Brody (Texas Boudreau Brotherhood Book 3) Page 19

  The scent of grilled burgers and greasy fries hit him when he pulled the door open, his eyes darting back and forth between Stewart and his father. He hadn’t taken more than two steps inside, when he was hit by three feet of flying blonde pigtails and two arms twined around his waist.

  “Uncle Brody! You came, you came!”

  “I promised you I’d come and get you, honey bear.” He stared at Stewart, watching the other man, part of him hoping he’d get five minutes alone with him once the dust settled. The other half hoped the other man wasn’t a complete idiot who’d escalate the situation. They didn’t need any unnecessary bloodshed.

  “Daddy and Mr. Douglas are here. They didn’t want any ice cream. Did you want ice cream, Uncle Brody? I can share mine with you, but it’s kinda melted.”

  “That’s okay, honey bear. I don’t need any ice cream right now.” He ran a hand protectively over her back. “Dad, everything okay here?”

  “It’s good. You take Jamie and—”

  “Not so fast, Boudreau. Brody, you take a seat with my daughter. Mr. Boudreau, Brody’s staying put until you get your laptop. We have a transaction to make before anybody leaves.”

  “That wasn’t the deal.” Douglas argued.

  “Deal’s changed. Get the laptop.” Stewart moved aside the flap of his button-front shirt, revealing the gun tucked into his waistband. “I suggest you move quickly.”

  Douglas clamored to his feet, and shot a look toward Brody. He nodded and led Jamie back to her table, hoping Rafe could see and hear what was happening. They’d only get one shot at this, and they’d need to take it soon.

  Walking back in with a laptop computer, Douglas eased back onto the chair across from Stewart. “Did you check to see if this place has Wi-Fi? Otherwise, we’re going to have to move to some place that does.”

  “They have Wi-Fi. Here’s the password.” He slid a scrap of paper across the table. “Connect and let’s get this over with. I want out of this lousy state.

  Keeping his gaze on his father, he noted movement behind Stewart, who had kept his back to the kitchen and ice cream area, making sure he had a clear sight line through the front window. He spotted Rafe and a couple of other men inching closer to the small eat-in area.

  “I’ve got a connection. Now let Brody and Jamie leave, and you’ll get your blood money.” Douglas held his hands over the keyboard, waiting.

  “Right after you transfer the funds. I’m a reasonable man, Mr. Boudreau. But I’m not stupid. If I let Jamie go, I’ll never see a dime of that money.” Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out another ragged-edged paper. Here’s the account information and the routing number. Let’s get this done, because I’m losing my patience.”

  Douglas lifted his hands from the keyboard, and crossed his arms over his chest. “No.”

  “What do you mean, no? We had a deal.”

  “Like you said, deal’s changed. You want to change the rules partway through, fine. Now we’ll do things my way. Brody, get Jamie out of here. Get in your car and drive away.” He leaned back in his seat. “Unlike you, Mr. Stewart, I gave my word to exchange myself and the funds in exchange for Jamie. You want the money and a hostage. That’s the deal. A plane and a full tank of gas, headed anywhere you want. An influential hostage. Nobody’s going to try and stop you, not as long as you have me.”

  Stewart shot Brody a hate-filled glare. “Take her and get out!”

  “Dad…”

  “Everything’s gonna be fine, Brody. Take Jamie to her mother, where she belongs.” Douglas held up his cell phone. “I’m making a call to the pilot, the second Jamie and Brody are out the door. Agreed?”

  “Do it.”

  Brody lifted Jamie’s trembling body into his arms and raced for the front door. During the exchange, Jamie had figured out something bad was happening, and her little body shook with fear. She buried her head into the crook of his neck, and he felt her warm tears against his skin. Throwing open the car door, he strapped her into the passenger seat, and ran around the car, sliding into the driver’s seat. With a last look inside, he pulled away, tires squealing.

