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“You’re quite welcome,” she said.
Swede loaded three images onto the big screen.
Remy nodded. “The last three are Sinclaire Sevier, aka Sin, Jacques Jardine and Xavier Xander. Sin was Delta Force.” Remy nodded to the picture at the center. “Jacques Jardine, Navy SEAL, and Xavier Xander, also a Navy SEAL. Plus me, that makes ten new members of the Brother Hood Protectors, if they all make it out to Louisiana without changing their minds.”
Hank held out his hand to Remy. “Great job recruiting qualified candidates.”
“Thank you, sir,” Remy said, his chest swelling just a little. “I was fortunate to get them all to agree to come for an introductory meeting here at the ranch. They’re excited to meet you. You’re practically a legend among special operations teams.”
“Is that because I’ve been around for a while, aka old?” Hank said with a twist of his lips.
Remy chuckled. “Not at all. The fact that you’ve built a successful business in the States, manning it with former spec ops personnel, gives us hope for a real future.”
“I need their skills. People need their skills. I just facilitate connecting the skilled operators with the people who need them.”
“It’s commendable,” Remy said. “We can help others using the skills we learned on active duty. All that training isn’t going to waste.”
“Exactly.” Hank clapped his hands together. “Let’s go up and meet our new Bayou Brotherhood team in person.”
Remy’s brow wrinkled. “Bayou Brotherhood?”
“I like the ring of it. And if you have your way, we’ll be setting up operations in a bayou.”
Remy’s chest swelled. Coming to work for Hank and the Brotherhood Protectors was an honor. He’d never thought Hank would put him in charge of standing up a new regional office. The challenge was at once overwhelming and exciting. The team he’d assembled of his peers would make his job easy as the man in charge of the satellite branch. Each man had the skills needed and the drive and determination to make any assignment a success.
Remy and Swede followed Hank out of the basement of Hank and Sadie’s ranch house. They’d built the house with the basement beneath it with Hank’s brainchild in mind. They lived comfortably in the spacious house above, and Hank had quick and easy access to the Brotherhood Protectors’ headquarters, computers and armory.
If Remy hoped to be as successful, he would have to get started. It took time to build or renovate what he’d need. In the meantime, he’d have to find a place to rent.
And hopefully, run into Shelby. He wondered if she thought much about that night they’d sheltered from the storm in that old fishing shack. Did she remember it as vividly as he did? Did it linger in her memories and dreams?
He'd find out soon enough. If all went well, he’d be down there within the next week.
The two SUVs Hank had sent out to pick up the men from the airport pulled up to the ranch house and parked.
Doors opened. The drivers were two men from Hank’s team, Chuck Johnson and Brandon Rayne, “Boomer” to his friends. The passengers, Remy’s future team, stepped out and stretched, their gazes taking in the mountains, the ranch house and people standing on the front porch.
Remy, Swede and Hank descended the steps together and shook hands with each man, introducing themselves.
Once they’d made their rounds, Hank turned toward the house. “Come meet my beautiful wife. You might recognize her if you’re much of a movie buff.” He strode up the steps and slipped his arm around the beautiful blond movie star. “Guys, this is my wife, Sadie McClain.” He turned to Sadie. “These men are the newest of the Brotherhood Protectors.”
She gave them her megawatt smile that had earned her worldwide acclaim and affection. “Welcome to White Oak Ranch and the Brotherhood Protectors. Come in. Come in. I have lemonade prepared for those who care for it.”
“And I have beer for those who don’t,” Hank said with a wink.
They filed into the house, with Remy bringing up the rear with Romeo.
“Thanks for thinking of me,” Romeo said. “I was ready to come back to the States months ago; I just wasn’t sure where I’d fit in.”
Remy clapped a hand on his shoulder. “From what I can tell so far, you’re in the right place. Hank’s a good guy, and he’s made quite a name for himself with the work he’s done.”
“So I’ve heard.”
As they stepped through the door, Remy’s cell phone chirped in his pocket. He pulled it out and frowned down at the name on the screen, his pulse kicking into high gear.
Broussard Country Store.
“Excuse me,” he said to Romeo. “I’ll be right there. I need to take this call.”
