Bayou Justice Read Online Free Page A

case.
    â€œHe’ll calm down. You’ll see.”
    How he wished he could believe her. “I need to find him, talk to him. Try to make him understand how I feel.”
    â€œLuc, when has he ever cared about what any of us feel?” Big tears welled in her crystal blue eyes, and she ducked her head.
    â€œHey.” He set the case on the floor and crossed the room to squat before her. “What’d he say to you?” He patted her bare knees.
    â€œNothing.” She sniffed and wiped away her tears.
    â€œThen why are you crying? Come on, Boo, when have you ever not been able to tell me everything?” He crossed his eyes and stuck out his tongue, a trick he’d used to cheer her up since they were children.
    She let out a small giggle. “I talked to Frank this morning.”
    â€œAnd?” He waggled his eyebrows.
    â€œIt seems Grandfather paid him a little visit yesterday.” She hiccupped. “He told Frank to s-s-stay away from me if he didn’t want to end up in f-f-financial ruin.” Fresh tears pooled in her eyes.
    Luc let out a low whistle. “He sure was a busy man yesterday.” He held his sister’s hands. “What’d Frank say?”
    The smile she flashed sparkled and brightened the entire room, even more so than the floor-to-ceiling windows along one wall. “Frank said he told Grandfather that he could drop dead.”
    â€œGood for him.” Frank Thibodeaux seemed to be good for his sister. He’d never seen her look happier.
    â€œLuc, you know how Grandfather is. He’ll set out to ruin Frank if I keep seeing him.”
    â€œHe can’t hold us under his thumb forever.” Luc straightened, staring out the large windows overlooking the bayou. The afternoon sun reflected off the water, casting prisms of light and color across the marshland.
    He turned back to stare at his sister. The large room appeared to swallow her small form. The white paint on every wall in the house screamed purity, always reminding him of Felicia. “You just keep seeing Frank if he makes you happy. I’ll figure something out.”
    â€œFrank’s so mad, it scares me.”
    Luc glanced at his sister, laying a hand on her shoulder. “Scares you how?”
    â€œHe’s so angry over the way Grandfather treats me. He says Grandfather isn’t allowing me to get new and inventive treatments that could maybe help me. He says there’s a surgery that could let me walk.”
    His sister shook her head. “I don’t know what to think. All my doctors are ‘Grandfather selected.’ I’ve never questioned it before because he’s paid all the medical bills. If what Frank suggests is true…”
    Luc ground his teeth. “We can look into it.”
    â€œHow? Grandfather controls everything we do, who’s in our lives, how we live.”
    â€œAnd it’s going to stop now.”
    She stared up at him with such hope and trust in her eyes it almost physically hurt him. “How? What can we do?” She lowered her head. “Maybe Mom’s right. We should be grateful for all he does for us.” Her voice cracked on a sob.
    â€œStop that. It isn’t true and you know it.”
    â€œI think Grandfather’s threats have pushed Frank into making a decision.”
    â€œWhat kind of decision?”
    Felicia stared back up at him. This time, her smile twinkled in her eyes. “I think he’s going to propose soon.”
    â€œThat’s great, Boo. ” Happiness filled Luc’s chest, but a bitter sting of remorse fell like lead to his gut. At one time, he, too, had been thinking of marriage, had even presented a ring. A life with CoCo. The knife in his heart twisted at the thought of what he’d had…and what he’d thrown away. If only he’d been able to forgive….
    â€œI’m scared if he asks me and I accept, Grandfather will