AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ain’t this some shit,” muttered Luke.
Casey waited in her living room, trying not to make a sound. Otto had said she should pack a bag, don’t ask questions, and whatever she did, don’t answer the door. With her large duffel bag at her feet, she jumped every time she heard a sound outside her door. When the knock came, she panicked, wondering what to do.
“Casey? It’s me, honey,” said Otto.
Opening the door, she fell into his arms, smiling at Luc and Gabe.
“God, I don’t even know why I’m so scared, but you terrified me with the call,” she said. “I have a bag ready.”
“I’ll get it,” said Gabe. He stepped inside, grabbing the handles of the duffel bag. He looked around the small space, ensuring that there was nothing left of Rett’s visit. Casey had made sure everything that belonged to the strange man was in her own bag. As Gabe walked out, Luc and Otto had Casey behind them, staring at the same three men who had been there earlier.
“You really don’t get a hint, do you?” said Luc.
“We’re sure our friend was here,” said the man.
“Your friend must not want to be found if you have to keep searching for him. Now, you’re going to move out of our way. My daughter and I are headed on a little vacation overseas. We can’t miss our flight.”
“If I find out you lied to me,” smirked the man, “I’ll skin her alive while I rape her luscious body.”
Otto moved so quickly Luc didn’t have time to hold him back. Kicking the other two men in the groin, they both dropped, and he had the ring leader on his back, his pistol shoved down his throat.
“I’ve warned you once already,” said Otto. “Leave my friend’s daughter alone. She’s new to the city and doesn’t have a clue who you’re looking for. Back the fuck up, or I will skin you alive.” Luc moved to stand over the man, staring down at him.
“Comprendé, amigo?” The man nodded, then Otto released him. He grabbed the arms of his friends and turned, leaving them standing there.
“They would have killed me,” said Casey.
“Don’t think about it, honey. Where we’re taking you, you’ll be perfectly safe. We’ve already called Chef Islip to let him know where you’ll be. He’s agreed it’s the best thing for everyone.”
Casey could only nod, completely out of her element. She noticed that Gabe watched his mirrors, moving from one lane to another, then taking a quick cut-off toward the back roads.
“Where are you taking me?” she asked.
“It’s our compound but also my family’s ancestral home,” said Luc. “No one can see it. No one can get in it. And no one, other than those we choose, knows where it’s at.”
“You said this had something to do with the man in my apartment.”
“That’s another thing,” frowned Otto, turning toward her. “What were you thinking, letting a strange man into your apartment? He was bloodied and looked a mess!”
“I know! I know!” she said, shaking her head. “He just needed some help, and he appeared to be harmless to me. Obviously, I was right. He just needed a little help, and I gave it to him.”
“Casey, we understand the need to want to do that, but he could have been anyone. You can’t do that, honey. No matter what your instincts tell you, as a woman alone, you cannot let strange men who need help into your apartment,” said Luc. She nodded, wiping the tears that were starting to fall.
“Is he okay?” she whispered.
“He’s just fine, honey. He’s my brother’s grandson.”
“Oh, your grandson,” she smiled, pointing to Gabe.
“Not me,” he smirked. “Our other brother, Baptiste. His daughter, Liz, married Kiel Wolfkill. Rett is their son. One of a set of triplets.”
“He’s a triplet!” she squawked. The three men laughed, nodding their heads.
“He is. Everett, or we call him Rett. Eastman or East, and Ethan, although I think the teams gave him a nickname.”
“Teams?” she frowned.
“They’re all Green Berets.” Casey’s expression told them that she understood what that meant. Nodding, she looked out the window.
