for her and Brie,” I whispered, my voice shaking badly. “Banton, I want you to teach me how to fight like Ty has been teaching Constance,” I turned to him. His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head at me.

  “Banton, please! I don’t want to be a victim anymore. I need to know I can at least try to protect the babies, if I have to…” I trailed off under his thunderous gaze.

  “That’s not necessary. If you want to work out with me, fine. I would welcome that. To gain your strength back, since the babies…but you don’t need to know how to fight. I won’t let anything like today happen again,” he vowed as he pulled me up closer against his chest. After a moment, he relaxed his hold on me.

  “Let’s get you washed and out of the water.”

  He reached over and grabbed the body wash from the side of the tub and squeezed some out on a sponge. Leaning me forward, he held me, his arm across my chest as he washed my back, moving the sponge in soft circles. I lay my head over against his hand, grasping his arm as I closed my eyes, still in shock from the attack. I was barely aware of him as he gently soaped my stomach, under my arms and over my breasts…between my legs. He dipped the sponge back in the water, and squeezed the warm water slowly down my back and shoulders, rinsing the suds away.

  “Come here, baby,” he murmured, wrapping a towel around me and pulling me up and over into his lap. He was drenched, his own clothes soaked from bathing me and pulling me from the tub.

  Banton hugged me tightly, snugly wrapped in the large bath towel.

  “Um, I think I’d better go and check on the babies. They need their baths and it’s probably time for them to eat again,” I said, my voice sounding hoarse from all of the yelling and screaming this afternoon.

  “They’re fine, Andie. Ty just checked on them. I think they’re down for the night.”

  I pushed up against his chest and looked up into his soft brown eyes. He leaned down and kissed me.

  “Let’s get you in bed,” he urged, standing up with me in his arms. After he sat me down on the wide ledge of the tub, he left in search of something for me to wear. I tucked the towel in that he’d wrapped around me, and then searched in the drawers for a brush. As I brushed the tangles out of my hair, Banton re-appeared with my gown and robe. I dropped the towel around my ankles as he slipped my gown over my head. I worked my arms through as he handed me my robe.

  “I’m going to take a shower. I’ll only be a minute,” he murmured, placing a kiss on my forehead.

  Banton leaned into the large shower, and turned the water on as he unbuttoned his wet shirt. I gazed at him lovingly. His outburst earlier was a result of his fear for me and the babies. I understood that now. I opened the door and headed to the nursery. As I moved toward the cribs, I could hear the babies both breathing in and out, the slow, deep rhythm indicating how soundly they slept. Ty was probably right. They seemed to be down for the night. I leaned over and kissed them both, placing my lips lightly on their chubby cheeks. Nausea rose and I swallowed, thinking about how closely that Orco had held Elly, his teeth grazing her neck. I swayed a bit, grabbing hold of the side of the crib.

  “Chandler…finally. I was beginning to think you and Banton were never coming out of that bathroom,” Ty broke the silence as he entered the room behind me. “Are you all right?”

  I turned, steadying myself. “Yes, I’m just still a little shaken up.”

  “I don’t know who looks worse, you or Constance. She sent me to check on you. Dr. Renault is with her now, checking her injuries.”

  “And Claudia? How is she?”

  “Doc gave her medicine for her nerves and some strong pain medicine. She’s out. He said he was going to keep her medicated for the next twenty-four hours or so. She’s taking things pretty hard and that’s understandable.”

  He walked over to Elly’s crib and gazed down at her. “Constance had me go down and fix their formula for them, to have it ready in case they woke up. It’s on the dresser over there. I can get up with them, if you want me to, Andie,” he offered sweetly.

  “No, Ty…we’re good. Thank you for fixing their formula.”

  “Sure, no problem. If you need anything, just call. Dr. Renault will be ready to see you in a few minutes.”

  “Thanks, Ty. Thank you for taking such good care of Constance,” I added as he grinned at me.

  “She’s my girl. I love her, Chandler.”

  “I know you do, Ty. Goodnight.”

  As I walked back to o
ur bedroom, I could hear muffled voices, and Banton’s mother talking soothingly as Julia cried. Mrs. Elaine was a tower of strength for her children. I wondered silently, does she ever break down behind closed doors? Has Banton’s father ever had to hold her in the shower, lift her from the tub?

