“We will. Unfortunately, we need to leave for Texas,” Arman told me in particular.

  Zoe pulled away. “What do you mean you’re leaving for Texas? I am not marrying the son of our enemy.”

  “No, you’re not,” I answered. “However, we need to make that clear to the person responsible.”

  “I don’t want you to go. What if something happens to you?”

  I glanced at the family and sighed before leading her from the sunroom.

  “What? I don’t want you to leave right now.”

  I kept my hand on the small of her back, guiding her out of sight of the others. When she backed against the wall, her expression highlighting her rebellious side, my cock throbbed. I pressed my hand beside her head, leaning in so only she could hear.

  “You made quite a scene in there,” I told her.

  “And I would do so again and will if necessary. Don’t change the subject.”

  I slipped a finger under her chin, lifting her head and forcing her to look into my eyes. “First of all, you’re not in charge. I am. Second, that’s your family in there, people who love you very much. You need to try and remember that.”

  “Not if they go against you. You protected me. Now, I’m going to protect you.”

  Amusement and adoration spiraled all through me, enough so it was all I could do not to toss her over my shoulder, taking her upstairs to an empty room. “Listen to me, baby. I can take care of myself. This nightmare is coming to an end one way or the other. But this is something we have to do.”

  She clutched my shirt, managing to slide a finger through the space between the buttons. Just the simple touch was enough to push the electricity we shared back and forth. “I know you do. I just… I don’t want you hurt.”

  “Baby. Don’t underestimate me. I’m pretty damn powerful when I want to be.”

  A smile crossed her face. “I know you are. That’s partially why I love you.”

  “You’re going to stay right here under tight security. Yes?”

  “I will.”

  “If I find out you disobeyed me, you will not be able to sit down for a week solid.”

  “Promises. Promises.”

  Leaning down until our lips were almost touching, I drank in her perfume, fearful it would be the last time I would be allowed. But it wasn’t about Arman forbidding me to see her. I had a bad feeling that I wouldn’t return.

  As I captured her mouth and heard her instant moan, my heartbeat increased. She was the most amazing woman, something special, and I was grateful I’d been given the time to get to know her. If it meant dying, I would go to my grave to ensure she had a bright future.

  And I would do so happily.

  As I swept my tongue inside, she arched her back, pulling me even closer. There was no denying our chemistry or the need we both shared.

  When I pulled away, I brushed my knuckles down her cheek. “Take care of yourself, little lamb. You’re one incredible woman.” I backed away before I changed my mind.

  “Don’t die on me, Maddox.”

  “I have no intention of it. That much I promise you.”

  “This time, I’m going to hold you to that promise. Come back to me. I will be waiting for as long as it takes.”

  If I were a decent man, I never would have allowed things to get this far, but I’d proven more than once that while I was many things, decent wasn’t one of them.

  She was mine.

  All mine.

  CHAPTER 27

  Maddox

  “You’re lost in a train of thought,” Arman said as he sat down in the seat opposite me, handing me a drink.

  We were on his private plane, the one that had come to rescue Zoe and me, landing in Texas within the hour. I had been deep in thought, still trying to get a better understanding of what we would be walking into. We’d had a rather terse meeting with Francois, the man defensive about how hard he’d worked to try to salvage the business in the Lone Star State. From everything I’d looked at, the only holdup was Devin’s buddies keeping the projects from being approved, finding a way to sabotage both construction crews and materials coming in by railroad and tractor trailer.

  It would seem the warning he’d been given several years before hadn’t stuck.

  However, Francois had made some damn good decisions, acquiring other pieces of land that would make us a fortune if we were able to get the monkey off our backs.

  Yet the nagging remained. The question of if he was behind the bogus contract weighed on all our minds.

  Tony had learned that the real Lucas Marciano had been murdered. To date, no one had been arrested for the crime. It was just another part of the mystery.

  “Yeah, well, it’s hard not to be,” I answered, accepting the drink and immediately taking a sip. I’d also found it impossible to drive Zoe out of my mind. She’d retreated to whatever bedroom she’d been given, staring at me as we’d left. I didn’t need to be close to realize she was nervous I wouldn’t return.

  “Agreed. We go in with guns a-blazing, my friend.” He laughed after making the statement. While two dozen soldiers remained guarding the house, we’d also brought a full brigade with us to prevent Devin from doing anything stupid. Francois had been convinced to remain behind to handle business. Just in case things didn’t go well.

  We certainly couldn’t have every member of the family in harm’s way. I feared for Arman given his injury but there was no stopping the man when he insisted on doing something. He and I were very much alike.

  “I can’t stop thinking we’re missing something,” I told him, glancing over at Thomas. What I hadn’t told Arman was that I’d seen him in a private conversation with Jean Baptiste. That wouldn’t ordinarily be considered odd except for the timing.

  “We will figure it out. We’re close. I can feel it. Whatever the case, you’re right in that we won’t accept Devin’s bullshit with our business any longer.”

  I nodded and threw back a gulp, wishing the liquid would burn the back of my throat.

  He stared out the window and the elephant remained in the room. However, I wasn’t going to be the one who brought it up. It really wasn’t my place to do so. At least just yet.

