Bayou Bishops Box Set: Books 1-12

CHAPTER 28

Sahvrin bolted up in bed at the emergency chirp signal blaring from his phone. He jumped down and raced to the dresser, adrenalin pumping as he tapped the screen.

8-Bit. That meant information.

“What’s wrong?” Beth whispered, half asleep.

“I don’t know, I’m finding out.” He didn’t say more as he opened The Twelve’s app and found 8-Bit’s name then hit his number. The signal was used in any kind of emergency but being 8-Bit meant something to do with Beth’s situation. Or maybe the guns.

“Eveque,” 8-Bit answered.

“What is it,” he said through the adrenalin.

“I found some things on your woman’s father you needed to know ASAP.”

“Go,” he said, glancing over his shoulder at His Petite, making her way on her elbow.

“Turns out Mr. Owens Sweetling has been MIA since she left to come here, and he bought plane tickets for Paris a week before.”

He remembered her comment about her father not wanting her to come, and Paris. “She mentioned something about that.”

“Well, after searching, I found he checked in at a Fair Field Inn ten miles away from her. No checkout that I can find.

Fucking Dieu.

“She obviously knew nothing about the dirty stuff, which makes me ask why he didn’t tell her. If you know your daughter is going where she’ll possibly be abducted and you don’t tell her, there’s got to be a damn good reason. If he’s dirty, we know the reason, but if he’s not, we need to know what leverage they have on him. And the financial connection Bart found gets muddier. Nearly every investment is tied to all the wrong names.”

Fuck, he prayed her dad wasn’t dirty, that would kill her.

“But shit goes a little sideways with these plane tickets. Why buy three tickets the week before his daughter leaves? I think he may have been trying to get them out of the country.”

Sahvrin was confused. “Three tickets?”

“For him, Beth Sweetling, and Margaret Sweetling, aka Maggie.”

Margaret Sweetling? “I’m gonna need to call you right back. Don’t go anywhere.”

“Qui.”

He hung up and faced His Petite who waited with worry on her face. “That was one of the men from my company. He has information on your father, but I need to talk to him in private. Will you be okay here? I’m not leaving, I’ll be back in five minutes,” he promised, stroking her shoulder.

She lowered her head, obviously not happy with it. “Okay. What time is it?”

He looked at the phone. “Five-thirty. The sun will be up soon.”

“I can go take a shower.”

He pulled her to him, kissing softly. “I’ll find you when I’m done. I love my Angel.”

****+

Sahvrin went to his Tree House and called 8-Bit back, pacing. “Who is Margaret Sweetling?”

“Her sister.”

He stopped in his tracks. “She doesn’t have a sister.”

“She does. She’s in an institution.”

“No, that’s her aunt.”

“This is her sister who is twenty-nine. The aunt is in California at Eternal Sunshine, her sister is in Washington State at The Wondering Oaks. I double checked.”

Holy shit. “What’s wrong with her? Why wouldn’t Beth know about her?”

“The second part I don’t know but the first I have information that could possibly get those answers. Maggie was institutionalized at seven, so Beth would’ve been two.”

“She wouldn’t have remembered,” Sahvrin realized. “Why would they hide that from her?”

“Exactly what I wondered. So, I looked up Maggie’s doctor. He’s just been transferred right at the same time Maggie was scheduled to be released, I’m assuming for this trip.”

“Coincidence you think?”

“Possibly.”

“Where is Maggie now?”

“Still there as far as I know. Whatever plans her dad made didn’t pan out. But if anybody would know anything about it, the doctor would. His name is Dr. Zeblon Wiggins and he’s been her doctor from day one. I made a call and learned his last day is tomorrow.”

“What’s going to happen to Maggie?”

“I have no idea, but I think your woman should call and find that out. She’s the only one who could get info, being family. Not sure what they’ll give over the phone, but if the doctor knows the inside scoop on this, he might talk to her.”

“You think he’s connected?”

“No, but if he is…”

“Right.” He considered something else. “So if her father knew what was going to happen, and followed her, and isn’t dirty, and is now missing…”

“Then the odds are grim for him.”

Fucking Dieu. “I hate to say it, but that option is better than him being dirty.”

