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  “I don’t think you’ll want to be explaining things to her.”

  “No, no. You’re right. We’ll have to wait until Olivia, Maria, and Ava return to Maria’s.” Vincent ran a hand down his face. “Olivia won’t be happy about being kept in the dark.”

  Lincoln turned on his heel and quickly found Beau and Christian in the kitchen. The three walked back to the office to join Vin. Beau lounged on the loveseat while Christian sat on the edge of the chair, his elbows on his knees.

  Lincoln leaned a hip on the edge of the desk so he could see everyone. “I received a call from New Orleans. There’s a bit of a problem that they’ve asked for our help with.”

  “We never turn family away,” Vincent said.

  Christian laced his fingers together. “They’re cousins. It’s a no brainer. When do we go?”

  “We don’t.” Lincoln set down his beer. “Solomon said that Kane is on his way here.”

  Beau jerked into a sitting position. “The next full moon is a day away. What the hell is Kane doing traveling now?”

  “It seems our cousin doesn’t know how not to piss off a Voodoo priestess.”

  Vincent let out a long sign. “Not again.”

  “We can’t handle this with Ava here.”

  “Afraid I’ll learn your Chiasson secrets?” Ava’s voice said from behind him.

  Lincoln stilled, her voice going through him like a blade. He slowly straightened and moved to the wall so he could see the doorway. And her. Ava and Olivia stood in the entry of the double doors no one had thought to close.

  There had been something in Ava’s voice, almost a hint of fury.

  “I was coming to tell you that we’re headed to Maman’s,” Olivia told Vincent.

  Vin stood and leaned his hands on the desk. “Ava, please forgive us. There is some family business that we like to keep private.”

  “You mean how your family hunts the supernatural?” she said offhandedly. “I used to live in this area. I know about the Chiasson family.”

  There was more to her story. Lincoln was sure of it. And he wanted to know what it was. “Olivia said you left as a child. I doubt you knew very much.”

  Her amber gaze swung to him. Her smile was cold and laced with such anger that her eyes burned with it. “When I was twelve, my father lost his half-brother in an accident. At least that’s what the papers called it. My father suspected something else, so he began to look into it. For the next six months, he researched the paranormal. Ultimately, it led him to the Chiassons.”

  “Oh, God,” Olivia whispered, her eyes wide as she stared at Ava. “That’s why you looked faint when you learned the family name.”

  Lincoln’s mind raced with the people his parents had brought into the house, trying to place Ava’s father.

  “My father began hunting the creatures. It became his obsession. He quit his job, would sleep all day, but the worst was when he left. He walked out on his wife and daughter. To hunt the supernatural.”

  “Jack,” Lincoln said as he finally remembered. “Jack Ledet was your father.”

  Lincoln recalled how much Jack had spoken of his family. He was obsessed with killing the supernatural – but to protect his wife and daughter. There was no way he would have just walked out on them. Lincoln may have only been in his early teens, but his father had taught them all to recognize a good man when they saw one. Jack was a good man.

  “Where is he?” Ava asked.

  Lincoln frowned and looked at Vin. Vin shrugged his shoulders.

  “We’ve not seen Jack in years,” Vincent said. “We assumed he returned home and was finished with hunting.”

  “Assumed.” Ava pinned him with a withering look. “Did it not occur to any of you that one of those creatures might have gotten him?”

  Lincoln shook his head and stepped forward so that Ava would look at him. “The last time we saw Jack was years ago. We finished a hunt, and he shared breakfast with us before he started back home. We all thought he finally had enough of the life.”

  He wanted to help Ava locate Jack, but he couldn’t do anything until the full moon had passed, and Kane had gotten out of his mess.

  “I’ll take Ava and Maman home now,” Olivia said.

  Lincoln didn’t want Ava to go, but by the look on her face, she needed to get away from the Chiassons. Vincent walked Olivia out, and Lincoln found himself standing at the door watching them get into the truck and drive away.

