Bayou Sunset (Agents of HIS #4)

Chapter Five

LATER THAT EVENING, Brad Hamilton, taking the time to inquire, spoke to Romeo on the phone and asked, “How is your dad doing?”

Romeo felt a surge of fear as he imagined his father dying on the operating table. “He be better.” Anything was better than dead. Thank goodness he'd been rushed to the hospital in time.

“How long do you need?”

Thinking of what his dad had said about his mom and Daisy Mae, he had no fucking idea. “I have no ETA.”

“Not a problem. Bravo Team is due a break. Jake and Alpha Team are spinning up for a new op now,” Brad informed him.

Romeo, Bravo Team’s second in command, was hopeful that the scheduled time off was not due to any shortcomings on his part. Considering the team’s recent busy schedule, everyone seemed to be looking forward to the well-deserved break. “ Merci, cher .”

“No problem.”

With Romeo’s thoughts on HIS, he asked, “How did da interrogation end? Did Bernie spill his guts?”

Brad cleared his throat, signaling that he was about to give a non-answer. “Don’t worry about things here,” he reassured Romeo, his tone steady. “We've got things covered.” With that, he ended the call, leaving Romeo with a sense of lingering curiosity, yet no opportunity to press for further details.

Romeo stared at his cell as if it held the answer to his other concern: How would he discover what was going on to alleviate his dad's worries?

There seemed to be no way around it. He would have to visit the twins. Not that it was a bad idea. He had drifted apart from them after he left for college. Pierre had accused him of being too uppity to spend time with backwoods folk, which was why he didn’t come home. If only Pierre knew the truth.

He checked the time and decided that a late dinner at Duke's was in order. He grabbed his wallet, his dad’s truck keys, and backup weapon–tucking it in the ankle holster–and headed out. He desired to carry his primary gun but didn't need to bring attention to it or him. Even though Louisiana was a reciprocal state, Maryland didn't have an agreement with them, so Louisiana wouldn't honor his permit to conceal carry. He didn't consider the backup weapon a problem. It was out of sight and would hopefully go unnoticed. If not, he'd call Brad to bail him out of jail.

Driving through town, if one could call it that, with the sparse buildings, memories ran through his mind. He and the twins, especially he and Pierre, had done things that embarrassed him now. They'd been basically juvenile delinquents. Not completely jail-worthy, but a time or two, they'd hit dark gray areas. Like when they TP'd the English teacher's home. She never approved of their Cajun French. But that was what they'd learned since birth.

Romeo had almost lost his Cajun French language skills after attending college, yet he still unconsciously used a few words, especially when he returned home.

Pulling into Duke's dirt parking lot, Romeo smiled. He recalled the numerous attempts he and the twins tried to use fake IDs here to get served, but they never worked. It had been foolish to try repeatedly with different IDs.

Now, the twins owned the place. How apropos.

Romeo pulled down his ball cap, opened the door of his father’s truck, and exited. He wondered if he'd run into Daisy Mae inside. His gut clenched at the thought. Boy, was she pissed at him. Why exactly? He wasn't sure. It wasn't like he dated her and walked away. He'd never have done that to her, of all people. But was it still because he wouldn’t take her with him when he’d left? Or that he wouldn’t take her before he left? What should I do now?

He didn't want to contemplate that now. As his dad worried, he needed to find out what the hell was going on and if Daisy Mae was really in trouble.

Entering the bar, Romeo slowly scanned the space, left to right. It certainly hadn't changed much. Peanuts were still on the ground, and there was a fabulous view over the water.

“ Bonsoir, cher !” JP shouted from behind the bar.

Smiling, Romeo walked forward to shake his friend's hand. He looked around for Pierre and saw him sitting at the end of the bar.

“ Bonsoir . I hear congratulations be in order,” Romeo told JP as they shook hands. “I heard you deux bought this pub.”

“It coulda been da trois of us,” Pierre grumpily said from a barstool.

Romeo moved to a seat beside his old best friend. “Now, I know better than dat, Pierre. Ya deux always had plans to buy dis place so ya could get a drink anytime ya wanted.”

“And ya always had plans to leave dis place,” Pierre spat out.

So, it was like that. “Ya knew I wanted to be FBI, mon ami .”

Pierre leisurely took a sip from the tall, frosty beer glass before him. Meanwhile, Romeo caught the attention of JP, who was tending the bar, as he motioned for a drink for himself.

“So,” Romeo said once he sipped the homebrew, “what's been happening?”

“ Beaucoup ,” Pierre said curtly.

Romeo wanted to smack Pierre and his snappishness. “Do we need to go a few rounds and work dis out, Pierre? Ya know I can still take ya.”

