by Donna Grant
“It was a warning,” Christian said.
“One my mother heeded in her own way. She stopped being so blatant about helping those who had been cursed, and took over the restaurant. Delia and I forgot all about the spells being practiced in our kitchen and became like every other little girl.”
Davena took another long drink, coughing as it made her eyes water with the burn. She blinked away the moisture and tried not to stare at Beau. Still, he drew her gaze like a horse to water. She didn’t know what it was, but she had to know him. It felt like...destiny. Fate even.
Abruptly, Beau walked to her and took the now empty glass as he sat on the coffee table. She was caught in his magnetic blue gaze. He asked, “Then what happened?”
“For thirteen years, nothing. We knew our mother would occasionally help someone by meeting them at the back of the restaurant, but she kept that very hush-hush. Delia had graduated a few months before, and I had just started my senior year. Mom began to act strangely, telling us to make sure no one was following us. I knew something was going to happen.”
He set the glass beside him, never taking his eyes from her. “How?”
“A feeling. It began simply as a niggling that I promptly forgot. Every day it grew worse until it was knotted in my stomach. Mom thought someone had hexed me. She made me and Delia a mojo bag to carry around for protection.”
“It wasn’t a hex.”
She shook her head. “Delphine is known all around New Orleans. I’d seen her multiple times, and knew she was someone not to be messed with. That night, before Mom was killed, I knew it was Delphine who would show up.”
“Did you and Delia try to stop Delphine then?” Ava asked.
Davena couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled forth. She covered her mouth and briefly closed her eyes before she gave a quick shake of her head. “No. Our mother taught us a few things for safety, but she told us not to get involved with any of it. I didn’t, but I didn’t know Delia had been following her for years and memorizing spells.”
Beau took her right hand and spread her fingers. His gaze dropped to her mouth before his eyes lowered to her palm. “You got this that night.”
“Mom tried to counter Delphine, but Delphine was too powerful.”
The memories of that night mixed with recent ones, and she shivered at how similar her mother and sister acted as the fire consumed them. It was Beau’s thumb slowly rubbing circles on her palm that slowed her breathing. She was transfixed, watching his thumb stroke over the burned portion of her palm to the normal skin. When she dared to look at him, she was struck by a blatant, deliberate desire.
Davena swallowed, her heart racing for an entirely new reason now.
“How did you get out?” Christian asked.
His words shattered the daze she was in, and she looked away, only to have her gaze skate right back to Beau. “The house began to burn with the unholy fire Delphine caused. Our mother knew something could attack at the house, so she dug a tunnel that led underground from her bedroom to the drainage ditch nearby. I grabbed the door that hid the tunnel, forgetting the metal handle would be hot.”
“But you got out,” Vincent said. “That in itself is a miracle.”
“You should’ve gone to the authorities.”
The new voice had every head turning to the doorway where Davena saw Deputy Ducet standing with his hat in his hands.
“You’ve overstepped, man,” Christian said as he started toward Marshall.
Vincent interceded and stepped between the two. He put a hand to Christian’s chest before he faced the deputy. “I agree with my brother. The polite thing to have done would’ve been to knock.”
“I did,” Marshall said and shifted his weight to his other foot. His eyes landed on Davena. “I was one of the officers who scoured your house for remains. We all thought you were dead.”
She remained where she was because Beau still held her hand. His gaze urged her to stay as she was, to trust him. He had promised she was safe there, and for some reason she believed him.
“State your business, deputy,” Beau said.
Marshall licked his lips. “Miss Arcineaux, your sister has been taken to the county morgue. I didn’t think you wanted any more attention on this, so her death has been ruled an accident.”
“How did you pull that off?” Lincoln asked.
Marshall turned his cowboy hat around in his hands. “The sheriff has been ready to retire for three years, and the other deputies are either so new they don’t know their ass from a hole in the ground, or so old they don’t give a shit anymore. With my time in New Orleans, they take my word for things. Not to mention, as soon as I mentioned the Chiasson name, they forgot all about it.”
Olivia harrumphed. “I don’t know whether to be grateful or angry that we have such men patrolling the streets.”
“Sweetheart, why do you think we hunt?” Vin asked with a wink that made Olivia grin.
Ava stood and smiled at Marshall. “I’m sure you could use a cup of coffee, deputy. Let’s give Davena a few minutes.”
Davena smiled appreciatively at Ava as everyone filed out of the room. Everyone, that is, except for Beau. Now that they were alone, she had a hard time keeping eye contact.
“Do you want to be alone?” he asked.
“No,” she answered quickly. Then she met his gaze and said in a steady voice, “No.”
“You are safe here. This house is warded, blessed, and spelled. Nothing can come in.”
“Our house was the same, and Delphine didn’t have to come inside to kill my mother.”
Beau sighed and looked down at her scar. He ran his thumb along the scar again. “We’ve had a recent dealing with Delphine. We’ll figure this out.”
“What you should do is throw me out and forget you ever knew me. If not, she’ll come for you.”
“Let her.”