  Back in our room, I switched the bedside lamp on, pulled the duvet back on the massive bed and crawled in. No sooner than I’d snuggled down, there was a knock on the door.

  “Banton?” Dr. Renault voice carried through the closed door.

  “It’s Chandler. You can come in,” I replied as I pushed up in the bed.

  Dr. Renault pushed the door open and strode into the room, looking rather agitated and weary.

  “Let’s see how badly you’re injured.” He pulled the covers back and raised my gown. “You have a lot of bruises, but nothing seems to be broken,” he murmured, pressing against my ribs. I cried out. He looked intently into my eyes as he continued to probe with his fingers.

  “I think you have a couple of cracked ribs, Chandler…possibly a hairline fracture on this hip, but you should heal fairly quickly. You can take pain medicine now, so I’ll leave something with you. You can also wrap those ribs. It will help with the pain.”

  As he placed the pills on the nightstand, Banton entered the room and stood behind Dr. Renault.

  “Doc, how is she?”

  “Cracked ribs, bruising…but she will heal quickly. I left her some pain medicine. I’ll be back to check on Claudia in the morning,” he said as he touched Banton on the shoulder and left the room.

  Banton walked over and sat down on the side of the bed. “Everett and several of the Aldon are downstairs, watching the perimeter of the house. They’ve got some more information. This thing isn’t over. We don’t want to be caught unprepared again. Sam is on his way with Patrick, so I think we’ll be fairly safe tonight. We’ll decide what our next move is tomorrow.” I nodded. I was too tired, emotionally and physically, to think.

  “Mother and Daddy are taking care of arrangements for Will. His mother is in the nursing home, and he has been estranged from his brother for some time. We don’t even know how to contact him,” he said as I stared out the window. After a few moments, he pulled me into his chest.

  “Chandler, I’m so sorry about earlier. I never should have yelled at you. Please don’t be upset with me,” he said, sounding as though he were pleading with me. I looked up at him.

  “That’s over. I know why you reacted that way. We’re good,” I assured him as I kissed his lips. I pulled back to look into his eyes. “I’m just so…I feel so guilty. Will is dead because of the Orco’s obsession over me and the twins.”

  “Don’t. Not you too. I have my hands full with Everett,” Banton sighed, kissing my hair.

  “What do you mean, Everett?”

  “He’s torn up, Chandler. I’ve never seen him like this. He blames himself for not getting to Will in time. He keeps saying over and over he could have at least saved him from death, if he’d just gotten to him before his heart stopped. He could have just turned, like Brie.”

  “I guess he feels responsible for all of us,” I murmured.

  “No, it’s more than that. Sweetheart, I’m going downstairs to meet with Ev and the others, I won’t be too long,” he said as I nodded. “Baby, come here,” he murmured as he pulled me into his chest. He held me so tightly it scared me. He was trembling. The unexpected attack today that had taken Will’s life had shaken everyone into the realization it was only a matter of time before Dante and Lucien attained their goal…to capture me, Constance, and the twins.

  After Banton went downstairs, I finally drifted off, knowing the Aldon were watching over us. I dozed fitfully with Banton’s side of the bed empty. Finally Banton’s arms circled my waist as he buried his face in my hair.

  “Mmm. Everything okay?’ I asked as I turned in his arms.

  “Yes, for now, sorry I woke you,” he murmured.

  “What time is it?”

  “A little after two o’clock.”

  I turned over and rose up. “Did you check on the…” and then I stopped. Banton had pulled one of the cribs through the door into our room, placing it at the foot of the bed. Both twins were inside, sleeping peacefully. I looked down at Banton. He was gazing up at me in the moonlight.

  “I just needed to feel them near us,” he murmured as he pulled me back down into his arms.

  * * *

  When I woke at six to feed the babies, Banton was already up, visiting with Everett in the hallway. As I dressed the twins, Banton came back into our room. I turned to find him watching me.

  “Ty, John, Sam and I are going back to the base this morning for a meeting with Command. Some of the Aldon are staying to watch over the family here, but I want you and the babies to come with us. You can wait on base until we’re through. I’m sorry, but I don’t feel good about leaving you right now,” he stated, picking Matty up. I turned to stare at him. It was the first time he’d ever taken me to the base.

  “What about the twins, if someone sees them, their eyes?”

