Bayou Sunset (Agents of HIS #4)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

ROMEO AWOKE SLOWLY, feeling groggy and disoriented. He rolled over in bed, struggling to open his heavy eyelids. Surprised by how deeply he had slept, he couldn’t shake off the sensation of drowsiness that clung to him.

He quickly became aware that something was not quite right. He had never experienced such a deep slumber during an assignment before. His eyes popped open. Daisy Mae! Even without calling her, he knew that he was by himself.

He found himself waking up alone in a confused state. Realizing that he was fully clothed and not under the covers as he had expected, he suspected that she must have drugged him. The tea. She hadn’t consumed any of it, and it had a bitter taste that he’d refrained from mentioning. How had he missed it?

As he eased himself off the bed, he heard the front door creak swinging open. Processing the situation, conflicting emotions swirled in his mind. On one hand, he was consumed by anger at her for drugging him and putting herself at risk by leaving. On the other hand, he felt relieved that she had returned unharmed.

As he hastily approached the bedroom door, it swung open, revealing Casper. Dressed entirely in black, his concerned expression was visible in the dimly lit room.

“Thank ya,” Romeo said before Casper could speak.

The agent nodded, turned, and walked back into the living room.

As Romeo stood there, bracing himself for the impending confrontation, he couldn’t shake off his uncertainty about handling the situation. The clenching knots in his gut wouldn’t allow him to forget the fact that she had not only drugged him but also made the reckless decision to venture off alone, fully aware of the potential danger to her safety.

As he made his way into the living room, he spotted Daisy Mae settled in an armchair, her arms tightly crossed, shooting an evil glare in Casper’s direction. The agent must’ve intervened just in time to prevent her from causing trouble.

Romeo glanced around and noticed Daisy Mae abruptly standing up from her seat. Rather than confronting him about assigning Casper to watch over her, she handled the situation differently, completely throwing him off.

She rushed to him. “I be so sorry, Steve. Ya be okay?”

He peered at her through narrowed eyes, trying to discern the meaning behind her words. Unsure of what she was trying to convey, he hesitated momentarily before giving a simple nod. Was she genuinely showing concern or simply using flattery to gain his support in the impending debate about her protection detail?

Her worry was palpable as she wrung her hands, emphasizing her distress. “I didn’t mean to do it, but ya left me no choice,” she confessed with a quiver in her voice.

He knew that wasn’t the least bit true, but he only raised an eyebrow in response. “Really now?”

“It be Mario, and it feels like no one listens to me. Can’t ya see? I had to prove it all by myself.” She turned to Casper and pointed a finger accusingly. “And den he stopped me.”

“I saved your ass,” Casper replied firmly as he wearily dropped onto the couch and ran a hand over his tired face. “You’re extremely fortunate that I intervened before Mario had a chance to confront you.”

She put her hands on her hips. “I coulda handled myself.”

Romeo bellowed, “Enough!” His voice was unexpectedly loud, but the frustration just poured out of him. He looked at Daisy Mae. “Sit,” he directed.

Shock etched on Daisy Mae’s face, she hurried to claim the empty armchair.

Casper attempted to leave, but Romeo halted him. “Stay,” Romeo insisted, and Casper acquiesced with a nod.

“What the hell happened tonight?”

As Daisy Mae started to speak, Romeo interrupted her abruptly. “Ya already admitted to drugging me and leaving. I want to hear from Casper,” he demanded.

Daisy Mae huffed in frustration and crossed her arms, displaying a petulant and childish demeanor.

Casper began, “I watched the house and saw her sneak out. Unsure of what was happening, I followed her.”

“And ya had no concern for me? That she’d been able to leave alone?”

The agent casually nonchalantly lifted his shoulders. “I considered it more crucial to keep tabs on her, as I was certain she had no intention of causing you any harm.”

As Romeo turned over those profound words in his mind, he couldn’t help but acknowledge their undeniable truth. It also struck him that the course of action described was exactly what he would have chosen in that situation.

“Anyhow, she went to Mario’s boat.”

“And ya just let her?” Romeo asked.

“Well, yeah. I wanted to see what she was up to.”

Romeo heaved a heavy sigh as he contemplated the peril Daisy Mae could have faced if someone had planted explosives on Mario’s boat. Despite the looming danger, he left it and said, “Go on.”

“After arriving at the pier, I saw Mario leaving the bar, so I confronted Daisy Mae.”

“Scared the bejesus out of me was more like it,” she huffed.

“We hid. Mario passed out. We left. And here we are.”

Romeo suddenly realized that Casper had left out a few details, but after grasping the situation’s essence, he decided to press on.

“Why?” he asked Daisy Mae. “I told ya we be investigating. Ya no need to do it.”

“’Cause no one listens to me. It be Mario.”

Romeo's voice reverberated through the room as he emphatically stated, “ Non , it's not. We cleared Mario. He not be the threat we're here to find.”

Daisy Mae's eyes widened with fervor as she leaped up from her chair, her voice filled with certainty as she declared, “Yes, he be! I know it!”

Romeo's gaze was unwavering as he pointed to the chair. “Sit.”

After Daisy Mae took her seat, Romeo crossed his arms over his chest and gestured toward Casper, indicating that he should be the one to speak. “Tell her,” Romeo urged, his eyes fixed on Casper, awaiting his response.

Casper cleared his throat and addressed the situation with precision. “Firstly, Mario has solid alibis for the time when your house was ransacked. Secondly, we thoroughly searched his place and found no trace of any explosives. Lastly, it’s evident that trouble seems to be following both you and your brothers, which indicates the culprits’ interest isn’t specifically focused on you.”

“Ya searched his place and didn’t tell me?” Daisy Mae asked, her voice filled with hurt and disbelief.

Romeo nodded solemnly. “I planned to sit down with ya after dinner and reveal everything.”

Daisy Mae winced. She’d been the one to ruin that plan. “Then who it be?”

Romeo took a seat in the open armchair. “We no be sure. Yet. But we have eliminated Mario. That be a step in the right direction.”

Casper chimed in. “We’re still investigating the treasure hunter and other potentials.”

Cocking her head in question, Daisy Mae asked, “What other potentials?”

Romeo knew they would need to disclose it at some juncture. With that in mind, the present moment seemed as opportune as any for the revelation. “Local ones.”

Daisy Mae shook her head. “No one local would blow up me bateau .”

“Are ya willing to bet ya life on that?” Romeo asked.

She opened her mouth to say something but closed it. After thinking for a moment, she said, “ Non. ”

Finally, they would have her follow their every command, ensuring she remained under their constant protection, right where she belonged. Romeo’s anxiety spiked at the mere thought of something happening to her. He was immensely grateful that Casper had been on duty that evening; otherwise, he might have lost her, which he found utterly unacceptable.

He wished he could whisk her away now and remove her from the danger, but he knew she wouldn’t leave her brothers in danger.

“Why do ya not have protection on me frères?”

Casper and Romeo looked at each other. Romeo decided it must be him who spoke. “Because they be part of the ‘local ones’ we be investigating.”