“Maybe we should,” Pierre responded.

JP turned to his brother. “ Mon frère , git over it. Steve left, but he be here now. Let's take him ta help tomorrow.”

Pierre shook his head. “ Non . No fucking way, cher .”

Intrigued, Romeo asked casually, “Take me where? I be bored. I can go.”

“ Mais non ,” Pierre repeated vehemently.

Romeo turned to Pierre. “As your frerè said, get da fuck over it. I be here now. Can't we make da best of it?”

“You be leaving ’gain.” Pierre drank and slammed down his empty glass.

“ Mais oui . I have a job in Maryland.”

“Dat’s it,” Pierre said, pulling back his shoulders and thrusting his thumb to point to the door. “Outside.”

Great. Romeo hadn’t found himself in a raucous bar brawl since Grits dragged them into trouble down in Mexico. Reflecting on the adrenaline-fueled and perilous altercation, Romeo couldn’t help but shake his head, hoping fervently that he wouldn’t have to repeat that chaotic night.

Romeo downed the last of his beer, the bitter taste lingering on his tongue as he pushed the empty glass away. “Let’s do it,” he declared with a grim determination, his fists clenched with a strong desire to punch Pierre in the jaw. He led the way toward the front door and into the dark, nearly empty parking lot.

As Romeo pivoted, JP threw a forceful punch that landed squarely on his jaw. Agonizing pain surged through the side of Romeo’s face. Son of a bitch.

Rubbing his jaw and acting like it hadn't hurt like a punch from a pro, Romeo said, “Is dat all ya got?”

Pierre's face reddened, and he took another swing at Romeo. This time, Romeo was prepared and easily side-stepped the punch. In return, he jabbed Pierre in the gut.

When his friend doubled over in pain, clenching his stomach, Romeo asked, “Enough?”

With a menacing growl, Pierre lunged forward, leading with his head and landing a solid blow to Romeo’s gut. The impact knocked the wind out of Romeo, sending both crashing to the ground. Reacting swiftly, Romeo pushed Pierre off him and scrambled to his feet before Pierre could regain his bearings. They eyed each other warily, circling as tension hung heavy in the air.

“What da fuck be your problem? Why can't ya act like a grown-up and get over shit?” Romeo asked.

“Ya broke her heart,” Pierre spat.

Confused at that statement, Romeo asked, “Whose heart?”

“Ya know, couyon . She loved ya, and ya ignored her, then left when she be old enough to date.”

Was he talking about Daisy Mae? Surely not. Pierre would never have approved. “Shelly and I had nothing in common. It was just Prom.”

Pierre rushed in with a gut punch, and Romeo stepped back. Pierre lost his balance and almost fell. It allowed Romeo to encircle Pierre's neck from behind.

Holding the man tight around the neck and his left arm behind his back, Romeo asked in a low voice, meant for only Pierre. “What da fuck you be ranting on about?”

“ Deyzee Mè ,” Pierre grunted out.

“Dude, she be ya sister. You always told me she be off-limits.”

“Well, ya shoulda asked.”

“Look, I'm not going to fight you over ya sister. She be a grown woman, and I be a grown man. If we hit it off, bien . Suppose we don't, bien . It no longer be ya concern.” Romeo released Pierre and pushed the man forward.

“ Mon Dieu! ” Romeo said, “Can we start over?”

Pierre hesitated, rubbing his neck before finally extending his hand. “Welcome home, mon ami .”

Unsure if it was a trick, Romeo narrowed his eyes and watched Pierre as they shook hands. “Glad to be back. Can we return inside and have a cold one if we be done?” Romeo dusted the dirt off his clothing from the tumble to the ground.

Instantly changed, as only Pierre could do, his friend smiled. “It be on me.” Pierre confidently guided the group back inside to where JP waited, accompanied by a small crowd of eager spectators who had gathered to witness the fight.

Romeo stood for a moment, absorbing what Pierre had said. She'd loved him. Could that have been true? Sure, she’d said as much before he left, but he figured she was trying to get him to take her with him. Besides, she’d been sixteen. What had she known about love?

It probably wouldn't have worked. Not with the life he'd led. Lots of undercover operations with the FBI and lots of missions with HIS. She'd have hated being home alone.

His mind wondered. What about now? Did she still love him? Did he love her? Then he mentally shook his head. What did it matter? He was here for his mom and dad. And right now, his dad needed him to keep an eye on the twins and Daisy Mae, and that's what he'd do.

Once they sat at the bar again, JP set three beer glasses before them. He raised his glass. “May ya live all da days of ya life.”

They raised their glasses and drank deeply.

“ Mais oui ,” Pierre said, “we could use ya help.”

And like that, it was like he’d never left.