Sor (Voodoo Guardians #29)

CHAPTER SEVEN

“Five bodies. Four dead by our hands. One dead from a long-range rifle with scope. The shooter was at the entrance to the property, hiding behind the gates, out of view of the cameras,” said Hiro. “There were no shells or fragments found.”

“Footprints,” said Joseph. “Size ten-and-a-half, work or combat boot. He was light. Maybe one-seventy-five.”

“And the others?” asked Hex.

“We’re still working on IDs. No fingerprints. I think Sor and his team, or at least him and two others, were involved in something in the last few months that led to this. We need to find out what was written on the wall of his teammate’s apartment.”

“I’ll go,” said Garr.

“Take someone with you,” said Luke. “I’ll call ahead and make sure base command gives us some grace.”

“And if they don’t?” smirked Garr.

“Then I won’t ask so nicely.” Garr nodded at Cowboy, and the two men took off to head toward base. It would be a short drive and easier to have their own vehicle with them.

“I’m just glad that Sor’s cabin was not far from our property, and we could cut through,” said Cam. “That could have ended very differently. They wanted her to get to him. Someone has something or knows something that those men wanted.”

“They were trained,” said Joseph. “They had military issue weapons and knives. They were searching the property using protocol. If they weren’t former military, they were security for someone.”

“You make a good point,” nodded Hex. “We need to speak with Sor. Where is he?”

“He’s getting Nell settled at the cottage. I’ll go get him,” said Joseph.

“She’s fine, Sor. Her vitals are all back to normal. She’s just a little shaken up, and rightfully so,” said Ajei. “Just be easy with her, okay? And Sor. Don’t do anything stupid, like try to send her away. Understand?”

Sor looked at Ajei and smiled, nodding at her. Then he had big tears in his eyes, shaking his head. Claudette pulled him down to her shorter body for a hug.

“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay. You got there in time, and she’s okay because you were there. Now, she’s safe here, and we’re all going to watch over her. You just do what you do. Find them men and make sure they know we don’t tolerate such foolishness down here.” She hugged him tighter, then kissed both his cheeks.

Ajei, Kate, Sophia Ann, and Gwen stared at Claudette, wondering if she were her mother in doppelganger form. She sounded like her, she acted like her, and lately, she was saying things exactly as Mama Irene would.

“Y’all get settled and come to dinner. No one is leavin’ this property without a plan and backup.”

“Yes, ma’am,” smiled Sor. They watched her walk off the porch and then turned to see Nell in the doorway. “Baby.”

“Hi,” she smiled. “I’m okay now. I was just shaken and scared. I didn’t mean to upset you.”

“You didn’t upset me, Nell. I was terrified for you. I was terrified for me. If I’d lost you,” he said, shaking his head.

“It’s okay. You didn’t lose me, and you’re not going to lose me. I’ll be staying right here on the property until this is settled. Suddenly, I find myself famished, and Claudette said that dinner is all my favorites. I don’t know how she knew that, but apparently, we’re having shrimp creole, oysters Rockefeller, whiskey bread pudding, and even gumbo. It’s crazy. Literally, all my favorites.”

“Yeah,” smiled Sophia Ann. “Crazy.” Sor took Nell’s hand, and they stepped off the porch, walking toward the cafeteria. Gwen looked at her three friends.

“You know, indigenous people believe in the spirit world, and those that came before us are powerful. But if I had every leader of every nation standing in front of me right now, I don’t think I could explain Irene and Claudette.”

“I know what you mean,” laughed Ajei. “I’ve been around them practically my entire life. Grandpa Nathan taught me to understand the spirits and the spirit world. It’s helped me to be a better nurse. But the skills of Irene, Claudette, Julia, and Noah, that’s something I don’t even possess an ounce of.”

“What’s going on over there?” frowned Kate. She watched as the men approached Sor, and he looked down at Nell apologetically.

“I’m going to guess that’s our husbands being alpha controllers,” said Ajei. “Let’s go do a girls’ dinner with Nell. Maybe we can explain a few things to her.”