Bayou Sunset (Agents of HIS #4)

Chapter Twenty-Two

DAISY MAE STOOD frozen, her heart heavy with disbelief as she watched her boat—the lifeline of her business and the embodiment of their family legacy—vanish before her eyes in an instant. Behind her, she registered Duke's emptying of patrons.

Mario Xenos stopped beside her . “Mon Dieu!”

In a fleeting, frozen moment, she bolted down the dock, her name echoing behind her, yet its meaning eluding her grasp. The dock had to be evacuated quickly to prevent the fire from spreading further. Luckily, there were no boats near hers that the explosion should significantly impact, but they would take no chances.

Chaos and panic took over as boat captains frantically worked to launch their vessels while other residents and crew joined forces to help extinguish the raging flames. The volunteer fire department’s response time was not ideal, leaving the task of rescuing the wooden dock in their hands. If fortune favored her, she might be able to rescue a portion of her boat and personal belongings.

After enduring hours of strenuous, gritty labor, a sense of controlled chaos gradually gave way to order. Through the collective effort, they managed to preserve most of the dock—enough to allow the boats to return despite being positioned closer to each other than before. Regrettably, her boat had not been rescued. A handful of her possessions had drifted in the water before a compassionate fisherman retrieved them for her.

Daisy Mae was consumed by her overwhelming sorrow when suddenly, she was enveloped in the reassuring embrace of solid and supportive arms. His intoxicating scent and the lingering smokey aroma enveloped her senses as she embraced him, longing for the morning when she hadn’t left his side.

Now, faced with the dilemma, she pondered her options. The insurance companies in these parts had a reputation for underpaying the value of a boat, leaving her uncertain if she would receive enough to purchase a replacement. She had set aside a substantial amount of money from her savings, allowing her to make a sizable down payment. However, she was hesitant to take out a new loan. Her parents had fully paid off her boat, which had been their last gift to her.

Tears streamed down her sooty face. Things didn't get any more real than this. Although, the gunshots had been pretty real. Despite her efforts to maintain her strength and self-sufficiency, the destruction of her boat was a setback she found exceedingly challenging to bear.

“You,” Mario said beside her, anger in his voice.

Daisy Mae gently disengaged from Steve’s embrace and pivoted to face her adversary. Anticipating his potential outburst, she preempted him, saying, “Don’t start today, Mario. I no be in the mood.”

“It be ya fault we lose da dock.”

The situation had reached its breaking point. It was unquestionably not her fault. An asshole had callously destroyed her boat. Fuming with anger she hadn’t felt in ages, she let her fury loose on Mario. With a finger jabbing into his massive chest, she seethed, “I said don't start. I no blow up me bateau , ya— ya couyon . Ya be a suspect as far as I be concerned.” She turned to Steve. “Can't ya detain him or something?”

Steve stood with a firm and composed posture. His arms confidently crossed over his chest as he observed the show. What was wrong with men? Wasn't he supposed to support and protect her? Isn't that what couples did? Well, they weren't a couple, just lovers—actually, a one-night stand.

“ Moi ?” Mario asked, looking between her and Steve. “I no do anyting wrong.” He pointed at Daisy Mae. “She be stubborn as a goat.”

With a surge of frustration, she drew her arm back, preparing to unleash a decisive blow to Mario’s jaw. However, before her fist could make contact, someone swiftly intercepted, gripping her arm and arresting its forward trajectory. Damn, Steve. Now, he interferes.

“That be enough,” Steve said, holding her arm, “both of ya.”

“ Mais , he—”

“I know what he said, sweetheart.”

Before she could respond to either his siding with Mario or calling her sweetheart, his buddies stepped forward.

“Introduce us, Daisy Mae,” Rob said with Ash at his side.

Daisy Mae shot a piercing glare at the man. Was he serious about going for formality after someone blew up her boat while her rival pilot’s boat miraculously survived? Enough was enough. “Introduce yourself. I be done with dat couyon .” She walked away. Let them figure it out. She was going to talk to Alice.

Alice had diligently collected statements from witnesses until she could sit down with Daisy Mae and delve into the details of what had transpired over a casual drink at Duke’s, and that time had finally arrived. Daisy Mae had had enough of men for the day.

Someone grabbed her arm and pulled her to a stop, and without looking back, she knew it was Steve.

“Daisy Mae,” Steve said, “stop. I be wanting to talk wit you.”

Not wanting to deny the stupid man anything, she halted and turned. “ Oui ?” What would be so profound now? He wouldn't hold Mario or interrogate him. What good was he?

As her cheeks warmed with embarrassment, she couldn’t help but think back to the events of the previous evening and what he was capable of.

“If ya calm down—”

Those were the wrong words to say to a woman, especially now. “Calm down? Calm down? I show ya calm down.” As she swiftly pivoted away from him, she entered Duke’s. Inside, she spotted Alice at a table, where two frosted beers glistened in the dim light. She joined her friend at the table with a quick stride, ready to unwind after a terrible morning. When Steve approached the table, she held up a hand to stop him, “ Non . This be me interview wit the police. I no need ya here.”

Hesitantly, as if suddenly comprehending his mistake, he uttered, “Okay, but I be here when ya finish. We not be done by a long shot, Daisy Mae.”

The intensity of their relationship was overwhelming her. She felt the need to take some time to unwind and reflect on the current state of her life.

“Here.” Alice pushed a cold glass of beer. “Drink up. It sounds like ya be needing it.”

Did she ever! “ Merci .” After taking a long drink of the brew, she sat the glass down, condensation slipping down her fingers. “I did need dat.”

“I sure be sorry about ya bateau .” Alice flipped open the small notepad on the table.

Daisy Mae often marveled at how Alice could fit all her notes in such a small notebook, but it was standard issue for the sheriff’s department, and her friend had become accustomed to its compact size. “It no be ya fault.”

“ Mais ,” Alice said, “let's see if we can find out who be at fault.”

“ Oui . What do ya have?” Daisy Mae eagerly anticipated that Alice’s inquiries to others had unearthed profound insights.

“I be sorry to say—nothing.”

“Nothing? How could ya be having nothing?” Daisy Mae’s fury was unleashed. “We have Mario, and if dat not be enough, Antoine still thinks me frères stole his map. One of dem had to have done it. And Mario be right here. He coulda set off an explosion and ensured his bateau be safe.” Wasn't it coincidental that his boat was parked further from hers than usual? Hmm.

“Daisy Mae,” Alice said calmly, “I not be done investigating. I got nothing from anyone out dere today. I plan to speak wit Mario, Antoinne, and everyone else I can. The sheriff no be happy about having something explode in his parish, especially after shots were fired at that same bateau . I be pressed to solve it fast.”

“What about ya other cases? Ya be having a big load already.” Daisy Mae rubbed her finger over the rim of her glass, trying to comprehend it all.

“The sheriff give dem to someone else. Now, I be completely devoted to dis case.”

With the help of her friend and Steve’s friends, she anticipated that this “situation” would be resolved quickly, allowing her to move on and search for another boat. Left with no other concerns, she was left to ponder the intricacies of her relationship with Steve and question whether it existed, as this would determine her future course of action after dealing with the insurance company.

She was so in love with him that she would happily uproot her life and move to Baltimore if he requested, even though he clearly needed to learn how to communicate with a woman when he was upset. That made her smile. The poor man had looked horrified when he'd realized his mistake. There was some hope for him after all.