“Well, with all the evidence I have, it’s pointing to a father trying to get out of a mess he somehow got into, and his daughter not playing by his plan book.”

Sahvrin paced, thinking. “And something prevented him from telling her.”

“You know how the devil’s deals work. Once you’re in you can’t get out even if you never wanted in to begin with.”

His Petite would have a million questions. “What else do you know about her sister? Do you know why she was put there at that age?”

“All I could find out was that she’s mute and has been there since seven.”

“Mon Dieu, this is sad. But Beth will be very happy to know she has a sister and will want to get all the information she can.”

“I can tell you this,” he said, warning in his tone. “With your woman not showing up wherever she was supposed to, they’ll be looking at all collateral options.”

“Oh fuck,” Sahvrin whispered.

“I don’t know the extent of power these people have, but I’m assuming it would be nothing for them to pull strings and have little Maggie put in the wrong kind of home if you know what I mean.”

“Fucking Christ,” he said. “Send me the doctor’s name and number and whatever else we might need. And you’re sure Maggie is her actual sister?”

“Anything can be falsified, but I can’t figure out why that would be. The meeting this evening is still on? At the party?”

Sahvrin’s brain stuttered a second. “Yes. At the party.”

“Does your woman know what you do and who you are?”

He wished. “Not exactly. Things didn’t go as planned with that.”

He gave a light chuckle. “With women, they rarely do. But this one I may be a little excited to meet.”

A streak of jealousy fired through him.

“Given her line of education, she’d be a great asset in The Twelve. Having a geospatial expert is tech-drool”

“Just don’t drool in front of me if you want to keep your tongue.”

His laugh said he knew he was only half-joking. “Will we be getting to meet La Bel-Eveque? And I’m not the only one wanting to meet the woman that stole your heart.”

His stomach lurched at everything he’d said, especially the term that would be her official title if she accepted it. He was sure she was born to become La Bel-Eveque— The Beautiful Bishop. “I didn’t exactly get to the marriage talk with her yet. But I did plan to introduce her anyway.”

“Uh-oh.”

“I’m more worried she’ll do it because she doesn’t know how to say no.”

“Well, that’s…”

“Not something I want,” he finished. “I need to figure that out.”

“You can always put her through The Gauntlet.”

Sahvrin considered that. “Maybe. Knowing her, she’d want nothing less. She’s got everything to prove and nothing to lose in her mind.”

“That can be shaped,” he said, like he liked the potential.

“It could. I need to go. See you this evening unless something changes.”

****

Sahvrin stood there, half numb with everything spinning in his head. But the marriage talk and The Gauntlet were front and center. He didn’t have a doubt she wanted to be married to him, it was the other stuff he had doubts and problems with. And the issue wasn’t that she wouldn’t want everything to do with The Twelve, it was that she would.

He’d never contemplated taking a wife before so hadn’t even considered how he’d feel about that. He was conflicted right down the middle, wanting her in it and not. He liked the idea of working with her, but he also loved the idea of her being a domestic goddess. His domestic goddess. And either one she chose was acceptable as La Bel Eveque.

She’d have to pick. Which meant not influencing her decision either way.

But that didn’t mean he couldn’t make the choices easy or hard.

He headed back to the house, eager to give her the information and make that call. Mon Dieu, his sweet angel had a sister. What had happened to make her mute? Given Beth’s situation, Sahvrin was sure he didn’t want to know.

****

Beth quickly set her coffee on the table next to the porch swing and hurried to meet Sahvrin, searching for answers on his face about her dad. As usual, he was unreadable, other than the intense hunger aimed at her. He scooped her up in his arms and hugged her extra tight.

“Oh God, what?” she wondered, fighting to get down and see him.

“I have extremely good news and maybe not good news, we don’t know for sure yet.”

She covered her mouth. “Tell me. Please.”

“The good news is really big, Angel.” He stroked her arms. “You have a sister. She’s at an institution in Washington State.”

Her mouth dropped with the sudden hammering in her chest. “What?”

“I thought maybe it was your aunt, but he insisted no. Her name is Margaret Sweetling, or Maggie.”

“Maggie?” she gasped, trying to remember that name from anywhere.

“Do you remember her?” he wondered.

She barely shook her head, not sure. “What…what happened to her?” she asked, tears already falling.

