Sor (Voodoo Guardians #29)

CHAPTER THREE

Nelly puttered around the house, straightening things up. She’d already cleaned out closets the day before, scrubbed the bathrooms, cleaned the kitchen, and now, she was wiping down counters and just making the house presentable with flowers.

Her husband, Craig, was a real estate agent for million-dollar properties in the area. They were hosting a huge party later in the afternoon for all of his top clients and business associates. It seemed very last minute to her, but then again, Craig wasn’t a planner. She was the one that paid attention to deadlines and details.

She’d bought the perfect outfit. A cute, short summer dress that showed off her toned legs. She worked hard for those legs, running five to six miles a day and taking kickboxing classes. At five-feet-ten, she appeared to be all legs. On the dance and volleyball teams in high school, she stopped all that when she went to college. Now, she just ran and took the occasional kickboxing class.

They’d both agreed to hold off on having children, focusing on his career in real estate and hers as a graphic artist. She knew that he wasn’t ready, and she wasn’t sure what was making her hold back. Actually, she knew. She just didn’t want to admit it.

She loved her work and was grateful to have a job that allowed her to work from home. An office wasn’t a place she would enjoy. Too many people. Too much drama. She needed quiet spaces.

By six, she’d changed, fixed her long auburn hair, tying it up in a high ponytail with gentle waves cascading down her back. Her big hazel eyes had just a touch of pale pink shadow. The thick black lashes blinked back at her. Turning in front of the mirror, she was proud of herself. She looked good for thirty-four, and she’d put in the effort to look this good.

Always late, Craig bounded up the stairs and raced to change his clothes.

“Sorry, babe! I had a late showing, and then traffic was a bitch.”

She nodded at him, trying to give a genuine smile, but she knew he was lying. He was wearing his golf clothes, not clothes that he would show a house in. She also knew that he probably hadn’t played golf. He wasn’t sweaty or sunburned, and his clubs were still standing in the closet where he’d last left them.

“It’s fine. I hope you had a good game.”

He turned back toward her as he entered the shower and gave her a glare. One of the other things they’d agreed on was that she wouldn’t ask about his life away from the house. If he wanted to golf, he golfed. If he wanted a weekend away with the boys, he got a weekend away with the boys.

“I have everything done. The caterer is downstairs putting everything out, the house is spotless, and the flowers are placed where you wanted them,” she said, smiling at him. He looked up and grinned.

“You look fucking amazing,” he laughed. “Great dress.” He kissed her, letting his hand slide up her inner thigh. Nelly laughed, gripping his wrist when she noticed the purple marks on his neck. An unexplained wave of nausea suddenly hit her, and all she wanted to do was leave. She wanted to question him but knew that now was not the time.

“You start that, and we’ll be in bed when the guests arrive.”

“Fine,” he growled, “but I’m headed up those legs when this is done.” He might be. He might not be, thought Nelly. Chances were in her favor that he’d be drunk and head straight to bed.

A hundred people crammed into their Garden District mansion was almost more than Nelly could stand. She liked most of the people in attendance, but there were a few couples that just gave her a strange vibe. They’d never liked her, never allowed her into the clique. She always felt like an outsider.

Spotting two of Craig’s closest friends across the lawn, she noticed them with their phones open, laughing and pointing. One of them looked up at her, staring up and down, and she frowned at him.

“What’s wrong, babe?”

“I don’t know. Why are Tommy and Rich staring at me like that?” He looked toward the two other agents and frowned.

“I don’t know. Let me go see.”

He walked toward them, and they immediately put their phones in their pockets. She could tell that her husband wasn’t amused by their behavior, or at least she thought that’s what she was seeing. Then she watched as one of them brought out his phone again. A few moments later, her husband looked up at her, slowly walking toward her.

“What are they doing?” she asked.

“Looking at you.”

“Yes, I know. Why?” she asked.

“No,” he said, turning his own phone toward her, “looking at you.”

She pushed the play button on the video on his screen and watched as a woman’s legs appeared. She wore only a thong, but her vagina was visible as her legs spread over the camera lens. A rush of fabric fell over her ass, and Nelly gasped.

“Wh-what is this? Is this a joke?” she paled.

“You tell me. You got a side hustle you want to tell me about?” he muttered.

“You can’t be serious. A side hustle? That’s the changing room at Lavelle’s Boutique! That camera is below me while I’m trying on dresses. Are you nuts? I’m going to sue them!”

“I should have known,” he said, tucking the phone back into his pocket, shaking his head in a show of disappointment. “Everyone warned me that you weren’t the right woman for me. You weren’t a woman who should be on the arm of a top realtor in a major city. You weren’t a woman that I could impress the crowds with.”

