Page 25 of Lake's Legacy

“I hope so,” Celeste hisses. “Oh shit!”

I glance down and see fluid flow over and off the table.

“Well, momma, it looks like your son wants out.”

Annette and I help Celeste get comfortable.

“Can you let Joseph and Lake know what’s happening?” Annette tells me.

Nodding, I rush to the door, but three men enter before I reach it. The first one waves his gun between the three of us while the other two take out zip ties. “Now, you’re going to cooperate, or I’ll gladly shove the gun up her cunt and kill them both.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: LAKE

Joseph stares after his wife with concern.

“She’s in good hands,” I assure him.

“I know Annette, but I don’t know…”

“Olivia. She’s my woman. She’s an obstetrics nurse at Tulane Hospital in New Orleans. Like I said, Celeste and your baby are in good hands.”

I remember Joseph from school. He was a year behind me, but we’d been friendly. Our community was small enough that all the kids knew each other. Some outsiders attended our school, but the tribe had the majority.

“Pieter was in here earlier with Muriel and Marie,” I say, getting Joseph’s attention. “He mentioned the men who threatened him and his family. He said they visited you. I was hoping you could tell me what happened.”

Joseph runs his hand over his face. “Fuckers. Three of them came roaring onto our property when I was docking my boat. They came after me. After they punched and kicked me, they stopped long enough to lay out their threat. They told me they’d kill me and take my wife and child if I didn’t clear out. Lucky for me, Stefen showed up, and they took off. Since then, Celeste has stayed with her folks whenever I go on the boat. I’m scared I’llcome home and find my home destroyed or the assholes waiting for me.”

“Did you tell the chief or Crow?”

“Spoke with Crow. He said they’re looking into it. Crow and some others have been patrolling the community, but so far, no one knows where these assholes are hiding out. They show up, create havoc, and then disappear.”

“Have they attacked others? Pieter thought it was just him and you. I found motorcycle tracks in the back. I think they may have caused the damage to the clinic.”

“Yeah, Crow mentioned the tracks. They took out the clinic after they approached Pieter. Then they attacked me. I haven’t heard of anyone else getting a visit from them, but they ride around the bayou and shoot off their guns. They’re terrorizing our community.”

“I hadn’t heard about them causing havoc,” I murmur. “Toff didn’t mention it.”

“This started happening two days ago. I heard them one night and ran into Baptiste, who mentioned it.”

I consider why only the men have directly threatened the Oxbridge and the Billiot families and no one else. Maybe because Pieter and Joseph were alone? Three against one are good odds. Before I can ask any more questions, Toff stumbles into the room with his hand on the back of his head. When he pulls his hand free, blood coats his fingers.

“What the hell happened?” I ask, rushing forward.

“Guy jumped me when I was taking out the trash. Hit me over the head with something. I just woke up.”

I force Toff into a chair so I can examine his head, but then a crash from down the hall has the three of us running into the almost empty exam room. Celeste is on the exam table, her feet inside the stirrups as she doubles up in pain. Someone zip-tied her ankles to the stirrups. I know neither Annette nor Oliviawould have done that. Neither woman is in the room, but a surgical tray with gauze, scissors, and forceps lies on the floor.

“What happened?” I demand, only then realizing someone had wrapped gauze around Celeste’s head to silence her.

“Baby,” Josephy cries out, removing the gauze before kissing her forehead. “What happened?”

“Three men came into the room. One had a gun. They tied me up. They took Annette and Olivia. Same men. Same men who came to our house.” Celeste gasps out. She screams as she clutches Joseph’s hand.

“Fuck, you’re having the baby. Okay. I’ve delivered a baby before. You’re not alone in this. Toff, call for an ambulance. This baby isn’t going to wait until they get here, but I want them on their way. Then, pick up the tray and the other stuff off the ground. I need you to find me sterile versions of everything that was on that tray.”

“What about Annette and Olivia?”

I close my eyes and take a breath. “They have to be strong. This baby is coming. We need to focus on her and her mother.”

---