Chapter 4 Nicole #3
Abigail was just as lovely as everyone told me she was.
She wore beige slacks and a yellow cardigan.
A set of pearls dusted her collarbone with matching pearl studs.
Her snow-white hair curled softly around her face.
I loved how put-together she was, and something told me it was effortless for her.
I followed her into the dining room, where a massive wooden table stood.
It was surrounded by many different faces, and I swallowed hard as my brain tried to recall the pictures from Mark’s flipbook.
Just breathe. Three cast-iron chandeliers cast a warm glow throughout the room.
I half expected to see the children, but as none were present, I wondered if they had eaten somewhere else.
“Well, shit, you’re alive.” Ben stood up and wrapped an arm around my shoulders.
I was thrilled to see a familiar face as I hugged him back.
I stepped away and looked him over. “I’m okay,” he assured me.
“Just got a little banged up, but this place,” he waved an arm around, “well, let’s just say it would heal most anything. ”
“I’m glad.” I gave him a pat and a warm smile. Ben was my oldest friend in the industry, and I was beyond happy that he was all right.
“Come on, sit down. The food here is unreal.” He grinned as he pulled out a chair for me next to Mike, who smiled as I sat down.
Ben took his seat again across the table from me.
It was obvious that he was very comfortable there.
I glanced around at everyone as I settled in.
All the guys wore black t-shirts and camo pants, but the women wore a variety of styles and colors.
I silently thanked Savannah again for the outfit I wore.
I mentally flipped through Mark’s photos in my head then looked over at the man who sat next to Ben.
“I’m Nicole. You’re West, right?”
“I am.” He smiled and shot a quick look at Paul in the kitchen. I followed his glance and saw Paul nod slightly. What’s that about?
“Which team are you with?”
“Stonewall.” He sipped his water. I tried to remember if that was the other team Savannah had mentioned.
“Hey, Nicole,” Mark waved a fork with a potato speared on the end of it, “I’m going to put you on the spot here.”
“Of course you are.” I chuckled with the rest of the table.
“Let’s see how great your memory is. Start with Ben and give everyone’s names.”
“Mark,” Mia shook her head at him, “give a girl a break.” But I didn’t mind.
“I got this.” I sat straighter as everyone looked at me.
I cleared my head and mentally pictured the flipbook.
I looked at Ben, then started, “Keith, John, Sloane,” I gave a wave, “nice to meet you.” She waved back.
“Mia and Mark. Savannah, Cole, Abigail, and her sister June.” Again, I gave a wave.
I waited for a beat, then went on. “Ivy and Ty,” I nodded at them, “Moore, Lee, and Perez.” My body threatened to break out in a cold sweat with the mention of Perez, but I had to remember it was as common as Smith in America.
Then I looked around as I realized something. “Isn’t Gear missing?”
“Yeah, he just left to join Frank’s team,” Ty answered. “He needed to be closer to his family.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t get a chance to meet him.” I looked to my side. “West and Rush.”
“Impressive!” Mark beamed with pride. “I taught her all that.”
“And I appreciate the help, so thank you.” I smiled at him. Then I looked at the man next to Rush. “And you must be Summit?”
“That’s right, ma’am.” Summit rubbed the scar that ran down the side of his chin under his bottom lip.
He gave me a wave. “Us three,” he pointed to Rush and West, “are on team Stonewall.” Paul finally joined us, but I didn’t look at him as he sat down.
“And that’s our team leader.” Summit nodded at Paul as he took his seat.
“Oh.” I glanced at him then. He seemed a little uneasy. “So, do you guys get to jump onto different teams for certain missions?” I wondered why Paul had been with Team Blackstone to rescue Chase if he was Stonewall’s team leader.
“That one was a little different than the norm.” West stepped in before Summit could reply.
“We all have our place in the working wheel of Shadows. Blackstone and Dark Water are the teams in the field, while Stonewall works from downstairs. We fly the drones and give a bird’s eye view for the teams in real time.
Give them a heads up, if you will, of any potential danger lurking ahead.
” He nodded at Paul. “It was Paul who discovered what the Cartel was up to when the teams rescued your buddy, Ben.”
“And for that, I’m forever grateful.” Ben looked at Paul and placed a hand on his chest. “That was ugly, and a time I don’t ever want to relive.
