Chapter 11 #2
Germain’s eyes rounded. “He said he wasn’t going to hurt her. He wanted her alive.”
Sirens wailed in the distance.
Mace held Germain a little longer, nose to nose. “You disgust me.” Then he shoved him back to the ground. “I hear either one of you pull some stupid stunt like this again, I’ll bring the wrath of the Bayou Reapers down on you. Got that?” He kicked dirt onto the two men.
“Got it,” Bubba said. “Besides, running drugs is a helluva a lot easier than running hellcat females.”
Germain kicked his cousin. “Shut up, dumbass.”
Bubba glared at Germain.
Sheriff Bergeron was the first to arrive at the scene. Between him and Deputy Shelby Taylor, they loaded the two men into the back of the sheriff’s SUV.
Deputy Taylor fished a dry towel out of the back of her SUV and handed it to Holly.
Holly’s lips twisted in a grimace. “I thought you had the night off.”
Shelby shook her head. “When the biker fight broke out at the Crawdad Hole, all deputies were called in. Fortunately, most everyone had dispersed by the time we arrived. When Rene and Danny told us you’d been taken, we weren’t sure which way to go until we got the 911 call.
” She lifted her chin toward Mace. “Thanks.”
Mace shifted on his feet. “Just want to keep the peace. We ride for pleasure and camaraderie, not to stir up trouble.”
Shelby’s lips spread in a smile. “I’ve heard of the Bayou Reapers. You’ve done good things to help single parents and their kids.”
“We’re veterans who served our country and like to give back to our community. Some of us were raised by single parents. They don’t always get a break.” Mace squared his shoulders. “Now, if you don’t need me, I’d like to get home to my old lady before she sends my brothers out looking for me.”
Simon held out his hand. “Thanks for everything.”
Mace clasped his hand in a firm grip. “If you ever get a ride, we’re open to new members, especially those who work for the good.”
“I’d like that,” Simon said.
Mace tipped his head toward Holly. “She’s badass. Take care of her.”
“That’s my plan,” Simon said.
Mace held out his hand to Holly. “Ms. Holly, we welcome female riders as well. We’d be honored for you to join us.”
Holly took the man’s hand and pulled him in for a hug. “Thanks for helping me.”
The biker mounted his Harley and drove away.
Once Deputy Taylor had their statements, she gave them a ride back to the Crawdad Hole. “Do you need me to have a deputy positioned near your houseboat?” she asked.
“That won’t be necessary,” Simon said. “We’ll stop by for some of Holly’s things and stay the night at the boarding house.” He turned to Holly. “If that’s all right with you…?”
Holly nodded. “I don’t have the energy to argue or to stay awake all night wondering if someone will sabotage the boat while we sleep.”
Simon walked her to his truck and handed her up into the passenger seat. He stepped up onto the running board, leaned in and snapped her seatbelt in place.
“You know I can buckle my own seatbelt,” she whispered into his ear.
“I know,” he said, backing up just enough. “But this gives me an excuse to kiss you.” He pressed his lips to hers in a gentle kiss.
Holly laced her hands behind his neck and deepened the kiss until they were both breathless. “Can we hurry by the houseboat? I’d like to get a shower and go to bed.” She kissed him again. “With you.”
Simon’s groin tightened. “We can make that happen.”
He closed her door, hurried around to the driver’s side and raced out of the parking lot, eager to get to the houseboat and back to the boarding house.
All the bullshit he’d imagined, convincing himself not to get involved with her, had flown out the back of the Fontenots’ truck. When he’d thought he might lose her for good, he’d realized he didn’t want to be without her.
As he drove out to the houseboat, she reached across the console and took his hand in hers.
He parked in the clearing and met Holly in front of the truck. They walked hand in hand to the dock and crossed the gangway to the houseboat.
Simon slid the key into the lock and pushed open the door. “Let me go first.”
Holly started to nod when a voice sounded from inside.
“That won’t be necessary.”
Lights flicked on, and Madam Gautier stood in the doorway, a frown creasing her forehead.
“Mémère? What are you doing here?” Holly asked. “Are you all right?”
Her grandmother shook her head. “I should be asking you the same. I hear the Fontenot boys tried to take off with you, and you all almost drowned.” She reached out with a gnarled hand and cupped Holly’s cheek. “This cannot continue.”
Holly covered her grandmother’s hand with her own. “I’m okay. I didn’t drown.”
Madam Gautier took her hand and stepped out onto the deck. “You must come with me.” She started across the gangway.
Holly stood fast. “I’m safe with Simon.”
Her grandmother looked back at them. “Both of you must come with me.”
“To your house?” Holly asked. “That’s not necessary. We weren’t going to stay here anyway. We’re going to the boarding house.”
“Madam Gautier, I blame myself for what happened tonight. I didn’t stay close enough to your granddaughter. I should’ve been at her side every minute.” He reached for Holly’s other hand. “But I promise I’ll stick to her like glue. The boarding house has security cameras. We’ll be safe there.”
The older woman shook her head. “Holly won’t be safe anywhere. You both need to come with me.” Her face hardened. “Now. No questions asked.”
When Holly opened her mouth, her grandmother held up her hand. “Trust me.”
Holly glanced from her grandmother to Simon.
He felt the steel in the Voodoo queen’s tone and saw the concern for her granddaughter in her eyes. “We’ll come.”
Holly’s brow dipped briefly. Then she nodded and followed her grandmother across the gangway to the dock.
Instead of turning toward land, she led them to the end of the dock where a small skiff was tied to a post. Her grandmother waited for Simon to get in first, then Holly.
They held out their hands for Madam Gautier and helped her into the rocking boat.
She settled at the till, started the engine and drove the little boat out into the inky-black waters of the bayou.
After a few minutes, Holly looked back at her grandmother. “You missed the turn to your island.”
Her grandmother stayed her course. “We’re not going there.”
“Where are we going?” Holly asked.
She glanced left then right, her brow furrowing before answering, “No questions.”
Simon did a three-hundred-sixty-degree study of the land and water around them. The way Madam Gautier was acting, she suspected they were being followed.
A movement out of the corner of his eye made Simon glance toward the shadows beneath a stand of cypress trees several yards behind them. A bird burst out of the branches and flew low across the water. Nothing else moved, but that eerie feeling that someone was watching persisted.