Under the Bayou Moon Read Online Free Page A

eyes went immediately to Michael. She began to move toward him.
    “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”
    “Why not? He might be hurt.”
    “He’s fine.” Jacques walked closer to her, but she held up her hands to stop him.
    “Who are you? Why aren’t you afraid of me?”
    “I’m not afraid of you because I know who and what you are.”
    Angel’s eyes scanned his face as she wrapped her arms around her waist.
    “What am I?”
    Her question was a whispered plea. He could feel fear vibrate out from her body.
    Her beautiful reddish-brown eyes looked everywhere but at him.
    “I think you have an idea already, but just so we’re all on the same page, Angel, you’re a gator shifter. Something tells me this isn’t your first time shifting.”
    She sank to the floor in a puddle of golden fabric. Shaking her head in disbelief, she closed her eyes.
    “No, I’m normal.”
    Jacques snorted. “Well, hell, of course you’re normal.”
    Jacques moved toward her to reassure her.
    Mmmmm.
    Michael’s groan stopped him in his tracks.
    “Listen, he’s going to be a problem.”
    “What do you mean?”
    “We don’t allow non-shifters to see us. And if they do…”
    “No! You can’t.”
    “What choice do we have? Do you think he’ll just keep quiet about what he saw today? I can’t risk it.”
    “Maybe he won’t remember,” she said hopefully.
    Jacques knew better than to chance it. Michael had seen Angel do a full shift. That was something most people wouldn’t forget. Their pod had rules, the primary of which was never be discovered, and if you are, don’t let them live.
    Jacques moved toward Michael. He wouldn’t drag it out, it would be painless.
    “No!”
    Angel was on his back, pulling on his shoulders and pummeling his head. He quickly rolled, bringing her beneath him, effectively pinning her to the carpet. Jacques held her arms above her head to keep her still.
    “No, please, don’t kill him,” Angel implored.
    Michael moaned again. He’d be awake soon. Jacques would have to move fast.
    “Angel, leaving him alive would do more harm than good.”
    “He’s my baby brother. I promised my father I’d look out for him.”
    A stray tear slid from the corner of her left eye. Her golden skin held red undertones from both exertion and emotion. Breasts, heavy and full, strained beneath the silken fabric that encased her like a chrysalis. Her body was as soft and warm as a mossy glade on the banks of the bayou and his beast wanted her, he wanted her. No, he needed her.
    “Mr. Bertrand. If you let him live, I’ll sell you a portion of my half of the Tiki.”
    The idea of having a controlling share in a Las Vegas casino was enticing. For years he’d wanted to branch out of New Orleans and Gulf Port, and Las Vegas had been a personal goal. Finding Angel had been primary on his list. Finding her in Las Vegas owning a casino had been lady luck smiling down on him. To say it had killed two birds with one stone was an understatement.
    Michael had been a weak link. He owed some very dangerous people a lot of money. It hadn’t taken much for Jacques to purchase his debts and then exert enough “pressure” to get him to sell his portion of the Tiki to settle those debts. He’d even kicked in a few extra million to sweeten the deal. Michael had willingly signed on the dotted line.
    Jacques planned to use his ownership in the Tiki to get Angel to New Orleans. Even though he wanted a foothold in Vegas, he’d be willing to sell Angel his half if she agreed to come back to Louisiana with him. Where he hoped to woo her and eventually mate with her.
    If he didn’t mate with her under the bayou moon by his thirtieth birthday, he would lose his ability to shift and his role as sovereign leader of his pod, and that would mean chaos for not only his pod but all of the pods in the Louisiana region. As tempting as her offer was, he needed her more than the casino.
    “No…”
    “But…”
    “I don’t want the Tiki.