Dax (The Theriot Family 4)

“Beau babied me. You know he didn’t trust me in the kitchen.”

“If you want to learn, I’m more than happy to teach you. I can think of all kinds of ways to make cooking together fun.”

I was suddenly desperate for him to teach me. “I bet you can.”

Dax served us sandwiches, chips, and cans of Coke.

“It’s okay if you drink around me. I don’t mind if you want a beer.”

“I don’t drink when I’m working. You’ve seen how hard it is for me to hold onto my control. Alcohol would push me over the edge.”

“But you’re not working now.”

“I’m your bodyguard, and I need all my wits about me. We have no idea when another attack might come, and I’m expecting Ambrose to check in soon so we can make plans for our next move.”

“I want to be a part of whatever you do.”

Dax shook his head. “Absolutely not.”

“If I’m not part of it, I won’t be able to stay by your side.”

Dax scowled. “One of my cousins will stay with you. I trust them.”

“But you don’t trust me to help?”

“I will not risk you. These assholes are after you. I will not put you in their sights.”

“I want to help put an end to this. I deserve that closure.”

Dax’s phone rang.

“It’s Ambrose. We’ll talk about this later.”

26

Dax

“What did you learn, Ambrose?” I asked.

“I’m on my way there. I’ll be at your house in about twenty minutes. I’ll tell you then.” My twin ended the call before I could protest.

“Fucking bastard,” I grumbled as I stuck my phone back into my pocket.

“What did he say?” Travis asked.

“That he’s on his way, and he’ll talk when he gets here.”

“I still want to be part of whatever plans you make.”

“Travis, that’s—”

“This sandwich is so good,” Travis said. He was right, it was good, especially after the workout we’d had, but I also knew he was trying to change the subject. I went along with it, but it didn’t mean I’d changed my mind. I would not let him put himself in danger.

When Ambrose showed up, I knew immediately that he had a plan. I doubted anyone but me would be able to read his expression, but I knew his look of satisfaction.

“Do you want a sandwich?” I asked.

Ambrose nodded. “Fuck yes. I’m starving.”

“Start talking,” I demanded as I got the ham and cheese back out.

“Did you find the drop-off spot?” Travis asked.

Ambrose nodded. “And Sheriff Eric Winston.”

“Was he what you expected?” I asked.

Ambrose snorted. “Worse. He thinks he is going to change everything in his backwoods parish.”

“Is he young?” I asked.

“Fuck no. He’s probably at least forty. He’s just fucking pigheaded. He moved here from Baltimore. He said he wanted a new experience.”

I snorted. “He’s probably running from something.”

“I agree, and I have every intention of figuring out what,” Ambrose said. “We need all the leverage we can get.”

“You think he’ll work with us?” Travis asked.

“We’re not going to give him a choice, but it won’t be easy to get a private meeting with him. He’s squeaky clean. He basically goes to the office, then home where he stays.”

“So he’s the real deal?” I asked.

“That’s how it appears, but why is he here when he had a promising career in Baltimore? He’s got secrets. Everybody does.”

“Have you contacted Blackjack?”

He raised his brows, giving me a look like he was insulted. “As soon as I located the guy, I got Blackjack working on it. We should have some info later today, so let’s put a plan together.”

“You already have one, don’t you?”

The ghost of a smile crossed his face. “I do, but you’re not going to like it.”

I rarely liked Ambrose’s plans.

“Maybe we should call Beau before we make plans,” Travis said. “He’ll want to be in on this.”

I glanced back and forth between Travis and Ambrose. “Do we need anyone else?” Ambrose didn’t like plans that involved too many people.

“No, but he’ll badger the hell out of us until we tell him what’s going on. You think we can run a plan with his little brother involved and not include him?”

“What do you mean with his little brother involved?” I asked.

He ignored me and turned to Travis. “Give him a call and tell him to get here as fast as he can.” When he looked at me again, he gestured toward the stove. “Don’t burn my fucking sandwich.”

I glanced down at the pan and quickly flipped the sandwich over. It was darkly toasted but not burnt. He would just have to deal with it, or he could make his own.

We didn’t talk much while we waited for Beau. Ambrose ate. Travis kept giving me wary looks, but I could also see determination in his eyes. I was going to have some serious fighting to do, especially if my stupid ass brother thought he was going to put my man in danger. He’d known Travis as a kid too. Surely he didn’t think putting him in the middle of this was a good idea.