Page 5 of Louisiana Protector

“Are you seeing anyone now?” He was pleased his voice remained casual even though her answer was very important to him.

“Not at the moment,” she replied.

Her answer blew a wind of hope through him. Until he looked into her eyes. They simmered with a rich anger that momentarily swept his breath away.

He hated himself for the choice he’d made five years ago. He was here to make amends. The minute he saw her again, he realized he wanted her back in his arms. He wanted her warm body against his own. He wanted to know every thought in her beautiful head and share laughter with her once again.

He’d spent the last five years missing her and dreaming about them being together. He’d seen a few women while he’d been away, but none of them had managed to erase his enduring love for the woman he had left behind.

Was it possible for him and Mimi to rekindle the love they’d once shared? That was what he was here to find out.

Somehow, before he did anything, he needed to figure out a way to break through her anger. And that certainly wasn’t going to happen tonight.

“Gramps, it was great seeing you again,” he said.

“It was a surprise to see you again,” Gramps replied with a hint of coolness in his voice.

“Now that I’m back in town, I don’t intend to be a stranger.” Johnny stood from the sofa and once again gazed at Mimi. “It was also great to see you again, Mimi.”

She nodded curtly in reply.

“Guess I’ll just get out of here and leave you both to the rest of your night.”

The sound of a child crying came from one of the bedrooms. Within moments, a little boy came into the room and ran to Mimi.

“Mommy, there are monsters,” he cried.

Mimi stood and picked up the crying child. “Mommy will get rid of those pesky monsters,” she said and carried the little boy back into the bedroom.

Shock slammed Johnny in the pit of his stomach. A child. She had a little boy? Was the child his? The age looked right. Oh God, was it possible he was a father?

He turned his stunned gaze to Gramps. The old man’s strong features gave absolutely nothing away. “Good night, Johnny,” he said, letting Johnny know it was definitely time to leave.

He gave a final glance toward the bedroom and then turned and walked out the front door.

Once outside, he drew in several deep breaths of the warm night air as he tried to get over his surprise. While he’d been gone, she’d had a baby. The boy had looked to be around four years old, and there was every likelihood he was the father of that little boy. She must have been pregnant when he left town. He was a father. The words thundered in his head.

As he walked down the bridge and into the swamp, his brain tried to absorb it all.

Johnny had always wanted children. He’d wanted to be a far different kind of father than the one who had raised him. He and Mimi had spent hours talking about having children together and how they’d raise them with love.

One thing was clear. If what he suspected was true and that little boy was his, then he intended to claim him. It was more important than ever that he find a way back to Mimi. Somehow, someway he had to make her love him again.

Chapter Two

“Did you hear?” Renée greeted Mimi the next morning in the break room at the grocery store.

“Hear what?” Mimi asked curiously.

“There was another murder last night. The body was found early this morning hanging from a tree near Big Ben.” Big Ben was a huge cypress tree in the middle of the swamp.

“Oh no. Who was the victim? Anyone we know?” Mimi asked.

“According to the rumors I’ve heard this morning, the victim was Bill Brashear. He worked in the tattoo shop,” Renée said as she grabbed an apron. “Thin guy with some face tats.”

“I don’t know him, although I think I might have rung up his groceries at one time or another,” Mimi replied. She reached for her apron and put it on. At the same time, she fought against a chill that threatened to overtake her. When would the madness end? When would the police be able to make an arrest and stop the murders?

“Same,” Renée agreed. “I’m pretty sure I rang up his groceries at one time or another, too.”