DutyBoundARe

by Sidney Bristol

  A bell rang as the coffee shop door swung inward. She held her breath and glanced up, but the black couple entering had no resemblance to her very white brother. She bit her lip and watched people pass by the windows.

  What would her brother even look like?

  A tall man in a suit with a long coat thrown over his arm strode past the first window. The afternoon light glinted in his spiky blond hair. Her lungs burned with the strain of her repeatedly not breathing.

  The man stepped into the shop and paused.

  Even across the long café she could tell it was him.

  Lisette lifted her hand and waved. He grinned and nodded, striking off toward her.

  What do I do?

  Did she hug him? Say hi? Ask him if he wanted a drink?

  Her palms started to sweat as he rounded a partition and headed down her lonely aisle of tables.

  Oh, fuck it.

  Lisette pushed to her feet and slipped between the tables into the aisle. Lafayette tossed his coat down onto the neighboring table and folded her into a big hug. She wrapped her arms around his waist and breathed a sigh of relief, squeezing him back. A sense of rightness seeped into her. Maybe she’d been wrong all along and family wasn’t something she could replace by choice.

  “How is it you still haven’t grown an inch?” Only Lafayette could laugh as he spoke.

  “Hey, you’re the one that never stopped growing.” She let him go reluctantly.

  They studied each other for a moment. Lafayette had grown into a man when she wasn’t looking. He’d always been tall, but he seemed to have filled out. There was an inner light that shone through his eyes, and he never stopped smiling. Was this really the teen she’d left behind?

  “Wow,” she said after a moment.

  “I didn’t even know you were in New Orleans. Do Mom and Dad know?” he asked.

  “No.” She shook her head. “No, no one does. Please don’t tell anyone. I shouldn’t have even told you.”

  Lafayette frowned for a second. “Why not?”

  Lisette sank into her seat and gestured to one of the free chairs. “It’s a long story.”

  “I just wined and dined a group of Chinese businessmen for a whole day, which included a stop at a strip club with only the over-fifty dancers working. I think I’ve earned some leeway in what I do with the rest of my day. Tell me.” He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table, all his focus on her.

  What version of the truth did she tell him?

  “How much did Mom and Dad tell you about my break up with Seth?” And how much did she want to tell him?

  “Mom and Dad didn’t really tell me anything. Seth called and told me.”

  Her veins felt as if they filled with ice, freezing her from the inside out.

  Lafayette continued, unaware of her sudden panic. “Seth said you wanted him to do something to you he was morally opposed to, so you left him. I don’t really care one way or another if you’re with him or not. Clearly that’s Mom and Dad’s deal. It was just weird to me he called and tried to get me to be on his side. What are we? Middle school girls? You broke up. Grow some balls and move on, dude.”

  He picked up her coffee cup and took a big gulp. That was the brother she knew. She couldn’t even find it in her to be annoyed at him.

  He set the cup back down, his gaze sharper than before. “What happened to you? Was it Seth? Something else? I get having a round with Mom and Dad, I do it often enough, but you’ve never been this, I don’t know, distant before.”

  “I don’t know if I should tell you.” She glanced away and it seemed as if the shadows crawled with her hidden demons, the things that stalked her dreams.

  “Okay, you don’t have to. Look, I know I was an ass to you growing up, but if you need anything, I’m not Julie, or Mom and Dad. I’m Switzerland.”

  “Right.” She laughed. “Switzerland does not shoot cheese puffs at everyone.”

  “What a waste of food.” He shook his head.

  They smiled at each other, and for the first time a sense of familiarity linked them together. Was this what maturity and a few years did for them?

  The cheer fell away from him and a man stared back at her. “I’ve been worried about you. But I’m a shitty brother and never even called to check, even when I knew things had to be rough.”

  She reached across the table and grasped his hand. “It’s okay. It’s not like I’ve made it easy on you.”

  “What can you tell me? Are you working here? Visiting? What?”

