31. Corbin
CORBIN
W e didn’t learn much at Beau’s apartment.
Like Sam said, it was obvious someone had been wounded, presumably Beau since he was gone, and we hadn’t been able to reach him.
He must’ve been attacked while he was standing at the fridge based on the bloodstain.
All we could do was guess about where they’d taken him and pray he was still alive.
When I called him, Ambrose actually answered on the first ring. I knew he and Dax had been texting about what was going on. He gave me directions to meet him in the parking lot of a general store not far from where he lived. I got all of us moving.
I hated that I didn’t know the first thing about survival in the swamp.
Remington hadn’t questioned me taking the lead today, even without Beau there to back me up, but I knew I had to hand that role off to Ambrose now.
He and Dax had both been working their own networks of contacts.
They thought they’d pinned down the area where we’d find Guidry’s hideout and hopefully Beau.
I prayed he would be there, and he would be okay. If he wasn’t… If… No. No way could I have found someone who affected me like he did, someone I loved with all my heart and then lose him just as fast.
After we listened to Ambrose explain some rules for our nighttime trek into the swamp, Remington put his arm around me. “You’re doing a great job.”
I turned to look at him. Was he serious?
“I’m sorry I waited so long to let you take charge. I haven’t been fair to you.”
“I’m not dreaming, am I?”
He shoved me away from him with a scowl. “I can admit when I’m wrong.”
“I wasn’t sure.”
“Brat.”
I grinned. “Sometimes.”
Ambrose led us through the swamp, making his way along what he referred to as a path. It didn’t look like a path to me at all. His knowledge of the terrain combined with Lance’s tracking skills gave me more confidence than I would’ve had without them.
I wanted my family to take me seriously, but that didn’t mean I wanted to do everything on my own. I needed them. I never wanted to go through something like this without them.
We’d been walking for a long time. I was concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other, following along behind Lance and Ambrose, trying not to think too hard about why we were there.
Lance held up a hand. “Someone’s been through here recently. Someone in a car and then someone in an ATV.” He pointed at tracks I wouldn’t even have noticed.
It wasn’t much to go on, but it was something. At least I could still have hope. That was assuming they’d kept Beau alive, but if they were going to kill him right away, why not just leave him for us to find.
I felt a hand on my back and realized it was Dax. “Beau’s tough. He’s going to be all right.”
I nodded, certain my voice wouldn’t work if I tried to speak.
We kept going. I’d lost all sense of time, but if I had to guess, I’d say it was an hour or so before dawn. The sky was beginning to lighten just a little. Ambrose signaled for us to stop. “Someone’s coming. Be ready.”
I hadn’t heard anything. How had Ambrose detected movement?
As I held still, hand on my gun, I heard the slightest rustle and something that could be footsteps.
A man appeared in the distance. I held my position behind a tree.
My heart fluttered. The man was the same size as Beau.
Could he have escaped? I bit my lip to keep from calling out and waited as he moved closer, and I grew more confident the man was Beau.
I was about to announce myself when I realized there was someone behind him.
“Take another step, and you’re dead.” It was a woman’s voice. Elandra? It had to be.
No way in hell was it going to end like this.
I leaned close to Dax and whispered, “Keep her talking. I’m going to circle behind her.”
A few seconds later, I’d made my way across the exposed space of the path without being noticed.
Once I was hidden again, Dax stepped out into the open. “That would be a big mistake, Elandra.”
“Put the gun down.” Those words came from Remington. If they could keep her distracted, I could do this.
I scanned the area looking for Guidry or anyone else who might’ve come with Elandra. She was the only person I saw, but based on my experience in the bayou so far, that meant basically nothing. Still, I would have to take the risk.
I hoped to hell they’d understand if I gave the signal we’d planned on using. This wasn’t at all the way we’d intended to do the takedown, but I was working with what I had.
When I got into position directly behind Elandra, I lifted my weapon, ready to make a perfect headshot, then mimicked a heron’s call. If the others understood, three seconds later, Dax would push Beau to the ground, and I would take Elandra out.
I was thankful for every shooting lesson I’d had, even though I’d fussed about being dragged out to the range. Pop had insisted on drilling me again and again. It had all been worth it, or it would be if this worked.
