CHAPTER 22
Upstairs in his bedroom, Beth’s stomach lurched at the news Juliette was finally coming even if it was just to leave again with Sahvrin and Zep to visit some guy named Beaux. She really wanted to meet her and hoped she was nicer than Luseah.
“I would like you to keep an eye on Lucas and Savvie,” Sahvrin said, finally facing her.
“Okay. I’ll make sure they’re not alone for a second,” she assured, not wanting him to worry about them. “But…I’m very sure Lucas would never hurt her, truly he’s such a remarkable young man. Reminds me a lot of you.”
He ran a hand through his hair, looking out the window. “I know this may sound wrong, but…it’s not her I’m worried about.” He looked at her now. “It’s him. Lucas is more of a son to me than my brother. Ever since I found him in the woods, him and his sister, I practically raised them. I put my soul into both of them, but especially him.” He lowered his head shaking it. “I do not…I cannot…” He paused again, shoving his hands in his pockets. “I’m terrified,” he seemed to correct, looking right at her. “Of the thought of him getting hurt. He’s never shown interest in girls, and I knew this day was coming but it came out of nowhere with the least expected person.” He gave an incredulous breath. “They act like life-time best friends already and they just met!” He ran both hands through his hair. “I want to hope for the best, and I know they’re not technically related. And I know with all that I am that Lucas is an amazing soul, and if Savvie is his mate, then I’ll be fucking thrilled to death. But…” He looked at her with panic shadowing his hot gaze. “I mean, what if she’s not?”
Beth hurried over and wrapped her arms around him. “Oh God, I’m so sorry, I didn’t know that about Lucas and you and Luseah.” His arms went around her. “I wish there was something I could say to make it all safe and I hate that there isn’t, it’s just what you say, terrifying.” She pulled away, looking at him. “Now I’m scared too, I can’t imagine him going through what you did.” Tears stung her eyes at the idea, and she realized she wasn’t helping. “I’m stupid,” she said, stepping back and wiping her eyes. “I should be telling you things to reassure you, not…help build up your fears.”
She looked up and the intensity on his face made her swallow and nearly forget what they were talking about. “I should…be like a… a lifeboat in the storms, not a…oh God…”
She braced as he stormed over and snatched her face in a hard grip, kissing her into oblivion. The force of his momentum sent her arms around his neck to keep from being knocked back while his hot breaths brought frantic gasps from her. His mouth was like a fire, on her neck now, and she was walking in reverse or being pushed.
The wall met her back abruptly, making her breath catch. She caused a mess trying to help him with the overalls, getting growls and her hands swat as he dropped to his knees, pulling them down as he went. She was still kicking them off when he yanked down her panties next. “Open,” he shot out, winded.
She opened one leg and he slammed it against the wall, his mouth pressing into her pussy with a groan. “Oh! God, Oh my God,” she cried, latching her fingers tight in his hair while he sucked right on her clit.
His finger slid several times along her slit then plunged into her pussy with sounds of lusty hunger that was all Bishop. High pitched moans flew out as fast as her orgasm raced up. “Bishop, it’s coming, don’t stop!”
His fingers flexed hard on her inner thigh, bringing a biting pain with the pleasure as he fingered her faster and deeper, building a massive hot pressure. She pressed her back into the wall when her orgasm hit and shook her, causing her to pull his hair with all her might. He sucked even harder, holding her tightly in place, forcing her to take it while she fought not to collapse, the shove of his finger the only thing holding her up. She’d never had such a long, hard orgasm in all her life, God, yes, yes, yes.
She struggled not to crumple to the floor, using his head as support while catching her breath. He stood and scooped her up in his arms and carried her to the bed, laying her in it. Dear God. Wow. He kissed her, his breaths thick with moans as he made her taste what he’d done. “Let me do you,” she said, stroking his face, feeling sedated.
“Not this time, Ma Petite.”
