“That makes her a bitch in my mind, Mitch. You deserve better. Way better.”
“You’re my twin, Brooks. You’re supposed to say that,” laughed Mitchell.
“That might be but it’s the truth. You’re the best man I know, Mitch. You kind, strong, smart, and damn good looking.” They both laughed at the joke of how handsome they were. Of course, they were identical in every way.
“Don’t rush it for me, Brooks. I’m fine. I like being single right now. I’m like the rest of you. I want something that’s meaningful and lasts. I don’t want a woman that finds out what I do, what we do, and runs the other way.
“Maybe what I want doesn’t exist. I want a woman of faith, a woman who can be honest and truthful with her feelings, her fears, all of it. I want her to be smart and independent, but not afraid to allow me to help and protect.”
“You want a woman that’s hard to come by,” smirked Jonas.
“Is she?” All the men turned to stare at Mitchell. “All of you found one just like that. All of you. My dad, my brother, my grandfather, great- grandfather. They exist and they obviously are not as rare as we think when we have hundreds of them at home.”
“I didn’t mean anything by it, Mitch. I was joking. You’re right,” said Jonas. “There are women like that everywhere. You just have to be patient and alert. Sometimes they’re right beneath your feet and you don’t even notice them.”
“I know,” he nodded. “I know that’s true and I know I’ll find mine when the time is right and not before. I’m willing to wait for the right person.”
“Good for you, man,” said Brooks. “But you missed one more quality she has to have.”
“What’s that?” frowned his brother.
“She has to make it through the Belle Fleur test with all of us and the wives,” he grinned. Mitchell laughed, nodding his head.
“Yeah, that’s the one I’m most worried about.”
Nate, Mike, Tobias and JB strolled through the small town. They were the two that appeared most like the others in the community, other than their size. All four men tried to slump their shoulders, appearing smaller, even wearing worn field sandals. Their clothes were baggy, hiding their weapons and their physiques.
“It’s quiet here,” said JB. “Almost too quiet.”
“Let’s find a place where we can sit outside and just watch for now. Someone will say something or we’re going to see something that will tell us where these two are. If they’re together, or if he’s trying to find her.”
When they finally found a small cantina, they ordered lunch and bottled waters, enjoying the warmth of the sun. The town was at a higher elevation than some of the others and the breezes were a welcome relief for the men.
If they closed their eyes, they could imagine being here on vacation with their wives. Soaking up the sun, enjoying the sights and the amazing food. But there was no time for that, nor could they possibly close their eyes.
When three men walked their way, machetes on their backs, they stilled, heads down hoping to hear their conversation. Although they were speaking Spanish, all four men understand every single word.
“He wants her at the house tonight,” said the first man. “We have to get her there or he’s going to be angry with us.”
“He’s always angry,” laughed the second man. They all chuckled, nodding with one another.
“We find her, bring her to him, and he’ll be happy with us,” said the third.
They waited for several moments, then slowly got up and started to follow the three men. At first, they seemed completely unaware of their surroundings. As they reached the bottom of a hill, two went one way, the third another. So, the men split up as well.
JB and Tobias followed the lone man, while Mike and Nate followed the other two. It wasn’t long before JB and Tobias appeared by their sides once again.
“What’s up?” signed Mike.
“Dude was going home,” signed JB. Mike nodded up ahead.
“They’re not.”
The two men stood at the top of a hill, leading to a long winding driveway. The massive iron gates made it very clear that visitors were not welcome. Of course, the four large Dobermans and two-armed guards made the message clear as well.
“If she’s hiding, she’s not doing a very good job of it,” frowned Nate.
“They’re not moving in on her,” said JB. “Look. They’re taking a nap beneath the trees. What the fuck are they doing?”
