Bayou Beauty (Butterfly Bayou 4)

Rene nodded.

Dre’s dark eyes rolled. “I told you he would be trouble. He always hated you. Anyway, you put Charles in check, and Charles came back over the top like the jerk he is. He figures out the only real way to get to you is to go through Sylvie—your supposedly fake wife who everyone knows is pretty much the love of your life. You flip your shit because, again, you’ve loved Sylvie since you were a kid. You decide the only way to save the world is to sacrifice the one relationship you’ve waited on all your life. Do I have it right?”

Sometimes he hated the fact that Dre knew him so well. “Or I’m ruthless and I understood Sylvie had a thing for me. I knew she suited me and she would make life comfortable for me. Why not kill two birds with one stone.”

Dre moved in, putting a hand on his shoulder. “You never killed a bird in your life, much less by throwing a stone at it. You’re a good man, Rene. No matter what your cousins and aunts and uncles say. You do right by people, and you’ve always done right by Sylvie. Even when it cost you. And you’ve been taught to sacrifice your own happiness for the needs of others. Now tell me if I’m right.”

There was no other way to answer but the truth. “Yes.”

“Good, then call and order us a pizza. I’ll go put on some pants.” Dre frowned. “The delivery driver will probably talk. Maybe you better pick up the pizza because if Sylvie figures out where you are, she’ll show up here and then she’ll tell Momma where I am because she’s cold that way.”

“Dre. We should talk about this.” He didn’t understand how Dre was so calm. “I married Sylvie and I didn’t bother to tell you I was going to do it. I wouldn’t have called you even if I thought you would be able to pick up.”

Dre shook his head. “I’m cool with it. I wish I’d been able to come to the wedding, but I always figured there would be one. Treat my sister well. Be a good husband to her and we won’t have any trouble.” Dre pointed to his own chest. “And I’m going to be the coolest uncle ever. Sylvie will relent on the kids thing. She’s going to want them eventually, and I’ll set Momma on her about that because I’m also cold.”

Dre had always been stubborn, but Rene had to get through to him. “You’re not going to be an uncle. There are no kids on the way, and there won’t ever be. We’re getting a divorce. I told you. And it’s a good thing because I don’t have anything to offer her now. The fight with my mother was real. She has a boyfriend, and she’s let me know she doesn’t need my help anymore.”

“Did she finally throw down with Louis?” Dre’s whole face lit up. “Damn. Good for Cricket. Did you act like an asshole about it?”

“How did you know about Louis?”

“Because he’s been in love with your mother forever. He makes goo-goo eyes at her, and he treats you like gold. I’m not saying he was like a snake or anything. He loved your dad, too, but he always had a thing for Cricket. How do I know? I watch. I learn. I am a very emotionally aware man, Rene. It’s necessary to do the kind of art I do. I connect with people on a real level.” Dre stopped. “Maybe that is a bit of the sight, like Momma has. I also have a sparkling personality, and people tell me things. So why don’t you tell me how bad you made things between yourself and your mother.”

Rene was so spun around by Dre’s reaction that he found himself simply replying without thinking. “I fired Louis. I set a PI on him and found out some things I didn’t want to know. I pointed out to my mother that he was likely after her money. I told her she was acting like a child. I made her cry.”

Dre whistled. “Damn, brother. You have some things to make up for. We should game-plan how you’re going to grovel. The good news is my daddy made sure I know how to properly grovel.”

“I’m not going to do that.” One day he would apologize to them all, but for now he had something else to do. Blow up his whole world. “I’m going to do what Charles wants me to do, and then I’m going to leave. If I don’t, he’ll hurt Sylvie. I’ll fix it for her, make sure he can’t come after her again, and then I’ll move somewhere. Somewhere I don’t have any family.”

Dre stared at him, an incredulous expression on his face. “Sure you will. Remember when I said you weren’t getting a fight out of me?”