Dax (The Theriot Family 4)

As the afternoon dragged on with no sign of LePlatt or any of his men, Ambrose and Winston had to continually talk me down from rushing the shed. Travis was in there. Did I really believe he was unharmed?

“If we wait, we’ll get them all,” Ambrose reminded me for the thousandth time.

Remington radioed us to let us know Blackjack had broken in on some chatter, and LePlatt wouldn’t be heading this way for several more hours. I was going to lose my mind. I was also fucking starving. “Can we at least get some food. All I’ve had all day is a fucking protein bar.”

“You think there’s Door Dash out here or something?” Ambrose asked.

“No, I think one of us can go get something in town since we’ve got to sit on our asses for hours.”

“That’s a lot of hassle. I could just shoot something out here.”

The sheriff looked at him like he’d grown another head, then he turned to me. “Is he serious?”

“Maybe.”

“Of course I’m serious. I could shoot a few nutrias, start a fire, and have them roasted for dinner before you could drive into town, order some mediocre burgers, and bring them back here.”

“You’re complaining about burgers, but you’re fine eating unseasoned, unevenly cooked swamp rat?”

“I make a damn fine roast nutria, and I’m sure there some herbs growing around here.”

“Jesus Christ.”

“Miss Leigh Ann’s burgers are the best I’ve ever had,” Winston said. “And I could be back here with them in less than an hour.”

Ambrose pinched the bridge of his nose and looked up at the sky. “This. This is why I like to stay in the bayou where no one bothers me.”

Winston snorted. “Except when you’re holding law enforcement officers at gunpoint and blackmailing them.”

“Well, that’s fun.”

I hadn’t seen Ambrose smile like that in a long time. He seemed to actually be having fun, not just getting a job done.

“Too bad it won’t be happening again, at least not in my parish. I won’t be fooled by a pretty boy and his accomplices again.”

I grabbed the front of his shirt and twisted it. “Don’t talk about Travis like that.”

“Hey!” Ambrose yanked me away from him. “Calm down. The sheriff doesn’t want your boy.”

“Travis is—”

“Enough.” Ambrose used his command voice, the one that no doubt had had the soldiers under him pissing their pants.

Even I wasn’t immune to his power, though I couldn’t hold back a smile. He was so much more like his old self today. I’d been trying for years to bring him back to life, but I’d barely made any progress, and now, Winston starts working with us, and suddenly… Holy shit. Did he… Was he…

I’d seen Winston looking at my brother like he’d enjoy a good hard hate fuck, but Ambrose was straight. Wasn’t he? Except if he was, why was he giving Winston a sly grin that looked like he wasn’t sure if he wanted to fight or fuck. My brother and a small-town sheriff? That was ridiculous. Even if there was a chance for them, after we went against our agreement with Winston and slaughtered LePlatt and all his associates, Eric Winston was going to hate us.

Ambrose reluctantly got us burgers, and I somehow survived until go time.

When LePlatt’s car pulled up, Remington and Lance stepped out of hiding, and we followed suit.

“Good evening, gentlemen,” he said.

He gave us a wide smile. “I thought I would see you here. I believe I have something of yours.”

I wanted to rush him and wrap my hands around his throat. Reading me easily, Ambrose laid a hand on my shoulder. “Wait for the signal, then he’s all yours.”

We’d discussed our plan several times, and we felt even more strongly about it once we learned that LePlatt was expecting us. Surprise was our best option.

32

Travis

I’d been conscious for a while now, but I wished I wasn’t. My head felt like little men were inside beating the interior of my skull with hammers. My jailers hadn’t offered me any food, but I knew if I tried to eat it would come right back up. I was in some sort of DIY cell in the middle of a large shed. There were two men there with me. They’d been playing on their phones most of the afternoon.

The puppy was whining. I was sure she was hungry. She’d already pissed in the corner of our cell, but it didn’t smell nearly as bad as the two men who watched me.

I tensed when I heard cars pull up outside, then the rumble of voices.

The two men stood. After one of them checked that the cell door was secure, they stepped outside.

Gunfire erupted as soon as they exited. It sounded like a hundred men were firing at once. The puppy pressed herself against me and whimpered. I wanted to tell her it was okay, but I had no idea what was happening. Was Dax out there? Were the drug runners fighting with him and his family? If so, I had to believe the Theriots would win. Please don’t let Dax get hurt, I prayed.