  Vincent walked back into the house and closed the door. He let out a long sigh as all four brothers stood in the large foyer. “Well, that was a surprise.”

  “I feel sorry for her,” Christian said.

  Beau swirled the last bit of his beer in the bottle. “It seems we’ve got two issues to deal with now. I want to help Ava find her father. I was pretty young, but I remember Jack.”

  Christian nodded. “Riley used to sit on his lap.”

  Lincoln missed his sister, but as the youngest of the clan – and the only girl – Riley deserved something more than the Chiasson family business, which was why she was in Austin at the University of Texas.

  “One thing at a time,” Vincent stated. “First, lets get this business with Kane sorted out. What does Solomon want us to do?”

  “What do you think with a full moon coming?” Lincoln said testily.

  Christian walked away toward the kitchen. “If we’re going to argue, I need to get fortified with some of that chocolate cake Maria made.”

  Beau made a dash through the dining room to beat Christian to it, while Vincent and Lincoln leisurely walked to the kitchen. When they reached it, both Beau and Christian had a piece of cake in hand, eating.

  Lincoln pulled one of the chairs at the table out and turned it around so that he straddled it, his arms resting on the back. “The Voodoo priestess has altered Kane’s curse. He’ll forget he’s really human while in wolf form. He’ll kill indiscriminately.”

  “He really fucked up this time,” Beau said.

  Vincent remained standing and began to pace. “Will the cage we have hold him?”

  “If he gets here in time,” Lincoln answered. “That was another of Solomon’s worries. There were those trying to prevent Kane from leaving New Orleans. Solomon, Myles, and Court got him out, but they don’t think it’ll stop there. The people know he’s coming to us.”

  A horrified expression crossed Christian’s face as he swallowed the last of his cake. “Why would they want to keep Kane in New Orleans?”

  “To punish him,” Vincent said. He stopped and heaved out a breath.

  Lincoln nodded. “Vin is right. He’ll see what he’s done when the dawn comes. It’s likely to destroy him.”

  “What did Kane do to be punished so severely?” Beau asked.

  “Solomon didn’t provide that information, and I didn’t ask. I figure Kane will tell us the entire tale when he gets here.”

  “If he gets here,” Vincent said.

  Lincoln glanced at his watch. “Solomon called two hours ago. It takes three to get here by car from New Orleans, but Kane is on foot. He’ll come through the bayous and stay off main highways since he’s being followed.”

  “We need to get ready then. Kane could arrive at any time,” Christian said.

  Vin rested his hands on the back of a chair. “I’ve got a bad feeling that he won’t get here until tomorrow night. When he’s already shifted. Before we can get him into the cage.”

  “That means we’ll need to be on patrol starting tonight,” Beau said. “We alert everyone we can. Those we can’t, we keep an eye on.”

  Vincent and Beau filed out of the kitchen. Lincoln stood and pushed the chair under the table. He turned and found Christian blocking his way.

  “We’re going to need you fully in this.”

  Lincoln frowned and crossed his arms over his chest. “When have I ever not been fully involved?”

  “Never. Then again, Ava Ledet didn’t walk into your life until today. The others may not see it, but
I do, Linc.”

  “See what exactly?” He thought he’d been doing a hell of a job keeping his desire hidden.

  Christian raised a dark brow. “Your desire to protect her. That could get her – and you – killed.”

  “Not going to happen.”

  “Focus on her once Kane is in the cage. Until then, do us all a favor and forget her.”

  If only it were that easy.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Ava was so lost in her memories of the night her father left and never returned that she didn’t realize they had reached their destination until Maria patted her on the shoulder.

  “Come inside, sha,” she said and exited out of the back passenger door.

  Ava got out of the truck and grabbed her bag. She closed the door and sighed before she turned and faced Olivia. “If I’d have known it was the Chiassons you were involved with, I wouldn’t have come.”

  “Then it’s a good thing it never got brought up before today.” Olivia smiled softly. “You have every right to your anger, but I don’t believe you’re mad at Vincent or any of the other Chiassons.”

