The American Soldier Collection 16: Seeking Love in Salvation (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 4

  “Sure did. She’s crazy I’m telling you. Could shoot any of us if we’re not careful,” Jace said to her. She swung around to face him.

  “First of all, I’m not crazy, and I know how to use my weapon. Secondly, you came at me first and I was defending myself. Maybe you’re just pissed off because I was able to draw my gun on you first and held my gun to your neck.”

  “What?” Sparrow asked.

  “She got the pull on you?” Ridge asked, chuckling.

  “She didn’t get the pull on me. I let her make that move. Ask Beck where she was when he got there. Underneath me, arms above her head, pleading for mercy,” Jace said to her, looking her body over at the same time his brothers were.

  She should have been bent out of shape, pissed off and ready to hit him—hell, all of them. But instead, her pussy spasmed and her breasts felt full and aroused. What in God’s name? She exhaled and threw up her hands.

  “Jerko,” she said aloud as the sheriff’s truck came to a stop and the sheriff got out.

  Holy shit, another tall, badass-looking guy. What was with this town?

  The introductions were made and the sheriff eyed her over and listened as Jace started to explain what happened and she interjected when necessary. Was it just her, or was the sheriff seemingly amused at this?

  “Listen, we can go round and round about this all freaking morning. I have things to do. Can you please let these men know that I have a license to carry and am more than capable of handling my weapon?”

  The sheriff looked at Jace. “She is legit. Let’s cross this off as a misunderstanding and be grateful that no one got hurt,” the sheriff said to them.

  “Thank God, finally. If I had to listen to these two argue any longer, my head would explode,” Beck stated, throwing his hands up in the air.

  “Maybe he needs to learn some manners,” she whispered and then put her palm out for Beck to give her gun.

  “I need to learn manners?” Jace asked, practically yelling at her.

  She took the gun from Beck and smiled. She glanced at Jace. “Yes, it’s done like this,” she said and looked back at Beck.

  “Thank you for holding onto my gun while you confirmed that I have a license. Sorry for the inconvenience of the situation. Have a nice day.” She turned toward the sheriff. “I appreciate you taking the time to come out here and resolve the situation, putting certain people at ease about my carrying a firearm and being more than capable of using it.” She glanced at Jace, sending him daggers with her eyes. His brother’s snickers didn’t go unnoticed.

  “Have a nice day, and I suppose you’ll be by shortly, as Helena explained to me.”

  “Yes, ma’am, planning on stopping in around noon time.”

  “Very well. See you later, and thank you again.” She walked down the steps and tried to control her breathing. She couldn’t believe how those men, all of them, made her feel—aside from the sheriff, who looked amused by the situation. She told herself not to look back, but she had to. My God, how were they so damn good-looking and fierce?

  When she did, all of them but the sheriff were watching her. She saw Sparrow squint and she quickly looked away and made it to her cottage. As soon as she was inside, she exhaled and then burst out laughing. My God what have I gotten us into by moving here? She laughed as she made her way to the bathroom to shower. She would need to warn Lois about the event this morning and the impending meeting with the sheriff. This was going to be one hell of a Monday.

  * * * *

  “Well, cousins, looks like you just pissed off our new neighbor,” Sheriff Ford Brazos said to them. Beck chuckled. “You’re not kidding,” he added.

  “What the hell makes her capable of carrying a Glock like that? You sure she’s trained enough?” Jace questioned.

  His cousin Ford licked his lower lip. “She was a cop in New York City. I’d say she was trained enough, don’t you?” he asked. Jace’s eyes widened.

  “A cop?” Sparrow asked first.

  “Yup, and from what I understand, a good one. Gunny has more details. How about a hot cup of coffee, since you made me come out so damn early?”

  Ridge opened the storm door. “Come on in, I think we all need coffee.”

  “I think Jace needs some scotch in his,” Beck added, and they all chuckled as they headed into the house. Jace glanced at the cottage next door. So she was a cop from New York? That explained her attitude and her quick moves. She had still drawn a gun on him, and a person like that who seemed on edge and combative could be a potential hazard.

