Branded: Savannah: Sisters Bound By Blood

by Karen Kelley

  "Where the hell are they?"

  "We misjudged Freddie. He took them to Granny's house."

  Breaker's blood ran cold. Savannah was in danger.

  "Leonie is with your girl. She be okay."

  Except they didn't know Marco. "Let's go."

  Chapter Thirty-One

  "Where are the other boats?" Marco screamed. "Incompetent idiots! I'm surrounded by them!"

  Freddie pulled a dirty handkerchief out of his pocket and mopped at his forehead.

  "I told you it wouldn't be easy to catch Breaker. This is where he grew up. He knows the swamps as well as he knows the back of his hand."

  Marco pulled his gun and pointed it at the guide. "You've been taking us around in circles. I'm starting to think you don't want us to find him."

  Freddie stuffed his handkerchief back in his pocket, shaking his head wildly. "No, it's just that he's smart."

  "Are you saying he's smarter than I am?" Marco’s eyes narrowed.

  "We’re so deep in the swamps now," Juan said. "If you shoot him, we may never find our way out."

  "That's right. I can get you back out. Please don't shoot me."

  "Where would he go? He would not bring the woman with him. Where would he have taken her?"

  "His father has a place not too far from here. He could've taken her there."

  "His father is still there?"

  "No, I heard his father went back to Tennessee. The place is probably rundown by now. But he has a grandmother that still lives out here."

  A grandmother. Marco was thoughtful for a moment. Yes, a man like Breaker would have taken Savannah to his grandmother so she could see after her.

  "Let's go back to the hotel," Juan pleaded. "We have no men left. He's probably already killed them. The man is laughing at us because he has us right where he wants us."

  Marco turned a steely-eyed glare on his half-brother. "No one laughs at me. Especially some backwoods scum. My men were idiots. They deserved whatever came their way. No, we will find Savannah."

  Juan sighed. "If that is what you wish."

  "It is." He narrowed his gaze on the guide. "Take us to this grandmother. If you're wrong about Savannah being there, I'll kill you."

  Freddie increased the speed of the motor, and they took off again.

  Once he had Savannah, he knew Breaker would do nothing to put the girl in harm's way. When he got Savannah home, he would be on his own ground. Breaker thought he was being smart luring him out to the swamps, but two could play this game.

  He curled his lip as they passed by heavy vegetation on both sides, but he couldn't stop the shudder that ran over him when he looked into the eyes of the alligator staring back at him. He hated this swamp and these people. The sooner he was back home, the better.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  "My cousin is a good man," Leonie said as she and Savannah stepped to the front porch. "After his mama die, there was nothing between him and his father. He was a mean son of a bitch, his father. We helped him when we could, but John was still his daddy."

  "I'd already guessed that he and his father didn't get along. He told me that he ran away when he was fourteen because his father was caught poaching, and the man took it out on him."

  "He paid for hurting that boy. My father and his brother taught that man a lesson. You don't take your anger out on a boy for what his father did."

  Savannah leaned against the corner post of the porch. "And I know he's a good man. He's already proven that. Marco is evil, and he's protected me from him. He didn't have to do that. He could've washed his hands of me from the very beginning, but he didn't."

  Savannah studied Leonie. She had immediately liked the other woman, who wasn't much older than her and reminded her a little bit of Rayan and how she was outspoken.

  Leonie’s skin might not be as soft, and her language could be colorful at times, but there was something about her she liked. She wore her black hair pulled back into a low ponytail. She wore a black, sleeveless T-shirt, snug-fitting, low-riding jeans, and heavy-duty boots. She also had the same color of gray eyes as Breaker. Savannah had a feeling Leonie would never bow down to any man, but hold her own with them.

  "He likes you a lot," Leonie said, breaking into Savannah's thoughts.

  "I like him, too."

  When Leonie turned her direct gaze onto Savannah, she blushed. Now was not the time to be having the thoughts she was having about Breaker. Savannah looked away, toward the swamp. Marco was still out there. And he was hunting him.