Dax began to move. The second he pushed Beau, I fired.
Elandra made a horrible gasping noise and fell to the ground.
Lance and Ambrose rushed at her, and I ran to Beau, though I knew he was fine. She’d never fired her gun. I’d timed it exactly right.
“Corbin? Holy shit, did you make that shot?”
“Of course. I told you it was my job to protect you just like you protect me.”
Beau pulled me into his arms, and I kissed him, not caring who was watching us.
“I love you. I was so scared. I… What if she’d…”
“She’s not going to bother anyone again.”
We heard something then, and I remembered Elandra probably hadn’t been alone. Guidry appeared, stepping out of the trees, his gun aimed at Beau.
I screamed. A shot rang out, and Guidry fell forward. As I looked around, trying to figure out who’d taken him out, a young man stepped out of the woods, hands in the air. “Don’t shoot. It’s me.”
“Travis?” Beau looked more shocked than I’d ever seen him. Was this his brother? The one he thought was hidden away at their old house?
“Y-yeah. It’s me.”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
Travis pushed his hair back with a shaky hand. “Saving your ass, or at least that’s what I intended to do.”
“You did,” I said, holding my hand out to him. “I’m Corbin.”
He accepted the offer to shake. “It’s… um… nice to meet you.”
“How did you get here?” Beau still hadn’t moved from where he’d been when Guidry appeared.
“I got word from Blade that they were planning to take you last night and bring you out here. I convinced him to come get me. He gave me a car, and the rest I figured out myself.”
“You went into the swamp alone, in the dark?”
He nodded.
“Fuck, Travis. I don’t know what to say.”
“How about thank you ?” I suggested.
Beau moved then. When he reached his brother, he pulled him in for a tight hug. “Thank you.”
“Was there anyone else at the cabin?” Remington asked, interrupting their reunion.
Travis shook his head. “I don’t think so, but I didn’t really look. I just followed Guidry.”
“I’ll make sure,” Ambrose said. “Lance can lead you out now that it’s getting light.”
Lance nodded in affirmation.
I turned to thank Ambrose, but he’d already disappeared. I didn’t even hear any sign of movement.
“He’s scary as fuck.”
“Damn right,” Lance said. “Let’s get back to civilization. You know how Tony hates when I leave him.”
“Thank you for coming out here without him to help us find Beau.”
“You’re my brother, Corbin, and Beau’s the man you love. I’ll always help you anyway I can.”
“That goes for me to.” Remington held his hand out to Beau, and they shook. “Welcome to the family.”
I heard Beau’s sharp intake of breath. “Thank you. I’m honored to work with all of you.”
Lance laughed. “You say that now…”
Remington punched his arm. “Shut up. We need to get out of here as fast as we can. Pop and Marjorie expect us to head straight to their house.
“What?” I was not prepared for that.
“They’re worried sick about their baby boy, and they haven’t even met the man he’s in love with.”
“Should I… um… go or… what?” We all turned to look at Travis. In my panic over Beau meeting my parents, I’d forgotten him.
“I can take him home with me,” Dax said. “I’ve got plenty of room, and Beau can come over after some sleep.”
Travis looked unsure, but Beau reassured him. “You remember Dax, don’t you? I know you only met him a few times, but I promise he’s trustworthy. Once Corbin and I have gotten some sleep, I’ll call you. Do you still have the phone I gave you?”
Travis nodded. Then he looked at Dax, and I saw some appreciation there. He quickly looked away again. “I guess that’s… okay.”
“I have real plumbing and everything,” Dax assured him. “I wouldn’t last more than a day with Ambrose.”
Travis smiled then, and I was glad that was settled. I focused on Remy again. “Did you tell Mama and Pop about Beau?”
“No, but I’m sure you want to introduce him, don’t you?” Why was he such an asshole? I did, but this wasn’t how I’d planned to do it.
“Beau?”
“Yes, baby?”
“I think you’re about to meet my parents.”
“I can think of better ways for that to happen, but if that’s what you want, then that’s what I’ll do.”
Remington huffed. “Whether you want that or not, they’re going to insist.”
I took Beau’s hand. “No one says no to my dad.”
“So I’ve heard.”