Davena’s stomach fluttered as if a thousand butterflies had taken flight. Before her sat the man she had intended to come here and see that night. Nothing had gone as planned, and yet somehow, she still ended up in his arms. But she wanted more.
Her eyes lowered to his wide lips. She had watched her sister die, and knew that Delphine would be coming for her soon. No longer would fear hold her back. If she didn’t take what was before her, she would die without ever knowing the feel of Beau’s lips on hers.
Davena leaned forward and took her free hand to rest it on his cheek. His brilliant blue eyes darkened as desire flared. It was the boost to her courage that she needed. Her fingers trailed along his jawline to lips that were as soft as velvet.
“I was going to come here tonight,” she confessed with a little smile. “I don’t know what I would’ve said or how I would have gotten your interest.”
“You’ve always had my interest.”
The truth shone in his eyes. Davena slid her fingers into the hair at his temples and then down the strands that ended at his chin. “I don’t know what tomorrow holds, and right now I don’t care.”
Before she could think twice about it, she leaned forward and gently placed her lips on his. She began to pull back, only to have him roughly haul her against his chest. Her arms wound around his neck for balance as she ended up fully in his lap. His gaze met hers for an instant before his lips took hers. He captured, he seized.
He claimed.
And Davena gloried in every wonderful moment of it.
His hands splayed on her back, holding her firmly against him while his head titled to the side. His kiss was electric. Then he changed everything by deepening the kiss, a moan rumbling from his chest as she eagerly opened for him.
Davena had never experienced anything so thrilling, so stirring. She felt alive for the first time in six years. The world and all her problems melted away. She let her hands roam over his thick shoulders, marveling at the strength she felt beneath her palms. His thin, black shirt only accentuated his finely honed body.
Desire, thick and needy, blossomed within her.
It tightened low in her belly, as the kiss grew fiery and frantic. A wordless, urgent hunger had taken both of them, refusing to let go.
Her breath stopped when he caressed her back, his hands stopping at her side with his thumb grazing the bottom of her breast. He ended the kiss and looked at her with those incredible blue eyes of his.
Then he cupped her breast and ran his thumb over her nipple.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Beau was focused on the woman in his arms. It might have been Davena that kissed him, but there was no turning back for him now. He’d had a taste of her, and he had to have more. Her spring green eyes were dilated as she stared at him. Her lips were parted and wet from their kisses. Her breathing ragged, her pulse jumping wilding at the base of her throat.
The feel of her nipple beneath his palm through her shirt and bra about did him in. It was all he could do not to toss her on the couch and rip her clothes from her body before he thrust inside her.
He had felt desire before, but nothing came close to the all-consuming craving that burned within him for Davena. There was nothing that could pull him away from her, nothing that could make him release her.
Nothing that could ever wipe out the taste of her kiss.
Beau massaged her breast, his balls tightening when a soft moan fell from her lips. It was wrong for a woman to be so beautiful and tempting. How was he expected to string together rational thoughts? He was only a man, after all.
He was so engrossed with Davena that he almost didn’t hear the squeak in the wood floors as someone approached. Here he was, sitting with her across his lap stealing kisses and touches like he was still in high school.
There was no time for an explanation. Beau quickly set her back on the couch and jumped up to stand in front of the hearth. He kept his back to the door so no one would see his arousal.
“Marshall is leaving,” Vincent said from the door.
When Davena didn’t respond, Beau glanced at his brother over his shoulder. “You filled him in then?”
“On us?” Vin asked. “Of course. We’ve always kept the local law enforcement apprised of what we do, you know that.”
Beau knew a lot of things, but he couldn’t seem to make his brain function correctly. “Right.”
“Is everything all right?” Vin asked suspiciously.
“It’s fine,” Beau and Davena said in unison.
Vincent snorted loudly. “Right. That was convincing.”
Beau let out a sigh when Vincent walked away. He turned to Davena. Even now it was difficult to keep his distance.
“The animals,” she suddenly said. Her face filled with distress. “I’ve got to stay with them. One dog was in surgery. I can’t believe I forgot about them.”
A problem. Beau was good at solving problems. Plus, it gave him something to focus on rather than Davena and the need clawing at him. “I’ll take care of it.”
He started for the door when she rose and walked with him into the foyer were Marshall stood with the rest of the family. The sheriff’s deputy turned his attention to them.
“I left New Orleans because most of the cops turned a blind eye to Delphine,” Marshall told Davena. “The other half was paid off as only someone like Delphine could do. The few of us who wanted to do honest work couldn’t. Like with what happened to your mother.”
Davena crossed her arms over her chest. “One man can’t expect to change a city.”
“I came here expecting it to be different.” Marshall looked around and smiled ruefully. “I guess it is. I never knew there were those like the Chiassons around.”
Christian smiled crookedly. “Do you remember any LaRue’s in New Orleans?”
Marshall’s lips flatted. “Yes. Why?”
“They’re our cousins,” Lincoln said. “And they do what we do.”
“Then they need to do a better job of it,” Marshall said. He put his hat on and nodded to the women. “Good night all.”
Beau waited until the door closed behind the deputy before he said, “I’m heading out too.”
There was a lengthy stretch of silence as every eye turned to him. Finally, it was Lincoln who asked, “Why?”