I’m so glad you were able to go on the mission to rescue that poor child.
Not to mention my gorgeous friend over there, and she’s still in one piece. ” He pointed at me and grinned.
“Barely in one piece, but I’m here.” I pretended to wipe sweat from my forehead.
Mike held up a glass of beer. “To coming home in one piece.” The table raised their glasses, and new conversations took off among them.
Dinner was fantastic, and afterward, we moved into the living room to have drinks and mingle. It was a casual gathering, and I was sure it was meant for me to relax and get to know the housemates.
This place was spectacular. The cast iron chandeliers matched the iron railing that went up the grand staircase.
The stone fireplace made a gorgeous focal point in the living room and gave off a delicious warmth that relaxed your body as well as your mind.
I could imagine myself just sitting in this room for a whole day doing nothing.
My eyes went to the stone archway that led into the dining room.
The huge table looked like it was made from the same wood as the mantel above the fireplace.
I gave a sigh as I moved to the large windows that gave a stunning view of the mountains and the lake behind the house – no, mansion. Whoever their decorator was needed a serious raise because w-o-w.
“Overwhelmed yet?” Savannah appeared by my side and replaced my empty wine glass with another. “I was when I first came here.”
“No, not overwhelmed, just taking it all in.” I glanced around the room and loved how happy everyone seemed. “Is it always like this when they come back from a mission?”
She swallowed. “They have a dangerous job, and every time they come back, it’s celebrated with hugs, a family dinner, and normally a trip to Zack’s restaurant and bar in Redstone. Which, by the way, we plan on doing, but we wanted you to have a chance to get your head on straight first.”
“That’s kind of you.” I glanced around. “Where are the children?”
“Olivia, that’s our oldest,” she nodded, “has the kids under wraps. Believe me, they can be quite a handful. We don’t want our guests overwhelmed right at the beginning.” She laughed. “You’ll meet them all soon enough.”
I nodded then studied the row of photos on the wall above the bar top. They were all in black and white, and it took me a second to recognize a young Daniel staring back at me.
Savannah’s eyes followed mine. “That’s Cole’s grandfather, Edison.
He created Shadows after his son got back from Vietnam.
Daniel was struggling, and Edison knew he desperately needed something, so he created this masterpiece.
” She pointed to a photo. “That’s Cole’s mother, Sue.
She’ll be back tomorrow, so you’ll meet her then.
” She glanced around the room. “Frank was a huge part of all this right from the beginning, and he still is.”
“Frank and Mia are family?” I tried to piece everyone together.
“Yes, Mia is Frank’s daughter.”
I made a surprised face. “Wow. Did Mark know she was the general’s daughter when he asked her to marry him?” I sensed a story there but pushed it down. It wasn’t the time to let my reporter imagination go to work.
“No, not at all. But he loves that woman, and Frank knows it. So, that’s all that matters.”
“Agreed.”
“Excuse me, but Savi can I speak to Nicole alone?” Mike joined us and looked a bit uncertain.
“Of course.” She looked at me to make sure I was fine with it. I deeply appreciated that she felt the need to check with me. I forgot what it was like to have a real girlfriend. I nodded at her, and she left us.
“Hey, what’s going on?” I studied his face.
“You tell me.” He folded his arms over his massive chest, and I suddenly felt very small.
“You said you knew about my wife because you did a story on Catalina and her family. I dug a bit, because that’s what I do, and I didn’t find any story, article, or even a photo attached to your name.
So, how do you know so much about my wife? ”
Shit.
I opened my mouth but decided not to fib. Lord knew these guys could sniff a lie out of thin air.
“Actually, what I said to you was I had been asked to do a story on her and her family, but I didn’t end up doing it.”
“Why?”
I hated my work being questioned. “Because he found all the answers he needed.”
“Who?”
“Look, Mike, you don’t know me, so this is a lot to ask, but please trust me when I say I can’t tell you.”
He narrowed his eyes at me and slowly shook his head. It caught Cole’s attention, and he headed toward us. Or maybe Savannah, who hadn’t moved very far, had motioned him to rescue me. “Why?” Mike hadn’t given up.
“Because I can’t.” I wasn’t going to back down and knew my body language would be like a beacon to the others. I tried to relax.
Mike didn’t like my answer, and I understood why, but I couldn’t say another word. I would never write an article on someone or give out information about someone until I knew it was okay to do so. We were in a standoff.