  He immediately took that back. Who the hell was he to think anything like that? He was a ticking time bomb himself and had a short fuse and argued with everyone, which is why he kept his distance from people, and why he’d taken off for the camping trip for the week. He shook his head and headed inside. Their new neighbor was trouble with a capital T.

  * * * *

  “So he’s coming over here any minute?” Lois asked Valentina. Lois was looking out the window, fixing her sweater. She knew it was kind of warm outside, but she always seemed to have a chill. She glanced at Kenny, who was sitting on the rug playing with some matchbox cars while a kid’s show played on the TV.

  “Hey, it will be okay. Helena warned us about this, and the sheriff seemed very nice,” Valentina told her.

  “Why do people need to know our business? Why can’t they all just leave us alone? Now the landlords know you have a gun, and if they try something they’ll come over here well prepared.”

  “Lois, they are not going to break in here and try to hurt us. I told you what the sheriff said. They’re all retired Green Berets, and they’re Helena’s cousins. She wouldn’t place us and Kenny in danger.”

  “Not intentionally.” Lois pulled away from the curtains. “He’s here,” she said and sat down on the couch, crossed her legs, and wrapped her arms around her midsection.

  “I’ll take care of it. It will be just fine, you’ll see.”

  She watched Valentina walk to the door before the bell rang. Kenny immediately stopped what he was doing. He looked scared. She hated that knowing how on edge he was. Lois felt the same way, and he picked up on that. She wished he had been at nursery school that day, but he wasn’t feeling well. She swallowed hard as the emotions nearly got the best of her. She heard the voices, looked up, and gulped. Hard.

  Sheriff Brazos was large and good-looking, with dark blue eyes and short, crew-cut hair. His short-sleeve uniform shirt showed off a bunch of tattoos on one arm. He locked gazes with Lois as Valentina motioned for him to come in.

  Kenny slid behind the side of the couch and crouched down, hiding.

  The sheriff reached his hand out as Valentina made the introductions. Lois hesitated, overwhelmed by the size and the attractiveness of the sheriff, and before she could make up for being rude, he went back to stroking his Stetson.

  “Kenny, come on out and say hello to the sheriff,” Valentina said. Lois watched as the sheriff tilted his head sideways and smiled, showing off white teeth and a dimple in one cheek.

  “Hey there, son, come on out and say hello. I don’t bite,” he said to him. Kenny looked at Lois and then at Valentina.

  “It’s okay, Kenny,” Lois said, and she slid down to the rug and reached for him behind the couch. She sat down on the rug and the sheriff watched her as she pulled Kenny onto her lap.

  Kenny just stared at him.

  The sheriff gave a wink. “It’s nice to meet you, Kenny. I’m Sheriff Brazos. I came by to welcome you, your mom, and your aunt to Salvation. How do you like your new house?” he asked him.

  Kenny sealed his lips and hung his arms tight around Lois. She locked gazes with the sheriff and could tell he was inquisitive.

  “He’s getting used to it. We were thinking of taking a ride into town to the supermarket in just a bit,” Valentina said, and the sheriff turned to look at her. He looked her over and then back at Lois.

  “Well, that’s good. We have a lot of great little plac
es in town. If you’re looking for some fresh produce and things, Brazos Farms is just down the road a bit.”

  “Brazos Farms? You’re related to the owners?” Valentina asked him. He smiled. “It’s a family business. We all worked there as teens, and my brothers, now that they’re retired from the service, still lend a hand. Just like Ridge, Beck, and Sparrow.”

  “Mommy, I’m hungry,” Kenny said to Lois, and she patted his knee.

  “I’ll make you something, baby,” she whispered to him, keeping an eye on the sheriff. He looked down at Lois and Kenny and she felt a little sensation inside. She quickly turned away and stood up.

  “Can we offer you a sandwich or something?” Valentina asked him.

  “I’m good. Maybe a drink, if you have it.”

