Chapter 1
Four months later...
“To new adventures for an old friend.” Remy Montagne lifted his beer mug in Xavier Xander’s direction. “Bayou Brotherhood Protectors won’t be the same without you.”
Xavier gave a tight smile and a nod.
The rest of his team raised their beer mugs and shouted in unison, “To new adventures!”
As for the team not being the same without him, Xavier doubted that. It would keep doing what they’d been doing since they’d all arrived in Bayou Mambaloa—protecting those who needed it and helping solve mysteries and crimes alongside local law enforcement.
Xavier stared around the cluster of tables they’d pulled together at the Crawdad Hole Bar and Grill to congratulate him on his new job in another state. He was moving on to a higher salary and would work with a team he could recruit and grow.
It would be a challenge he was up to, having served as a Navy SEAL for ten years and as a Brotherhood Protector for the past three.
But he’d miss the men who’d become more brothers than colleagues. Men he’d followed from active duty to their civilian work as protectors.
In that time, things had changed so much that Xavier wasn’t sure he fit in with them anymore.
But for himself, Jacques and Anton, the majority of the Bayou Brotherhood Protectors had coupled up. Of the original ten plus the two who’d joined them shortly after, nine were either married or in solid relationships.
Their leader, Remy had married a sheriff’s deputy in front of a Justice of the Peace, as had Gerard, both anxious to make it official as they’d jumped the marriage gun when they’d found out they had babies on the way. Rafael had married his gift shop owner, Gisele, in front of her mouthy Macaw.
Lucas and Felina, the flower shop owner, had gone to Vegas for an Elvis wedding shortly after they’d announced their engagement.
Beau and Aurelie had a baby on the way and were pushing hard for a wedding date as soon as they secured a place to have it. Simon and Holly were engaged and looking for a venue, too. Maurice and Amelie had just gotten engaged but hadn’t set a date yet.
“You sure you don’t want to stick around?” Remy asked. “You’re practically the last man standing.”
“I’m not the last man standing,” Xavier reminded him. He tipped his head toward the other two men who had yet to find a mate. “Jacques or Anton can carry that guidon when I’m gone.”
“You don’t know what you’ll be missing,” Gerard added. “Stay here in Bayou Mambaloa long enough, and you’ll be married with kids before you know it.” He hiked his baby daughter, Gabby, up in his arms and smiled into her face. “Who’s your favorite? Mommy or Daddy?”
Gabby batted at his face and said the only word she’d learned thus far, “Mama.”
Remy, Shelby and Bernie laughed.
“Trust the girl to say what she means,” Remy said and then turned his attention back to Xavier. “See? Stay and find that special someone you didn’t know you needed to tell you how to pick up your clothes and when to mow the lawn.”
“Hey,” Shelby said. “I mowed last week.”
Remy slipped an arm around Shelby’s shoulders and pulled her close. “Yes, you did. You’re an amazing wife, mother and partner. I couldn’t have asked for anyone smarter, tougher or more beautiful.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Keep going, and you might find your way out of that hole you just dug.”
Remy kissed Shelby. “You know I love you and Jean-Luc more than anything.”
Shelby leaned into him. “Yeah, I know. But it doesn’t hurt to hear it again.”
His teammates had found love and family. They had roots, something Xavier hadn’t found, nor had he been looking for them. As much as he cared for his brothers in arms, he didn’t feel like he belonged anymore. They were becoming family men.
Xavier had given up on that concept after his last deployment as a Navy SEAL.
A familiar weight settled in his chest at the memories.
Two members of his team...friends... brothers of another mother...men who had given their lives for his mistake. His call. They’d gone in to clear a building he’d assumed was empty. Oh, it had been empty...except for the explosives rigged to go off when they’d breached the door.
His call had cost them their lives, and Xavier couldn’t forget that or forgive himself. He’d come home a different man.
So different, his fiancée hadn’t known who he was anymore.
She’d tried to be supportive but had ultimately walked out.
He’d left active duty and wallowed for a while before Hank Patterson hired him into the Brotherhood Protectors and placed him with men he’d worked with in the past, into a new region of his organization to be based in Louisiana in the small town of Bayou Mambaloa.
He’d hoped it was far enough away from the memories to allow him to start over. As time passed, he thought the guilt would lessen and he could find peace.
Instead, the guilt remained entrenched in his heart and mind, and he hadn’t found the peace he desperately needed. And worse, his teammates were moving on without him. He had less and less in common with them as they found the women that made them happy.