  Jamie was safe. He’d left behind a disaster in the making, and he couldn’t help wonderful how they’d manage to disarm the situation, or if the only answer would be bloodshed.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  Beth lay beside Jamie. Her little girl slept after having been stuffed with waffles and whipped cream, and hugged by everyone within a five-mile radius. Now she was sleeping the sleep of the innocent. She’d loved being the center of attention, had chatted and preened as if nothing unusual happened, and fallen asleep almost the minute her head hit the pillow. Yet Beth couldn’t seem to tear herself from Jamie’s side. She hadn’t let her out of her sight from the moment Brody slid Jamie into her arms.

  She’d been furious with him, heck, with all the Boudreaus, for not allowing her to confront Evan. While mentally she knew everything had worked out for the best, and they were right to keep her away, she still would have liked putting a bullet between Evan’s eyes. On the bright side, he was back in custody, in solitary confinement, and he’d face enough charges to keep him there for the rest of his natural life. Couldn’t happen to a better guy.

  “How’s she doing?” Brody leaned against the doorjamb, a smile touching his lips. His tender expression as he watched Jamie snuggle deeper into the blankets was filled with the love he felt for her little girl. He’d displayed it in so many ways, not the least of which was today’s actions. There weren’t many men who’d risk everything to rescue her child. But then again, there weren’t many men like the Boudreau men.

  “She’s doing amazingly well, all things considered.” Beth tucked the covers around Jamie tighter. She couldn’t seem to stop touching her, making sure she was really here, and the nightmare was finally over.

  “Move,” she heard from the doorway, as Tessa shouldered her way past Brody. “Sis, you need to take a break. I’ll sit with Jamie. Go get something to eat. Take a walk. She’ll be here when you get back, I promise.” Tessa made a shooing motion as she spoke. She grabbed Beth’s hand and tugged her up, before taking her place on the bed.

  “Are you sure?”

  “I won’t let her out of my sight. I’m going to sit right here until you come back.” Tessa scooted up the bed until her back rested against the headboard. “Go, Jamie’s fine.”

  Beth looked at Brody, who’d stood silently during her exchange with her sister. Without a word, he held out his hand, palm up. Without hesitating, she slid hers into his, feeling the warmth of his touch. Together, they walked down the stairs, and she stopped at the bottom, and closed her eyes.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Opening her eyes, she smiled at Brody. “Nothing. For the first time in a long time, everything is right. Evan can’t hurt me or Jamie ever again. I’m…free.”

  “Beth, honey, can I fix you something to eat?” Ms. Patti’s voice sounded from the kitchen, causing Beth to smile. She couldn’t help but think about something her mother used to say. A true Southern woman fixes everything with food.

  “No thanks, Ms. Patti. I think I’m gonna take a walk, clear my head.”

  “Alright, but be careful, it’s dark out there.”

  “I’m going with her, Momma. She’ll be fine.” Brody gave her hand a squeeze when she tried to tug hers loose, and led her to the front door. Once on the front porch, she took a deep breath, feeling a sense of peace flood through her. She hadn’t realized the effect Evan had on her life, even when he wasn’t a daily part of it. Though they’d divorced after he went to prison, she’d never really believed he was truly out of her life for good.

  “What’s that smile for?”

  “I realized I’m free. Free from Evan and his hold over my life. I guess I never truly let go of the specter he’d cast over me from the day we met. I feel like a giant weight has been lifted, and he can’t touch me or Jamie ever again.”

  Releasing her hand, he cupped her face, tilti
ng it up until she met his gaze. “I’m glad. You deserve every happiness life has to offer. I wish…”

  “What?”

  “I wish I’d met you before Evan. Before any of this happened. That I could have saved you from everything he’s put you through. Seeing you smile—I can’t explain how it makes me feel to know you’re happy. I want to see you smile every day for the rest of your life.”

  “Brody, I—”

  He pressed a fingertip against her lips. “Shh…let me finish. We’re friends, Beth. I’ve felt a connection with you from the moment we met. Like an invisible thread, connecting us, pulling me closer and closer. It wasn’t like anything I’ve ever felt before, and I’ll be honest, I fought against that pull because you weren’t ready for anything more than friendship.”