  “You were right that my daughter is no longer a little girl. She’s a woman with a mind of her own. It’s funny. She reminds me of her mother so much more the older she gets. Do you remember how she was, becoming the light when she entered any room?”

  “Yeah, I do, but Zoe got her hard head from you.”

  He narrowed his eyes as he glanced in my direction, the first real smile I’d seen crossing his face. “Okay, I’ll accept that. She really does love you. Doesn’t she?”

  Yet another awkward moment settled in. “It would appear so, Arman.”

  “Well, she has questionable tastes but maybe I can buy what she sees in you.” He laughed when I didn’t say anything. “Look, I wish you’d told me.”

  “It’s not something that was planned, Arman. When I saw her in New York, everything changed.”

  “I heard what my daughter said, the conviction with which she said it. She’s right in that I owe you my life several times over. So does Pops and Francois as well.”

  “You are my family.”

  “I’m so sorry what I said about your birth parents. That was shitty of me.”

  “You weren’t saying anything that wasn’t the truth.”

  “Maybe, but stooping that low was crass as fuck. I can’t imagine the horrors you went through. I’m just glad that fucker is behind bars for the rest of his natural life.”

  I snickered. “Yeah, I know.” As Thomas looked over, I could swear the man appeared more uncomfortable than before. He’d said only a few words since getting on the plane.

  “I’m only going to say this to you once. I’ll give you my blessing, but you will make her an honest woman. And if you ever hurt her in any way, I will kill you. It’s that simple.”

  “An honest woman, huh? Is that even possible in this family?”

  “You’re a son of a bitch but I do love you like a brother. Let’s make sure this asshole knows we are the most powerful family in the entire United States.”

  “You got it, brother.”

  Devin’s ranch was exactly as I remembered, the location sprawling yet the house aging. We hadn’t called ahead, although we’d learned through several of the Thibodeaux employees located near the man’s estate that he was home.

  We arrived in five different vehicles, only a few of our men required to maintain direct watch over Devin’s few men. He was a larger-than-life figure within Texas, under the false assumption that no one would dare threaten or cross him.

  He’d soon learn how wrong he was.

  And how stupid.

  With Tony and Landry behind us, Thomas, Arman, and I headed for the front door. There was no need to knock, Devin answering the door himself. That meant he had cameras positioned on his property, something new and different since the last time.

  He glanced from one to the other of us then did his best to look outside.

  “Your men are surrounded, Devin. They’re not coming to your assistance,” Arman told him.

  “What the hell are you doing here?”

  “We need to talk,” I told him. “We’re not leaving until we do.”

  The way he eyed us carefully meant he realized that we were going nowhere. Good for him. I unbuttoned my jacket, allowing him to see the handle of my Glock just so he knew our intent if he didn’t comply.

  Backing up, he opened the door wider. “Come in, gentlemen. We are all businessmen here. Yes?”

  Arman smirked as I laughed. That was one way of looking at it.

  Devin led us through the house to his office. “You’ll need to forgive the mess. When my wife is away, I tend to ignore the house.”

  As if we gave a shit.

  Once inside his office, the moment he attempted to move behind his desk, I walked toward him. I’d learned years before he’d had a panic system installed, including a button under his desk as well as a room located in an unknown area of his house. It wasn’t unlike the security both Jean Baptiste and Arman had created, although now the rooms were used for weapons storage more than anything.

  “Don’t do anything stupid, Devin,” I told him.

  Devin eyed my approach, slowly moving both hands on top of his desk. “What is so urgent that you couldn’t call me by phone?”

  I was the lead on the start of our conversation, immediately tossing the file on his desk. I moved to the wall behind him, leaning against it and folding my arms while he took a few seconds to look it over. I was fascinated by the fact he had the same facial expression as Arman’s father had when reading the signed document.

  As if he was innocent of all charges.

  I glanced at Arman who was doing his best to control his anger, often something he wasn’t very good at. Just like myself. We’d always been the yin to each other’s yang. When one was enraged, the other would compensate with logic and vice versa. Not tonight. Tonight we were both on edge, refusing to accept any additional lies or bullshit from anyone.

  “What is this crap?” Devin asked, tossing the file as if the papers had seared his fingers. “Some lazy attempt to combine our businesses?” The way he glared at Arman was interesting. Either the man truly had no clue, or he had balls the size of watermelons. Either way, his reaction incensed Arman to the point he whipped out his weapon, pointing the barrel at Devin’s head.

  “You fucking lying sack of shit,” Arman hissed. “If you think for a moment that I’m not onto your lies then you’re a fucking moron.”

  Devin was smart enough to raise his arms instead of attempting to grab his weapon, which I assume was located inside one of his drawers. He was a Texan after all. He had ancient rifles and animal heads on his office wall, proud of his trophies and his ancestry. I’d boned up on the man’s heritage and his business practices prior to leaving New Orleans. His great-grandfather had been vital to the growth of San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas, his grandfather and father following in the man’s footsteps. He’d been given legacy at an early age, only eighteen.

