Sophie's Seduction (8 page)

Dominik and Marco made their way to the side of the house where Rochelle had disappeared inside with the two men
.  Trent and Christian were going to go around to the front of the house and be the distraction.  They were going to walk right up to the door and knock.  When Dominik and Marco snuck around to the back door, only the screen stood between them and entry into the house. 

Dominik inhaled the sweetest scent he had every scented
.  His mate.  He closed his eyes for a brief moment as desire slammed his body—pure and raw.  He looked over at Marco to tell him and saw Marco had been hit as well.  Dominik and Marco were brothers in every sense of the word but blood.  They had grown up together in a small town in Italy, outside of Rome.  They had joined the military together, where they met Christian and were shocked to find that he too was Otherkin.  When they got out, they had looked him up and met Phoenix and Gabriel. 

Eventually they moved to the
States to pledge to Phoenix and Gabriel's clan.  There were only a few clans of Otherkin in the world.  Promise was the only place where Otherkin resided in the United States.  Phoenix and Gabriel demanded respect from their people and from everyone else as well.  Dominik and Marco both respected their clan and honored their princes. 

'I take it you smell her too
,'
Dominik said still in shock.

Marco nodded
. 
'Oh yes and she smells so sweet.  Merda, shit, we don't need this now.'

'Let's get through this and then we can deal with mating later
,'
Dominik offered. 

Marco just nodded, wanting this whole situation to be over
.  With their keen hearing, they heard the men up front knock on the door.  That was their cue to enter the back.  Dominik slowly opened the screen door, luckily it didn't creak when he did, he slowly entered a kitchen and looked around quickly.  He heard one man go to the front door and heard him whisper to the other one.  Now he knew both men were in the living room, all he had to do was find Rochelle.

Since he had scented her when he realized she was his mate, he knew she was down the hall to his left, away from the living room
.  Knowing Marco had his back, he silently made his way down the hall.  He came to the second door on his right and knew she was in there.  He quietly turned the knob and slowly pushed open the door.  When he looked around, he was shocked at what he saw.  Rochelle was half hanging out of the window, trying to escape.

He went to her quickly and instead of grabbing her, he leaned out a little and said in a low voice, "Don't scream
.  We are the good guys.  Sophie sent us."

Rochelle jerked and then looked up from her half upside down position and said, "Well do you want to help me then?
I'm a little stuck."

Dominik had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing out loud
.  His mate was feisty.  He reached down and helped her climb back in the window.  He heard to loud thumps from the front room and then Trent called an all clear in his head.  Rochelle climbed back in and then straightened her shirt, which was torn.  Dominik saw this and growled low in the back of his throat.

Rochelle reached out and smacked his arm
.  "Don't you go getting all growly on me.  We have to get out of here," she said in a whisper.  Rochelle was grateful this hunk of a man had been sent to save her, but the men still in her living room had guns.  This guy didn't look to have guns, well, not the kind that shot bullets.  He stood at around six foot three inches tall, which put him several inches taller than she was.  He had short black hair cut in military style, but his green eyes were what seemed to mesmerize her.  There was a faint glow to them and she couldn't look away.

Dominik smiled at her for the first time and said, "It's okay
.  The men in the living room won't bother you anymore.  It would be best,
bella
, if we left now before the others return."

Rochelle frowned at him calling her 'bella' but since it was said in a sexy accent, she let it go
.  How had he taken care of the two in the living room? "Okay.  How is Sophie?"

"She is doing better
.  We will take you to her now," he said as they headed down the hall.

"We?" Rochelle said as they entered the living room and she saw what he meant
.  There were three other hot men standing over the bodies of Bobby and Jim.  "Wow." It was all she could say standing with all the testosterone in the room. 

"Come, Rochelle
.  We need to go.  Our SUV is a distance from here and we need to move before the others come back," Dominik told her.

Rochelle knew they needed to hurry
, but she just couldn't leave her daddy out there like that.  Her eyes filled with tears and she let the emotions hit her since the cavalry had arrived.  As soon as her eyes filled with tears, one of the other men stepped up beside her.  He was a few inches shorter than the first one, but he had the same black hair with warm brown eyes. 

"What is wrong,
mi stella
?" he asked.  He went to put an arm around her and she jumped back.

"I'm sorry
," she whispered.  "I don't know you guys at all."

"Ah, I am Marco, Marco DiSilva
," he said in the same accent as the other one.  Then he pointed to the other man who had come into her bedroom.  "This is Dominik Costa.  The others are Trent Spencer and Christian Lemann."

