Sor (Voodoo Guardians #29)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“Is it always this hard to watch them leave?” she asked the other women.

“This was easy,” smiled Ajei. “They’ll get in and out. Don’t worry about them. The harder ones are the ones that take much longer, and we don’t hear from them for a few days or even weeks. At least with this one, we’ll be able to hear when they arrive and when they’re leaving.”

“Not in the caves?” she asked.

“No, honey. Comms may not work in the caves. It will be hard only because we may not be able to hear them, but trust me, these men know what they’re doing. The absolute best in the world.”

“God, how do you guys do this?” she whispered. Ajei squeezed her hand, smiling.

“Because they are the most spectacular men on the planet. Handsome, brave, skilled,” smiled Ajei.

“And the best hands on the planet,” grinned Sophia Ann. The other women laughed, and Nell couldn’t help but laugh with them.

“You’re all so wonderful with one another. I mean, there doesn’t seem to be any jealousy or envy between you all.” Everyone looked at one another, smiling, and shook their heads.

“Never,” said Kate. “Our mothers taught us the importance of sticking together and supporting one another. This team, all of these men, they wouldn’t exist without the support of all of us here. Many of us have jobs with the teams, as you know. You have to be here for one another. Besides, there’s no need for jealousy. We love our husbands and our husbands only.”

“That’s so wonderful to hear,” said Nell. “My ex-husband’s friends weren’t trustworthy at all. Neither were their wives. I always felt as if they were looking for an opportunity to swoop in and take my place, or their husbands were looking at me like I could be their side morsel. It was creepy.”

“We get that,” said Gwen, nodding at her. “Did you know that in the United States, there are about ninety-seven males for every one hundred females? Although that sounds like great odds, it’s not. Our husbands have been propositioned, promised favors, even physically assaulted by women who wanted them.”

“How do you stay calm through all of this?”

“That’s easy,” smiled Kate. “My beautiful mother-in-law used to give the wives some advice. She said these men, these men protect so fiercely, so devoutly it’s all-consuming. And they love the same way. All-consuming. It’s remarkable to watch and a blessing to be a part of it. If you want my advice, don’t question anything. Just let yourself feel. These are special men, and if you don’t mind me saying so, it will sound a bit conceited on my, on our part, but it takes special women to be with them.”

“I love that,” smiled Nell.

“Well, we came up with a newer version of that as we told you earlier. We hope that helped you some,” said Ajei.

“You guys are amazing,” said Nell, wiping her eyes and shaking her head. “I’m serious. I’ve never met women like you in my life, and you’re just amazing. All of you.”

“So are you, Nell,” smiled Ajei. “It’s why you’re here. Somehow, all of these amazing men were thrown together and have created something that the world will never know enough about to appreciate. We were lucky enough to find them, or they found us. Luke and I grew up together. So did Kate and Cam, Sophia Ann and Eric. Many of us grew up together. But many more like you were chosen.”

“Chosen?” she frowned.

“Yes, honey. You were chosen by Sor. You. He saw you at that party, and something inside him clicked and said, ‘she’s mine.’”

“Oh, no. No, no,” she laughed. “That party was a disaster for both of us. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time.”

“Was it?” smirked Hannah. “If I remember the story correctly, your husband was about to hit you, and Sor stepped in between the two of you.”

“Y-yes, but that wasn’t planned or anything.”

“Sweetie, if you ask Mama Irene or Claudette, they’ll tell you that everything is planned. The whole ballgame of life is planned. Not by us, but definitely by someone,” said Winnie. “I mean, my brother served with Christian before he died. In theory, I would have buried my brother and moved on. But I couldn’t. Then suddenly, that big, handsome, sexy piece of candy was in front of me.”

Again, the women laughed, nodding their heads at one another.

“Well, no offense, but it seems like you all got that big, handsome, sexy piece of candy,” said Nell. “Including me. I am forever grateful no matter how it came about.”

“That’s the spirit, honey,” said Ajei. “Now, it’s my professional medical opinion that we eat cupcakes and drink wine tonight. We all need it.” Nell just laughed at the other women.

“Now that’s a prescription I can get down with.”