Justice
Behind my boat were two of the biggest logs I’d pulled in so far. It was foolish to even bring them out of the water with the way my business slowly faded, but it wasn’t like I could go to a day job like Eti. I had to do something with my hands, or I’d go batshit crazy.
I closed my eyes and allowed the gentle lull of the swamp water waves lapping at the sides of my boat to ease my gator. He’d been less than enchanted with me keeping him in so long, but I couldn’t exactly make furniture with my claws.
I stopped the boat at the handmade dock near Shotgun Row and tied off the boat. Lazare and Loic were waiting to help me lift the logs to shore.
“Where’d you find these beasts?” Loic examined my finds after jumping into the water.
“I’ve got my hiding places. Might try to bring a few pieces into town later. You think Tansy might put some up for sale in front of the bakery?”
Lazare smiled. “If you say pretty please and give her some of those caramels she likes.”
I nodded. I had to earn some money, or else I’d have to go back to the oil rigs again. No mortgage or student loan companies were breathing down my neck, but a guy had to eat, and my fucking house sagged a little more every day.
We got the logs to the workshop next to my house. I’d pulled a mallet and chisel from my peg board when Etienne cleared his throat behind me.
“I need a favor.” He shoved a piece of paper in front of me and then, taking my chisel from my hand, tacked it onto the log.
“No.”
“I didn’t even tell you what the favor was.”
Ripping the paper free, I shoved it back in his direction. “Okay. What is it?”
“I think she’s in trouble.”
I turned around to face him, my lips tight and pursed. “Milla Robichaux is nothing but trouble. Her fucking soul is made of trouble. Now, tell me what the favor is so I can turn you down flat.”
“I can’t keep an eye on her. She’s living in Tansy’s house, but I’m a little worried.”
I chuckled. “She’s what, twenty-eight, now? Maybe older. I’m sure she’s a big girl who can take care of herself. Milla is a gator, numb nuts.”
“She doesn’t shift, and you know it.”
“Sounds like a personal problem.”
“Justice.” I hated that tone. It was bogged down and heavy leaving his mouth, and the weight transferred to me as soon as he used it. Etienne and I had been friends since we were kids. I ran to his house and told his mother when Milla shot Eti in the eye. He only spoke to me on the day of his father’s funeral. Crew or not, Etienne was my brother.
“I’ll go check on her,” I conceded. “Once I see she’s alive and breathing, I’m out. You know how I feel about Milla. She can go fuck herself for all I care.”
He looked at the ground, shaking his head. Yes, I was a little bitch for hanging onto a twenty-year grudge, but I didn’t care.
“Let me know how she is. I will get over there when I can, but I’ve got to get to work today.”
“Go. I promise not to be a bastard.” Liar. Liar.
“Okay.”
He walked away as I pretended to dig into the log full force. But I hated having other matters on my mind while I worked. Creativity didn’t come if your mind was mucked up with sludge thoughts and crawling emotions.
I’d have to get this Milla thing over with.
After putting a few benches into the back of my old truck, I made my way into town. Marie’s would still be open and, either way, the owner would feed my growling belly.
“Tansy, girl. What you got for me? I’m as hungry as a—”
“Gator?” A female voice caused an earthquake shiver to trail down my spine. I knew that voice. It wasn’t as squeaky, but it was her.
“Yeah. Three birds, one stone,” I mumbled, sitting three stools away from Milla, now totally woman instead of wiry girl. The sight of her perfectly rounded ass didn’t escape me. Too bad it was attached to a…
“I’ve got fried pies that will be ready in two minutes, and I think Gina has a fresh batch of chocolate-covered buttermilk donuts. Pick your poison.” Tansy spouted information while she poured fresh coffee into my cup that read Gators do it under water.
“A dozen of each.”
“Coronary much?” Milla spoke around her own cardiac event.
Gators didn’t get heart attacks. She’d know that if she actually acknowledged hers.
“I see you’re getting along well. No need for me to check on you per your cousin’s orders.”
Tansy put two trays in front of me with steaming pies and crisp donuts.
“Check on me? You mean see how I’ve been for the last twenty or so years or how I’ve been since I got into town?”
After the third pie, I answered, “Aww, did you need us to come up there and chaperone you to the prom?”
Milla fisted the parchment paper her donuts were served on with a smile that could kill baby dolphins. “I’m sorry I ever fucking came back. You report that to Etienne. And, next time, you tell him if he wants to check on me, not to send his little pussy friend.”