  I suspected the brutal man had killed his own father in order to grab the reins so young. I wondered if he realized his own son was in the same position. Perhaps I should tell him to watch his back when we left.

  Of course, I was assuming the man would still be alive.

  “That’s not my signature,” Devin insisted.

  “Then how did it get there?” I demanded.

  “I don’t fucking know. I sign a lot of crap. Anyone could have forged that.” Devin half turned in my direction. The hint of fear was mostly masked but not his indignation.

  “You’ll need to prove that you didn’t make this arrangement. One which would allow you to easily grab a significant portion of my business instead of wasting your time using your buddies to derail us.” Arman watched the man’s reaction, shaking his head.

  Devin exhaled. “Look. We are businessmen. You and your goddamn brother charged onto the scene just like your father did. You ignored my offers. You acted as if you were going to drive me out of my own state. You bet I came out fighting.”

  “That’s going to end right now. You will work together with the Thibodeaux estate,” I stated as Arman and I had discussed.

  “Why should I do that?” Devin turned toward me, cocking his head. I sensed true curiosity in his eyes, a hint of amusement that we were suggesting working together.

  “Because you and your family get to live if you back off your bulldogs.” I said the words matter-of-factly. “If not, your daughter will suddenly disappear first.”

  “You wouldn’t do that!”

  “As of this moment,” Arman stated, “your daughter is surrounded. We’ll take her, your grandchildren far away and you’ll never see them again. That’s just for starters. That’s in retaliation for trying to marry off my daughter to your son.”

  “I’m telling you. I did not sign that goddamn contract!” Devin slammed his fist on his desk, the force knocking the papers and contract to the floor.

  The moment was interrupted by Thomas’ phone ringing. He’d been extraordinarily quiet for hours, pensive without offering any reason why.

  I glanced in his direction and without looking at either Arman or me, he walked out of Devin’s office to take the call. That surprised the hell out of me.

  Arman used the interruption to take a few long strides forward, wrapping his hand around Devin’s throat and jerking him halfway over the desk as he jammed the barrel into the man’s temple.

  I inched forward, giving my best friend a hard glare. Killing Devin wasn’t part of the plan. At least not unless absolutely necessary.

  “You’ll need to convince me that you didn’t enter into a bogus contract,” Arman said.

  Devin’s face paled as he gripped Arman’s arms. I walked closer to ensure things wouldn’t get out of hand, eying both Tony and Landry to ensure they were in position if things got ugly.

  “It’s just not possible,” Devin said with full sincerity in his voice.

  “Why?” I intervened.

  Arman squeezed his fingers, forcing Devin to choke. I could tell my buddy’s anger was getting out of hand.

  “Because…” Devin started, his voice strangled.

  “Go on,” I encouraged. Thomas returned to the room, his demeanor entirely different than when he left. “Talk. Now!”

  “Because my son is gay.” The words flew from Devin’s mouth, spit out as if disgusted by being forced to admit it.

  Arman’s expression didn’t change for a full ten seconds. When he glanced in my direction, he started to laugh, releasing his hold. “You’re kidding me.”

  Thomas walked to my side, his face imploring. “We need to talk,” he said to me only.

  I threw up my hand, glaring at him. That he’d chosen this minute to interrupt the situation was unusual. And very disconcerting.

  “No, I’m not kidding you. My son wouldn’t touch your daughter. He’s already… involved with some guy out in Houston. Which is why he’s no longer a part of my business.”

  The man had driven his own son away because of the kid’s sexual preference? I was incensed myself, disgusted with the man and his world. In my mind it didn’t matter how powerful he was or where he lived and his reputation. Blood was blood, family more important than anything. I wanted to put a bullet in the man’s brain myself.

  “Listen to me,” Thomas hissed. “I know who did this to the family. Devin has nothing to do with it.”

  “Then who?” I said, furious at everything that had transpired.

  Pop! Pop! Pop!

  The gunfire came from outside. Suddenly, there were shouts.

  “Go find out what the hell is going on,” Arman barked, once again pointing the weapon at Devin. I yanked out my Glock as well as both Landry and Tony raced from the room holding their weapons in their hands.

  Thomas rushed to the door, jerking out his weapon as well.

  “What the fuck is going on?” Arman demanded as additional gunfire could be heard, including coming from more than one assault rifle.

  “Your father did this,” Thomas snapped.

  Arman and I stared at each other, uncertain what the hell Thomas was getting at.

  All hell broke loose before he had a chance to explain, an explosion occurring in another part of the house.

  “Get down,” Arman yelled, yanking Devin across the desk to the floor. “If you move, you die, you fucker.”

  For once the powerful Texan allowed his fear to show, crawling behind the couch, staring up at me as if I could be his savior.

  Arman rushed to one side of the door while I moved beside Thomas. “Jean Baptiste did not do this.”

  “No!” Thomas said. “It’s⁠—”

  The second explosion was close, driving all three of us to the floor, debris falling from the ceiling. I rolled, trying to keep my aim on the door. After a few seconds of yelling, additional gunfire, a quiet settled in.

  The sound of footsteps put us on edge. Both Arman and Thomas crawled closer, all three of us pointing our weapons at the door.