  "Do you think they're okay?" she asked.

  "I think they know what they're doing. They won't take any chances."

  She nodded. Hoping Leonie was right. If anything happened to any of them, Savannah would never forgive herself. She didn't have to pull Breaker into her mess, but she had. Anything that happened would be on her head.

  Leonie was right, though. Breaker knew what he was doing, and apparently, so did his relatives. She frowned, thinking about something else that had aroused her curiosity. "How did he get the name—Breaker?"

  Leonie grinned. "He was so handsome and could always talk his momma out of the last bit of sweet candy with just a smile and a twinkle in his eyes. She always said he would get the girls to fall in love with him, then he was going to break their hearts. She called him her little heart breaker. The name stuck, but got shortened to Breaker."

  Savannah relaxed and smiled, but just as suddenly, turned serious. “Do you think he’ll break my heart?”

  Leonie slowly shook her head. “Nah, I’m pretty sure that man done fell head over heels for you. If anyone breaks a heart, it be you. Anyone can be seein’ that man loves you, Cher.”

  Of course, Leonie was mistaken. Yes, they'd made love, and it had been incredible for her. She was sure Breaker cared for her, but love? She was thoughtful for a moment. How did she feel about him? Her skin tingled, and butterflies fluttered in her stomach every time he came around, but was that love? She felt sick when she thought about him being in danger. She couldn't imagine a life without Breaker. Was that love?

  "Savannah, it's time to come home."

  So lost in thought, it took a moment for the words and the person speaking them to sink in. As soon as they did, she straightened, her gaze scanning the area. Marco stepped from the tall grass, and her blood ran cold.

  Leonie reached for the gun propped against the porch post. Marco immediately raised his.

  "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Chica. Unless, of course, you want a bullet between your eyes, and believe me, I don't have any problem putting one there. Now, kick the gun off the porch," he said as he walked nearer.

  "Marco, please don't hurt anyone."

  He shrugged. "You brought this on yourself, Chica. I told you I would make you regret it if you ever left me."

  Her gaze moved to Juan. She knew he would give her no help. He was Marco's right-hand man, his half-brother, and he would do whatever Marco commanded him to do. She quickly looked toward the swamp. Nothing moved.

  "He can't help you. He’s a dead man." Marco spat.

  Savannah's knees buckled, and she sank to the porch steps. Breaker was dead? No, that couldn't be true. Marco lied! This was what he did. He played mind games. She looked at him and raised her chin. "You're lying. Breaker is alive."

  "Am I?" He looked around. "Do you see him here? Coming to your rescue? I don't think so." His eyes narrowed. "Now, come here," he demanded.

  She slowly rose to her feet, her eyes filling with tears. No, she couldn't do this again. She couldn't go back to that way of life, not after being with Breaker and knowing what it meant to live.

  She shook her head. "I won’t go back with you." She drew in a deep breath. "If that means killing me, then kill me. My life is nothing if I return with you. I would rather be dead."

  Anger burned in his eyes, and a tremble of fear washed over her, but her words were true. She knew she would never be able to live that life again.

  He turned his gun on Leon
ie. Savannah drew in a sharp breath.

  "And what if I kill her? Does her life mean nothing?"

  "No! Don't hurt her. I'll go with you." She had no choice. She wouldn't let Marco hurt anyone else. She stepped off the porch and walked toward him. When she was within arm's reach, he grabbed her and pulled her against him.

  "You will pay for the trouble you have caused me. I gave you everything, but now I will take it away." He pushed against her, and she stumbled against Juan. "You have his stench on you. I will have to bathe you in bleach to get it off."

  "I don't care what you do to me. Just leave them alone."

  "I don't think I will. They shouldn't have crossed me. As soon as I demanded your return, they should have handed you over. No, they helped you. You should know by now, I never let my enemies live."

  "No, Marco, don't do it!" Fear coursed through her as Marco faced the house. Her stomach threatened to spill its contents. The sound of a gun firing echoed, bouncing off the trees.