  “I know.” Her heartbeat stuttered inside her chest. He’d used the F word—friends. Was friendship all he wanted from her, all he could offer? The thought of losing Brody, of him not being part of her life, was breaking her heart. But if friendship was all he offered, she’d take it, because she couldn’t imagine a day going by without talking to Brody. Not seeing him, knowing he’d be there for her—for Jamie—the thought was untenable.

  “It didn’t work. I can’t walk away from this, from us. Beth, I love you. I think I’ve been in love with you from the beginning, but I held back because life had already thrown so many obstacles in your path, I didn’t want to add one more if you didn’t feel the same. Everything changed though, when your ex escaped. The thought of him laying a finger on you? I’m not running from my feelings anymore. I love you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and Jamie, sharing everything. I can’t promise there won’t be bad times ahead, but I want to be there for the good, the bad, and everything in between.”

  “Brody, I love you, too! You’re right, there’s been something between us from the start. When Tessa introduced us, I felt something. It’s hard to put into words, because it felt real and overwhelming and inevitable and I wasn’t ready. Too much ugliness had colored my world up until then, and seeing your face, it felt like the sun was finally shining again. Honestly, it scared me. Then I got to know you. Every day, when I’d see you, you always had a ready smile and a willing heart. It felt right—good—to call you a friend, but that friendship has evolved. It’s grown into something so much more. Something I want to explore and share with you. I love you so much.”

  Brody pulled her against him, and Beth went on her tiptoes, twining her hands into his hair and pulled him close, pressing her lips against his. This, right here, right now, felt more right than anything ever had in her entire life. Being in Brody’s arms, feeling the rush of emotions swamping her at his kiss, knowing the love she’d harbored for him was returned, made everything in her world shift on its axis until her life was whole. With Brody, she had everything.

  The kiss deepened in a sweet battle, and Beth wished this moment could last forever. If she could freeze one moment in time, to preserve it, cherish it, and hold onto it forever, it would be this one, knowing she was safe and secure in the arms of the man she adored.

  Brody finally pulled back, and they were both out of breath. Beth looked at Brody’s face and started chuckling. At his quizzical look, her laughter deepened, until she clutched her sides. Brody’s smile grew at her hilarity, and she managed to finally stop laughing.

  “What’s so funny?”

  “You do realize we’ve said we love each other, and want to spend the rest of our lives together, and we haven’t even been on a single date?”

  The sound of several people snickering wafted through the open windows, and Beth looked at Brody, and they both broke into peals of laughter.

  “Guys, you’re killing my moment here,” Brody groused, though his voice was teasing.

  “Hey, the folks interrupted when I was telling Tessa I loved her. No reason it shouldn’t happen to you too.” Rafe opened the door and walked out onto the porch. “Congratulations, Beth. All I can say is, it’s about time you put the big jerk out of his misery.”

  “Bro, really, stop being a buzzkill.”

  “What? We caught the bad guy, saved the little damsel in distress, and you love the fairy princess. All-in-all, I think you’ve had a pretty good day. Now come inside before Momma has a stroke.” He leaned in and whispered, “Be thankful I kept her inside as long as I did, or you’d have never been able to talk.” With a wink, Rafe walked back inside.

  “We’ve got a lot to work through, but I know we can get through anything, as long as we do it together.”

  Beth placed her hand in his. “Together. I like the sound of that.”

  “You know, you’re a part of the Boudreau family and everything that goes along with you. You’ll never be alone again.”

  Thinking about the huge, loving family Brody was part of, and how they’d raised him and stood beside him, made her and Jamie feel welcomed as their own, there was only one answer.

  “I like the sound of that even better, Brody. Becoming a Boudreau—sounds perfect.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  EPILOGUE

  Ridge leaned against the railing of the back patio, listening to the laughter from the people gathered out back. He’d missed out on all the excitement, not making it back in time to search for Jamie. But everything turned out fine, and it looked like he was going to get a new sister-in-law soon, if the way Brody and Beth kept making goo-goo eyes at each other was any indication. His brothers were falling for Cupid’s arrow one by one. First Rafe, then Antonio, and now Brody. Shaking his head, he took a long drink from his bottle.