He held her upper arms, stroking them. “He only found out she’s mute and was put there when she was seven.”

She stifled a sob. “Mute? Why?” she strained.

“We don’t know, but I need to tell you the other news.”

“Oh God,” she strained, fighting not to give in to her fears. “Tell me quickly.”

“Your father followed you here when you came. He left the same day you did and checked in at a hotel ten miles from here. He bought three plane tickets for Paris the week before.”

“Three?”

He nodded. “You, him and your sister. She was scheduled to be released at that time.”

“Oh my God,” she strained, covering her mouth, and clenching her eyes shut. “He tried so hard to stop me! Why wouldn’t he just tell me?”

“We don’t know, Angel, but something prevented him. We think these people have some kind of leverage on him. We found that nearly all his financial investments are linked to bad names.”

“No,” she shook her head.

“That doesn’t mean he’s bad,” he hurried. “It seems he got entrapped in something and wasn’t able to get out of it and did his best to protect all of you as long as he could.”

She lunged on him, hugging his neck and sobbing. “I knew he was good, I told you.” She pulled back. “Where is he, what do you think happened?”

“We don’t know, baby,” he said, holding her face. “But I have the best men tracking that, this I promise you.”

She kissed him, then hugged him, so grateful. “What about my sister?” she wondered, stepping back.

“He gave me the name of her doctor and thinks you should call right away.”

Panic rose in her. “Why? What’s wrong?”

“If she was supposed to leave and they…if your father…” He closed his eyes.

“Just say it, it’s okay,” she said, tears streaming again.

“You escaped what they had planned for you, and they may look for other ways to hurt your father.”

“My sister?” she shrilled, grabbing his arm.

“We’re hoping her doctor might have answers we can use to know what to do.”

“I need to call now,” she demanded, turning. Where was her phone. “I should call him right now.”

“Yes, Ma Petite, you can call him now. But it’s early.”

“Then I’ll leave a message.”

She waited as he got the number and handed her the phone. “Thank you.” She tiptoed and kissed him before dialing.

She paced, wiping her eyes, and steadying her breaths. “You’ve reached Dr. Wiggins office, I’m not able to take your call, but if you leave your name and phone number and a clear message, I will return your call promptly.”

The tone beeped. “Dr. Wiggins, this is Elizabeth or Beth Sweetling,” she began, as strong and clear as she could. “I’m the sister of Margaret Sweetling, you may know her as Maggie. I was hoping to talk to you about—”

“Hello?”

The shaky voice at the end of the line startled her. “Dr. Wiggins?”

“Who is this?” a British sounding voice demanded.

“I’m Elizabeth Sweetling.”

There was muffled banging. “What…what is your father’s name?” he asked, sounding winded.

“Owen Sweetling.”

“And your mother, what is her name and her maiden name?”

His testing urgency had her heart racing. “Amelia Sweetling, she had the same last name as my father so her maiden name is also Sweetling.”

“What is the name of your second-grade French teacher?”

“Uhh…” Beth tapped her fist on her forehead, thinking. “Mrs. Fletcher!”

“Praise God,” the man shot out, sounding out of breath. “Now you listen closely to me. I assume you’re someplace safe. Your father was distraught when he called me the day you decided to go on your trip. Apparently, he thought you’d agreed to Paris,” he said, sounding dumbfounded. “I must tell you things that might be hard for you to hear Elizabeth. Your father is in a lot of trouble and has been for years. He got caught up in the wrong side of a deal and your sister came to me when she was only seven, unable to speak after suffering a two-week abduction by some of the same people who tried to take you.”

Beth covered her mouth, closing her eyes.

“But it was all a set-up, I’m sure of it. He got a call from a Senator who’d heard of it and offered to help get his daughter back, said he had inside connections. Of course your father agreed to anything and that’s where it started. Since that, they’ve been using him to hide their dirty dealings and he’s been fighting to escape for years and had determined the only real solution was leaving the country with his family and hiding. Of course when your mother died, he was devastated as you know and wanted to leave before you were done with college. I insisted he wait, he’d waited this long.”

“Oh God, this is all my fault,” she choked out. “Why didn’t he just tell me?”

“Of course he planned to, once you were all safe. And the day you left, he was in a panic, said you wouldn’t answer your phone.”

