Leopard's Prey

around the bayou, you’d better be in shape.”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Gage said, and dutifully downed the orange juice in one long gulp. “Where’s our esteemed leader?”
    Saria pressed her lips together and looked away.
    “Saria?” Remy dropped his voice to that one note no one ever disobeyed.
    She took a deep breath and poured herself a glass of orange juice, clearly stalling. “When Gage called this mornin’ and said the Rousseau brothers were gone, he went into the swamp in the hope of tracking them,” she admitted, carefully not looking at either brother.
    “And he didn’t think it was necessary for him to have backup?” Remy demanded, his fork halting inches from his mouth.
    “Of course he had backup. He said forensics hasn’t come out yet with the theory of animal fur and leopard paw prints, so if they were careful, they might be able to have somethin’ for you within an hour or so.”
    Remy lifted an eyebrow. “Lojos and Mahieu, I presume?”
    Saria nodded. “He said you and Gage were workin’ on a couple of hours of sleep and the lair needed to help out. He called the others and told them to be watchful, but not to actively hunt.”
    “And Dash. What is he doin’?” Remy asked shrewdly. “Bijou, don’ just drink coffee. Eat breakfast,” he added, and scooped trout and eggs onto a warm plate.
    Bijou, curled up on her chair sipping at her coffee, looked startled. “I’m not hungry.”
    “Be hungry,” he said. “Saria? What the hell does Drake have Dash doin’?”
    “He’s on guard duty,” she said. “Bijou, you have bites all over your neck.”
    Remy couldn’t stop his gaze from finding Bijou, even when he knew his sister was trying to throw him off track. A faint blush stole up her cheeks. She looked thoroughly loved. Taken. Claimed. Her hair tumbled down her back in a blue-black cloud, held loosely by a single clip at the nape of her neck. She wore soft blue jeans riding low on her hips and a cotton top of pale pink that wasn’t quite pink but probably had some girlie name like
mauve
that complemented her skin perfectly. Both hands cupped her coffee mug, holding it in front of her like a shield.
    “Blue, we need to put a ring on that finger soon.” Remy made it a statement. A blue stone. Sapphire or blue diamond. He had plenty of money saved. He could spend it on a suitable ring for her.
    Her blush deepened. “I thought the subject was what your brother was doin’, not us.”
    He grinned at her and held out a fork. “Just in case you’re pregnant and eatin’ for two. And just so you know, you’re always on my mind.”
    She took the proffered fork, more, he was certain, to get the attention off of her, than to eat much. Gage didn’t help by grinning from ear to ear like a baboon. Even Saria smirked a little behind her hand.
    “Keep it up, Gage,” Bijou hissed between her teeth. “You’re close enough that I could get you with this fork.”
    “I’m not laughin’ at you, Bijou. It’s just that my brother has it
so
bad. He’s like a crazy man right now, and it’s just really fun for me. Not to mention, when he’s bossin’ you, he forgets all about bossin’ the rest of us.”
    Remy chose dignity. It was the only course of action when his brother might be stating a fact. He scooped up a couple of
couche-couche
, a Cajun-style fried cornmeal mush that Saria always made to his liking, and ignored Gage altogether.
    “So where exactly is Dash at the present time?” Remy asked his sister after downing more trout. “Is he watching over you while Drake is gone?”
    “Sort of,” Saria sounded a bit mischievous.
    Remy sat up very straight. “Did Drake leave him behind to guard me?”
    Saria nodded, the amusement fading from her dark eyes. “He’s worried the Rousseau brothers will come after you and Gage, and, Remy, before you explode, it makes sense. You and Gage are relentless when you’re trackin’ someone. Everyone knows that. You’re the ones who ruined things for them. They think they’re unbelievably clever, and they believed they were invincible, that no one would dare testify against them. The two of you brought them down and they aren’t the type to go quietly into the night.”
    Bijou made a small sound of distress and leaned toward him. “I
told
you.”
    Remy reached out and took her hand, bringing it under the table onto his thigh. His thumb slid back and forth in a soothing caress. He didn’t need her upset or worried about him. He