Page 54 of Home Again

“Mr. Fontenot, so what kind of businesses do you have, it sounds interesting?”

He sighed. “So you still want to play it that way, do you?” He was picking up speed.

“What are you talking about?” she asked nervously.

“You think you’re smart, but I’m a whole hell of a lot smarter. I’m always the smartest man in the room. So don’t give me that innocent shit now, sweet cheeks. I talked to Armand yesterday. I know who you are. Here you show up with a phony resume asking questions. Once again he’s the weak link bringing in a spy to the organization. Leaving me to take care of things.”

“I’m not a spy,” Gianna denied hotly.

“Bullshit. But you’ll be able to make things right. I don’t deserve what’s happened to me. Armand’s fucked me over, but at least he’s found a way to make it right.”

“What are you talking about?” Gianna felt her voice rising.

“I don’t just own my club. It does all right, but new competition has come in and it’s not bringing in as much as it used to. For years what’s brought in the cash has been my private ambulance company. It was the biggest in three parishes until I had to use it to bail out my construction company, and all because of Armand’s fuck-up.”

When he didn’t continue, she asked him a question. “What happened?” Anything to keep him talking. The car was going faster.

“I’ll tell you what happened. Goddamned Armand Durand happened. I was stupid enough to listen to him. He told me that his dad had told him that a new annex to the state capitol was going to be built. Nobody knew anything about it yet, so my company would be on the ground floor on the bid. All I needed to do was make sure I was staffed and had all the supplies ready and I’d be a shoo-in. Took me six months to get my ducks in a row. Six fucking months, and I pulled in every favor I could and took loans out the ass. You want to know what happened then?”

“Okay.”

“Turns out his old man was talking about the Mississippi state capitol building. How in the hell could Armand get that wrong? How? And I’m not even licensed to work in Mississippi.”

Oh God, I’m in big trouble.

“What are you going to do to me?”

“Well, today is your lucky day.” He grinned over at her as he got onto I-10 West. “Armand might be the world’s biggest screw-up but occasionally he does have a plan that has a little bit of merit. We’re going to use you as leverage.”

Oh shit.

* * *

Gideon had gotten them a room at the La Quinta in Baton Rouge, and they’d just dumped their shit when Sebastian’s phone rang with a number he didn’t recognize so he let it go to voicemail. According to the info that Gideon had found, Reuban didn’t get off his job as a security guard until four o’clock so they had a little time to rest and he needed a shower.

When a text came in, Sebastian glanced down at his phone.

S.O.S. this is Jada Harlow, Gianna’s friend. She’s been kidnapped. Call me.

Sebastian called the number, not knowing what to expect.

“Sebastian?”

“Yes.”

“I’m conferencing you in to a phone call. It’s kind of muffled, but you’ll be able to hear what’s going on. The man who has Gianna is named Bradley Fontenot and he’s a friend of your uncle.”

What the fuck?

“Gideon! Here, now!”

Sebastian put his phone on speaker and mute and placed it on his bed. He and Gideon both leaned over it as a click sounded. There was just a muffled sound of nothing. Gideon shot Sebastian a look. He looked down at his phone to ensure that mute was on.

“Jada, Gianna’s friend, just conferenced us into Gianna’s phone. She said Gianna’s been kidnapped.”

They had to wait for what seemed like forever before there was any kind of sound. “So where are you taking me?” a voice that Sebastian recognized as Gianna’s asked.

“Don’t worry about it,” a man’s voice answered. He had a strong Cajun accent.