“Oh God,” she gasped, shaking her head as tears poured. “I figured he was calling to guilt me, so I didn’t even answer. I was going to call him, but I…I never got a chance.”

Sahvrin’s arms came around her from behind.

“I told him not to go,” the man said, sounding angry. “He was supposed to just keep an eye on you but ended up in trouble just as I said, and I was right.”

“You heard from him?” she gasped.

“I have not, which can’t be good. He was to pick up Maggie last week. I’m scheduled for transfer tomorrow, and I will say it a million times it is a miracle that you called when you did, do you hear? You must come and get your sister immediately. I will release her to you.”

“You will?”

“Yes,” he assured. “I have prepared her for this day, she will know you.”

“What? How?”

“You were two years old when she came here, and I kept updating your picture as you grew.”

Beth let out a painful sob. “Why didn’t they tell me I had a sister?” she wailed, Sahvrin’s arms tightening.

He gave a shaky sigh. “As unscrupulous as this may sound, we felt it safer for you and her if she remained here, unwell, if you would. Broken goods. We had every intention of moving her and even tried but she wouldn’t have any part of it, she wanted to be here. By the time she was nineteen, it was obvious she had succumbed to institutional syndrome, and taking her from her home was not in the best interest.”

“And now?”

“Now, I fear if you don’t take her, somebody else will.”

“Oh God, I’ll take her, of course, but…will she come?”

“She will, provided you give her a place with familiar surroundings. I have a full list of it all. The must-haves and have-nots, the must do’s and the must do-nots. What she will eat, wear, do and not do. She may be mute, but she has plenty of communication skills.”

“Will she ever talk?”

“I very much do believe she will,” he said, his confidence giving her a wave of relief. “She can hum and scream and do all sorts of things with her vocal cords, so we know the ability is there, it’s about choice now. I always hoped that when she was reunited with you, she’d find that reason and purpose to speak again.”

“When can we leave?” she turned and asked Sahvrin.

“Right away,” he said.

“We can leave right away, is that okay?”

“You must.”

“We’ll take a plane,” he whispered, stroking her back. “Would take too long to drive.”

“Yes, that’s what we’ll do, we’ll take a plane,” she nodded.

“Where am I sending the necessary information for Maggie. You will need to see to it that she has her must haves. I will code everything so that you know what to provide ahead of time. Thank God, you called. I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

“Where can he send Maggie’s information?” she asked Sahvrin.

“Can he send it in a text?”

“Can you text it?”

“I can send it as an attachment, I suppose. I’ll need a number.”

“He needs a number,” she said, nodding.

“I’ll get your phone.”

He hurried off and she sat on the swing. “Thank you so much, Dr. Wiggins. I’m trying to remember Maggie, and some part of me feels like I might.”

“You should, she doted on you like a mother.”

Beth covered her mouth, stifling a sob. “Why…do you care, I’m sorry if that’s a stupid way to put it.”

“Because I’m your half Uncle on your mother’s side. I was adopted and kept my father’s name, Wiggins.”

“Wow,” she said, her heart aching. “You knew my mom?”

“Yes, I did, God rest her soul. An angel. She contacted me when Maggie was returned to them mute, and I had them bring her to me to check. For some reason, she clung to me and never wanted to let me go.”

The tight tone in his voice said he might be crying. “Thank you so much for helping us,” she said, standing when Sahvrin hurried back. “I have a number for you to send the information to.”

Beth gave it to him and waited in the silence. “Thank you,” he finally said. “Sending it in five minutes. I must go. I have to pack still and now I need to make sure Maggie’s ready. If you need anything at all, you call me on the cell number I’m sending with Maggie’s information.”

“Okay,” she nodded. “I will.”

“And you must call me when she’s safe of course,” he added. “Please.”

“I will,” she assured, her chest tightening at his emotion. “Thank you for taking care of my sister, Uncle…”

“Uncle Wigs, that’s the kids favorite name for me,” he said, crying now, making her cry more. “I took care of little Maggie when she was three when your mother worked and I guess she remembered me, the precious little puppet. I pray every night that the people who hurt her get their due. I’m not a man of vengeance,” he said, his voice breaking. “But whatever she suffered broke many things in her sweet little soul and they need to pay for that.”

