Ellena (14 page)

“I was bent over. That’s why it appeared that way.”

He raised his eyebrows at her then reached for her, drawing her body closer to him.

She pressed her hands against his chest, immediately inhaling the scent of his musky cologne.

“You’re a sexy, young woman, Ellena, and I don’t like thinking about other men checking you out.” She ran her fingers beneath the opening of his shirt and stood up on tiptoes so her lips could reach his chin.

“Well, I could say the same thing to you. Don’t you know you missed a few buttons?”

He squeezed her to him and stared down into her eyes. She could feel the palm of his hand press over her backside and then he cupped her cheek with his hand.

“I’ve never been the jealous type, but with you it comes naturally.”

She was about to respond and tell him that she totally understood exactly how he felt, but he kissed her deeply, making her forget what it was they were even discussing. When he finally released her lips, they were both breathless, but she felt nearly light headed.

“Let’s get you something to eat, and then we need to go to town.”

She smiled at him as he took her hand and led her down the stairs and to the kitchen.

There were sandwiches on the table, some fruit, and a salad. All three men looked nervous, and when she looked back at Mack, he smiled softly then pulled out a stool for her at the island. Roy walked over to her, placed his fingers under her chain then stared down at her. “You look real pretty, sugar.” He leaned in to give her a small kiss. She wanted to tell him how good-looking he was in his tight navy-blue T-shirt and relaxed-fit jeans. His bulging muscles couldn’t be missed.

“You feeling all right, sugar?” Troy asked then caressed her shoulders. She placed her hand over his hand and smiled up at him.

“I feel good. I’m just a little tired.”

“Well, after this meeting, we’ll come back here and rest a bit,” Roy said then popped a cherry tomato into his mouth. He held her gaze and winked. “I’m planning on keeping you in bed for the next few days anyway.”

Her cheeks warmed, and she shyly lowered her eyes and shook her head. These men were too much. This was where her lack of experience showed.

“Eat up and then let’s get this over with,” Leon abruptly stated then took a bite from his sandwich. Ellena sensed his uneasiness and anger. She knew he was concerned. Anything could happen. Ellena placed some salad on her plate as she noticed the others stare at Leon. They seemed to appear just as uneasy as him.

* * * *

“Okay, so you understand what you need to do?” Bently and Lenny asked Stucky Fevore.

“I got it. Tell Parker I’m sorry for screwing up. Tell him I’ll make it up right now okay,” Stucky stated as he held the bag of drugs in his hands. Inside the brown bag were about fifty small packets of drugs, heroin, meth, and ecstasy, to sell on the streets. Except they weren’t for selling, they were to trap a cop and put him behind bars.

“We’ll tell him. Just be sure that you don’t get caught planting that shit. Now when the investigators come asking questions and they want you to tell them who your supplier is, you be sure to do some good acting, Stucky. Parker needs this deal to go down right,” Lenny added and Stucky promised to do his part.

As Lenny and Bently got into the car, Bently looked at Lenny and raised his eyebrows as if unsure that Stucky would pull this off.

“It will work out perfectly. Stucky doesn’t have shit. He’s served a few months in jail before to help cover up shit. He’ll serve now if need be because he knows when he gets out that Parker is going to hook him up.”

“I fucking hope you’re right. Trusting some swamp rat to handle something this important is taking a huge chance.”

“Bently, trust me, will ya? I’ve had to do this before. Leon Rue will go down for possession and selling. It will take a bit of time but it will work out.”

“How are you so sure, Lenny?” Bently asked.

“We have an extra player on our side and he’ll ensure that the drugs are found at just the right time.”

Bently hoped that Lenny was right. If not, then Parker would waste the two of them.

* * * *

Deputy Mickey Lemorte arrived and was checking out the surrounding area as Ellena and the men exited the house. They all shook hands hello and then Leon spoke to Mickey for a few moments while the others escorted her to Mack’s SUV. She had Mack’s hand at her back, Roy’s body in front of her, and Troy’s body on the side of her, as if they were acting like a shield. She felt her belly tighten as fear gripped her insides. This was serious, and she wondered if they thought that someone would actually shoot at them or try to get her. That made her nervous, anxious, and just on edge as she got into the backseat of the SUV. Ellena thought about it a moment. Here she was, surrounded by four highly trained men with big muscles. What could possibly penetrate through them?

* * * *

“I want everyone to be alert and keep your eyes open. I don’t trust this asshole one bit. Jessy, you and Xavier meet Leon and them outside,” Eloi told his men.

“You’re putting on a hell of a show, Sheriff. Interesting that the accused is such a good friend of yours. I understand you know the witness well, too,” Agent Michael Quincy said as he stood by the office door with his hands on his hips. Eloi didn’t like the guy one bit.

“I’m not the only one who’d vouch for Deputy Leon Rue. Just be sure you’re following the rules in this investigative process,” Eloi shot back as one of his deputies indicated that Leon had arrived.

As they entered the building, Eloi noticed that the Rue men flanked Ellena in a protective cluster. He’d be doing the same thing.

She looked at him as they all entered. Eloi took a step forward and pulled Ellena into his arms. He caressed her hair.

“I’m glad you’re okay, Ellena. Your sisters were real worried ’bout you.” He pulled back slightly and shook his head as he gently caressed right below her bruised cheekbone.

“Son of a bitch did that to ya, huh?”

“I’m okay. It could have been worse.”

Eli couldn’t help but feel protective of Ellena. He immediately thought about Angelique and how fearful he was that day she was nearly killed. He rubbed Ellena’s arms then released her to Mack. They all shook hands and the introductions began. As they started to head into the office, the agent stopped everyone.