She nodded to each of them as Marco had introduced them and then said, "
I'm Rochelle Durand.  Thank you for coming to my rescue.  I hate to ask this," she hesitated for a second and then plowed on, "could you please help me place my father's body in the barn before we leave? I just can't leave him out there." Silent tears fell down her cheeks.

Dominik stepped up to her other side and placed an arm around her shoulders, pulling her into his body and protection
.  "Of course we will,
bella
, don't worry.  Trent and Christian will take care of it."

She pulled back and said, "No, I need to go with you
.  There is a trapdoor where we can hide his body until I can get back here to bury him properly."

Rochelle turned and headed out to the backyard with all of the men following
.  She went down the back steps and knelt down beside her father's body.  She knew he was dead but couldn't stop herself from checking his pulse once more.  Marco knelt on her other side and did the same.

"I am so sorry, Rochelle, for your loss
.  He was a brave man," Marco told her quietly.

"Thank you."
Rochelle stood and the men lifter her father's body.  They followed her to the barn and gently laid him inside the room under the trap door.  Rochelle went into a tack room and then covered the trap door with fresh hay.  No one knew about the door but her father, herself, and now Sophie, so no one would look there for the body.  She turned to the men who were all scanning the area and thanked them again for their help.

"We must go now, Rochelle
.  You are not safe here," Dominik said to her.

"Ok
ay.  I need to grab some clothes and stuff.  It won't take me long," Rochelle told them as she ran back into the house. 

She quickly grabbed her duffle bag and began to pack
.  Marco came in quietly and helped her by putting things she threw on the bed into her bag.  She went to her father's room and grabbed the other duffle bag, which she knew was already packed with what she needed.  On their way out of the house, which Dominik made sure was locked up, she grabbed a bi-fold picture frame that had photos of her with her parents and the only thing else of value to her family.  The family book, which was filled with pictures and history, was rather large and bulky, so Dominik offered to carry it for her. 

It was then she remembered the small suitcase in her parent's bedroom
.  It had belonged to her Aunt, Sophie's mother.  She ran back and grabbed it too, not knowing when she would be able to return to her family home.  Bo and his men were out for blood and she knew he would kill her as he did her father, without a second thought.

Once they were out on the front porch, she indicated her father's truck and held out the keys to Dominik
.  He took them with a smile of thanks and then they all climbed in.  Rochelle directed the men back to where they had parked their SUV.  Trent and Christian got in the SUV while Marco and Dominik drove with her in her father's truck.  They all headed to the hospital first to check on Sophie.

Sophie woke and for the second time, she searched the room for her men
.  Neither was in the room with her and that made her nervous.  She knew they wouldn't go far and then felt selfish for wanting them near.  They had climbed right into her heart and nestled in deep.  She loved them completely and wanted to be their mate for life.  When the door opened, she expected it to be one of them and smiled with anticipation only to be saddened to see a nurse. 

"Have you seen my uh, the men that were with me?" Sophie asked the nurse
. 

The nurse nodded
.  "Yes, they are just out in the hallway making some calls.  I just came in to check on you and to give you your shot."

Sophie settled back and said, "In the IV, right?"

The nurse smiled and said, "Of course.  Here, lie back and relax."

Sophie watched as the nurse turned to put on latex gloves and then checked her dressing
.  While she was checking Sophie's wound, Jackson came back in.  He saw she was awake and the nurse was checking her wound so he stayed back, leaning against the wall at the foot of her bed.  He gave her a wink and she smiled at him in return.

Sophie was watching the nurse because she wanted to make sure
the needle wasn’t going into skin but her IV.  When the nurse lifted the syringe and tapped it, Sophie saw her hand and the tattoo that was clearly shining though the glove.  For a split second, Sophie was shocked and she looked at Jackson.  Jackson reacted, seeing the fear in Sophie's eyes.  He jumped to her bedside just as she pointed to the nurse. 

Jackson grabbed the nurse's hand that held the syringe and jerked her back from Sophie
.  "Soph, what?"

"She's...she's..
.Hunter.  She has a t-tat t-too," Sophie stammered.

"Let go of me, you beast
," the nurse screamed.

Cade burst in the door and said, "What the hell?"

"She's a Hunter!" Sophie told him.

Cade rushed to Jackson and the nurse, taking the syringe from the nurse's hand as she struggled with Jackson
.  Cade sat the syringe over in the corner and then went back over to Jackson again.  Jackson put a sleeper hold on the nurse and she passed out.  Cade went to the door and looked out.  Once he saw the hallway was clear, he signaled Jackson.  Jackson carried the nurse out and down the back stairwell. 

