Page 5 of Bayou Sunset

Barbara, his mother, smiled weakly. “He’d like that.”

With a solemn nod, he proceeded past her into his father's room. A wave of shock and concern engulfed him as he focused on his father, who was connected to various machines. It became apparent that the heart attack may not have been as mild as his mother had suggested.

His father opened his eyes. “Cher, you no need to come home formoi. Ya has a grand job to do.”

His parents weren’t impressed when he had left the FBI for Hamilton Investigation and Security. They changed their minds once he explained the type of cases HIS worked on and how their success rate was higher than the alphabets. He loved their support in his career.

Romeo smiled as best he could, considering his father could have died, and approached the bedside. “Hi, Papa. Who permitted ya to have a heart attack?” he joked. That had always been his father's question when he'd done something wrong. “Who permitted ya to…?”

Wayne chuckled and then sobered. “Hear me, Steve. We need to chat afore dey move me. I got things ta say dat I don't want yamamanta hear.”

Despite expecting a similar outcome, Romeo was taken aback by the overwhelming sense of pessimism and despair in the air. “Mais oui.” He sat in the chair his mother had probably been sitting in since they'd put his father in ICU.

“Un, I glad ya here. Yamamanneeds to be taken care of while I recover. How long can ya stay?”

“As long as needed,” Romeo answered, knowing the Hamiltons would give him whatever time he requested. Since he began working with them, he hadn’t taken a single vacation despite having abundant available time.

“Bien. Bien.” Wayne shifted on the bed, and Romeo stood tohelp. His father waved him off with a hand that had an IV in it. “I be fine.”

He didn't look fine, but Romeo didn't want to argue the point. “What else?” he asked, unsure he wanted to know.

“Deux,” his father said, “I want ya assurances dat if something happens to me, ya will care for yamaman.”

Romeo hated that kind of talk. “Don't talk like dat, Papa. You'll be fine.” There went that word again.Fine.

“Yamamandon’t know dis, and ya best not tell her, but the docs says I died on dat dere table.”

Romeo's heart sank like a rock to the pit of his stomach. Died? His father? He couldn't lose his father. He idolized the man.

“I jist want to know dat she be taken care of should something happen ta me. I has a little insurance policy, and da house be paid for,maissomeone needs to be wit her. She needs someone ta care for. It's what keeps her happy.”

Swallowing around the lump in his throat, Romeo would agree to anything his father asked of him. “While I expect you be living a long life, should something happen to you, I'll take care ofMamau.”

“Bien. Bien,” Romeo's father said again. Wayne closed his eyes, and Romeo worried he was going to sleep. “Steve,” he said, then opened his eyes, “we miss ya.”

Regret and sadness flooded his system. He'd stayed away way too long. All because of one thing. Well, one person. He had a thing for his best friend's sister, who was considered off-limits.

“Trois,” his father said, “watch out for Daisy Mae—”

Romeo's heart leaped at her name, and his gut churned simultaneously.

“Herfrères—dey be up ta something, and I think dey plan ta snare her.”

How would his father know this? He attempted to ask. “How—”

“Yamaman. She kinda adopted Daisy Mae into our family. We know all dat go on with her and dosefrèresof hers.”

Romeo's thoughts spun around Daisy Mae as part of his family. When he had left, she had been exquisitely beautiful. He couldn't help but imagine she still possessed that same timeless beauty.

Then, he recalled the night before he’d left home. Daisy Mae had snuck over to convince him to take her with him. Heck, she’d even tried to kiss him and offer up her virginity. Romeo felt the redness creep up his neck.

“What herfrèresbe up to?” They'd always been into something growing up, and Romeo had been part of every adventure. He and Pierre had been best friends in school. That was, until doing what they'd all planned–getting the hell out of Bayou Junction.

“I know not. Dey be secretive ‘bout it,maisI has a feeling it be treasure hunting ’gain.”

“Treasure hunting?” he repeated as a question. They twins had always wanted to play treasure hunting when they were growing up. They still played at it?

Wayne nodded. “Oui. Dat be why I needs ya to keep an eye on her. Treasure hunters—dey be ruthless.”

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