in his mind as soon as his father knew the situation, he’d round up the rest of Brody’s brothers, and they’d do whatever it took to keep her protected.
“Evan Stewart escaped this afternoon.” Brody let the stark words convey everything he felt, knowing his father would immediately grasp the gravity of the situation. As much as he wanted to rail at the unfairness, he couldn’t, not with Beth sitting beside him, her nerves already frazzled and on edge.
“How’d he manage that?”
“I don’t know, nobody’s been exactly clear on the details. He apparently escaped with his cellmate a few hours ago.”
“And they’re just now letting us know? What’d Rafe say, because I know you talked to him before you called me.”
“Nobody bothered to notify him either. First he heard of it was a couple minutes ago when I called him.
“How’s Beth holding up?” Brody heard his mother’s voice in his ear, and knew she’d snatched the phone away from his dad. “You bring her here right now, you hear me? If her ex shows up, we’ll handle it.” And there was the backbone of steel his mother possessed. Almost everybody underestimated her when the first met her. Barely over five feet, she looked like a breeze could blow her down. He and his family knew better. The woman was a dynamo wrapped in a delicate package. Nobody got the best of Patricia Boudreau. She’d raised more troubled, rebellious boys than most people dealt with in a lifetime, and she wrangled ’em into shape with one hand tied behind her back. Everyone in Shiloh Springs knew better than to cross Ms. Patti, as all the locals called her. Now that Tessa was marrying Rafe, she was family, and Beth and Jamie because honorary Boudreaus by default.
“That’s my plan, Momma. Keep an eye on Jamie.”
“She’s in the kitchen with Dane and Nica.”
“Nica’s there?”
“Showed up this afternoon. Said she was taking a long weekend from classes. Now I’m glad she did, she can help keep Jamie occupied while we deal with this little problem.”
Brody bit back a grin. His momma calling Evan Stewart a little problem—he’d bet good money on the outcome of seeing Evan go up against Patti Boudreau. Evan would be slinking back to Huntsville, begging them to let him back inside by the time she was finished with him.
“Brody?” Beth moved quietly to his side, her tiny hand resting on his arm, a question in her voice.
“It’s okay, sweetheart. Dad and Momma are watching Jamie. Dane and Nica are keeping her occupied. Everything’s going to be fine.”
“I’ll expect to see you here ASAP, son.” Apparently his momma gave the phone back to his dad, because his voice was the next one he heard. “Antonio’s supposed to be showing up in about an hour too. Maybe he can make some calls to his FBI contacts, find out anything the locals aren’t telling us. I’ll call him, tell him to bring Serena with him. Another female around to help Beth won’t be a bad thing.”
“Thanks, Dad. We’re on our way.”
He slid his cell phone into his pocket, and pulled Beth around to face him. Giving her a once over, she looked calmer, not as shaky as she’d been a few minutes ago.
“Jamie’s safe?”
“She’s surrounded by a house full of family, she’s fine. Grab your stuff, we’re heading there too. I’m texting Rafe, so he’ll know where we are.”
She grabbed her purse and walked to the door. “Let’s go.”
Brody walked her onto the porch, making sure the front door was securely locked behind him. A quick scan of the yard and street in front of the cottage didn’t reveal anything suspicious, and he quickly helped Beth into the truck, before climbing behind the wheel.
Evan Stewart better hope the cops catch up to him before I do.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Beth curled up in the overstuffed chair in the living room of the Big House, a crocheted throw wrapped around her shoulders. A hot cup of tea, clasped between both hands, remained untouched. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath, trying to release some of the tension and anxiety knotted deep in her belly.
Brody drove them straight to his family’s home. Rafe still hadn’t called, so there hadn’t been any more news about Evan or where he might be. She prayed he kept running in any direction, as long as it wasn’t Shiloh Springs.
Jamie was tucked into bed, with Nica to keep her company. Nica volunteered to keep an eye on her, going as far as to