Cade stayed in the room with Sophie as Jackson took the unconscious nurse to their SUV
.  He tied her up and gagged her, then went back up to Sophie's room.  The nurse would be fine until the other men got back, the SUV was virtually alone in the back lot.  When Jackson entered Sophie's room, Cade was sitting on her bed holding her as she cried quietly. 

Jackson went over and sat on her other side, rubbing her back
.  Sophie calmed down to small sighs and then looked up into Jackson's caring gaze.  "Why are they trying to hurt me, Jackson?"

Jackson reached his hand up to caress her cheek and answered, "I don't know
, honey, but we are going to find out."

Cade kept rubbing circles on her back
.  "We won't let them hurt you, baby.  Ever.  One of us will be with you at all times from here on out."

Jackson cleaned her face with a tissue and then leaned down to kiss her lightly on the lips
.  "We will also be checking everyone's hands from here on out."

Sophie smiled her thanks and then blew her nose when he handed her another tissue
.  Cade got up and came back with a wet washcloth for her to wipe her face down.  Her men were wonderful, caring for her the way they did. 

She looked at both of them looking down at her and said, "Thank you both so much for taking such good care of me
.  I love you both, very much."

They both broke out into big grins
and Jackson said, "I love you too, honey, you are my world and I am so glad I—we—found you." Then he leaned down and kissed her deeply.

When Jackson pulled back, Cade leaned in and touched his forehead to hers
.  "You are my soul and I love you more than my next breath." Then he kissed her soundly.

She leaned forward between the two men and let them hold her
.  She was so content that she wanted to kill whoever lightly knocked on her hospital room door.  Jackson got up and released her reluctantly as he went to go see who was at the door.  When he opened it, he turned and looked at Cade, then stepped outside.

Sophie looked at Cade
.  "What did he say to you?"

Cade smiled at her and said, "He said it was Dominik outside and he was going to go out there to talk to him so as not to disturb you more."

"Jas says that we will be able to do that if we mate.  Is that true?" Sophie asked.

Cade nodded
.  "Yes, we will do a whole lot more than talk to each other though." He growled playfully, nuzzling her neck.

Sophie giggled and hugged Cade close, loving the feel of his strong body against hers
.  "You are so one-track minded sometimes."

"Only for you, baby."
Cade pulled back enough to kiss her deeply, entwining his tongue with hers.  Then he broke the kiss, groaning, and looked down into her eyes.  "It seems there is someone here who would like to visit.  Are you okay to have company?"

"Sure
," Sophie said and smoothed back her hair.

The hospital room door opened and Rochelle walked through, tears in her eyes as she ran to Sophie and hugged her gently
.  "Hey, are you okay?" Rochelle asked.

"Yeah,
I'm okay.  On the mend." Sophie leaned back and looked at Rochelle.  "I can't tell you how thankful I am that you helped me."

Cade had stood when Rochelle entered but now he returned to sit beside of Sophie, opposite of Rochelle
.  "I want to thank you as well.  You saved my mate's life and I am in your debt." He held out his hand and shook Rochelle's.

Rochelle blushed as she shook his hand
.  "I think you paid me back in spades when you sent your men to me.  They saved my life." Her breath hitched and tears flooded her eyes.

Sophie reached out to her and grabbed her hand
.  "Rochelle, what is it?"

"They killed my dad
," Rochelle whispered.

"Oh my
God.  Who did?" Sophie asked, tears now in her eyes.

Rochelle took a deep breath
.  "The men who had you.  They were looking for you." Rochelle didn't say any more but Sophie and Cade got the message.  Her father had been killed because they wouldn't tell where Sophie was. 

"I am so sorry, Rochelle
," Sophie said and then hugged her close.  "I am so, so sorry."

"It's okay
.  It was meant to be," Rochelle said.

"Why do you say that?" Cade asked.

"Well, my dad said Mother Eileen had said so," Rochelle answered.

Sophie frowned
.  Where had she heard that name? "Wait," she said.  "Mother Eileen? The old lady on Bourbon Street?"

Rochelle smiled
.  "You met her? She is a seer.  She is very gifted."

"I met her when I was on Bourbon Street
.  She was the one who told me to run for the woods," Sophie told Cade and Rochelle.

