Ellena (10 page)

She sat there on the bed, fully dressed in a red sundress but feeling exposed. The moment she closed her eyes she saw Parker and felt his touch. She sensed the evilness within him. Knowing that Troy and Roy were on their way, she thought about sneaking out now, checking out of the hotel and heading back to Orchidea. Of course they would follow and probably be extremely pissed off, but at least she would be in the safety of her hometown. That thought brought fear of bringing danger to her sisters and the people of Orchidea. She didn’t know what Parker was capable of, but obviously he was resourceful. How else could he get into the spa area and into her room the way he did? She shivered as she held herself. The sound of someone knocking on the door made her gasp.

She freaked out a moment and looked at the setup of oils and the candle Cherise gave her to ward off any unfriendly spirits known to haunt the hotel. Ellena wasn’t sure if the tales were true, but she trusted Cherise.

Those oils couldn’t help her now. She jumped up and looked for some sort of weapon. Then she heard Troy’s voice. A feeling of relief filled her body as she pulled the door open and saw Troy and Roy standing there smiling.

Her first inclination was to tell them what happened in the spa. But looking way up until she locked gazes with the six-feet-plus goliaths made her halt that decision. It was Troy who looked at her skeptically. He was a handsome man, with ocean-blue eyes and shoulder-length black hair which made him appear untamed and almost savage-like. What would he do when she told him about Parker and how he touched her? Would he blame her? Would they think less of her now, because she was naïve enough to accept a gift from a strange man and then allow him to persuade her to lunch?

Troy placed his hand against her waist and leaned down to kiss her hello.

“You look beautiful, sugar.” He appeared hesitant. Then she remembered that they had no idea what just happened to her downstairs, they were both here in her acceptance of exploring a ménage relationship with them and their brothers Mack and Leon.
Oh God, Leon. Leon is going to hate me.

She felt the tears sting her eyes, and then suddenly Roy was taking Troy’s place and kissing her as he said hello. “Hi,” she replied in a whisper, nearly blown away by the man’s appeal. Roy was a definite piece of eye candy. It made her so jealous the way women basically threw themselves at him. He had an intense look in his eyes, making the blue appear almost navy in color. Add in his jet-black hair, and those eyes stood out even more so.

He released her and smiled, making her belly quiver.

“I’m glad you’re coming home with us, baby. I’ve got the next couple of days off and I promise to keep you very occupied,” he said in a flirtatious way. His thick Cajun accent made her pussy feel swollen and needy. She felt a hundred percent better being with Troy and Roy. She wasn’t so scared now, and then she remembered Parker’s threats.

“You all packed and ready?” Roy asked.

“Yes, I am. My car’s downstairs and in the parking lot out back. I can meet you at your place.”

“Don’t be silly, darling. You think we gonna let you outta our sights. Uh-uh. No way. You give me your keys and I’ll drive your car while you go in Roy’s truck.” She felt panicky. What if Parker’s men were following her and watching her. They would see her with Troy and Roy and ultimately place both men in danger. She had to do something. She had to get her shit together and be the tough, take-no-shit Ellena these men knew so well. After all, her attitude was what kept them at bay.

“I don’t think so, honey. I’ll drive my own car, thank you very much. I’ll meet you two up at your place.”

They gave her a look as if knowing she was lying, but then Roy said, “Troy will go with you.”

Think, Ellena. Think.

“Sorry, but I have a phone call to make while driving and it’s personal. I just need this little bit of time alone, and then we’ll be together at your place.”

She felt terrible and like a complete fool.
Just tell them what happened. They are good, strong and experienced men. Maybe they could handle Parker.

Roy picked up her bags.

“Let’s go then. I think Mack should be at the house by four.”

“Okay. Let’s go.” She didn’t celebrate the triumphant move. She was shaking in her shoes and hoping that she could get through this. She needed time to come up with a plan. She needed help and guidance. As soon as she got into the car, she was going to call her sisters.

The three of them headed downstairs to the lobby. Ellena checked out and then pulled out her car keys. That was when she caught sight of that security guard of Parker’s. He locked gazes with her and she felt herself lose coloring in her face as fear gripped her insides. She had just placed Troy and Roy in trouble now, too.

Roy used the back of his hand to gently caress her cheek. “Hey, you sure you’re feeling all right, Ellena? You’ve been acting funny.” She pulled her sweater tighter, lowering her head before she turned slowly, causing his hand to fall away from her. She dare not look into either man’s eyes. She kept hearing Parker’s threats in her head and she could practically feel his hands touching her and the sharp blade of the knife against her skin. If she could get out of here, then she could take off for home being sure that the security guy didn’t follow.

“I’m fine. Just kind of tired. I’ll meet you later.” She quickly headed toward the side door. Troy and Roy followed her, and she damned the fact that they were carrying her suitcase and bags. She was shaking like a leaf as they got her things into the trunk of her small car then stared at her as if knowing damn well she was hiding something. Why couldn’t they just leave her be and let her secure their safety? If she left alone, she would deal with everything after talking with her sisters. If she left with one of them, then Parker could hurt them. He knew everything about the Rue brothers, including where they worked and how he would get to them.

“Sugar, you are being awfully quiet. You know we don’t bite.” Freaking flirtatious, drop-dead gorgeous Roy whispered as he ran his hand over her shoulder and cupped the back of her head. She grabbed onto his forearm, feeling the perspiration reach her brow. She was completely aroused by him being this close, but fear overruled her body.

“I’m okay. Let me go. I’ll catch up with ya in a bit.”

He gave her a quick kiss on the mouth as Troy gently ran his fingers down her arm as Roy released her.

They both looked her over. She took a deep breath and damned this situation for the umpteenth time as she got into the car.
Please don’t let anything happen to them. Please let that security guy see me leave alone.