“Secrets aren’t something we do here at Shadows, Nicole.” He rubbed his head. “We’re talking about my wife here, and I don’t like secrets when it comes to my family. Secrets lead to problems.” I glanced at Cole, who now stood silently next to Mike.
“It’s not what you think.” I huffed out a breath, and I felt my heartbeat speed up as the room went silent at my raised voice.
“What should I think?” It was clear Mike wasn’t going to let it go.
“Despite whatever some of you might think,” I glanced at Paul, “I’m a good person.
I don’t use people. I just try to help them.
I can’t help it if there’s things I’m not able to tell you, just like you guys can’t.
” I desperately looked at Cole. “You and Frank wanted me to come here, so that’s got to count for something. ”
“It does,” Cole assured me, “but the women here all have something in their past that has scarred them. We’re very protective, so when you tell us a story and we find out it’s not true, you can see how one would get nervous.”
“Understood, but I never lied.” I looked at Mike. “I didn’t. You just misunderstood what I said at the time. I never asked to come here,” I said again. “I have orders to follow, too.”
Cole let out a long breath as he mulled over my words. “Of course, Nicole. Mike, stand down.” He put a hand on Mike’s arm briefly. “Sorry if we’re all on edge here.”
“I’m good.” I eyed Paul again, then glanced around the room and spotted the exit. I headed for it. “Excuse me.”
I moved around Mark as he entered and slipped out the door. I heard him say “Was it something I said?” as I hurried off. I found the big door to the front porch and stepped outside. The chilly air raised goosebumps across my skin as tears slid down my cheeks.
“Nicole, are you okay?” Savannah had come to check on me.
I nodded and folded my arms around me as the cold seeped through the fabric of the dress. “I am.” I wasn’t, but I wasn’t about to show it.
“Just so it’s said, years ago, there was a teammate who almost took down Shadows.
He worked with the Cartel. It was a scary time.
It really made the team sit back and reset how they do things.
Since then, the guys find it hard to trust. I’m sorry about how they questioned you, but you have to understand where they’re coming from.
I know you’ve had a rough go of it, and if it wasn’t for you, that child wouldn’t have made it.
Please know I’ll always be here if you want to talk. ”
“Thanks, Savannah. You have no idea how much your friendship means to me.” Even if it had only been for such a short while.
“I’m happy to hear that. Please take all the time you need.” Her smile faded as she turned to go back inside.
I leaned my shoulder against the porch pillar and gazed out at the night sky. It looked like a black star-spattered canvas, the mountains carefully placed just so to catch the light of the bright yellow moon. The beauty of Shadows did not disappoint.
I took a deep breath as I tried to clear my head.
So many things hit me at once. I had no idea when I could return to Mexico.
I wanted to visit Chase, but I knew he needed to rest. Then there was Paul.
I couldn’t believe he thought I’d use Chase just for a story, and now he and Mike questioned my integrity and my job.
I tried to push back the tears, but it was no use. They burned down my cheeks.
I heard the door open, but I didn’t turn. I was exhausted. “Savannah, I promise I’m fine.”
“You don’t look fine.” Paul’s voice made me spin around.
I raised a hand. “No, please, I can’t handle any more judgment.”
He crossed his arms against his chest, and I glanced down at his tattooed sleeve. “You and I need to figure this shit out.”
The nerve of him.
“Seems to me you’re the one with the problem.
Apparently, I can’t be trusted.” I used the back of my hand to swipe my cheeks.
“I’m super glad I put everything on the line, only to have everyone question my intentions.
” I knew I sounded bitter. I eyed the door and wished I’d never come down at all.
I should have stayed in my room. “Have a good night, Paul.” I stepped around him, but his hand slapped around my wrist.
“We gotta figure this shit out, Nicole.” I glanced down at his hand, and he flexed it but didn’t let go, only softened his grip a little.
“Why?” I couldn’t figure him out.
“Because,” he pressed his rock-solid body against mine, “you’re screwing with my head.”
I stepped back and shrugged. “That’s a you problem.
” I whisked around him and headed back inside.
I slipped through the entryway and up the stairs to my room.
When I shut the door, I took a deep breath and got ready for bed.
I pulled back the covers and slipped between the sheets.
I was more than exhausted and allowed sleep to take over.