Beth was sobbing now. “I will call you,” she promised. “Goodbye Uncle Wigs.”

She hung up and turned into Sahvrin’s arms and wailed, hugging him tight. “I have a sister but they really hurt her,” she cried bitterly.

“Who hurt her?” he wondered, squeezing harder.

“He thinks it’s the same people that tried to get me.”

“We will find these monsters, Angel, I promise you. But first we will go get your sister and make sure she is safe here.”

She pulled away, looking at him. “She can live here with us?”

“Mon Dieu, Angel,” he whispered, kissing her lips. “Of course she will.”

She threw her arms around his neck again, strangling him, his strong embrace telling her that everything would be okay.

God, she just prayed that they were able to give her the care she needed.

“The text,” he said, making her pull away. He opened the file the Dr. sent and handed it to her. She held it where he could see with her.

Seconds after she began, she had to give him the phone. “I can’t, I’m sorry.”

He took it. “You want me to, Ma Petite?”

She nodded, wiping her eyes between sobs.

“She loves most soft things. If she doesn’t like it, she’ll let you know by ignoring it. She loves stuffed animals but not rodents, roaches or spiders.” Sahvrin smiled at her. “Now we know where you get this?”

Beth let go a single laugh, blinking through tears. “What else does she love?”

“It says she loves white lights and gentle voices. Painting. Soft music. I can help with the painting,” he said. “She loves open spaces, and independence.” His brows suddenly rose.

“What?”

“Says Maggie is a fully functioning adult who can cook, clean, and take care of herself. That she lived in her own small home at the hospital. This must be some amazing place,” Sahvrin said. “But if a house is not feasible, a room of her own, or perhaps a repurposed shed would suffice.” Sahvrin looked at her. “You know, we have lots of little Swamp Shacks here and there. We can easily get one ready with all the things in this list. I can have them install cameras so you can watch over her or perhaps you would want to stay with her there until she feels safe?”

Her heart ached in her chest at how sweet he was. “But…where would you be?”

“Wherever Ma Petite tells me to be.”

“I mean where would you live? I don’t want to be away from you.”

“Then I will build a small shack nearby, then you can sneak out at night to visit me?” He suddenly laughed. “Why are you crying at this?”

“It’s just so sweet that you’d even consider doing that.”

He pulled her in his arms, hugging her tight again. “I would give you anything in this world if it’s in my power to give, Angel. You and your sister.”

She nodded, her breaths hitching still from all the crying. “Thank you. And please, I have money,” she said. “We should use it, it’s just sitting in savings, collecting dust.”

“I have more than enough as well. But if it makes you feel better, I can spend yours,” he said, laughing a little.

“It would make me feel a lot better.” She remembered the list. “What else does it say, what about the no-no things.”

He let her go and looked at the phone a moment. “Hmm.”

“What?”

“If Maggie is triggered, she is prone to violent outbursts that can include hitting, biting, scratching herself and others. Throwing things, breaking things, screaming, and crying.”

“What things trigger her?” she wondered, angling her head toward the phone.

“Says to avoid belts of any color and size, chain jewelry of any color and size, cigarettes, alcohol, loud or abrupt noise, darkness and…Mon Dieu. Most men.”

“Oh God,” Beth said. “Most. That means there must be some that don’t bother her?”

“I hope,” he said, sounding sad for her.

“I’ll call Uncle Wigs and see what sort of man she feels safe around.”

“His number is here. You call him and I’ll go arrange that flight and pack. Meet me upstairs?”

She nodded, looking at the phone then paused when he leaned down and gave her a real kiss. She let out a moan, ready to have him in that second.

“I’ll take care of that when you get upstairs,” he said, adding a kiss to her cheek and a hard heat through her body.

****

Sahvrin yanked the drawstring on the canvas bag shut when His Petite came in.

I talked to Uncle Wiggins,” she said, coming to him.

He took her in his arms and kissed her. “What did he say?”

“Not at all what I expected him to.”

“Oh? Let me guess, she likes men that look like Santa Clause?”

She laughed and raised her brows with a little eye-flutter. “Actually, not far from that. She likes men with beards,” she said, surprised. “Dark hair, but fair skin, light colored eyes and facial hair, the more the better.”