  “Well, I’m visiting, just for a bit. I’m kind of between jobs right now. It’s been a year of limbo for me, for sure.”

  “Is this about Seth? Because I feel like since you guys split, it’s been different.”

  “It has been different. The stuff he told Mom and Dad…” Her cheeks heated at the memory of her mother’s admonishments through the phone after Seth’s little impromptu visit post-break up.

  “So you wanted to change it up in bed? I don’t see anything wrong with that. Not that I want to think of my sister doing anything in that Shades of Grey book. . .”

  Lisette sputtered and laughed. He had no idea. None at all. “Stop, seriously, stop.”

  “What? I’m just saying—”

  “I don’t even want to hear it.” She put her hand over her mouth and laughed.

  He grinned at her, but didn’t push it farther. “What are you up to today?”

  “Checking some email, hanging out for a little while before I go back to where I’m staying.”

  “Keeping it close to the vest still, hmm?”

  “Yeah.”

  “At least tell me if it’s something to do with your ex? Please?”

  She bit her lip. “Yes.”

  Lafayette blew out a breath and glanced away. “I knew there was something about that guy when we met him, but Mom and Dad loved him.”

  “Mom and Dad loved the idea of him. They didn’t really know him.” But for the first time in her life, they’d told her they were proud of her. Psychologically, she knew their approval factored into her determination to stay with him for as long as she did.

  “He did charm them. I’m glad he’s gone.” Lafayette’s phone rang. He glanced at the screen and rolled his eyes. “I guess I’m still on a short leash. I need to get back across town. What are you doing tomorrow? Want to have lunch? Or should I not ask that question?”

  Lisette knew he was kidding, but she still winced.

  “Hey.” He took her hand in his and squeezed. “What’s this?” He pushed the sleeve of her sweater up a little, exposing the long scar and dimple marks.

  “Nothing.” She pulled her arm out of his grasp and cradled it to her chest. Shame, fear and guilt mixed together in a toxic cocktail. She was a victim, but it was still her burden to carry.

  “Lissy…” Lafayette’s face creased with lines of worry. She could see the questions swimming in his gaze. Seth? Is this why? Are you okay?

  She took a deep breath and willed a smile on her face. “I’m okay now. Or at least I’m getting better.”

  The deep lines didn’t ease, but he did sit back in his chair.

  “I could do lunch tomorrow.” She pulled her sleeve back down and folded her hands in her lap.

  “Great. Same place?”

  “Sure.” She nodded.

  Some of the tension eased from his face. “It’s good to see you again.”

  She smiled and got to her feet, Lafayette following her lead and wrapped her in another tight hug. Meeting with her brother might not have been the most prudent thing to do when she was supposed to be in hiding, but she wouldn’t trade these moments for anything. She’d never had much of a relationship with her brother, but that was changing. She’d seen it happen in her clients, how they reconnected with their families and things were different. Better. Lisette had just never thought that would be her. The change might not include her sister or parents, but at least s
he had a brother again.

  Mathieu opened the apartment door and let Gator’s leash go. The pit bull scampered inside and took a sharp left, no doubt headed for the source of the delicious aroma. He stepped across the threshold and inhaled the scent of frying sausage.

  “Hey, I was wondering where you two were,” Lisette called. “Yes, you’re a good boy. I can’t pet you right now, though.”

  Mathieu hung his coat on a peg by the door and stepped into the narrow kitchen.

  Gator sat at Lisette’s feet, the leash strung out behind him. Mathieu paused to take in the domestic picture—his dog, his kitchen and the woman who couldn’t be his. She needed to go back to Miami, far away from her family. But she was so damn beautiful—her smile lit even the darkest corners of his life—that he didn’t want her to go.

  Meeting her family had rubbed him raw.

  Lisette glanced at him and smiled. There was something different. It wasn’t the clothes; he’d seen about every outfit change she had in that backpack. Her hair was up in a messy knot and she didn’t have any make-up on.

