Page 19 of Carnival Queen

“See. Smart and beautiful,” he said with a lascivious grin.

“We’re done,” said Pax. “If you want to keep that shiny car shiny, I’d suggest you move it, or we’re going to go through it.”

“Do you have any idea who you’re speaking with?” he sneered. “Do you have any clue what I can do to you and to her?”

“Yeah. An asshole that can’t take no for an answer and thinks he can bully a woman into working for him.” Pax stepped forward, towering over the man. “Now, back the fuck up, or I’ll back it up for you.”

Everyone seemed to be frozen in place. Finally, Deanna opened the door to the SUV and slid into her seat. Jackson stared at the door, then turned and got into the backseat of his own SUV. Before he closed the door, he looked at Pax and Brax.

“Tell Miss Trehorn I’ll be seeing her real soon.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

“Fuck,” said Gaspar. “We need to figure out what the fuck is going on with Douglass and Jackson. See if Grant can tell us anything about them. Their work, their reputation, anything.”

“Thanks, guys,” said Ian, looking up at his twin sons. “Glad you’re all home.”

Pax and Brax left the building, headed to get settled into their own cottage. Deanna had insisted she be left alone for the evening, exhausted both mentally and physically. Erin, Lauren, and Mary were at the warehouse with the kids, working on the floats with Angel and Miller.

“Have you ever seen the work Douglass and Jackson do?” asked Ghost.

“No. I honestly just didn’t pay attention,” said Gaspar. “I know they’ve been in business for a while but are fairly new to Louisiana. Maybe fifteen years or so.”

“They definitely want something from Deanna,” said Nine. “I think we need to speak with Penn Carver again. If his firm is doing work for them, he must know something. Let’s send Jean and Code tomorrow. Those two eggheads should be able to find something.”

“I heard that,” said Jean, walking into the room. Nine smirked at the big man, shaking his head. For being one of the biggest Robicheaux brothers, outside of Alec and Gaspar, he was definitely quiet.

“I think everyone is taking lessons from Trak and Hiro.”

“I need no lessons.”

“Fuck me!”

“Asshole!”

“What the hell? Are you trying to kill us?” asked Ghost. Trak just smirked from behind them. He’d entered the room through the connecting door for the comms room. As always, the men were so entrenched in their own thoughts and conversation, they didn’t hear him enter the room.

“I’m taking the shift at the warehouse tonight with Zeke. We think there could be something in the warehouse someone wants. We’re taking Beast and Zeus to see if it might be drugs or explosives.”

“Sounds good, brother,” said Nine. “Trak? Try not to kill anyone before we get a chance to ask questions, maybe interrogate them for a while. You know, we’d really like to know something if they do, before they die”

“I never kill before I know something,” he said with a straight face.

“Trak. Don’t take Alvin,” said Gaspar. Trak let out a long, slow breath, shaking his head.

“Why must you ruin my fun and Alvin’s? Alvin is a good companion and excellent to have around. He listens. Quietly.” He stared at the others as they raised their brows. “Fine. He will stay here.”

“Thank you,” smirked Gaspar.

The others just smiled as Trak left to get Zeke and head to the warehouse. If there was anything to be found in the warehouse, the dogs or the men would find it.

“You guys asked to see me,” said Grant, walking into the room.

“It’s like fucking Grand Central this morning,” growled Ghost.

Grant could only grin at the men. Although never in the military due to extreme hearing loss, Grant was as fit, as capable, and as willing as any man on the property. When he’d first come to the team, they welcomed him as part of their group. He trained with them and even went on missions. In one such mission, his hand was severed by a machete. With Gabi’s excellent skills and those of the medics, it was reattached but it would never be the same. Once he married Evie, he focused on being the general contractor who oversaw every new build for any of the Robicheaux industries.

“Hey, Grant. How are things going on your end?” asked Gaspar.

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