  “I’m angry at what they did that lured my father away. I’m furious that he got involved with the hunting, and I’m sad that his half-brother was killed by something so awful. But you’re right. It’s my father I’m really irate at. He left us.”

  “You don’t know that for sure,” Olivia pointed out. “You heard the guys. Your father was always talking about you and your mother. The hunting he did was to keep you safe. A man like that doesn’t walk out on his family.”

  “Then where has he been the last fourteen years?” Ava was so tired of wondering that.

  Olivia took Ava’s bag and wrapped an arm around her shoulders while leading her to the house. “Hopefully we’ll find out. It’s why you really came, isn’t it?”

  Ava nodded and looked at the white house. They walked around to the side where she spotted a long dock that went all the way out to the bayou. Like most other houses in the area, it had a screened in porch that overlooked the water.

  They climbed the steps, walked through the porch, and into the quaint house. Maria made use of every inch of space, but the house had a relaxed feel.

  Ava felt right at home instantly. It also helped that Olivia and Maria took care of her. Olivia put her bag in a back room, and Maria motioned her to one of the plush chairs in what was obviously the living room.

  The house, built almost a hundred years earlier, had an open living area to optimize air flow and keep the rooms cool. Ava had no sooner taken a seat than Maria put a mug in her hands.

  “It’s coffee milk. It always made Olivia feel better,” she said with a wink.

  Ava smiled and drank the coffee that was more milk than anything, but it did exactly what Maria wanted it to do – made her relax.

  When Olivia joined them, Maria handed her a cup. All three sipped for a while before Olivia lowered her mug. “You said you and your mother remained for a year before y’all left. What happened?”

  Ava remembered that night as if it happened yesterday. “It was the day after Christmas. Mom got a job anywhere she could. At one point, she worked three jobs just to pay the bills and put food on the table. Every morning I woke thinking that I would see my father. I knew the week of Christmas that something was going to happen. Mom kept counting money she had put away and boxing things up.”

  “She was getting ready to take you away,” Maria said.

  “Yes.” Ava hadn’t realized that at the time though. “It wasn’t until the morning after Christmas that I saw the resignation on her face mixed with determination. She told me to get my stuff. She had stayed up all night packing everything away. In six hours, everything was in boxes, and we were on our way to Texas. I cried the whole way. The last bit of hope I had that my father might return disappeared somewhere on I-10 when we crossed into Texas.”

  “Your mother must have had her reasons for leaving. She needed a fresh start is my guess,” Maria said.

  Olivia lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know. To take Jack’s daughter away? What if he returned that night and had no idea where to find them?”

  “That’s the same thing I told Mom,” Ava said. “Her response was that he had over a year to find his way home and he hadn’t, which meant he didn’t want us.”

  Maria shook her silver head and got to her feet. “That’s a tough one. I’m going to Grace’s for a while and leave you young girls alone. Don’t get into too much trouble,” she said as she grabbed her purse and walked out of the house.

  Ava looked at Olivia and shared a laugh.

  Olivia set aside her mug and reached for her laptop. “I’ve been thinking. There has to be some kind of record of your father. These days, people can’t sneeze without it showing up somewhere.”

  Ava swallowed, suddenly overcome with emotion. “I’ve done a little searching on my own, but that was in Dallas. I even hired a Private Investigator for a little while.”

  “What did he find?”

  “Nothing. That’s why I came. I knew if there was even a chance for me to find my father, it was better with me in Louisiana.”

  “Then we’ll find him,” Olivia said with a reassuring smile.

  ~ ~ ~

  After two hours of searching online and Olivia making some calls, Ava had to get out of the house. And she knew exactly where she wanted to go.

  “Can I borrow the keys to your truck?”

  Olivia didn’t hesitate to toss them to her. “Sure. Want me to come with you?”

  “Not this time. I need to be alone for a little bit.”