“Are you kidding me right now?” she said, trying to keep her tone low. “I am the one that impresses the crowds. For you! You’re that one that screws around, goes to strip clubs, hangs with the boys. You’re nearly forty, Craig, not twenty. Whatever game you’re playing isn’t funny any longer.

“I had no idea I was being filmed. You can’t possibly think I knew. And what about those two degenerates! They were looking on whatever that website is, and I can guarantee it wasn’t their first time.”

“I’ve heard enough, Nelly. I’ll ask the guests to go home, but I want you to pack your things. I don’t need a stripper and whore for a wife.”

She slapped him so hard that he stumbled backwards, losing his balance. He fell into the grass, staining his white linen pants. When he jumped up, ready to charge at her, a huge body stood in between them.

“You touch that woman, I’ll break your legs,” said the big man.

“I suppose you’re fucking her,” he smirked. “You her agent for her porn site?” He stared at the big man, then swallowed, recognizing his face.

“I’m going to give you one minute to apologize to your wife,” said the man. “If you don’t, I’m going to make sure you understand how a man should treat a woman.”

Craig stared at the man in front of him, frowning. Nelly was shaking, her head down as tears filled her eyes. Not one of their friends came to her defense, not one. She found that telling. They weren’t ‘their’ friends. They were his friends.

“Fine. I’m sorry you’re a whore,” he sneered. The big man took a step toward him, and he backed up again, holding his hands in the air. “Alright. I’m sorry. Just get your shit and get out of my house.”

“Is this his house?” the stranger asked.

“Y-yes,” she sniffed. “He owned it when we got married a few months back.”

“Okay, then I’ll help you get your things together and make sure you’re safe. Just look into the whole community property law,” he said.

She nodded, heading into the house as all eyes turned toward her, staring. Women were whispering; men were smirking at her. As quickly as she could, she took the stairs two at a time to their bedroom. Then she stopped. Standing in the middle of their bedroom, she was frozen for a moment.

“Ma’am? Where are your suitcases?” he asked.

“Hall closet,” she said quietly. He grabbed the suitcases and laid them out on the bed. When she didn’t move, he began tossing anything that looked feminine into them. She gripped his wrist. “I’ll do it. Thank you. But I’ll do it.”

He nodded, giving her some space and standing in the doorway, watching for the asshole to make a move. Praying he would make a move.

“He wasn’t always like that,” she sniffed. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”

“No telling,” said the man.

“I didn’t know there was a camera filming me. How could they do that?” She shook her head, wiping her tears, then looked up at him. “I’m sorry. Do I know you? Who are you?”

“My name is Mark Teller.” She looked at him, then nodded.

“You’re Cara’s husband. I’m sorry, I didn’t remember meeting you. Is she here? I didn’t see her?”

“No. Actually, she’s at home packing at this very moment.” Nelly looked up at him, shaking her head. Then she stilled, staring at him. It hit her. Like a ton of bricks, it hit her.

“They’re seeing one another, aren’t they?” she whispered. He nodded.

“I believe so. It was my intention to confront your husband, but I didn’t get the chance. This may have all been planned,” he said to the woman.

“I don’t know how. I never told him where I was going to buy my dress or when. Besides, those men were looking at a site that had all kinds of photos from changing rooms.” She grabbed one more suitcase and put her jewelry, perfume, and makeup inside.

“This is all for now,” she said. “My laptop and other things I need for work are downstairs.”

“Is there nothing in the house that belongs to you?” he asked.

“Nothing I need. Why are you doing this? You don’t know me; you don’t owe me anything.”

“Let’s just say we’re somewhat in the same boat. Cara let me know she was leaving me today to move in here.”

“Th-this was planned,” she whispered.

“Do you have anywhere to stay?” he asked. She shook her head, unsure of what she should do. “It’s alright. I own a fishing cabin out in the bayou. There’s air conditioning, electricity, even wi-fi. I like quiet, but I need to be connected.”

“That’s fine. Anything is fine, thank you. Thank you, Mark,” she said as he picked up the three massive suitcases beneath his arms. She grabbed a duffel bag and tote and followed him down the stairs.

“Sor.”

“Sor? I thought your name was Mark. Is Sor a nickname?” she asked.

“It’s a long story, Nelly. Let’s just get the fuck out of here before I kill your soon-to-be ex-husband.”

“You don’t know that we’re going to divorce,” she said, hitting the bottom step. As she did, Craig was standing there with a folded stack of papers.

“Just make it easy on both of us, Nelly. Sign the fucking papers and get out of my life.”