Page 71 of Landry

He had to get there before anything happened to them. Billy Ray deserved the chance to live with a family who loved him. Ava needed the mother who cared for her and loved her unconditionally.

Landry needed Camille. She represented everything that had been missing in his life. Unlike his cold, heartless parents, Camille was warm, loving and cared about her daughter, her friends and her community. She helped others, not for what she could get out of it, but for what she could give selflessly.

She deserved the kind of beautiful life she gave to others.

If she lived through this...

No. She would live through this, and Landry would do everything in his power to be the person she deserved. Someone who could love her and give her support and encouragement, who would treat her with respect and fill her life with love. Someone who would love Ava, the center of Camille’s universe, like she loved her daughter.

And what was not to love about that little girl? She’d had Landry wrapped around his little finger from the moment she’d thrown her arms around his neck and told him he smelled like peppermint. She’d charged right through the wall he’d built around his heart and claimed a spot dead center. His lips curved upward in a smile. He wanted to teach her how to fish and to read stories to her until she fell into a blissful sleep filled with unicorns and sunshine.

Then he wanted to make love with Camille late into the night and kiss her awake when the sun came up the next morning. He’d have to convince her that he wasn’t like her ex-husband. She could trust him to keep his promises and be there for her and Ava.

His smile faded, and his jaw tightened. They had to get there on time. Camille and Ava were the real deal. A family Landry wanted to be a part of. And a love he’d die fighting for.

Chapter 14

Camille and Billy Ray had settled on a bench as the fan boat navigated through the bayou, with Billy Ray giving the captain directions with a point of his finger. Other than slowing at bends in tributaries, they pushed as fast as they could go.

With a watch, Camille couldn’t tell how close they were to the end of the ten-minute block of time Dion had given them. She flexed her fingers, praying they would get there soon and that Landry and his team of Brotherhood Protectors would somehow figure out where they were headed and swoop in to save them.

Billy Ray raised his hand and shouted over the roar of the fan, “Slow!”

Dion glanced at his watch. “You’re at nine and a half minutes. You sure you want to slow down now?”

Billy Ray nodded and pointed to the left.

The man at the helm slowed and drove the craft around a tree with a branch hanging low over the water. Camille recognized that tree. Her heart rate increased. If they were going to escape, it had to be soon.

As they cleared the tree branch, the dilapidated shack appeared.

“This it?” Dion asked.

Billy Ray nodded.

“Stop!” Dion called out over the fan noise.

The driver cut the engine and let the airboat glide up to the rickety dock.

One of the men leaped out and tied a line to one of the posts.

“Get out,” Dion said, pointing a handgun at Camille and Billy Ray.

Billy Ray jumped out onto the dock and reached back to help Camille.

She took his hand and let him get her to the dock safely. Once she was steady, she didn’t let go of his hand. The boy needed to know he was not alone and that someone cared what happened to him, especially if this was their last day, last hour, last minute to live.

“You, too.” Dion pointed the gun at Richard.

“Why?” Richard argued. “I don’t know where the kid put the bear.”

The gun exploded.

Richard cried out and clapped a hand over his left arm.

“Get out,” Dion said, “or I’ll shoot you again. This time I’ll aim for a vital organ.”

Richard scrambled out of the boat onto the dock, blood soaking the sleeve of his shirt.

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