Dixie Lynn Dwyer (9 page)

“What kind of promises?” Carl asked as he continued to rub her back.

“That he could have me when I turned nineteen.”

She heard the gasps and the curses that whisked through the room. Carl’s hand paused for a moment, and then he scooted closer to her.

“Look at me,” he whispered. She hesitated, and then slowly turned her head even though she feared to see his reaction, his hatred for her, and his disgust.

She was shocked when she saw compassion.

“This is not your fault. You deserve better, Juliet. Your aunt had no right to make that promise
.
Do
you understand me?” he asked, and she stared at him and felt his sincerity. She knew that what he said was true. He gently caressed his knuckles over her cheek and smiled.

“I know,” she whispered, and he smiled at her.

“Tell me everything so that we can help you through this.”

“He wanted me. He always wanted me. My aunt married him when I was fifteen. He paid special attention to me. More than a father would, and I knew it was wrong. It felt wrong, and as I got older, I asked him to give me space. He used to touch me,” she stated then felt the tear roll down her cheek. She could tell that Carl clenched his teeth, but he gave her the support she needed to talk about this.

“One night, he complimented my hair and asked me to come closer to him. I was seventeen. He played with my hair, and as he caressed it down my shoulders, I felt his hands move over my breasts. I remember gasping. I knew it was wrong and that he shouldn’t touch me like that. I left the room immediately, and I told my aunt what had been going on.”

She swallowed hard. Her belly ached.

“What did she say? Did she yell at him?”

Juliet shook her head. She leaned her head back down on the top of the couch and stared out the window.

“She told me I belonged to him. That when I turned nineteen I would be his woman.”

“What the fuck?” she heard someone state behind them.

“What did you do?”

“Robert followed me everywhere. Even when I thought he wasn’t around, he showed up. Then he got busy with some work that my stepfather was involved in. Stuff that was illegal. He was blackmailing CEOs of big companies. Robert made sure that they paid up, or he took care of them.”

“You mean killed them?” Carl asked, and she nodded her head. “You’re certain of this?” She nodded again. He looked at the others then back at her.

“What did you do during that time?”

“I went to school and saved money so that I could leave. I had it all planned, and then I met Danny.”

“Danny? Who is that?”

“Danny Corrano. He was my first love. We dated secretly for months. I tried to hide his existence, but then I was so afraid after the things I heard at night. The sounds coming from my stepfather’s bedroom.”

“What things, Juliet?” Carl asked her.

“Him having sex with women. He was beating them, making them do what he wanted them to do as he held them by their hair. What frightened me the most was that they were all redheads. They were young like me. No more than my eighteen years. I freaked out, and I told Danny. I started to confide in him, and then I noticed that Robert was snooping around again. He caught Danny and me kissing or holding hands. I loved Danny, and I thought that just maybe I would be safe and get to go away to college and have a normal life. My stepfather started getting more physical with me. He started hinting about my body and staying pure. The sick bastard wanted to take my virginity, and being eighteen and feeling like I was completely alone and my own aunt didn’t even really care for me, I slept with Danny. I lost my virginity to a young man I loved and who showed me that he loved me, too. But it was also to spite my stepfather. I knew he wanted me in his bed. He beat those women. They disappeared, one after the next. Robert took care of them. Then Robert found out about Danny and me, and Robert told my stepfather.”

“What happened?”

She couldn’t tell them that she witnessed Danny’s murder. That she was forced to watch as Robert tortured him and Pierce smiled in cold amusement. She couldn’t make them understand how scared they made her, or how thoroughly Pierce had beat her until she was unconscious. She had to live with the fact that she had done nothing to help stop them except cry and plead for mercy on Danny. She should have fought with her hands, her fists. She should have given her life for him. She didn’t know whom she was more terrified of, Robert or Pierce.

“What happened?” Richie repeated Carl’s question.