Rochelle nodded at Sophie
.  "She is very wise.  She told my dad what would happen and that I would be okay.  She was right." Tears filled her eyes again.  "I don't know why she didn't warn him about his death.  Maybe we could have done something different."

Cade ran a hand along Rochelle's back
.  "Maybe he knew, but things had to play out the way they did in order to save you.  That makes him a hero."

"I never thought about it like that
," Rochelle told him.  "Thank you.  My daddy was always my hero."

Sophie put her hand on Cade's cheek then leaned in and kissed him
.  He saw the gratitude and love in her eyes.  He shrugged and then stood.

"I am going to go talk with the others right outside the door
," he told Sophie.  "Jackson and I will be right on the other side and we will not let anyone else in here."

Sophie smiled at him
.  "Okay, honey.  Rochelle and I will just talk."

Once he was gone, Rochelle looked at Sophie and said, "How is it you have all these hot men around you?"

"I heard that," Cade said loudly through the door.

The two women looked at each other with wide eyes and then started to laugh
.  Before long, there were tears falling down their faces, not from sadness but from joy.

****

Cade stepped out Sophie's room and joined the other men in their discussion.  Jackson had kept him updated through their mental link.  Dominik was finishing his story as he joined them.

"We still don't know a damn thing about these guys except they want Sophie really badly
," Dominik said frustrated.  "We need to get more intel."

"I think that Rochelle may have information we could use
," Cade interjected.

Jackson nodded
.  "I agree.  She knows a lot about the Hunters as she is one."

Marco stepped forward at Jackson's comment and said, "What?
She is a Hunter? Then why did she help Sophie?" he growled.

Jackson was surprised by Marco's reaction and so was Cade
.  Both looked to Dominik with raised brows.  "It seems the lovely Ms. Rochelle is our mate," Dominik said, explaining Marco's current state.

"Ah, well I can see where this might throw a wrench into the plans
," Cade said dryly.

"We need to talk to her and find out what she knows
.  Would it be better if you two did this? Or should we handle it?" Jackson asked.

"We will deal with it
," Marco said in clipped tones.

"We also have a 'situation' in our SUV
that needs taking care of," Jackson said.  "A nurse, who is also a Hunter, tried to give our mate a shot of something.  We stopped her and now have her tied up in the back."

Trent stepped forward
.  "Christian and I will handle her.  We will take her away from here and question her."

Jackson agreed
.  "Fine.  Use everything at your disposal.  We want to know what is in that syringe and why she wanted to hurt our mate.  I am sending the syringe to Phoenix but we need answers now."

"It's getting on in the evening
.  Let's get to it and meet back here in the morning.  The doctor is talking about letting Sophie go then," Jackson told the men as he handed the keys to their SUV to Trent.  "Take the SUV but make sure to have it back here by then."

Trent nodded, took the keys, then he and Christian headed out the back stairs
.  Marco and Dominik looked at Jackson.  They needed to talk to Rochelle and find the answers they needed.  Time was of the essence with Sophie's life on the line.

"Do you need us to go get you something to eat?
Anything before we leave? We are going to take Rochelle back to the hotel for the night," Dominik offered.

Both Jackson and Cade shook their heads
, but Cade answered, "No, we're good.  There's a decent cafeteria downstairs and we will be fine until the morning when we can take Sophie out of here."

Dominik and Marco
followed Jackson and Cade into Sophie's hospital room.  The two women were sitting on the bed talking quietly.  They stopped all conversation when the men entered. 

Sophie smiled at Dominik and Marco
.  "Hey, guys, join the party."

Dominik nodded at Sophie
.  "It's really good to see you up and better.  We were all worried about you."

Sophie blushed prettily
.  "Thank you.  I'm doing much better.  Thank you both too for helping Rochelle get away."

"It was nothing, we were glad to help
," Marco answered as he kept his eyes on Rochelle.

"Where are Trent and Christian?" Sophie asked
. 

"They went to go deal with our nurse situation
," Jackson answered as he went over to put his arm around Sophie as he sat beside her.

"Marco and Dominik are going to take Rochelle to the hotel for the night
.  We hope to meet up with them if you are released in the morning," Cade told her.

Rochelle looked at Sophie questioningly
.  "It's okay.  These guys are all cool.  I would trust them with my life," Sophie told Rochelle.

Rochelle nodded as she looked over at the two men in question
.  Then as if she made up her mind to go with them, she stood and went to stand with them.  Marco smiled at her and put his arm around her.  Dominik seemed to crowd in on her other side.  Sophie looked at Jackson and Cade with a question in her eyes and Jackson nodded.