  “Hey, bro. Heard you had a bit of excitement down on the border.” Antonio walked over and perched on the porch railing. Ridge couldn’t remember the last time his brother looked so—content. While he’d been living and working in Dallas, they’d managed to catch up several times a year, mostly when a case took him to the city to testify in a trial. Antonio had become more and more disenchanted with big city life. Now, he’d moved back to Shiloh Springs, found the perfect woman, and worked for the FBI out of their Austin office. The commute was long, but if it made his brother happy—more power to him.

  “That bust was a long time coming. One point five million dollars’ worth of cocaine off the streets, and we captured two of the upper level distributors. All-in-all, a good haul.” He gestured with his drink toward Brody. “He looks happy.”

  “He is. Honestly, I’d been worried about him. When I first started working out of the Austin office, he seemed…withdrawn. Like the weight of the world sat on his shoulders. I knew something was up, but then I got dragged into the whole mess with Serena. By the time that got straightened out, he’d pretty much fallen for Beth. You know the rest.”

  “I know Stewart is back in Huntsville with a lifetime worth of charges against him. Think he’ll take a plea again?”

  “Chance is trying to see to it. He doesn’t want Beth or Jamie to have to deal with all the fallout of a trial. Even if Stewart pleads guilty, he’s looking at enough years added to his current sentence he’ll be behind bars without the possibility of parole for the rest of his life.” Antonio shook his head. “All because of money.”

  “Wonder why he couldn’t accept Tessa and Beth gave the money from the bond back to Crowley County? All it would have taken was on phone call by his attorney, and it would have been proven.” Ms. Patti motioned for them to come join the party, and he raised his bottle and nodded, letting her know they’d be there in a minute.

  “I wish I’d been here to help. Sound like things got hairy. Poor kid. At least Stewart was decent enough not to hurt his own daughter.”

  “Rafe said it got a little dicey when they arrested him. Dude had a gun, and Dad was sitting across from him. Course you know our brother, he let several of Williamson’s finest into the back of the Braum’s, and they covered his back. He snuck up on Stewart and had him on the ground hogtied before the idiot knew what hit him.”

  “Rafe thinks he’s Superman.” R
idge smiled, remembering back to a Halloween when Rafe had actually dressed up as his favorite character.

  “He’s a bit more careful now he’s got someone he loves in his life. Tessa’s been good for him.”

  “Serena’s been good for you too, bro.”

  Antonio grinned, leaning farther back on the railing. “I never thought I could feel this way. She’s—everything to me. Everything.”

  Another wave of laughter came from the patio, and he watched his father flipping steaks and burgers on the grill. People mingled, holding paper plates and cups, or seated around the patio on the couches and chairs spread about. Today was a celebration of life and happiness. Brody and Beth had announced they were getting married, and he was going to adopt Jamie. Teasing and congratulations spread like wildfire throughout the gathering as people wished them well. Ridge hoped they’d make it for the long haul. If he was a betting man, he’d wager they’d make it.

  Love and marriage? It wasn’t for him. He believed in it—he’d grown up with the perfect example of true love lasting though the years. Douglas and Ms. Patti epitomized what love and devotion meant in the truest sense of the word. They’d opened their hearts, their family and their home to others in desperate need of salvation, sown the seeds of kindness, and raised a family, himself included, who knew what that meant in every way that counted.

  But for him, the job came first. Before love. Before marriage.

  He’d seen far too many people’s lives destroyed by the onslaught of drugs crossing the border, to say nothing of the meth epidemic currently ravaging the nation. Besides, his job was dangerous, especially when he was undercover, which was more and more frequent these days. And it wouldn’t be fair to get involved with somebody, only to be gone for weeks or months at a time. He risked his life every day, behind the scenes, dealing with the lowest of the low, the dregs of humanity who should be scraped off the surface of the planet, as far as he was concerned.