17. Travis #2
Dax cupped my face and kissed me. His lips were gentle. There was no force, no demand. It was all about soothing and comfort.
I kept crying, and he pulled me against him. I clung to him as I let out all the emotion I’d been holding inside.
When no more tears would come, I sat back and wiped at my eyes. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for this to take so long.”
“It doesn’t matter. We’re just giving Ambrose more time to see my message. We’ll stay here as long as you need to.”
“Thank you for listening.”
“You’re welcome, baby.” Dax dried my cheeks with his thumbs. “Does Beau have any idea how bad things were for you?”
“Maybe after we talked last night he can guess, but you’re the only person I’ve ever told about that night.”
“I would never share anything you told me. Whether or not you tell him is totally up to you. There’s no reason Beau needs to know unless you need to talk about it more.”
“I didn’t think I needed to talk about it all, but actually…” I paused to take a deep breath. I was shocked by how much lighter my body felt having been purged of that awful night. “I feel better.”
“I’m glad. I’ll listen anytime to anything you want to tell me.”
“Same for me.”
Dax shook his head. “Oh God no. You don’t want to hear the details. You don’t want to know about how I became what I am.”
“Dax, I’m here for you just as much as you’re here for me. I will listen to anything you need to tell me.”
“But you’re… you’re squeamish and?—”
“I’ll get past it. I’ll be strong for you.”
“You are strong, Travis. So damn strong.”
“I’m trying.”
“Are you up for this?” he asked.
“For getting shot at by your brother then told off?”
He grinned. “Basically. Yeah.”
“I am.”
Dax put the truck in gear and eased back onto the road. He hadn’t looked at me with pity. He just been angry on my behalf. I knew if Rob was still alive, Dax would track him down, and Rob’s death would be far more gruesome than it likely had been.
I didn’t care about that. What I cared about was that Dax hadn’t treated me differently afterward. Sure, his kiss had been soft, but he hadn’t been afraid to touch me. He hadn’t thought he needed to back away, and he hadn’t been horrified or told me what a mistake I’d made ever going with Rob.
“When we get back tonight,” Dax said, “I’m going to do everything I can to make you forget you ever had ugliness like that in your life.”
“Dax, I…”
“Don’t you dare say you don’t deserve it. I want to pamper you. What’s your favorite dinner?”
“You don’t have to?—”
“I want to. I want to make you happy. I want to give you the world.”
“I would give you anything. I want to be yours. I… I like you being in charge. I like you taking care of me. You don’t scare me. You never have.”
“Good. Now tell me what you want to eat.”
“Steak. There were several times when Rob took me to dinner meetings with associates he was cultivating. They had steak, but all I got was a salad because he expected me to watch my weight.”
“I’m going to get you the biggest steak I can buy and everything you want to go with it. We’ll have pie for dessert or cake if you’d prefer.”
“Chocolate cake is my favorite.” It shouldn’t be that hard for me to say that.
I knew it was all right to have preferences, but I’d gotten so use to not being able to ask for what I wanted when I was with Rob, and afterward I couldn’t.
I just felt lucky to be alive. There’d been a few other men after Rob.
They weren’t as evil, but they were pieces of shit.
Finally, I realized I just needed to be on my own.
I thought that would be the rest of my life.
I didn’t think I could trust a man again, but this was Dax. He’d been trustworthy since I was a kid
“What are you thinking?” Dax asked glancing at me before focusing on the road again.
“I can’t believe this is happening. That you really want me.”
“I swear to you, this is real. I would never lie about my feelings for you.”
We didn’t talk much for the rest of the drive.
Once we turned off the main road, Dax had to concentrate as he drove down paths I didn’t think were wide enough for a vehicle and made turns where I saw no road at all.
I would never be able to get out of there on my own.
I’d felt the same way when I’d gone in looking for Beau.
I’d assumed if I didn’t find him, I’d end up as dinner for a gator, and I wasn’t sure I cared.
Now I sure as hell did. I had Dax, and things were right with my brother again. I had a good job, and for the first time, a real chance at a decent life.
Dax made one more turn, then reached over and unhooked my seatbelt. “Get down to the floorboard.”
“What?”
“Now.”
My heart thundered as I did what he said. A few seconds later, I heard the crack of a rifle, then a man shouted. “You son of a bitch.”
“That’s your own mother you’re talking about,” Dax yelled out the window.”
“Fuck off.”
“I’ve got somebody with me,” Dax said. There was silence for a moment. I could almost feel the chill of it, and that was impressive considering the thick muggy air of the bayou that was leaking in through the open window.
“Who?” The anger in Ambrose’s voice made me shiver. Dax glanced over at me, and I shook my head, trying to communicate that I’d stay right here the whole time he talked to his brother.
“It’s Travis.”
“Beau’s brother?”
“Yeah. What other Travis do we both know?”
“You’re sneaky. You could be bringing anyone.”
“Would I do that to you?”
“Something’s up with you. You don’t sound like yourself,” Ambrose said.
Damn. How could Ambrose tell a difference from their short conversation?
“It’s a good something. Can we come in and talk about it? I’ve got other questions too.”
“Yeah, I got your message.”
“Then why did you shoot at me?”
“Keeps you on your toes. I don’t want you going soft living in the city in your fancy house.”
“I’ve always lived in the city, except in the summer when you would drag me out to Uncle Etienne’s.”
“Things weren’t quite as good for us Theriots in those days.”
“You could live as well as I do now.”
He snorted. “I like it here. I like it simple.”
Dax motioned for me to come up onto the seat. I didn’t want to, which was silly. I’d never been afraid of Ambrose. I trusted him like I trusted Dax. I’d also known he would help me because he was Beau’s friend.
When I’d seen Ambrose in the bayou the day I’d saved Beau, he seemed so withdrawn, so separate from everyone else.
He hadn’t been like that as a kid. He’d been tough, but he’d been a leader, and he’d interacted with all of us.
He’d smiled and laughed. I could imagine some of the horrors he must have seen in the desert, but I wanted to know what had brought him back like this.
Slowly, I eased myself up. Ambrose glanced my way and nodded. I waved at him, then felt stupid for doing it.
“Come on in.” Ambrose turned and walked into his house.