“So mean,” she whispered, closing her eyes as he stroked her forehead and pressed the softest kisses on her mouth. “Take a nap, Angel,” he murmured at her ear. “I’ll be a couple hours.”
“I’ll get up and chaperone,” she said with her eyes closed. “Hurry back? But don’t be reckless.”
She felt him smiling on her lips. “I will go fast-fast, but not too fast.”
“Mmm, that was amazing,” she murmured. “I’ll pay you back for it.”
“I’m counting on it, Ma Petite. And you will meet Juliette when we return. Sleep for me.”
Mmm. For him. Anything for him.
****
“Well look what the alligators done drug in.” Sahvrin hugged his sister tight with a grin. “Bout time, Beth’s eager to meet the lady who gave her all the pretty clothes.”
She laughed. “And I brought even more,” she said. “Some I think you’ll appreciate.”
“Mon Dieu, I can’t take much more of this temptation.”
A spark lit her green eyes now wide. “Are you still being a good boy, unlike our brothers,” she said, muttering the last.
“I’m trying, but please pray for me.”
She let her laugh go and he grinned, realizing how much he missed it. “Don’t stay gone so long, Ma Chere Soeur.”
She put her arm around his shoulders. “Awww am I your favorite sister?”
“Shhh, don’t say that so loud, Luseah might here. Can you meet Beth when we return if that’s okay? I’m ready to get this over with.”
“Sure thing, swamp cowboy. Ready when you are.”
“Ready now. Zep is waiting in the boat.”
They made their way to the small run-a-round motorboat.
“So, we gonna tow us a lil Beux?” Juliette, asked, sounding eager to wrangle something besides alligators.
“Was hoping you could convince him to come kindly,” Sahvrin said, amused while navigating the little run-a-round motorboat through the narrow waterway. “And he’s not exactly lil’ anymore.”
She shrugged. “I wrestle six-hundred-pound reptiles on the regular, I’m sure I can handle that lil’ swamp boy. Got my rope anyway,” she said as he let off the gas to slow down.
Of course she did. She carried it like he carried a knife and probably had as many uses for it. “I’ll come with you,” Sahvrin said. “Don’t want you getting all sweaty.”
She gave him her killer quirked brow. “T-Boo,” she muttered with a half grin. “You know me, I live to sweat.”
Gah-day-dawn, he hated to imagine the poor soul she might one day wrangle and marry. They”d probably have fifty kids.
“Zep, keep her idling in case we need to leave quick for some reason.”
Zep stared down at his phone, head shaking as his thumbs flew over the keypad. He shoved it in his back pocket. “You expecting trouble?” he asked, like he might be wanting some of that, making him wonder who he was texting.
“You know how shit happens in these swamps,” Sahvrin said, pulling off his headset when they reached Francois dock. Especially if he was involved with the Roulettes.
“Don’t I know it,” he muttered, doing the same.
The double innuendo in his tone didn’t help Sahvrin’s nerves. “You got something we need to know, be sure and tell us.”
“Nothing you’d be interested in, that I’m damn sure of.”
Women troubles? Would be shocking if it weren’t.
“So, I’m inviting him down to the house to help set up for tomorrow’s party,” Juliette double checked.
“Or hurricane preparations,” Zep offered with a casual look around.
“Both work,” Sahvrin added as they jumped onto the dock.
“Did you bother checking if he was even here?” she asked, heading down the walk with her ass-kicking gait.
“Unless he lied his ass off, he’s here repairing Francois nets.”
“Alrighty, then,” she said, their boots clonking along the wood as they went.
He shot a hand out in front, stopping her. She looked at him brows raised as voices floated nearby.
“Me first,” he muttered, stepping in front and leading, now hyper aware he carried his knife rather than his Judge. They made their way around the back of the house, finding Beaux in the fish shed with two men.
His pulse jack-hammered at seeing leather vests bearing the Roulette insignia. That motherfucker. “T-Beaux,” Sahvrin called, tossing a wave at him while muttering to Juliette, “You handle Beaux, I handle the other two. On my lead.”