“I need to go to the animal clinic. Davena was supposed to stay there all night and watch over the animals. She’s not leaving the house.”
Vincent widened his stance and looked from Davena to Beau. “This is the safest place for Davena. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be out there either.”
“Someone has to be there until the doc arrives at seven,” Davena said. “I can’t have those animals left alone. As I told Beau, it doesn’t matter where I am or how safe it is. Delphine will come for me whenever she wants.”
Christian threw his keys up in the air and caught them. “I’ll go.”
“Dammit, Christian,” Vincent said angrily.
Beau held up a hand to quiet everyone. “He goes or I do, because if we don’t, Davena will.”
Davena nodded in agreement.
Without another word, Christian turned on his heel and walked out the back door. Beau wasn’t sure if he should be relieved that he stayed behind, or concerned about how he was going to get through the rest of the night.
“There’s food in the kitchen,” Olivia said. “Beau made the best banana pudding I’ve ever had. There is still some chicken left, as well.”
Ava scrunched up her nose. “Actually, Christian and Marshall finished off both.”
“I can fix her whatever she wants,” Beau said.
Davena cocked her head at him. “You cook?”
“He’s the best around,” Lincoln said.
Vincent nodded. “He does the lion’s share of the cooking around here. He’s got a gift.”
“Is that so?” Davena said, a small smile playing at her lips. “Thank you for the offer, but I don’t think I could eat.”
Beau inhaled and looked at the stairs. “I’m sure you want to rest.”
“I thought we’d put her in Riley’s room,” Ava said.
Olivia came to stand next to Davena. “We’ll take her up now and show her around.”
Beau watched the three of them ascend the stairs, his gaze locked on Davena’s hips as they swayed side to side.
“You are so screwed,” Vincent said as he came to stand on Beau’s left.
Lincoln moved to Beau’s right. “Actually, he won’t be tonight.”
Beau rolled his eyes as his brothers laughed at the joke. “Y’all are fucking hilarious.”
~ ~ ~
Davena was ashamed. She knew she should be overcome with sadness after Delia’s death, but all she could think about was Beau.
She walked next to Ava and Olivia as they pointed out each of the rooms upstairs in the old plantation house. She was the last to walk into the room kept for the lone female Chiasson. The white, iron bed was set against the far wall with a large floral print comforter in bright pink.
The room held several boxes stacked against one wall, but it was sparse other than a table next to the bed with a lamp and a picture frame. Davena walked to the table and sat on the bed as she lifted the frame.
She smiled at the picture that was about twenty years old judging by the young faces and the style of clothes. She looked at all five Chiasson children surrounding their parents, the smiles wide and infectious.
Davena easily picked out Beau despite all the siblings having the same dark hair and blue eyes. It wasn’t a matter of narrowing it down. It was the way Beau smiled. It was warm and welcoming with a hint of waywardness.
It was a smile she had seen herself.
“They were a close family,” Olivia said.
Ava sat beside Davena. “Olivia knew them from growing up here, but I only knew their reputation within the parish. They’re still close, despite what happened to their parents.”
“What happened?” Davena was intrigued. Besides, it would take her mind off of Beau and Delia.
Olivia sat on the opposite side of the bed and rested her arm on
the tall footboard. “They were murdered on the same night by a woman who lusted after their father for herself.”
“That’s horrible,” Davena said and shifted to see both women. “How long ago was that?”
“A week after that picture was taken,” Ava replied softly.
Davena glanced back at the picture. “Worlds can crumble in an instant, can’t they?”
“Both mine and Ava’s did. Then our men found us,” Olivia said with a bright grin.
Ava winked at Davena. “Just as Beau found you.”
Beau. She licked her lips, still feeling his on hers. His kisses had literally curled her toes. She hadn’t been able to remember her name, but the one thing she knew with certainty was that she wanted to kiss him forever.
“Once Delphine decides to come for you, nothing will change her mind,” Davena said.
Ava shrugged one shoulder. “She was after me, but the LaRues managed to change her mind.”
Davena studied Ava closely, trying to determine how much to tell her. “I’ve never heard of her giving up on someone unless there was a trade made.”
“Trade?” Olivia repeated frowning.
“A trade that was worth it to Delphine,” Davena explained. “If she was out to kill someone, then someone would have to know the whereabouts of an individual she sought, or offer something else of similar value.”
The two women exchanged a look as Ava’s face grew pale. “They told me Delphine released me after they captured her.”
“Captured Delphine? No one captures her unless she wants to be caught.” Davena wasn’t trying to start trouble, but everyone needed to understand the danger Delphine posed.
Olivia rubbed her hand up and down Ava’s arm. “We don’t know who lied, so don’t get angry yet. It could be that Delphine was playing everyone.”
“She does that well enough,” Davena said.
Ava took in a shaky breath. “So you’ve had several dealings with her?”
“A few,” Davena replied. “She is a mainstay in the French Quarter. She’s famous and greatly feared. Those who practice the Voodoo religion worship her for her great powers. She always knows a person’s weakness. That’s how she gets so many to do as she wants.”