Sahvrin’s brows popped at that. “Sounds like Spook.”

“Who is that?”

“He’s in my group. One of our best trackers. But he’s also a survivalist. I can probably get him to camp out near there to keep an eye on her. Maybe ask your Uncle the best way to introduce her to people?”

“Yes, why didn’t I think of that?”

She turned to take care of it, and he pulled her back to him. The look in his face weakened her knees. “You need to come, Angel.”

Her mouth opened to protest, only producing hot air. She heard the buckle of his belt and looked down as he opened his pants. “Undress.”

She quickly removed the light blue sundress and turned to find him sitting naked in the chair with his legs open, cock in his hand.

“Oh my God,” she cried, weakly, staring at it.

“Come here,” he said, caressing his balls with one hand and stroking himself.

She walked to him, her legs trembling. He helped her straddle his legs and she held on to his shoulders, watching him angle his head and slide his cock softly along her pussy.

“Oh God, yes,” she cried out at first contact already pulling his hair and moving carefully down his length in shocked gasps. He felt as big as the first time, only without the pain.

“Mmm, fuck, baby,” he whispered, his hands gripping her butt hard. He looked up at her when he was buried. “How does that feel?”

“So big, so good.”

He moved her hair behind her, pausing to stroke her face before looking back down. “You need to rub this pretty clit for me, Angel.” He moved his thumb on it then looked up at her. “While you fuck me, can you do that?”

“Yes,” she gasped at the throb of his cock, nodding.

“Do it,” he said, eyeing her tits. “I want to watch you get hot.”

She put her hand in place, rubbing her clit already tight and hard from his cock stretching her.

“That’s it, fuck yes. Such a sweet Angel,” he said, looking at her, his breaths thick. His gaze moved to her breasts where he used every finger on her nipples, and oh God, it brought so much fire in her clit.

“So hot,” she said, her breaths shaking.

“You’re fucking nipples kill me.” He looked down at her hand. “Your pussy is quivering on my fucking cock.” He looked at her. “Kiss me while you make it hot.”

She moaned, sucking at his full lips, using her free hand to pull at the back of his hair. His tongue stabbed into her mouth with a lusty groan and hard throb in his cock.

“My pussy is so hot,” she gasped.

“Your pussy is hot, baby? My angel is ready to get fucked?”

She moved faster on him. “Please, Sahvrin. I’m going to come.”

He looked down, holding her hips. “Fuck me, Angel. Move on my cock. Like that, like fucking that.”

She pulled his hair as she cried louder and louder the closer it got. So thick and hot it made her pant and groan.

“My Angel,” he said, astonished, his strong hands a vice on her hips as she fucked him.

“Sahvrin!” she cried when her orgasm hit.

“Oh fuck, do it!” he gasped as she screamed and bucked though the hardest orgasm. Before she was finished, he held her tight to him and moved off the chair, easing her back to the floor before grabbing her hips again and stroking several times deep before picking up speed. In seconds he was ramming ruthlessly until her tits and screams jerked with his pace.

He fell forward after his orgasm, with angry sounding French that never failed to arouse even seconds after getting freshly fucked by him. Dear, dear, God.

His mouth was on hers, filling it with those sexy ragged groans. She stroked his face, as a mess of whimpers flew from her.

“So fucking good, Angel,” he praised between breaths, making her heart skip around her chest. “Did I hurt you?” he asked, his tone worried.

“Mmmm, yes,” she moaned, earning his worried gaze as she smiled.

His face slowly softened as he studied hers then giving a sexy grin. “Mon Dieu, my Angel is si forte.”

She giggled, angling her head at him. “What is that?”

“Means so strong.”

“Mmm,” she said, pulling his mouth to hers. “One day I will fuck you until you’re screaming.”

The huge laugh he gave brought hers then he rolled, putting her on top of him as he howled on and on. When it quieted, lots of satisfied sounds and the most amazing full-body hug followed.

“We should shower before we go,” she finally said with her head on his chest.

“Together?” he asked, stroking her softly.

She smiled. “We’ll never leave.”

“I meant to tell you, our flight is at 2:00. We arrive there at 6:00, that was the best I could get. Then we fly straight back here for 8:00 pm tonight. And we are officially excused from the party.”