  “Sure thing,” Valentina replied, and Lois walked with Kenny to the kitchen and placed him down onto a stool. When she looked at the sheriff, he was watching her and it made her feel uneasy. She pulled her sweater tighter and looked away from him, slumping her shoulders. She felt intimidated and didn’t like that he was here. What did he want, anyway? Why did he need to know their business?

  “I like your hat,” Kenny said to the sheriff, surprising Lois.

  The sheriff smiled. Valentina placed down a glass of iced tea for him.

  “You want to try it on?”

  Kenny shook his head.

  “Are you sure? I don’t let anyone try on my hat. I’m the sheriff, after all,” he said, smiling.

  Kenny nodded his head.

  Lois watched as the sheriff placed his Stetson on top of Kenny’s head, and Kenny smiled as it fell over his eyes. He giggled.

  Lois prepared a sandwich for her son but listened to the sheriff engage in conversation with him.

  “Maybe one day you might be a police officer, or a sheriff like me?” he asked.

  “My aunt Val is a police officer.”

  The sheriff glanced at Val, who stood there watching over them. Lois loved her sister so much. She didn’t think she could ever pay her back for all the sacrifices she had made.

  “I know she is, and a good one, from what I heard.”

  “Been investigating me?” Val asked.

  He held her gaze. “Helena told me,” he replied and then smiled back at Kenny.

  Kenny took the hat off.

  “I don’t want to be a police man.”

  “No? Why not?” he asked Kenny.

  “Because I’m going to live with my mommy and Aunt Val forever, and Aunt Val will protect us.”

  “Kenny, what do you want on your sandwich today? Turkey or ham?” Lois asked, interrupting the conversation. She gave the sheriff a dirty look, which seemed to surprise him.

  “Why don’t we take these drinks outside on the back porch?” Val suggested. Lois was grateful. She didn’t want to talk to this sheriff or be friendly or whatever. She just wanted to be alone and feel safe with her son.

  The sheriff nodded his head.

  “Enjoy the sandwich. We can talk more later,” he said to Kenny, and that really annoyed her. So when he looked at Lois before following Val onto the porch, she hadn’t expected to feel the tingling sensation or any sort of pleasant emotion as he winked at her and followed her sister outside.

  * * * *

  Ford did not get a good feeling at all when he entered the house. The little boy Kenny immediately went to hide next to the couch, and his mom, Lois, looked scared and timid. She was definitely on edge, withdrawn. He was grateful that Helena had warned him, but also a bit confused. She wouldn’t go into details about the story of their need to move here, just that he needed to give them space and allow Valentina to take care of her sister and her niece.

  He took a sip from the sweet tea and then looked out toward his cousins’ land. He had never seen Jace so riled up about a person, never mind a woman, like he had been over Valentina. Boy, did he understand why. The woman was gorgeous and tough as nails. Figured it would take someone like that to get under Jace’s skin. He smiled to himself.

  “So, you like it out here so far?” he asked Valentina.

  “Yes, sir, seems that everyone for the most part is friendly and minds their own business,” she said to him, and he detected her attitude. He glanced at her and gave her the once-over before he countered.

  “I’m not the enemy, or someone who is here to cause you and your family any more stress or worry.”

  “Really? ’Cause I kinda get the feeling you are making my family uncomfortable. I think we should get something straight here, sheriff. Helena explained to me about your position and your way of thinking in town, especially all the men. We don’t need looking after. We sure as hell don’t need any guardians, either, or whatever you like to sugar coat it as. I’m more than capable of taking care of my family. Maybe this morning was an indication?”

  “This morning you could have gotten killed or injured by Jace. He took it easy on you,” he replied.

  “Easy on me? I had a gun to his throat.”

  “He had one to yours. Hell, he’s a Goddamn Green Beret. Do you know our capabilities? It’s beyond police academy training.”

  She went to reply and then looked away.

  He exhaled.

  “Listen, Valentina, I don’t know what all y’all went through back in New York. I know you were a police officer involved in special victims unit. I understand that you’ve been friends with my cousin for a long time, that it was her idea for you and your family to move out here. Watching your sister and nephew inside and seeing how defensive you are tells me that there’s more to your story.”

