Hearts on Fire 6: Healing Sophia(9)
She found the information unnerving and was surprised at the disappointed feeling in her gut. She was getting used to the men walking around watching over her, and she had even conversed with Lew and Cerdic a few times. She was starting to understand why they were so hard and commanding. She looked up what she could on Navy SEALs and discovered they were definitely resourceful men who risked their lives and even went through intense training in water and on land. It was commendable. She figured that was why they had so many muscles and that led to her thinking about her poor choice in a first boyfriend and lover and how that choice had nearly killed her and ultimately ruined her life.
But Jeremy’s words played in her head. A reminder that she had an opportunity to rebuild herself and her life, or she could just sit here, be scared, feel sorry for herself, and give up. Instead, she wanted to be stronger. When she thought about getting stronger, she thought about physically wanting to better herself besides mentally. She thought about Lew and how she watched him at night on the beach. She could only see him when the moonlight was bright, but he would do these martial arts moves, in slow motion and then faster, but ultimately it looked therapeutic. He did favor that left side of his, but with all those muscles, and his arms and legs moving so perfectly, it made her want to ask him more about it.
She exhaled and then looked at her watch. She wondered if the men were at her house doing the sweep yet. She anticipated asking them to take her to town, and she wondered if Jeremy had talked to them about the possibility of her having to pay for the house she rented from them. She needed to know how much rent was, and that would help her to see how many hours she would need to work and doing what kind of job.
She stood up, looked out toward the water, and thought it was a stunning setting. When she turned to look toward the house, she gasped as Lew approached.
She quickly, pulled the shirt from the chair, and tried to get it right side out. She didn’t want him to see her back, but it was too late. She had been facing the water. The tears filled her eyes as panic set in. He would think terrible things of her. This was why she didn’t sit out here unless she knew they wouldn’t be around. But one look at his expression as she locked gazes, and she knew he’d seen the damage to her skin.
“Oh God, you scared me.” She fumbled with the shirt. He was by her immediately.
“Sophia, what is that on your back?” he asked and took her arm and turned her.
She pulled from his hold. “Nothing. What are you doing?” she asked, getting angry. God, she didn’t want him to see it and to know that Mateo had marked her forever as his woman in such a barbaric fashion.
He stared at her, and she saw him lick his lower lip.
“Sophia.” He continued to hold on to her arm. Something moved in the distance. One look past Lew and she saw Cerdic coming down now, too.
As Cerdic approached, his eyes roamed over her breasts then to her waist and legs. He was checking her out, and she felt the tears fill her eyes.
She looked up into Lew’s eyes.
“Please don’t,” she whispered to Lew. He swallowed hard and released her arm as she quickly pulled the shirt up and over her head.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you. The guys are in the house now. I was wondering if you needed anything? I know you’ve basically said no every day, but I still wanted to ask,” Cerdic said to her, sounding hopeful she would say yes this time.
“Uhm, actually, I was thinking about checking out the town. I have a few errands to run. Maybe you could give me directions and I could take one of the bikes?”
She started to gather the towel and the chair she had set up down in the sand.
“No, we’ll drive you and accompany you to wherever you need to go,” Lew said rather abruptly.
She didn’t want to make eye contact with him. She knew this conversation about what he might have seen was not going to be over. If he took her to the store, then he would ask her about it.
“But that won’t be necessary. I know you have things to do with the other houses,” she said to him.
“Not at all. Until you feel safe and know your way around town, it would be better for at least one of us to be nearby. When will you be ready?”
Feeling safe seemed impossible. How could she feel safe and even make an attempt at starting over when this damn mark on her body repressed her in every aspect, especially in feeling safe or even trusting?
“I just need to change and wash up. I won’t be long, if you’re sure.”
“We’re sure,” Cerdic said, making it obvious that he intended on coming along, too.