She raised her head to see how he felt about that. “I’m sorry you’ll miss it.”

He gave a laugh, looking at her. “It’s an answer to my prayers.”

“You don’t like them?” she wondered, thinking he did.

“I hate them. But I was going to love it for Ma Petite.”

She smiled at that answer before going serious. “Do you think Spook will want to…do what you said?”

“He will do whatever I ask him.”

God, she loved his sexy confidence. “So bossy.”

He gave her a sexy smile. “Because maybe I’m his boss.” He leaned up and kissed her. “I have things to tell you about that Ma Petite.”

She looked at him. “Like what?”

“Like everything about me. What I do, my obligations. Normally I would tell these things before I fuck the Angel I love, but in your case, I went in reverse. Of course this is your fault,” he added, seriously, making her laugh.

“But, what…is it something I won’t like? You’re not going to leave and work on the other side of the world, are you?”

“No, Angel,” he said, sliding his fingers along her hair. “You know that seal on my back?”

She propped herself on her forearm next to him and nodded. “Yes.”

“There are eleven other men with that seal. Twelve of us altogether. And one is the leader.”

She raised her brows. “You?”

“Qui.”

“Qui, that’s yes?”

He nodded, smiling at her.

“So you’re the leader of this and…”

“And there are rules and codes I am bound by. The most important one is that I’m not allowed to fuck a woman unless I marry her.”

She went serious. “What…oh my God, are you…are you proposing?” Her heart hammered so hard, she had to get up. He sat up too, looking at her, his smile stealing her breath even more.

“I surely had other ideas for proposing and I must blame Ma Petite again, she has always made a mess of my head.”

She put her fingers at her mouth and gasped when he moved and got on his knees before her and for some reason, she got on her knees too. He took her face in his hands and kissed her repeatedly, smiling as her sobs started.

“Ma Petite, I’m on my knees naked proposing to you and you get on your knees with me?” His face went serious as he stroked her cheek, sliding his thumb over the tears rolling down. “I want to know will my Angel marry me, but,” he said, gaze holding hers. “You cannot answer that until I tell you what that will require for you.”

His laughter burst forth when she hugged him so hard, he fell back with her. “Mon Dieu, you are like a bull in love!”

“I don’t care what it requires!” she gasped, kissing him repeatedly. “Tell me every gory detail. Do I have to climb fifty mountains for you? Wrestle Gras Jean to the death? Fight a horde of demon spiders with my bare hands?” she asked with a hard shudder that made him laugh. “There is nothing in this world bigger than my love for you! You have to marry me this instant!”

“Mon Dieu,” he groaned, kissing her into a dizzying oblivion. “There’s nothing but the paperwork left, Ma Petite. And a very big swamp wedding. Everything else is seared on the dotted line in my heart.”

****

“Spook,” Sahvrin said on the phone, standing on the docks.

“Eveque.”

“I’m gonna need you on my side of the swamp for a bit. We have her sister coming here and I’ll need eyes that can see.”

“When and where,” he said.

“You can stay at the shack near here. When I know specifics, I’ll let you know.”

“The Birdhouse?”

“That one, yes. Might need a little clean up. When can you come?”

“When do you need me?”

“Yesterday.”

He chuckled. “I’ll pack up now and be there around noon. Anything specific I need to bring?”

“Just your blue eyes, fair skin and dark beard.”

“Huh,” he said, sounding mildly perplexed. “I’ll be sure and pack those.”

“I guess you need to know that Beth’s sister is mute and has some…triggers we’re needing to avoid. Men being one of her bigger ones. Except the fair skinned, blue eyed dark-bearded ones. I thought of you right off.”

“Mighty fucking thoughtful of you.”

Sahvrin grinned, expecting that response given his aversion to women. But that’s what made him perfect for the job. “To give you some context, she was abducted at seven and spent two weeks in a nightmare that stole her ability to speak.”

“Wow, fuck,” Spook muttered.

“And I’m damn near ready to bet my soul they’re of the same legion of devils we’re now hunting. We’ll fly in with her this evening around eight PM. Lazure will answer any questions till then.”

“And the meeting?”

“It’ll be at midnight tonight. At the main house in the Basilique.”

“Got it. See you then, Eveque.”