Leon was getting more annoyed by the minute as he and Eloi spoke with Federal Agent Bryer Jones.

“So, you know about these corrupt officers and about these bogus charges against me and you’re not prepared to do anything?” Leon asked.

“I didn’t say that. This is an ongoing investigation. We don’t really have concrete evidence against Parker K indicating that he’s responsible.”

“Well, what the hell kind of evidence do you need? Me in a body bag?”

“I understand you’re upset. I truly do. I have men watching Parker. Have been since he was released from state prison. He keeps his hands off of everything and has others do the dirty work. But now he’s been in contact with some big shots from New York. These guys were connected to some mob guys and illegal gambling and prostitution. Word is that Parker’s been exploring this route.”

“Casinos and prostitution?” Eloi asked.

“Well, the investigation is only in the beginning stages but it seems that way. We’re hoping within the next week or so he meets with these guys and we can get pictures, audio, and surveillance. He obviously sees you as a threat, Leon. Otherwise he wouldn’t be going to such measures to ruin your rep and get you thrown off the force or even locked up.”

“Fucking great. So what is it you want me to do?”

Just then the agent received a message on his cell he needed to take.

“Excuse me one moment please. I need to make a call.” The agent stepped out of the room, and Leon looked at Eloi and rolled his eyes. “We’ve been at this all afternoon.”

“Well, at least we have more info.” Leon saw his phone light up, and taking a quick glance, he saw that he missed numerous calls from Roy.

“Let me take this. It seems that Roy is trying to get in touch with me.”

He answered the phone.

“Hey, Roy, I’m in the middle of something. Is everything all right?” Leon asked.

“No. Ellena didn’t follow us back to our house. She took off after we got her stuff in the car and before we could get to where we parked the truck.”

“What the hell do you mean ‘took off’? Why? What the hell happened?” Leon asked and now Eloi looked concerned.

“She was acting funny. Really distant and nothing like what you and Mack said she acted like with you two. Troy and I were concerned and could sense that something was wrong, but she didn’t budge. We think she gave us the slip on purpose.”

“I don’t like this. Did you call her sisters?”

“I’m on it,” Eloi said as he held the cell phone to his ear. Leon figured that he was calling Angelique.

“We’re worried man. She seemed scared, and in the lobby as she checked out, she kept looking around and then turned a shade of white. She was shaking but said she was tired.”

Just then the agent walked back into the room.

“I need to go. Call her sisters, drive into Orchidea if you need to and see where she is. I’ll call you in a little bit.” Leon hung up the phone, and then Eloi shook his head then disconnected the call.

“Angelique is looking into it. I didn’t want to get her alarmed.”

“Is something going on?” Agent Jones asked.

“Not sure. Can we finish this up? I have something personal to look into,” Leon said.

“Well, you may want to hear what the surveillance guys found out about yesterday. They just sent me a picture of Parker talking to a woman in town and having lunch with her.”

“And?” Leon asked.

Agent Jones handed his cell phone over to Leon.

“Do you know this woman?”

As Leon took the phone into his hands, he knew already that something was wrong. His mind was on Ellena and where she could be. As he looked at the picture of Parker with the woman, he zeroed in on her face and did a double take.

He stood up from his chair.

“Ellena? Where the hell did you get this?” Leon asked.

“So you know her?”

“Yes, I know her. She’s…with me,” he stated defensively. He knew that ménage relationships weren’t common around other parts of the country and this guy was government.

“She’s also involved with your brother Mack, correct?” he asked.

“What?” Eloi asked, and the agent looked at Eloi then back at Leon before taking a seat in his chair.

“I know about ménage relationships. I have a good buddy of mine from the army that shares a woman with his two brothers. I’m not judging you. My guy took these pictures yesterday and then another guy was on you and your brother last night. He saw you go back to the hotel with Ellena Aubert. He knows that you didn’t leave.”

“What the hell is going on?” Eloi asked.

“Now I don’t know about this Aubert woman, but I can tell you that my guy said she abruptly left the lunch date with Parker and he had her followed. Parker was at the hotel this morning. He entered through a back door.”

“Lunch date?” Leon asked and felt his blood boiling. He was pissed off and confused.

“You need to find Ellena,” Eloi said then began to dial his cell phone.

“She checked out of the hotel a few hours ago. My guy lost her coming out of the crowded side streets,” Agent Jones said.

“My brothers lost her, too. She’s running and I don’t know why.”

Leon pulled out his cell phone and called Mack. They had to find Ellena before Parker or his men did, and then he would get down to what she was up to. Could she be involved with Parker? He hated to think that. Just saying the words in his head made Leon sick. Maybe Parker approached her and threatened her? He knew the asshole was capable of it, but Mack hadn’t even bumped into her yet. Parker wouldn’t know she was theirs unless he figured it out after.

“Fuck!” he exclaimed as the phone rang and rang and crazy thoughts filled his head. What if Ellena was in danger?

* * * *

“Oh thank God you’re okay. Where the hell are you?” Angelina asked as she held the phone to her ear and waved to Illeanna who stood by the door to the kitchen. They were getting ready to close and everyone was calling, searching for their sister.

“I can’t tell you where I am. I’m trying to hide out.”

“Why?” Angelina asked as she placed the call on speaker.

“I don’t want to tell you, but I’m really scared. If I come home or I go near Leon, Mack, Troy, and Roy, then their lives could be in danger.”

“In danger? From who?” Illeanna asked as the back door opened and Mamma Cherise entered along with Johnny. Angelina placed her finger over her mouth indicating for them to remain silent.

“I don’t want to say. I’m so confused and scared. I’m so tired but I’m afraid if I check into a hotel, they’ll find me.”