“He freaked out. Not on me but on Robert and the fact that he was supposed to be protecting me. My stepfather yelled at the top of his lungs that I was his. I was part of the deal in marrying my aunt for financial support and to ensure that my aunt lived a good life and he could have a beautiful, young virgin.”

“The other women, are any of them women you knew or would recognize?” BJ asked, and she turned her head toward him, suddenly realizing that BJ, Monte, Richie, Susanna, Alexa, Paula, and Ava stood around the room listening. Sally and Elise were in the doorway.

“They’re all dead. Just like Danny.”

* * * *

Richie, Carl, BJ, and Monte stood outside of Susanna’s office. They were all uneasy. BJ spoke his mind. “This is a complicated situation. It’s obvious that Juliet is scared to death of these two men.”

“Rightfully so. She’s not telling us everything,” Monte added.

“How can she when she’s so scared? I couldn’t even imagine how she dealt with that monster wanting her in such a way. You saw the video. That asshole Robert controlled her instantly. There was no fighting him. She immediately obeyed,” Carl stated, and Richie let out an exasperated sigh as he paced the small hallway.

“I’ll kill the fucking guy. If that’s what it takes, I’ll fucking kill them both,” Richie said.

“Calm down. Remember I’m the goddamn sheriff, will ya? There’s no doubt that these two assholes need to go down. I am right there with you two and totally understand your anger, your concern, and the out-of-control feeling you have. Monte and I experienced the same thing not too long ago. You were there for us, and we’re here for you now. The first thing we need to take care of is security.”

“I got that covered along with Carl,” Monte replied.

“Yes, each of the women will have bodyguards. I’ve called in a few of our Warrior friends to assist,” BJ said. The Delite Warriors were mostly made up of ex-military types. They all rode motorcycles and participated in fundraisers and community events.

“You have men at your place right now. They’re securing the house. I’ve got men at the women’s place. Tommy and Vic Ollsen will cover Elise, Sally, and Ava along with Mason’s brother, Steven. The rest of us will take care of our women. I suggest that while you two are caring for Juliet, you get what information you can from her. Monte needs the guy Pierce’s full name,” BJ stated.

“No. You can’t start snooping around. He’ll know I’m alive. He’ll come for me.” Juliet raised her voice as she stood in the doorway. Carl went to her immediately.

“We need to know. Monte will be careful. He knows what he’s doing. You have to trust us now, Juliet.”

BJ asked, “Honey, what is his name, and what’s your full name?”

She waited a moment as she stared at all of them.

“His name is Pierce Mellbrook. The…Pierce Mellbrook of Mellbrook Enterprises.”

“Holy shit,” Susanna stated from behind Juliet. BJ knew the name and the company. The guy was a billionaire and also known to be into some crazy stuff. It was just that no law enforcement organization could ever prove it.

Carl placed his hand against her cheek.

“And your full name. baby?” he asked her.

“Juliana Juliet Saville.”

“JJ Saville sounds sexy,” Paula chimed in as she squeezed Juliet’s shoulder. Juliet shook her head and gave a small smile.

“Okay, ladies. Your escorts await you downstairs. We’ll meet at a secure location tomorrow at eleven so we can discuss the plan of action,” BJ stated.

“What do you mean everyone meet and plan? I won’t put any of you in danger. I won’t do that.”

BJ reached toward her face and cupped her chin so she would look up toward him. “We’re a family now, Juliet. We stick together.”

Juliet had fought against Carl and Richie. She really didn’t want them to be placed in danger. There was no telling to what extent Robert would go to get her. She explained to Susanna about the lie she had told about Susanna and BJ owning Dixie Chix. It was for their protection. If Robert found out about the other women, he might seek them out, use them to get to Juliet, or possibly hurt them. The men took her seriously, and she was glad that they all had protection.

BJ dropped off clothes for her at Carl and Richie’s house. It was a beautiful custom-built home with a small ranch. She really didn’t look it over as much as she would have liked to under different circumstances. She was exhausted as she immediately sat down on the corner of the large, extra-wide couch in the living room.

