Page 8 of Landry (Bayou Brotherhood Protectors #7)

Landry loved the fact that they’d revived the old boat factory instead of bulldozing it and starting over.

He took in the shiny, clean floors, the new machinery and sheets of aluminum they worked with to make boats.

He liked to see what hard work and ingenuity could make.

And he liked helping other people who didn’t have the combat and self-defense skills he’d honed while on active duty.

He was giving back to his community, not always taking.

He had brothers. He had enough money to be comfortable. Yet, he still felt a little empty inside. Like he was missing something else.

That emptiness had intensified as he’d watched his teammates meet and fall in love with some amazing women.

The real clincher was when Remy and his wife had a baby.

Seeing the ex-Navy SEAL who could slit the throat of a terrorist without batting an eye, now completely over the moon with his newborn son and kickass wife, he realized they were everything a family should be.

Something he’d never had growing up.

Today, in the Sweet Temptations candy shop, he’d witnessed Remy’s family unit sharing the love and responsibility of their child. They didn’t resent his existence, nor did they pass him off to a nanny or boarding school.

Add to that display, though he tried to tell himself it was no big deal, Camille Catoire’s finger brushing against his lip had ignited something inside him he’d never experienced. That blast of awareness excited him and terrified him equally.

When Remy had asked him to take on the assignment to provide her with protection, Landry had almost told his leader no.

But after receiving that spontaneous hug from Ava, he couldn’t have lived with himself if anything happened to either one of them.

The fact that Ava had seen a monster in her window on the same night Camille had been followed and nearly run off the road was too much of a coincidence.

Landry didn’t believe in coincidence.

If someone was trying to spook Camille and her daughter, they’d succeeded. If they were intent on hurting them, Landry hoped to keep that from happening.

What he needed was more information.

Remy settled Jean-Luc in the playpen they kept in the war room, which was used when their regular caregiver took a day off and Shelby had to work.

Once Jean-Luc was occupied with his toys, Remy sat at the conference table, pulled the wireless keyboard toward himself, initiated a video call to the Brotherhood Protectors headquarters in Montana and booted the giant monitor mounted on the wall.

After the second ring, the blue screen blinked, and the face of Hank Patterson appeared.

Landry fought a grin. No matter how many times a giant face appeared on the monitor, he couldn’t help thinking of the Great and Powerful Oz.

Only Hank Patterson was much more than just a fictitious character from a book.

He was the real deal. Also, an ex-Navy SEAL, he was the reason the Brotherhood Protectors existed.

He’d seen the need for protective services when he’d saved a movie star from a murderous stalker.

That movie star was now his wife, with whom he shared two beautiful children.

Out of that incident had been born the Brotherhood Protectors, comprised of highly trained, former special operations types from all branches of the US military, and now, some from other allied nations.

“Remy, Landry, good to see you. What can I do for you?” he asked.

Remy filled Hank in on what had happened with Camille Catoire. “Now, it might be nothing but a drunk going for a joy ride and a child’s overactive imagination, but both happening the same night is too much of a coincidence.”

Hank frowned. “You know how I feel about coincidences.”

“We don’t believe in them,” a voice said in Hank’s background. A moment later, the tall, blond Viking, Axel Svenson, appeared beside Hank.

Remy grinned. “Hey, Swede. How’s Allie?”

Swede grinned. “She’s great. Five months pregnant and still kicking my ass on a horse.”

“I told Allie she had a lot of catching up to do,” Hank said. “My two little ones need cousins to play with. At this rate, they’ll be babysitters, not playmates.”

“Unless you and Sadie go for more,” Swede said with a side-eye toward Hank.

Hank’s lips twisted. “As it is, we want more. If Sadie has her way, we’ll have a dozen. I’m not so sure; I can barely keep up with Emma and McClain. I can’t imagine living in a house where the littles outnumber the bigs.”

Swede clapped Hank on the back. “Happy wife, happy life, old man.”

Hank nodded. “I know. But back to the trouble brewing in the bayou.”

“Good luck with that litter of children, Hank,” Remy teased. “Regarding your thoughts about coincidences…? We’re thinking the same. That’s why Landry is taking the lead on this assignment.” He tipped his head toward Landry.

Landry leaned forward. “I’d appreciate anything you can find on Ms. Catoire and her ex-husband, the jewel thief, Richard DeSalle.”

“On it,” Swede said. “I’ll search the court records to find the names of those he stole jewels from and the status of those jewels. Do you think Ms. Catoire might have been in cahoots with her ex?”

Landry shook his head. Though he’d seen the woman around town, he’d only really met her that day, and his instincts told him Camille Catoire was a good person and a good mother to her daughter. He couldn’t see her as an accessory to her husband’s crimes.

Remy answered Swede’s questions, “Shelby and I would swear on a stack of Bibles she’s clean. She ended up homeless and in a shelter after her house was foreclosed on and her car was repossessed. It’s been five years since her husband went to prison. Everything she has, she’s worked for.”

“Could she be holding out until her husband gets out of prison?”

Remy shook his head. “She’s fiercely independent and wants nothing to do with him. She had the divorce attorney put wording in the custody document that he could have no contact with their daughter.”

From what Landry had noticed in his interaction with Camille, she’d only agreed to let him check the window and door locks for the safety of her daughter. She didn’t want a man hanging around her home.

“If the attack on her vehicle and the monster in the window have anything to do with her husband’s thefts, why now?” Landry asked. “It’s been five years. If these occurrences have nothing to do with her ex-husband, we have another problem. Why target a small-town candy-maker?”

“I enjoy a good puzzle,” Swede admitted. “I’ll dig deep and let you know anything I discover as I find it.”