“No need for the group interview. I’ll need a bit of time alone with Miss Aubert.”

Leon began to protest, but Eloi held up his hand. “It will be okay. We’re all right here.” He held Agent Quincy’s gaze. He didn’t like the guy and didn’t give a shit about making it obvious.

Ellena turned back to look at the men, and Leon brushed his thumb over her lower lip and smiled.

“We’ll be right out here.”

“Okay,” she whispered then followed the agent into the room.

“So what do you think, Eloi? Does this asshole really have grounds to take Leon off the force and charge him criminally?” Mack asked.

Eloi ran his fingers through his hair.

“I don’t think he has enough to charge him. If he did then Leon would be behind bars and negotiating bail. As far as off the force, that may happen sooner than later. It’s protocol when an officer is being investigated for a crime or accusation.”

“This is bullshit. Plus, now that this asshole needs to question Ellena, it puts her life at risk,” Leon said as he paced the floor.

“If what Ellena said is true and Parker is willing to take us all out, then we’re all at risk venturing out in public,” Troy added. They all looked at one another, and Eloi felt fully concerned.

“We need to make some plans. Why don’t we discuss security measures from here on out and what your plans are with Ellena? You know as well as I do that her sisters are going to want to see her, and Ellena is not going to stay away from Aubert’s or Orchidea for long.”

“Shit. I don’t want her out of my sight,” Leon said.

“None of us do,” Roy said.

“Well, I’m probably out of work for a bit, so I guess I’ll be spending a lot of time in Aubert’s,” Leon said.

“I’m working on a job over in Orchidea, so I’ll be there, too,” Troy said.

Mack and Roy looked at one another.

“Well, then let’s start talking about safety measures for both of you, since you’ll be continuing your regular routine,” Eloi said to Mack and Roy.

“I guess I’ll be carrying more than my gear to the firehouse,” Roy stated.

“Guess I’ll be packing a bit of heat of my own to the office, too,” Mack added.

Eloi wasn’t taking this situation lightly. These were his friends, practically his family, and he would do whatever it took to help protect them. Anything.

* * * *

Ellena crossed her legs and folded her hands onto her lap. The agent, Michael Quincy, introduced himself then stared at her a moment as he held an open manila folder in his hands. He looked over her body and then her legs, and she raised her eyebrows at him.

“I have a few questions for you, Miss Aubert, in regards to your relationship with Deputy Leon Rue and a few other questions.”

“Okay.”

“How do you know the deputy?”

“We’ve been friends for many years.”

“Do you believe him to be an honest person and a good law enforcement officer?”

“Of course. I trust him.”

“With your life?” he asked and Ellena didn’t like the undertones of his question. He seemed vindictive, and she wondered why. Didn’t he introduce himself as an agent of Internal Affairs? Was Leon under investigation?

“I’m sorry, Agent Quincy.”

“Call me Michael, please.” He moved in front of the desk and closer to her. He now leaned against it, and his leg was awfully close to hers.

“Michael, I don’t understand what’s going on here. I thought you had questions about the man who tried to hurt me. What does Leon have to do with this?”

He released an annoyed sigh.

“They didn’t tell you? Your good friend Leon didn’t explain to you that he’s being investigated for numerous crimes?”

“What?”

He glanced into his folder then back at her. Again, she felt like he was checking her out or trying to make her feel on edge. But she was already on edge. She was suddenly feeling awfully alone and in need of Leon, Mack, Troy, and Roy. She glanced behind her at the door, and the agent seemed to pick up on her concern.

“You’re safe, Ellena, for now.”

“What do you mean for now?”

“Deputy Rue is being charged for one, sexual harassment of a victim who called the department for assistance, not to be manhandled and asked to perform sexual favors.”

“What? No way.”

“Two, he’s being accused of assaulting three men who apparently bothered yourself and Deputy Rue’s brother, Mack Rue. Third, he’s accused of drug dealing within the areas of the Eighth District.”

“Those are lies. Leon would never do any of those things,” she stated firmly, but she was so scared.

“That is what I am investigating. Right now on the first count it is his word against the victim’s. She is a woman, and the judge tends to rule in favor of the female victim. The second offense is the assault.”

“There’s no way he would do that. I mean why would he? If he knew who they were, then he would have gone and arrested them. He didn’t know them.”

“And you know this how?”

“He told me.”

“When?”

“When he got off work that night and met me and Mack at my hotel room.”

The agent raised his eyebrows at her and then looked at her thighs and breasts.

“What time was this little party taking place?”

“Party?”

“The three of you at your hotel room? Was it before or after he beat those men?”

“I don’t like your line of questioning or your assumptions.”

“What time was it that he arrived at your hotel?”

“I’m not certain. I think a bit before midnight, maybe closer to eleven thirty.”

“And how long was he with you and Mack Rue?”

“All night,” she replied. He stared at her, raised his eyebrows at her, then licked his lips.

“They were with you until what time the next morning?”

“They left at noon.”

“Then?”

“Then I went to the spa.”

“Is that where you got the shiner or was that from Deputy Rue?”

“Leon did not hit me. One of the guys who works for the man who threatened me and tried to take me back to the French Quarter hit me, and I fought him off and escaped.”

“Who was trying to abduct you?”

“Some guy named Parker.”

The agent looked at the folder then back at Ellena.

“This Parker guy and Rue been fighting over you, huh? One thinks you belong to him, and now they’re battling it out over turf and drug locations? I see.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”