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“Unless we’re all there. That’s a lot of numbers,” I finished for her.

She nodded.

“You’re way too smart for your age,” I added and studied her a bit longer.

She’d had the same thought I had, and it was the most logical conclusion. Even if she had no idea that it was Ford who had already protected us as the Rougarou. Even if my parents hated the idea that this would also provide protection to the Thibodeauxs, it was the best idea.

“Mom, Dad, I know where we should go,” I bluntly stated and dug my phone out of my pocket.

“Where?” they asked simultaneously.

I simply glanced up at them as I tapped the contact icon for Ford’s number. They were not going to like this at all.

Chapter 19

FORD

Iwaited at the end of Colette’s driveway with my parents’ van, which I definitely didn’t tell them I was taking. Destruction and mayhem were evident beyond the front door that swung loose on a single hinge. I’d only had enough time to dispose of the four bodies outside of their house before they’d returned. Azelie stood quietly beside me since she’d not been allowed to go back inside to pack a to-go bag.

Silence. The air was thick and musty, completely still. Too still for my liking, and my nerves were still on edge. This wasn’t the usual rough-up type attack. Something felt too personal about it, and I was hating the sinking feeling settling in my stomach. I crossed my arms and slid my teeth back and forth across my lips.

Hopefully, I’d hidden the blood-stained jacket, colored contacts, and mask well enough that once they climbed inside, nobody would see it, but that had been one of the last things on my mind. What a fool I’d been to not also install security cameras at our houses. I’d failed. And now, I also had astab wound in my back that I knew the bandage from my mom’s first aid kit in her van wasn’t going to hide for long. Somehow, I was going to have to come up with some lie as to why I needed Colette to stitch that up, too.

But not only that, I was in fight mode.

Rage mode.

To hell with keeping Colette out of the violence that was my job. A phone call to my brothers waited for me. I wished Dom was here to take charge, because I preferred being the fucking battering ram, not the leader. Give me orders, let me snap some necks, shoot some fucking awesome guns, and bust down doors. That was where I shined.

Besides, wasn’t this the police’s job? Oh wait, the fucking department here in town was bought by the same fucking man who’d sent those guys after Colette in the first place.

“Are you…okay?” Azelie asked, snapping me from my thoughts.

“Yeah,” I grumbled and stared at the front door, waiting for any sign they were coming out soon. Which reminded me, I probably should give my family a heads up. Digging into my pocket, I pulled out my phone and started a group text with my parents and Mawmaw.

“You look… kind of… I don’t know,” Azelie continued and took a cautious step away.

“I’m fucking angry,” I snarled as I finished typing out my no-contest message that the LeBlancs were coming to stay with us.

“It’s not your fault, you know,” Azelie quietly said.

I stared at the locked screen of my phone for a moment. It felt like it was. That was the problem. If I’d put security cameras here, or at leastdecided to check on the LeBlancs instead of being wrapped up in personal shit, maybe I’d been here before they got here and could’ve run them off.

As I stuffed the phone back in my pocket, I glanced down at Azelie. “No contact lens this time?”

Her brows raised. “Oh, well, I was getting ready for bed. I don’t sleep in them, so…”

“True,” I replied and sucked my bottom lip between my teeth.

“Will I still be able to go to cross-country practices? I don’t want to lose my spot going into sophomore year since I was freshman captain this past school year,” she asked.

“As long as your mom is comfortable with it, we’ll make it work. The restaurant’s gotta still run, and I’m planning on adding security cameras to the house. Plus, I’ll have you share your phone’s location with me, and get one of those watches that connect with it.”

“I already have one of those.” She raised her wrist with a smile.

“Good. Don’t take that off. Don’t lose it.” I pulled my gaze back to the front door as a shadow passed in front of it.

“My grandparents don’t like tattoos, but yours look really cool,” Azelie continued.