  “I’ll arrange for an office or room somewhere away from everyone. Everett and Constance are coming too. The meetings shouldn’t take long. Then we’ll come back here until we decide what we’re going to do,” he said as I picked Elly up.

  “Do they know about the attack here yesterday?”

  “Yes, and our agenda’s been altered. We’ll find out more this morning.

  My heart skipped a beat. One way or another, the peace that had surrounded my home and family had shattered.

  Once Banton had us on the base, he seemed to relax. After arranging for a conference room for us to wait in, he rushed off to his meetings. When we settled the babies on a pallet to play, my cell rang. I didn’t immediately recognize the number.

  “Chandler! Finally, I’ve been calling and calling! Don’t you ever check your missed calls?”

  “Laurilee. I’m sorry, there’s been a lot going on here,” I sighed as I glanced up at Everett.

  “Well, in case you’ve forgotten, there’s a lot going on here!”

  “I know, I’m sorry,” I answered, knowing she must be irritated.

  “So when are you and Banton driving in? The rehearsal dinner is all set, and the girls want to have my bachelorette party the night before,” she chattered on as I pondered how I was going to handle this.

  “Laurilee, we’ve had some more trouble here,” I began.

  “Not again! Chandler, you have to be here for all these events, you’re my matron of honor!”

  “I know, Laurilee. I promise you, I will be there for the wedding. I just haven’t had time to talk to Banton yet. We’re on base now waiting for him.”

  “What’s wrong?’ she finally sensed my distress.

  “There was an incident at Claudia and Will’s last night. Will was killed.”

  “What? Chandler, No! Was anyone else hurt?”

  “Yes, but not seriously. Banton’s parents are making arrangements for Will, but since all this has happened, I don’t know when we’ll be able to get away. And I don’t want to bring trouble to you,” I warned her, not being able to elaborate. “Laurilee, I’m so sorry. None of this should affect you. It’s your big day. Let me talk to Banton, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I know something.”

  “I’m sorry I went off on you about being here, when your family is grieving! Is there anything we can do?”

  “No, just pray for us.”

  “Well, tell Everett I got the package and the other things he sent. Everything is beautiful. Chandler?”

  “Yes?”

  “Be careful. I still don’t understand all of this, why you have to be involved.”

  “I know. I’ll call you back when things calm down. I love you Laurilee.”

  “I love you too, Chandler.”

  I turned my cell off, and then turned to Everett. He was staring out the window.

  “Bebe, who is that man?” Everett pointed out the o
ffice window.

  “That’s Commander Reed, the one who took Singleton’s place in charge of Banton’s SEAL team,” I replied, his eyes narrowing.

  “Bebe, did you know he’s an Aldon?”

  My skin crawled, up my neck and across the top of my scalp. “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, he’s an Aldon,” he stated emphatically as he turned back to look at me. I stood, my mouth open.

  “Why in the hell would he be…” I couldn’t finish, my mind whirled around all the possibilities. Why would an Aldon be in the military? Why wouldn’t he disclose this information to the other SEALs? What possible reason…and then it dawned on me. My eyes snapped back up at Everett.

  “They’ve been using him to recruit Sange-Mele SEALs. That’s how they knew to recruit Banton, Ty…John, the rest of the team.”

  “Quite possibly. Now it makes me wonder, even more than before, why he was so adamant about testing you and the twins over this paternity mess,” Everett mused aloud as Constance and I stared at each other. I gazed down at the twins, apprehensive about having them on base at all.

  “I have to tell Banton,” I murmured, looking back up at Everett.

  “Chandler, I don’t like this,” Constance stated. I nodded in agreement.

  “I know. I feel like Banton and the others are being played somehow.”

  Everett stood silently, watching Reed as he strode across the lawn and into another building.

  “Bebe, I’m going to make a call. I’ll be right back,” Everett said, stepping into the hallway.

  Constance and I settled down in the floor to play with the twins. Matty and Elly played and giggled as always, crawling around and silently communicating with each other. As Constance chased Matty under a chair to pull him back onto the pallet, he faded.

  “Chandler, look!” Constance exclaimed as I blanched. I knew it was only a matter of time before he tried it too. Elly sat motionless, watching him. She giggled slightly, and then looked up at me apprehensively. I could tell she was trying to see if I was going to be angry with Matty.

  I took a deep breath. “Matty…where’s Matty?” I called. I could see his outline pause and turn to look at me.