“Thanks, Swede,” Landry said. “I’ll do some of my own digging here in town.”

“Shelby did say there have been some thefts of random items from homes along the bayou. Camille’s home is on the bayou.”

“Which might account for the monster in the window.” Landry frowned. “Or little Ava’s imaginary friend, Billy Ray, no one claims to know.”

“I’ll cast a net in search of a boy named Billy Ray,” Swede said.

“Does Ms. Catoire have a boyfriend?” Hank asked.

Landry tensed. He hadn’t thought to ask that question.

He’d automatically assumed she didn’t. Though that would be a ridiculous assumption.

The woman was pretty. No, she was beautiful with her jet-black hair and ice-blue eyes.

He wouldn’t be surprised if she had a dozen men lined up at her door wanting to take her out.

Remy shook his head. “Shelby said she doesn’t date. Hasn’t been out with a man since she came to Bayou Mambaloa. She’s very protective of her daughter.”

“Are you talking about Camille?” a voice said behind Landry. Rafael entered the war room and slid into the seat beside Landry.

Remy nodded. “We are.”

“She was with us last night at the Crawdad Hole Bar and Grill. It was the first time she came out with the gang. Gisele got Crissy Broussard to watch Ava for her.”

“I’m sorry I missed last night,” Landry said. “If I hadn’t spent the day in New Orleans having my SUV serviced, I might’ve gone.”

“Yeah, your girl was on fire last night,” Rafael said.

“She’s not my girl,” Landry corrected. “What do you mean she was on fire?”

“I don’t think she sat more than five minutes from the time she arrived. Once the first guy asked her to dance, she didn’t sit for long.”

“First guy?” Landry frowned. “There was more than one?”

“There were two,” Rafael said. “A big guy I didn’t recognize, and Ben, that guy who works at the auto shop on 2 nd Street. Camille didn’t stay much longer after she danced with Ben.”

Landry’s brow furrowed. “Did either of the men leave after Camille?”

“I don’t know,” Rafael said. “I took Gisele to the dance floor and didn’t notice when they left.”

“Don’t mind Rafael,” Remy said. “He’s on a perpetual honeymoon. I’m surprised he even noticed that Camille was there.”

“Hey,” Rafael shot a narrow-eyed glance at Remy, “I remember Camille leaving.” He grinned. “I finally had Gisele to myself.”

“Damn newlyweds,” Remy muttered.

“Since I’m not due at Ms. Catoire’s place until near sunset, I’ll stop by the auto shop and ask Ben a few questions. Then I’ll swing by the Crawdad Hole and ask if anyone got the name of the big guy, or if they have credit card receipts from him.”

“Sounds like a good plan,” Hank said. “Let us know of any changes in the situation.”

“Roger,” Landry said.

“Out here,” Hank said.

“Out here,” Remy responded.

The giant monitor blinked off.

“Ms. Catoire and her daughter walk home after she closes the shop around five,” Remy said.

“I’ll be there to make sure they get home safely,” Landry promised. In the meantime, he had places to go and people to see. He pushed to his feet and turned to leave.

Remy rose as well and laid a hand on Landry’s arm.

“Shelby’s group of girlfriends is close.

They look out for each other. They’re particularly sensitive about Camille since she’s been through so much and worked hard to rise above while shielding her daughter from some of the uglier truths about her father. ”

Landry’s eyes narrowed. “And you’re telling me this because?”

“As strong and determined as she is to take care of herself and Ava, she’s also vulnerable and hesitant to accept help, especially from men.” Remy shook his head. “The man who’d promised to love, honor and protect her did none of that. She doesn’t trust men easily.”

Landry nodded. “Don’t worry. I won’t make any promises I can’t keep.”

“Good. Because if anyone I send to help her ends up hurting her, I won’t hear the end of it.” He snorted. “Shelby would filet me.”

“I doubt that seriously,” Landry said. “You two are the perfect couple with the perfect family.”

“We are, aren’t we?” Remy said with a stiff smile. “I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Message received,” Landry said. “I’ll do my best to protect Ms. Catoire and her daughter.”

“And not hurt her,” Remy added. “That’s just as important.”

Landry wasn’t exactly sure what Remy was getting at. “As a member of the Brotherhood Protectors, I’m here to help, not hurt.”

“As long as you recognize the difference.”

Jean-Luc pulled himself up in his playpen and tried to climb over the side.

Remy hurried over to grab him before he tumbled out. “Look at you, little man, you’re getting more mobile by the minute.” He swung his son up into his arms and turned back toward Landry.

“I’ll ask Shelby if she knows of anyone who might have a grudge against Camille,” he said. “Although I can’t imagine anyone disliking her. She’s one of the nicest members of our community. But you never know who might see her as a threat or be jealous of her success.”

“Maybe a wife who thinks her husband hangs out at Sweet Temptations too often?” Landry suggested. “When I stop by to escort her home, I’ll ask Ms. Catoire if she has any customers who loiter unnecessarily long.”

Remy sniffed the air and then frowned at his son. “Dude, you need a diaper change.”

Landry left the war room and the leader of their branch of the Brotherhood Protectors before he got roped into changing a baby’s smelly diaper.

He walked out to his SUV, his lips twitching at the sight of Remy Montagne, one of the fiercest Navy SEALs he’d ever served with, wrangling a squirming baby with a dirty diaper.

Landry’s respect for Remy swelled, warming everything that had been cold inside him from his upbringing.

Handling his son with such care didn’t make the leader of their team look like a washed-up warrior.

Remy looked like a man who loved his wife and child with all his heart and would do anything for them.

Like Camille Catoire would do anything for her daughter. Would that include hiding jewels for five years until it was safe to find a buyer for them?

One way he could learn the truth was to ask her.