  Olivia stood and walked with Ava to the door. “I’m not trying to be nosey, but can you tell me where you’re going? I ask because I know what my man and his family hunts, and night is coming soon.”

  “I’m going to the house where I grew up.”

  “In Lafayette?”

  “On the outskirts. I won’t be gone long.”

  Olivia gave her a hug. “Keep your cell near. And call when you’re on your way back.”

  “Will do,” Ava promised and walked out of the house.

  She drew in a deep breath once she was in the truck. Seeing her old house was something she had to do – no matter how painful it was.

  ~ ~ ~

  Lincoln hid in a clump of cypress trees and surveyed the expanse of bayou around him. He was thankful it didn’t get dark until well after eight. That gave them more time to search for Kane in the light.

  All of their friends had been notified to remain inside for the night, and a few had even offered to help keep a lookout for Kane.

  It had been years since he or his brothers had seen their family in New Orleans. That branch tended to keep to themselves, not that he blamed them. He would do the same if a Voodoo priestess had cursed their entire family to be werewolves.

  Lincoln looked at the setting sun. They had another twenty minutes of good light at best before twilight hit and that eerie time between light and dark descended. Most people didn’t realize that was the most dangerous time to be out.

  He nudged a snapping turtle out of the way as he moved to a different location. The fading sun glinted off the eyes of a large gator resting on the banks, his gaze trained on Lincoln.

  “Don’t even try it,” he warned the gator. “I’m after something else entirely this night, but if you push me, I’ll take you home for dinner.”

  The problem was, none of the Chiassons could kill Kane. He was family, and on his way to them for help. It wasn’t Kane’s fault that he was being tracked by a relentless group determined to see him go on a killing spree.

  Lincoln was of half a mind to track the fuckers, bind them together, and let Kane have at them. It’s what they deserved for detaining him just so he could kill some innocent person.

  His mind immediately went to Ava. He knew she was safe with Olivia. Then there was Vincent, who had set up watch near Olivia as well. Ava was more than protected. Still, Lincoln couldn’t stop the knot
of doubt from forming in his gut. He wanted to see her with his own eyes, to know with unwavering certainty that she was all right.

  But that wasn’t going to happen. He had to trust Olivia and Vincent.

  Lincoln paused, the water rippling slightly around him as he spotted something moving in the brush ahead on the shoreline. He slowly withdrew both of his Bowie knives and waited.

  With him on the outskirts of Crowley, he had a good chance of being the one to encounter Kane or the group after his cousin. The full moon didn’t technically begin until the next night, but anyone who hunted werewolves knew that they had the day before and the day after a full moon when they would shift.

  The lower the sun sank, the higher the moon rose. It was going to be tricky to get Kane in the cage before nightfall. And Lincoln couldn’t rely on his brothers for help. Everyone was dispersed in a wide range for maximum opportunity in finding Kane.

  But that also left them exposed. Which was going to be a complete bitch when night hit.

  The bush rustled again. Lincoln tightened his grip on his knives and waited. A moment later, a raccoon ambled out and rose up on its hind legs as it chatted at him angrily. A second later it ran off.

  Lincoln let out a breath and just happened to look down in time to see the water move around his legs. He spun around in time to see the gator disappear beneath the water not five feet from him.

  “Fuck me,” he murmured.

  A second gator slid into the water off to his left.

  “Fuck me sideways,” he hissed.

  Lincoln wasted no time in getting out of the bayou. Once on land, both alligators swam away. Damn, but he hated full moons. The animals went crazy.

  He looked at the sky and grimaced when he caught sight of the sunset. Everything was drenched in gold, including the water. It was a magnificent sight. It was also an omen of bad things to come.

  All Lincoln could hope for, was that Kane was the only thing they would have to hunt during this full moon. If not, things were going to get hairy.

  It was the quiet of the bayou, and the way sound bounced over the water, that allowed him to hear the shouts of agitation and fear. Lincoln sheathed his knives in the holsters strapped to his legs and took off running in the direction of the yells.