  Marco stumbled back a step, looking confused, then he fell to the ground, clutching his arm.

  Leonie grabbed her gun.

  Juan immediately dropped his gun and pulled Savannah against him. "I want no trouble," he yelled out.

  "Then let her go and get your arms up in the air," Granny said as she cocked the shotgun again. She walked the rest of the way around the house.

  Juan immediately raised his arms into the air. "This is over. Right now."

  Savannah ran toward Granny. Still holding the gun, she wrapped her free arm around her, holding her close.

  "It's okay. No one will hurt you while Granny’s here. I always was a damn good shot." She frowned. "Damn eyes have gotten worse the older I get. I was aiming for his heart."

  "Kill them," Marco muttered.

  Juan knelt beside him. "It ends now."

  “You’re my brother! You said you were loyal to me!”

  “I’m loyal only to my boss, Francesco.”

  Marco’s eyes widened. “You’re the one who betrayed me.”

  Juan shook his head. "No, you betrayed my mother and me. Did you even know what happened to her after she gave birth to me? A year after I was born, your mother had her poisoned when your father began sleeping with her again. My aunt told me she was a jealous, spiteful woman. You're no better than your mother."

  “Bastard!” Marco raised his gun toward Juan.

  Leonie fired.

  Marco looked at the widening red spot in the center of his chest before slumping over dead.

  “My eyes are still damned good.” She looked at Juan.

  Juan straightened, arms raised. “It ends now.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  Breaker and Bastian pulled up beside the guide's boat and cut the motor. Bastian glared at Freddie as he crouched down at the bow. "I'll deal with you later," he warned.

  "I didn't have a choice,” Freddie whined. “They had guns. If I hadn't taken them, they would've gotten someone else."

  Breaker stepped out of the boat and onto the bank. If he weren't so worried about Savannah and the others, he would’ve thrown Freddie into the swamp and let the gators take care of him.

  Two more boatloads of men showed up. Breaker glanced toward them. He was pretty sure they were relatives, but he couldn't place any of them.

  "You men go dis way," Bastian told them. "While you others go dat way," he said, pointing in the opposite direction. "We'll go up the trail. We'll have Marco, and his man surrounded. No way will they get outta here."

  They had just started forward when a shot rang out. Breaker froze. For just a moment, his heart stopped beating. Visions of Savannah ran through his mind. The first time he'd seen her when she'd been so scared. Afraid to make choices for herself.

  Growing stronger as she learned to shoot and drive. Smiling up at him. Sitting around the roundtable at the bar and laughing with the others. The passion in her eyes after he kissed her. Then, like a mist that cleared, she disappeared.

  He started running toward his grandmother's house, Bastian right behind him. When they were almost there, his uncle grabbed his arm and stopped him.

  "We don't know what we be findin’. You can't be runnin’ in."

  He knew his uncle was right, but that's not what he wanted to do. He wanted to rush in and beat the hell out of Marco, and if he'd hurt anyone, he would personally feed him to the gators.

  He nodded, then eased forward, careful not to make any noise.

  "You might as well be comin’ on out. You sound like a herd of elephants. Just lettin’ you know, I got a gun, and I be knowin’ how to use it. I protect what's mine," Granny’s voice rang out.

  "It's us, Momma," Bastian said, then stepped out into the open.

  Breaker was right beside him. He quickly took in the scene. Marco lay dead on the ground, his once white shirt stained with his blood.

  “Savannah? Leonie?” Breaker asked, his heart in his throat and his stomach churning.

  “De girls okay. No one be getting’ hurt ‘cept dat one,” Granny said.

  Breaker let out the breath he’d been holding.

  Bastian looked toward his mother. "Good shot. Still took you twice?"

  Granny’s eyes narrowed. "I be washing your mouth out with lye soap, boy. Just ‘cause I'm gettin’ up in years don't mean I don't know how to kill a varmint." She loudly sniffed. “Okay, I got him in the shoulder. Leonie finished him off. But I could of got him de first time if I be twenty years younger and had good eyes.”

