Brody (Texas Boudreau Brotherhood Book 3)

of Beth’s ex getting his hands on her, and literally saw red. “Beth got a call a few minutes ago from Huntsville. Apparently, Evan and another prisoner escaped this afternoon. Are you telling me you didn’t know?”
“Son of a—no, I didn’t know. Let me make some calls and get back to you.” Rafe hung up before Brody could say anything else. He glared at his phone, fighting the compulsion to throw it against the wall. He couldn’t; he needed to keep it handy in case Beth’s ex showed up. If Stewart was smart, he’d be halfway to Mexico now, instead of heading toward Shiloh Springs. Stewart had to be certifiable if he thought he’d get anywhere close to Beth or Jamie.
“What did Rafe say?” Beth’s words were spoken quietly, as if she felt the rage boiling beneath the surface, the seething anger needing an outlet. The thought of her in danger, he refused to give it any credence, because he’d lose his mind. She had enough do deal with without him loosing what little control he clung to. Reining his emotions back, cooling down the spike of adrenaline coursing through his veins, he moved over to sit beside her, and pulled her hands between his. They were icy to his touch.
Calm. You’ve gotta stay calm. Beth needs you in control.
“He didn’t know anything about Evan. Nobody from the prison called him. He’s trying to find out more information. Come here.” Reaching for her, he pulled her against his side, and tucked her head against his shoulder. Felt her body trembling again his. Reaching along the back of the sofa, he lifted the crocheted afghan with one hand and wrapped it around her. “He’ll call back as soon as he knows something. If Evan’s smart, he’ll head anywhere but Shiloh Springs. It’s the first place anybody’s gonna look for him.”
“I know that in here,” she pointed to her head. “But I can’t trust him around Jamie. He won’t hesitate to use her as a bargaining chip to get me to do anything he wants.”
“He won’t get the chance. Let me call the Big House, and put them on alert, just in case. The Boudreaus can circle the wagons and keep Jamie safe.”
At her nod, he pressed the speed dial for home. His dad answered on the first ring. “Hey, Brody. I thought you were on a date with Beth.”
“Change of plans. Beth got a call from Huntsville.”
“What happened?” His father tone went instantly alert, concern lacing his father’s words. Douglas had dealt with more than his fair share of crises through the years, and Brody knew he’d protect Jamie with his life. There wasn’t a doubt 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