  “Come here, Gator.” He slapped his thigh and the dog reluctantly plodded over to him, even though Mathieu wasn’t the one with food. He removed the leash and hung it on a peg.

  “I’m making jambalaya. It should be ready in a few minutes. You’ve got perfect timing.” She continued to work her magic at the stove he’d practically ignored since moving in.

  Mathieu slipped into the narrow space behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. They were friends and play partners, not lovers, but he needed to touch and hold her.

  “Hey.” She twisted to smile up at him. Something about his expression must have broadcast his inner turmoil because her smile dimmed a little, though the inner light still shone through. He could see why people went to her with their problems. She saw straight through the shit to the root of the matter. “Rough day?”

  “Yeah.” His voice sounded as if someone had taken sandpaper to his vocal chords.

  She reduced the heat on the burner and turned in his arms, resting her head on his shoulder and hugging him in return. He couldn’t even tell her what had gotten under his skin. Between her family and digging into the café victim, he was ready to admit there was a very good possibility she was right. Seth was out there.

  He inhaled the scent of coffee that seemed to surround her lately, and even that was comforting.

  “Do you want to talk about it?” she asked.

  “No. I’d like to forget it.” He wouldn’t, but it was best to not broach his day with her. Not when she seemed so happy. “What did you do today?”

  “Took Gator out for a long walk, found a dog park that was completely unoccupied, so we played with a Frisbee.”

  “No wonder he loves you more than me.”

  Lisette tossed her head back and laughed. “Not true.”

  “He barely pays attention to me anymore.”

  “Oh stop that.” She looped her arms around his neck, the megawatt smile back in place.

  There was something about her, an intangible quality that words couldn’t capture, that stole his breath when she looked this way. Happy. Content. Something more. He wanted to hold her tight, claim some of that for himself, but she wasn’t his to keep.

  For now, he’d hold onto her. Just for a while longer.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” she asked.

  “I will be.”

  “I worry about you.”

  Him? He stared at her, muddling through the statement. She was the one with a psychopath hunting her down, not him.

  She reached up and ran her fingers across his cheek, up over his brow. “It’s like you carry the weight of the world on your shoulders. You know you can’t be responsible for everything, right? You’re one man.”

  “You mean work?”

  “Yeah.” She rested her hands against his chest. “You take the job home with you. I see it in the way you’re wound up when you get home. I don’t want you to get an ulcer or anything.”

  It was hard some days to let the job go. The things he saw, the lives destroyed and the cruel acts committed every day destroyed a little of his belief in humanity. There were fellow officers who were bitter and cynical. He hoped he never got to that point, that he never forgot the people they helped and the lives they saved, but it was hard. Especially when the system seemed to be fighting for the bad guys.

  He stroked her back and mustered a smile for her benefit. “You’re right.”

  His gaze dropped to her mouth, so ready to be kissed. If this were another time and maybe if they were different people, he’d press her up against the counter and take her. Kiss those lips until they swelled and she panted for breath.

  The grease in the pan popped several times and Gator yelped, scampering out of the kitchen. The momentary spell weaving them together broke and she spun toward the stove.

  “Oh puppy, did it get you?” Lisette pulled the pan off the burner, grasping the spatula to rescue the sausage from burning. “Check on him, will you? This’ll be done in a minute.”

  Mathieu retreated to the couch and sank down on the edge. Gator huddled on his bed, ears flat against his head.

  “Come here, boy. Did that grease get you?” He patted his leg and Gator belly crawled the few feet to him and rolled onto his back. Mathieu ran his palms over Gator’s smooth coat, rolling the dog over to check his head, face and snout for any hurt. “I don’t think it got you. You just aren’t used to anyone cooking, are ya?”