  Bastian and Breaker exchange looks. Breaker saw the twinkle in his uncle’s eyes.

  "Where's the other one," Breaker said as they walked closer to the cabin.

  "Leonie and Savannah tying him to one of de chairs. As soon as his boss was killed, he didn't put up a fight."

  A smile softened his grandmother's features. "Savannah's a good girl. She would have sacrificed herself for us. Dat one has backbone and a good heart."

  The screen door screeched open, and Savannah came out. She took one look at Breaker and flew down the steps, running straight toward him. She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him close.

  "He said you were dead, but I didn't believe him. I would’ve known if he’d killed you." Her words were thick with emotion.

  He held her close, feeling the trembles running up and down her body. "I'm fine. Are you okay?"

  She stepped away from him and looked up into his face. "I am now."

  "Wait out here. I'll take care of the other guy."

  He walked inside. Leonie had him tied securely to one of his grandmother's chairs. Leonie nodded, then left the two men alone.

  Juan looked up when Breaker went inside. "It’s over. I tried to tell Marco not to do this, but he wouldn't listen.”

  Breaker's eyes narrowed. "Yet, you followed him anyway."

  Juan shook his head. "I had no choice. I’m the bastard son."

  "Every man makes his own choices about whether he should do right or wrong. Yes, you did have a choice. You could've walked away. You stayed because you were greedy." He pulled a knife from his pocket, and Juan flinched, but he only cut the ropes that bound him. "Your guide is still waiting. If I ever see you again, I'll kill you."

  “I never worked for Marco. I worked for Francesco.”

  “Then you’ll probably end up dead as well.”

  As Juan ran out of the house, Breaker walked out to the porch. Juan never slowed. Breaker didn't think they would have any more trouble out of the drug cartel.

  Granny walked to a metal triangle, picked up the metal pipe, and then began to clang it. It rang loud and clear. In less than half an hour, the other relatives started to show up.

  Savannah looked up at him. "What now?"

  "You're in Louisiana now, Cher,” Breaker grinned. “Let the good times roll. We party."

  She laughed and threw her arms around his neck again. He picked her up and swung her around and around, which only caused her to laugh more. This was what he wanted to hear, her laughing—no m
ore tears.

  He took the accordion Granny handed him and began to play while Bastian's wife gave her husband a fiddle. Someone else had a guitar and another a washboard and spoons.

  He watched Savannah as she helped carry food to the tables. He’d never seen her looking so relaxed. He’d always sensed that she watched and waited for something horrible to happen. Now that Marco was dead, she could begin to live her life.

  Maybe it was at that moment it hit him. Savannah didn’t need him anymore. Yeah, he knew she cared about him, but she had nothing to compare their relationship to. Unless she compared it to the one she’d had with Marco. Hell yeah, Breaker would win hands down.

  A feeling of defeat washed over him. He knew what he had to do. She’d been like a caged bird. It was time to open the door and let her fly.

  She chose that moment to look at him and smile. He returned it, and she disappeared back inside the house. He wouldn't put her back in a cage, even though it would be a hell of a lot better life than she'd ever had with Marco. It was time she spread her wings and flew. She didn't need him for that.

  But dammit, did it have to hurt so much?

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Savannah was busy with the women as they began putting together a shrimp boil. She could see and feel the love and closeness of the family in their interactions. She watched as Leonie hugged her kids after her pregnant sister arrived.

  When she stepped to the front porch, her gaze was once again drawn to where Marco’s body had laid. A cold shiver rippled over her. The body had been removed a while back. She hoped they'd fed him to the alligators.

  Nothing seemed real. She kept telling herself it was over. Marco was dead. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, she probably wouldn't have believed it. She knew reaction was beginning to set in. It felt as if she was going through the motions of doing what was expected of her. Just like when Marco was alive. Smiling when she was supposed to, laughing when it was appropriate. On the inside, she felt cold.