“I’ll put your things in the bedroom,” Carl stated, taking the bag Susanna had packed for her.

“I can sleep out here on the couch. It’s really soft.” She began to slide farther onto it.

“You’ll be in our bedroom and in our bed, between us.” Richie reached for her to take his hand.

She swallowed hard. Richie had said very little to her. Most of the discussions and questions came from Carl. Carl seemed more patient, compassionate, and understanding. Richie was possessive, short fused, and tough as nails.

She held his powerful gaze as she took his hand.

He pulled her up off the couch and instantly swept her off her feet and into his arms.

Behind them, Carl turned off the lights, just leaving a small lamp glowing in the living room. They made their way to the staircase and straight to one of their bedrooms.

Carl turned on the lamp by the bedside table, illuminating a king-sized bed loaded with pillows and a thick brown comforter. Despite the butterflies in her belly, the sight of the fluffy bed made her think about sleeping. She was tired as she laid her head on Richie’s shoulder.

He slowly set her down on the bed.

He lowered to one knee and began to remove her boots.

“I can do that,” she whispered in a voice that sounded seductive and sexy.

He kept a large palm over her knee as he held her gaze and continued to pull off the boot.

“Let me.”

She sensed movement behind her and turned to see Carl undressing. Her heart hammered in her chest.

“I don’t think we should do this,” she began to say as Richie gently pushed her blouse off of her shoulders. Her breasts felt full and aroused, and damn it, her nipples were hard. She was so worried about them and about being intimate with Richie and Carl. Robert and Pierce would kill them. Carl sat beside her in just his boxers. He pushed her hair off her shoulders and leaned closer.

“Don’t be scared. We want to hold you and be close to you.”

He continued to kiss her neck then moved along to her lips. She felt Richie’s hands move up her skirt, and she pulled from Carl’s lips and grabbed Richie’s hands.

“Stop please.” She felt dirty from Robert’s touch. She wouldn’t dare tell Richie and Carl that her inner thighs felt sore from her attempt to keep them closed while Robert had pushed his hands harder, forcing her legs apart.

The tears stung her eyes. She wondered how she even had any tears left.

“What is it? What’s wrong?” Carl asked her as he sat back.

Richie grabbed her by her hips and lifted her up.

It was as if he understood why she didn’t want them to touch her.

“We’ll take that pain away, baby. The feel of our hands will replace his.”

She threw herself against him and hugged Richie tight. They were so amazing, and she needed them so badly something ached deep inside of her.

* * * *

Richie knew the fucker had hurt her. Son of a bitch, he was seeing red right now, and he needed every ounce of strength to not lose it. Juliet needed them. She needed reassurance, compassion, and love, and damn it, he would give her just that. Never in his thirty years of life had he felt so compelled to possess something, never mind someone. Those were the exact feelings he felt deep within him as he carried a shaking, beautiful, delicate woman to the shower.

Carl got the water ready as Richie lowered Juliet’s feet to the ground. He slowly caressed her arms then cupped her face as she held her palms against his hands. Her eyes were glossy and red from crying so much. It killed him to see her in such pain. He wanted to take all of that away and heal her and protect her. She was going to learn to trust him and Carl. She was going to let them protect her the best way they knew how. He didn’t care if it was extreme or overkill. He wasn’t taking any unnecessary chances with his woman.

“Hush now, sweetheart. You let Carl and I help you to relax. We’ll take a nice, hot shower then snuggle in bed. You’re our woman, Juliet, and we take care of what belongs to us.” He leaned down and brushed his lips softly over hers. He felt her tiny, delicate fingers press tighter against his hands and her body tense only a moment as Carl pressed his hands to her hips. Richie continued to love her mouth, her lips, and her tongue while Carl helped her out of the skirt she wore. When Richie released her lips and stared down into her precious face, his heart hammered in his chest. His cock begged for release from his jeans. He stepped back and lifted her camisole up and over her head before tossing it to Carl.