Great. She was going to be around both of them. Could she do this? She wasn’t sure, but they wouldn’t let her go to town alone. Not yet and she really wanted to check it out, as well as the tattoo shop. There didn’t seem to be another way.
* * * *
Lew and Cerdic waited outside by the truck.
“What’s up with you? You’re pissed off about something,” Cerdic said to him.
Lew released a long sigh and looked at the house and then at Cerdic.
“When I went down to the beach to talk to Sophia, I saw something?”
“What? Someone on the beach?”
Lew shook his head.
“I’m pretty sure it was some kind of marking on her lower back, but then she freaked out, reached for her shirt, and my eyes went right to the fearful expression on her face, and I knew she was upset that I’d seen whatever it was.”
“A tattoo maybe?”
“No.”
Sophia opened the door, closed it, and then headed toward them. She wore a pale beige skirt, a light tank top in black, and carried her purple backpack. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and she looked gorgeous. Lew felt guilty for seeing something on her body that she obviously wanted to hide. He wanted to know what it was and why she was so upset that he’d seen it. But instead, he opened the driver’s side door as Cerdic opened the passenger door, let her get in before him, and they headed out to town together.
* * * *
The ride was quick, and after Lew told Cerdic about the marking on Sophia’s back, he found himself wondering what it was. But they walked her through town and had pointed out various places when they spotted Nate, Rye, Mike, and Turbo Hawkins, along with their girlfriend, Frankie.
They greeted them and immediately Nate introduced Frankie to Sophia. Cerdic kept close to her on one side, and Lew was flanking Sophia’s other side.
“It’s nice to meet you, Sophia.”
“Same here,” Sophia said and then smiled at Nate.
“She’s renting the beach house Lew and his team own. How do you like it, Sophia?” Nate asked.
“Oh, it’s beautiful.”
“I heard that it has amazing views and a great private beach. You’re so lucky,” Frankie told her.
“The beach is very private and really nice. I was on it for the first time today.”
“Glad to hear that you like it,” Nate said.
“Hey, we’re going to Sullivan’s for lunch. Would you three like to join us?” Frankie asked.
Cerdic looked at Sophia, who looked at Lew, and Cerdic couldn’t help the emotions he felt. She sought out the commander’s response and permission to reply. It was submissive, obedient, and somehow turned Cerdic on to her femininity and sweetness. He felt overwhelmed, but then Sophia spoke up.
“I needed to do a few things, but if you tell me where the place is, I could meet you guys and your friends there,” she said to Lew.
“We’re not heading there for another fifteen minutes or so. We can save three more seats for you guys. Take your time,” Nate said to them, and they nodded and then walked away.
“If you don’t feel comfortable, we don’t have to meet them,” Lew told her.
“I just don’t think it would be wise to make friends here. I don’t know how long I’ll be around, and it will just hurt more and make it harder. It’s how we handled the other places where we hid.”
Cerdic was angry and truly felt badly for her. It wasn’t fair that she had to live a life of fear and go from place to place because of these men who were after her.
“This may very well be the place you get to start over and begin a new life. Making friends can help. You should remain positive that Jeremy will find the men who want to hurt you,” Lew said to her, and as he placed his hand at her lower back, she jumped and shuddered from his touch.
She looked scared as she stepped away. “I’m fine, really. I guess you may be right about making friends, and maybe Jeremy will be able to solve the case. It couldn’t hurt to look into the possibility of finding work.”
“Finding work? Why?” Cerdic asked.
“Because when I heard from Jeremy, it sounded like the government might cut the ties from us and leave us with no means of financial assistance. I would have to work and probably leave your house and find something very small to start.”
“No. That won’t be necessary. You can stay in the house for as long as you want. We’ll help you.”
“But I can’t promise that I could ever replay you,” she whispered.
“It’s not necessary,” Lew said. “We’re your first friends in Treasure Town, and we won’t be the last ones you make. Now let’s go do those errands, meet up with the guys and Frankie, and then hit the grocery store before heading home.”