“Holy mother of swamp sluts, is that Beaux?”
Sahvrin didn’t have time to appreciate her shock, assessing the other two. One was a pig stand the other was medium build and covered in tatts. He’d have to put Ink-Junction down first. Big boy second. That bull would be slower but need a few licks.
He spied an old fence post as he walked up. “How’s it going gentlemen?” All three men had their eyes locked on Juliette while Sahvrin picked up the post. He swung at Tattoos forehead, dropping him then slammed Tub in his kneecaps, bringing him down. Two more to the head put him out, right as Beaux’s yells erupted.
Juliette already had his arms behind his back, speed winding her rope around his wrists. She leaned to his ear. “That was fun, wasn’t it?”
He grunted then panted with his forehead to the ground. “Yeah, it kinda was.”
Stupid boy.
She grabbed him by the forehead and jerked his head back. “You getting’ fresh Lil Boy Beaux? I thought you learned your lesson when I kicked your scrawny ass last time. You need another one?”
Sahvrin dialed Zep’s number while Beaux grunted and strained from the painful hold. Fucking depressing having Beaux turn out to be a snake. He liked Beaux. “No ma’am,” he strained. “Sorry.”
Sahvrin eyed the still bodies on the ground. “Zep, come give us a hand. We got guest parishioners coming to church. Bring the duct tape.”
“Uuugh, you fucking shoulda’ called me,” he cried pissed.
“You can interrogate later.” He hung up the phone as the smaller dude gave a moan. “Stay down Crayons,” he muttered, still holding the post.
“I don’t know what you heard,” Beaux said under Juliette who reclined on him like a beach chair. “But I can explain whatever it is.”
“Sounds like a familiar line in a movie,” Juliette muttered. “Such a shame you turned on your own people. I knew you were a little shit, but that’s gator bait crime.”
“I didn’t,” he cried into the dirt. “They were black mailing me!”
Sahvrin looked around, making sure there wasn’t anybody else there. Francois was likely fishing. They got busy wrapping duct tape around the hands and feet of the two men.
“What about Lil Boy Beaux here, we tyin’ his ankles too?”
“I won’t run, I swear.”
“Another cliché line,” she said, using his head as an elbow rest. “I see you went and got all grown up. Too bad your girls won’t get to enjoy all your big muscles.”
“What?” he grunted. “I don’t have no girls.”
“Any girls, you ignorant swamptard.” She leaned forward and smacked her hand on his butt. “And with a fine ass like that? I call bullshit.”
“Don’t flirt with dead men,” Sahvrin said.
“Dead? Wait wait wait wait,” he said, between breaths. “You’re not gonna kill me, are you? Juliette, you know I’m not like that. I care about my home and our people.”
Juliette rolled her eyes. “Now, I haven’t verified but Gramma Lou-Lou says he’s been paying for her utilities.”
“Are you saying Gramma Lou-Lou lied?” Beaux managed, earning a smack over the head.
Sahvrin eyed Zep, getting a clueless shrug. He looked at Juliette. “Let him walk. He tries to run, we’ll assume he loves getting wrangled by you.”
She got up and yanked him by his shoulders to his knees. “On your feet, Swamp Stud.”
“Yes ma’am,” he gushed, standing and looking down at her. “Nice to see you too, Juliette. I see the alligators have been treating you real good.”
She jabbed him in the stomach with her elbow hard enough to double him over. “Why thank you,” she cooed, angling her head at his bent over one before ruffling his hair.
“You’re welcome,” he strained out, slowly straightening.
“You’re going to spend time at the Weigh Station with your buddies either way,” Sahvrin said. “Lazure will decide what to do with you after I extract every single bit of dirty information your brain holds.”
“No need to extract,” he hurried. “I’m willing to tell you anything, I told you that.”
“Let’s go.” Sahvrin lifted Crayons by the shoulders and Zep grabbed his feet.