  She looked at him.

  “Why is it your business?”

  “It’s how things work around here. It’s how we keep everyone safe.”

  “Sounds more like a control thing to me.”

  “It isn’t. Listen, this visit wasn’t meant to upset you or your sister. It was meant to introduce myself and to put you at ease. If at any time you need anything or need some help, I’m here for you. So if you have any questions for me, then shoot,” he said to her.

  She looked him over. “Listen, I don’t have any questions for you. I don’t need any help right now. We’re just trying to settle in and adjust to this new town and to being in a new place. We don’t need men looking after us, or others questioning our capabilities. We just want to be left alone to live our lives and to feel peaceful. Do you think that you could possibly oblige us that?” she asked him.

  He could see the defiance and the attitude in her eyes. She was protecting her family. He did not feel good about this. He felt like there was more to their story, and he had to make sure trouble wasn’t following them to Salvation.

  “Are you in any kind of trouble? Could you potentially have someone looking for you, to come here to cause you or your sister harm?”

  She stared at him and then shook her head.

  “Where’s the boy’s father?”

  “Dead,” she said, straight-faced. He swallowed.

  “Okay. I’m going to leave this alone. Just remember what I told you about this town and how we take care of our own. We watch over the women.”

  “I don’t need anyone watching over me.”

  He stared at her and totally absorbed her defiance. She was from New York, from an area that didn’t understand this type of situation. She was tough. A street cop in New York, a woman who dealt with violent crimes. She probably saw crazy shit and thought he didn’t and couldn’t possibly provide any protection or security to her or her family. He thought better of continuing to argue. He set the glass down.

  “Thank you for the iced tea. Have a good day, and I hope to see you and your family in town enjoying all that Salvation has to offer.” He placed his hat on his head and headed off the porch and then around the side of the house to the driveway. As he walked by, he glanced to the right and saw his cousin Jace standing there on the deck, arms crossed, leaning against the column. It gave him a thought, that maybe between his cousins and his brothers, they
could all keep an eye on Valentina and her family, after all.

  * * * *

  Valentina exhaled. “He’s gone?” Lois asked, taking her time to ease onto the porch and look to be sure the sheriff was gone.

  “He’s gone, but something tells me the man will be back.”

  “Seriously?” Lois asked and she felt a hint of excitement about that despite her fears. She quickly submerged them.

  She had been stupid to trust Caden and to fall for his charms, his military background, and his dominant ways. She knew when she was pregnant with Kenny and he struck her several times anyway that she was doomed. Then, to have him beat her, forcefully rape her in front of her son? God, she wouldn’t ever be normal or safe.

  “Lois?” Valentina pulled her sister into her arms and held her. Lois felt the tears fill her eyes.

  “Will I ever feel safe? Feel normal again?” she asked her.

  Val caressed her hair and held her. “Yes, you will. As long as you stay strong and you fight, for yourself and for Kenny. He needs his mommy and you need to get stronger.”

  Lois stepped back.

  “Did you hear from Helena?”

  “Yes, we have an appointment at the medical center tomorrow afternoon.” She swallowed hard.

  “Do you think they’ll be able to help?”

  “I hope so, sis, ’cause God knows we need some positive things to head our way.”

  Chapter 4

  “He asked us to keep an eye on them,” Sparrow said to his brothers as they gathered around the dinner table.

  “What the fuck for? She’s got a gun and an attitude,” Jace said as he cleared his plate.

  “He probably got the same feeling I did after talking with them,” Ridge said to them, standing up next.

  “Yeah, I got the feeling the woman has an attitude but more like she’s on the defensive. She’s protective of her sister and her nephew,” Beck added.

  “Why is this our problem?” Jace asked.

  “Ford said that he and his brothers will help, too. We’re around here, that’s probably why,” Sparrow added. He could tell the guys were uncomfortable with this. They liked to do their own thing.