Close Cover (Masters and Mercenaries #16)(97)

“So this might not be over.” Remy reached out for her hand, tangling their fingers together.

“I promise you this is finished, Mr. Guidry,” Biondo said solemnly. “I will handle everything from here. If the wheels of justice don’t move quickly enough, it’s up to men like me to hurry things along. No one will come after the lovely Ms. Daley. She was trying to do something right and good. That should not be punished.”

“Thank you, Mr. Vorenus.”

He stopped, going still again, but not in any kind of an awkward way. Nope. This was the predator Remy was worried about and she didn’t have a death wish.

Remy moved in front of her again. “She has no intentions of telling anyone.”

His eyes came up and there was such a chill there for a moment, and then it seemed to pass. His shoulders relaxed and a reluctant smile crossed his face. “Mr. Taggart, I presume. As you haven’t brought a law enforcement team with you, I assume it was for his curiosity alone.”

“The boss is a curious man, but he also knows what it means to have a job to do,” Remy replied. “Ian’s got his own family connections.”

“Yes, the Denisovitch Syndicate. He’s an interesting man, your boss. As long as he understands the world is not so black and white, we will be fine. You know it’s been a very long time since someone said my name. Funny thing, my name. Where I come from it’s attached to many interesting stories. Perhaps you will vacation one day in Venice and hear about how my family was descended from a vampire. Take the ghost tour and if I am in town, I will show you my city.” He looked around. “You know, I’m really more of an urban assassin. Next time we meet perhaps it will be more civilized. Arrivederci, sii felice.”

He walked off and disappeared in the trees. After a moment she heard a boat motor turn over and he was gone.

Remy took a deep breath. “I can believe that man is descended from vampires.”

Lisa wrinkled her nose. “They don’t have babies, and now you sound like your momma. I have to say I love that my future mother-in-law thinks she can vanquish demons with sage and some Latin that I’m pretty sure she doesn’t even understand what the words mean.”

Remy pulled her close. “Latin? I’m fairly certain she made that shit up. God, Lisa, I’m glad you’re here. Don’t ever leave me.”

She let her head find his chest. “Never. It’s you and me and possibly Otis forever.” She laughed, but the truth was they had battles ahead. “I know Zep is doing okay, but we have to help him get back on his feet.”

“And we will. I promise. I’m going to make sure baby brother is back to normal. It’s time we were a family again.”

She held him for a moment longer, but then she yawned. This place was…very bayou. And they could seriously be home in bed. One of Remy’s second cousins was opening Guidry’s for them for a week so Remy could recover. They could be in bed, cuddling, maybe having some very careful, don’t-pull-the-dude-who-got-shot’s-stitches fun. “This place is nice. Let’s head home. I want to spend some time showing my sisters around town.”

He sighed, a long-suffering sound. “Will you be patient? There’s a reason I brought you out here. It’s the perfect time of year.”

“The perfect time for what? Is Otis going to make an appearance? We’re in the middle of a swamp, Remy. I’m a little worried about your wounds. There have to be like a million bacteria running around here.”

He chuckled. “I’ll try to avoid swimming. Now be quiet. I don’t want to scare them. It’s almost time.”

“Time?”

He turned her around and held her close. “Dawn’s here. Look at that light coming up. Be quiet and listen to me. Did I ever tell you that when I’m out here the words in my head… Well, they’re never louder than they are right here.”

Okay, he was right about that. The world was suddenly orange and pink and red, the sun coming up and lighting the world with energy and hope. All around her, day rose from the bayou, lifting the world with it.

“Do you know why we call it Papillon Bayou, my love?”

She was watching the colors as they revealed the beauty of the world around them. The forest. The water. The greens and browns all waking up, all saluting the new day. There would never be one just like this. This day was unique and special, as were the days before and the ones that would come after. Her future spread before her filled with light and love, struggle and triumph, and most of all this amazing family built from both blood and those she’d chosen. “Because it’s so beautiful?”

“Nothing is more beautiful than you, ma crevette. And we’re going to work on your French. Say good morning, Lisa. Or as we say it, bonjour.”

She gasped as she realized what he was talking about. They weren’t alone. Not even close. They came from out of the ground, from the branches of trees where they’d hidden for the night, from under logs and rocks. They rose with the dawn, their wings spreading as though joy had suffused each small creature.

Butterflies.

Her world filled with wonder as thousands of the things took flight, ready for the day. They took off, circling for a moment as though saying hello or dancing to greet the sun before they swept up and scattered, taking their beauty to the world.

“Papillon means butterfly,” Remy said, wonder in his voice. “I wanted to share this with you. I’ve been here with my brother and sister, but never a woman. The next woman I bring out here will be our daughter. This is their migration time. Every year they come back here. They always know their way home.”