CHAPTER ELEVEN
“She what?” frowned Gaspar.
“You guys were working that case on the animal abuse, dogs, horses, and that wolf. I got an e-mail saying that you could use some help. Turns out it was from an I. Robicheaux. I thought it was one of the damn brothers, not your mom.”
“We thought you just showed up. That you knew that we were working on something that interested you,” smirked Gaspar.
“Nope. Well, that’s not entirely true. I did know that you were working on it, but I knew from the e-mail writer. Your mother. Then, in walks your sister,” said Dex, shaking his head as he kissed Marie. “I’ll never forget seeing her, being blown away by her. Your mom sure thought it was funny how I was reacting to her. ‘Dex, could you run this to Marie?’ ‘Dex, do you mind sitting by Marie?’ The fucking CIA should hire your mother.”
“She always means well,” smiled Marie. “Besides, it got us together and ensured that my ex-husband was no longer in the picture at all.”
“That is true,” he nodded. “Come to think of it, she also convinced Tristan to ask Jean to show Ro around the property and the city.”
“That she did,” smirked Jean. “Poor Tristan was nervous as shit when he asked me, but I knew Mama had put him up to it. Ro was a mystery. Rude as shit with me at first.”
“I didn’t know you!” she exclaimed. “Besides, you were awfully nosey.”
“I was nosey because that’s what we do, and you were hiding shit,” he grinned, kissing her sweetly. “Another case of figuring out how our personal lives intertwined with business. Finding all the related fraud and how it came back to us wasn’t coincidence.”
“No, it wasn’t, but I was thrilled to be in your arms and near my brother and sister,” smiled Ro.
“Somewhere inside of me, I always knew that my first marriage wasn’t going to work out. She made me leave the Army, didn’t want that stress any longer, and she wasn’t keen about me spending so much time with my brothers.”
“That damn sure should have been the big warning signal,” smirked Ghost.
“Oh, believe me, Mama had her opinions known about it as well. She told me we should have a long engagement. I’m just glad that we didn’t have any children while we were married, although she never wanted them.”
“I hate that for you,” frowned Ro. “You would have been an amazing father.”
“I’m an amazing uncle…”
“And brother,” smirked Gabe.
“And brother,” he nodded at Gabe. “I like that it’s you and me, and I can step in as the favorite uncle.”
“Oh, I’m the favorite,” said Antoine.
“Not in this lifetime,” growled Miller. “I’ve always been the favorite.”
“None of you are the favorite. I am,” said Trak.
“He actually might be right about that,” said Tailor. “I know Eric went to Trak on more than a few occasions for some advice. Luke and Carl, too.”
“Who knew that the big, quiet dude was the one with all the sage advice,” grinned Ian.
“My advice is good because I spend more time observing and listening than speaking,” said Trak. “Our young men and women are fortunate to have so many who care and take the time to give their opinions and advice. Skull is probably at the top of the list recently.”
“Me?” asked Skull, his face showing shock. “I don’t think so.”
“You helped Khloe. You’ve helped many young men and women without even knowing it. To give advice of value, you must remove judgment, and you, my big, scary friend, are the least judgmental man I know.”
Skull was nearly speechless as Avery smiled at him. The others all grinned his way.
“He’s right, brother,” said Ghost. “For some reason, you always believed you were just the big guy with the nasty scar. But you’re so much more, Skull. There is a quiet calm about you, a confidence without arrogance, and this strange ring of peace that surrounds you. It draws people in. In spite of looking scary, they don’t feel scared.”
Skull laughed, shaking his head.
“Is that funny?” asked Antoine.
“It’s funny because your father taught me those skills. After Willa, I was a fucking mess.”
“Rightfully so,” said Avery, hugging him.
“That’s what makes you perfect for me. You saw the good in me, the old me I was trying to become. I was so confused. So fucking angry I could barely see. Then we found that kid in that trailer, and your mama walked him out, handing him to me on a silver platter. I was ready to kill him. Be done with it. But I just couldn’t kill that kid. Willa’s voice was ringing in my head,” he shook his head. “But your mama grabbed me and held me close, whispered in my ear.”
“What did Mama say?” asked Rafe.
“It will get better, baby. Not today. Not tomorrow, but one day, the pain will feel less sharp, and you’ll wake feeling happy. One day. I did. I started to feel somewhat alive again when I met Arielle. Our relationship didn’t go anywhere, but I know why. I was supposed to wait for Avery.”
“I think I was waiting for you, too,” she smiled.
“I’m not sure if I ever thanked all of you properly for standing by me during that time. I didn’t think I would make it. The only thing that kept me alive in all of that was the boys. Then you guys sent me to pick up Leightyn’s friend,” he smirked. “Shit. My heart stopped when that old woman in Oklahoma opened the door.”
“Same,” she whispered.
“There was never a reason to thank us for standing by a brother,” said Ghost. “You damn well know that’s what we do for one another. Just out of curiosity, does anyone know whatever happened to that kid that was driving?”
“I do,” nodded Skull. “I kept up with him. Visited him in prison a few times. He served ten years of a fifteen-year sentence. Earned a college degree in counseling and therapy and now counsels at-risk youth and former inmates.”
“That’s what I call a turnaround,” nodded Nine. Skull nodded at him, then turned to the Robicheaux brothers.
“All because of Mama Irene.”