Remy’s comment about sticking around to find his mate proved how little they knew him, even though they’d worked together for years.
Perhaps a new job, a different location and new people would help him find where he belonged. Bayou Mambaloa wasn’t it.
Danny French, the red-haired waitress, stopped beside him and reached for the empty mugs littering the table. “Want another beer?”
“No, thank you,” he said. Alcohol wasn’t the answer. He’d learned that the hard way before Hank had brought him on board with the Brotherhood Protectors. If not for Hank, he might’ve still been drowning in memories night after night.
He owed Hank for that. Yet another weight of guilt, adding to what he already carried. Leaving Hank’s organization had been a tough call, but he had to get away from everything and everyone who reminded him of that last operation.
“What about you, Papa Noel?” Danny asked Anton.
“I’m not Papa Noel,” Anton Noel said. “I’m Anton Noel. I’m not anyone’s papa and don’t have any plans to change that anytime soon.”
“Oh, come on,” Danny said. “Christmas is coming. Don’t you want to bring Christmas cheer to all the bayou children in a few weeks?”
“Hell, no,” Anton said. “But you can bring me another beer.”
Danny shook her head, took orders from the others and wove her way through the gathering to another table of four strangers. As always, she leaned in carefully, listening to what they had to say before carrying her loaded tray back to the bar.
She was a good waitress, careful to listen to the customers, and she always got the orders right. At the same time, she didn’t put up with rowdy men who tried to take advantage of the fact that she was female.
He’d seen her slam a man three times her size to the ground and hold him there until he’d apologized for pinching her ass.
Perhaps Remy had Danny in mind for him.
Xavier shook his head.
Danny was a badass. A woman who knew her mind and didn’t suffer fools. She deserved someone who had his shit together. A man who didn’t have a past and the ghosts of the men he’d failed weighing him down.
No, Danny wasn’t for him.
He noticed Jacques’s gaze following the waitress. Maybe Jacques would find his mate in Danny. He was a better man and had his life in order.
His thoughts shifted to the one woman who wasn’t present at the Crawdad Hole and rarely was.
Lissette Gautier. He’d run into her at the local festival a couple nights before. Now, there was a woman with a past even heavier than his own.
His lips tipped upward on the corners.
She’d warned him that she was trouble and he should stay away from her.
He’d had a couple of beers and had mistakenly taken her warning as a challenge.
Since then, he’d sobered and realized starting something with the town pariah was the last thing he should do.
His record was clean, except in his own mind, and he was on his way to a new job.
He didn’t have time to pursue a woman when it would lead absolutely nowhere or exactly where she’d predicted.
Into trouble.
Besides, he wasn’t looking, and she’d been in prison.
He didn’t need to make more bad decisions.
Xavier’s cell phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and frowned at the name on the screen. He glanced across at Remy. “Thanks for the sendoff. If you don’t mind, I’ll call it a night.”
“Your new boss calling?” Remy asked.
“Yes, sir.” Xavier held up his phone. “I need to take this call.”
Remy nodded. “You’re still with us for the week. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“Thanks.” Xavier rose and answered the call on his way to the door. “Xander speaking,” he said as he stepped out into the balmy night air.
“Xander,” Colonel Grant Jeffries said into his ear, his tone professional but friendly. “Just checking in. I’m not calling too late, am I?”
“Not at all,” Xavier said as he strode for his truck. “I’m on my way to my quarters. What can I do for you?”
“Nothing. I would’ve called earlier, but I got caught up in meetings,” the colonel said. “I take it you turned in your resignation?”
“I did,” Xavier said as he slid behind the wheel and paused before starting the engine.
“Any pushback?”
“No. Montagne’s a good guy.”
“Good. I need you to stand up the training billet at the firm and be ready for when they pin on my star.”
“I’ll be ready, sir.”
“Good. I’m counting on it,” Jeffries said. “I’ll be in touch. Out here.” He ended the call before Xavier could respond.
He set the cell phone in the cup holder, started the engine, and pulled out of the parking lot, heading toward Bayou Mambaloa.
He’d been in town for nearly two years and still lived in the boarding house Remy had set up as temporary quarters for members of the Bayou Brotherhood Protectors when they’d established their branch in Louisiana.
Some of the team had found other lodging since then.
Not Xavier. He’d never put down enough roots to want to secure more permanent living arrangements.