  Amanda had never been big on cooking, and Mathieu hadn’t picked it up. Before his ex-wife, he’d eaten most meals either with his old patrol partner or his family. He hadn’t needed to know more than how to cook a few basic things. He could very well get used to meals cooked at home.

  chapter Nine

  Play

  He glanced at the kitchen, but Lisette seemed busy. He padded into the bedroom and turned on a lamp, Gator shadowing his steps. Her backpack sat in the corner, the clothes folded and stacked neatly on the floor.

  Mathieu went through the zipper pouches on the bag, finding toiletries, odds and ends before he hit what he was looking for.

  The pictures.

  He pulled the photo printouts Amber had given him out of his pocket and held the two images up together. He flipped to the second picture, which showed the victim in the same left-facing pose as Lisette’s picture.

  The marks were similar.

  There was even a crook, as if Seth’s pinky fingers were crooked.

  It wasn’t hard evidence, but it was proof enough.

  “Food’s ready,” Lisette called out.

  He shoved the pictures back in her bag and zipped everything up. She didn’t need to know. Not yet.

  Mathieu stepped out of the bedroom, just in time to intercept his chef. Guilt wrapped around his throat. Did she know what he’d just done? What he was keeping from her? There was no reason for her to know, not yet. It would just worry her, and he wanted her to be at ease here. Where she was safe.

  “Here you go.” Lisette handed him a plate of jambalaya. “What do you want to drink? There’s beer, tea and water in the fridge.”

  A beer sounded nice, but playing with Lisette was an even more appealing dessert. He would never want to dull his senses with alcohol before playing, not when some of their activities were potentially harmful.

  “Some tea, if you don’t mind.”

  “Okay.” She turned and headed for the kitchen.

  “You know, I can get it myself.” He watched the way her hips swayed and caught a glimpse of the tattoo wrapping around her lower back between her shirt and jeans.

  “Oh please, it’s the least I can do to repay you for taking me in off the streets,” she called from the kitchen.

  He listened to her moving around in his home. Home. He’d never really considered the apartment home until she’d landed in his life. Would it still be home without her?

 
Lisette returned after a moment, two glasses of iced tea in her hand like a waitressing pro, and her dinner in the other. He helped her settle the things on the coffee table and shooed Gator away when he got too close to the steaming plates.

  “I didn’t forget you,” Lisette said to the dog. She produced a treat from her pocket and reached over Mathieu for Gator to gently take it from her fingertips and trot over to his bed to munch his prize in privacy. Or better yet, where he could find all the crumbs. “For a breed people claim is so vicious, he’s a big teddy bear.”

  “You should see him with kids. I took him to the family reunion last year and my cousin’s brood had him dressed up in doll clothes. It was embarrassing.” He scooped up his first bite of the jambalaya and inhaled the scent of spices and sausage. His stomach rumbled and mouth watered.

  “That sounds adorable.” Lisette settled in on the opposite side of the couch, cradling her plate.

  “Damn, this smells amazing. Did you make this from scratch?” He pushed the rice around, catching glimpses of shrimp, more sausage, something that looked like chicken. It was a hearty dish, to be sure.

  “Of course. My mamma taught me better than to make it from a box. What do you take me for?”

  Mathieu spooned a bite into his mouth and forgot how to speak. Spices bit his tongue and the flavor of the meat and vegetables washed over his palate. He couldn’t help but moan in ecstasy at the sheer perfectness of it.

  “Oh my god, you’re too much.” Lisette laughed, but he didn’t care.

  “Don’t tell grandmère I said this, but your jambalaya might be as good as hers.”

  She gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. “Don’t say that, she might put a voodoo spell on me.”

  Mathieu rolled his eyes, but her cheerfulness was helping to soothe his nerves. “You know better than that.” There were a lot of misconceptions about voodoo, thanks to the popularization of it in early horror movies that featured evil witches and perverted many of the inherently good practices.

  “I do, but still. Ask her to please not put a hex on me?” She giggled and he rolled his eyes again.