Once both Roulettes were in the boat, Zep taped them to the floor while Beaux went on and on, “I don’t need to go to confession, I can do it right now. They have my sister, and if I don’t make sure the guns move, they said they’ll kill her.”
Sahvrin looked at him.
“They have Tammy?” Zep asked.
He nodded. “She went on her own but they’re using her man, they won’t let her go.”
Juliette eyed Sahvrin then swung her hard gaze to Beaux. “She told you that?”
“Yes!” he cried, nodding.
“Why didn’t you come to us?” Sahvrin asked, wanting to punch him.
“Because I thought you was gonna run the guns and it didn’t matter! Aren’t the Bayou Bishops part of their gang?”
“Since when do we run guns in these swamps?” Sahvrin said, in his face now.
“Well, how was I supposed to know?”
“It’s called a phone,” Juliette said, wagging hers in his face. “And I’m verifying that sister story of yours, right now.”
Sahvrin believed him but verification meant specifics. They needed all they could get.
“Shit, no signal,” she said. “Stop at Gertrudes house so I can piggyback on the signal there.”
Sahvrin got to it in less than a minute, then waited while she made a phone call.
“Who you calling?” Beaux asked. “You need to watch what you say, they might hurt her,” he said, worried.
She signaled she understood with a nod and hand up. “Nadine, hey what you up to girl?”
Sahvrin waited impatiently as she whittled her way past pleasantries before asking something useful. “Girl, I was down at Gramma Lou-Lou’s, and she mentioned Beaux Brasseaux was helping her. Have you seen him lately? My lord, he’s done grown into a hunk.” She nodded, putting her hand on her hip. “Yesssss,” she cried, winding her finger in a strand of hair then laughing. “You think he’s got a girl?”
The hell was she doing?
More loud laughing and a huge breath. “I wonder if other parts of him have grown too, you know what I mean.” Guffaws of laughter as she winked at Beaux.
Sahvrin waved at her, and she answered with a firm wait signal.
“Well, I knew his sister had grown into a beauty, but not him. Who would guess somebody so scrawny would evolve into a swamp god.”
She fucking liked him! Mon Dieu, leave it to her to manage to mix that with this. Shit with shat.
“She did?” Juliette snapped her fingers repeatedly over her head, signaling she was at the target. A huge breath and, “Oh my God, she seems so sweet!” They all watched as her mouth dropped and eyes got huge. Like a mime acting out a soap opera. “You think? I don’t know, Nadine, that sounds so farfetched?” More jaw dropping. “She did? Her mother would roll over in her grave if she knew!” A gasp. A ridiculous laugh. “Oh Zep, he’s still wrangling alligators with me.”
Sahvrin waved his hand for her to wrap it up.
“Hello? Nadine? Girl, my signal sucks. I was calling to invite you to the party tomorrow! Zep will be there, yes.”
Zep chunked both hands in the air then let them fall, shaking his head. How funny. Too many women at the same party wasn’t good for his fucking business. Knowing him, he’d make a party fuck schedule so he didn’t miss any holes.
She was suddenly off the phone. “He’s not lying.” She walked over to Sahvrin and grabbed the knife from his side then headed over to Beaux, cutting through the rope. “Sorry about that, Lil Boy Beaux,” she said quietly, tapping his chest with a smile then standing.
Sahvrin eyed him, taking the knife from Juliette when she handed it to him. “We’ll get these two to church,” he said, sheathing his blade and eyeing their catch taped to the boat floor. “Beaux, you’ll stay at the house. I’m sure Lazure will want to ask you questions.”
The look of terror on his face was warranted. The First Bishop wasn’t anybody he’d want to be on the wrong side of either. “Don’t worry,” Juliette said, climbing in her seat and strapping in. “I’ll hold your hand.”
The look that put on his face said he”d take a bullet just to be able to hold any part of her.
Mon Dieu, how quick the swamp tides turned.