Revenge Read Free Page A

He fought the images of the past that tied him to
En Ville
. Memories of he and Marie out on the Pontchartrain on her
p
èr
e’s yacht, of walking along the shore with his arm wrapped around her waist, and kissing her on the dock. And the memory he fought hardest was of the crime scene photos of her bloated body, floating in the lake’s dark waters.
    He thought he’d prepared himself. What he didn’t count on was the emotional turmoil coming back wrought on his mind and body. The memory of Marie’s mutilated body and Cody’s safety kept him going forward. He had failed one woman he loved. He couldn’t fail Cody.
    The wrath of hell would come down on those who’d destroyed his old life and threatened his new one.
    The street he sought loomed ahead. Letting the bike idle down, he banked the turn, coasted down the slight rise, and turned onto the first street. Palmetto and banana trees lined the road, blocking most of the drives. The smooth surface of Lakeshore Drive turned into a bumpy ride until he reached the second to last house on the cul de sac. His bike rumbled into the driveway. Dropping the kickstand, he killed the engine and remained seated as he peered at the immaculate brick two-story with a Federal style front and light gray painted rails. Four banana trees bookended the front and shaded the short, paved walk tucked behind the extended front and the garage.
    Remy drew back his coat sleeve and checked his watch. She should be home. Carefully, he removed his sunglasses as he strode to the door, and punched the doorbell.
    Seconds later, a woman’s voice sounded. “Coming.”
    He braced as the door opened.
    Vic’s long, dark brown hair was swept back in a ponytail, away from her pale heart-shaped face and pale hazel-gray eyes. She wore a green tank and black athletic shorts, beads of sweat lingering on her shoulders and chest. One finely plucked eyebrow rose. “Remy?” She gaped at him.
    “
Bonjour
, Vic.”
    Panic flared through her eyes, and her hand darted outside, latched on to his arm and yanked him into her home. Slamming the door shut, she pressed her back to it as her chest rose and fell in rapid succession. “What the hell were you thinking, coming back here?”
    “I’ve got legit reasons for coming back.” His gaze darted around the vaulted ceiling, along the upstairs railing, to the chandelier dangling from the middle of the ceiling. “Nice place. I don’t think I’ve ever been in here.”
    “Shit.” She stalked forward, grabbed his arm once again and hauled him into the kitchen. “Of all the pig-headed, stupid, moronic things you could do, you came back here.” She whipped him around and shoved him onto a kitchen chair. “You got a death wish or something, Cajun?”
    “Nice to see you, too.”
    Jerking out a chair, she spun it and straddled the backrest. Her stare bore into him, but Remy didn’t waver. Vic Slater was a no-nonsense NOPD officer, more tomboy than woman, and dead set on finding the person or persons responsible for the disappearance and likely murder of her parents almost thirty years ago.
    “Who else knows you’re here?”
    “Just you.”
    “You’re supposed to pretend to be dead. What the hell made you think it was a good idea to return?”
    Remy shrugged. “Being dead makes it easy. No one suspects anything.”
    Vic blew air past her lips and rocked back. “If Jared finds out you didn’t die, it’ll be for real this time.”
    Slouching in the chair, Remy laid an ankle on the top of his knee and made himself comfortable. “He won’t. Not until I’m ready for him to find out.”
    Vic shook her head. “They always said Cajuns were crazy sons-of-bitches; you’re proof it’s true.” She crossed her arms on the top of the chair’s back and settled her chin on them. “I can’t believe you risked coming back. Where’ve you been the last six years?”
    “Dallas. Working for the DPD as a detective.”
    “Shouldn’t you be there, working?”
    “I got