Well, another one bites the dust.
Lucas watched Ridge throw his arm around Maggie’s shoulders, pulling her against his side, while his momma smiled indulgently at whatever he said. Maggie laid her head on Ridge’s shoulder, smiling indulgently at her fiancée. The look of pure joy on his brother’s face, the happiness radiating from him, elicited a pang of envy deep inside Lucas, though he quickly quashed the emotion. He was thrilled his brother had found somebody to love. Ridge, more than most, deserved happiness, though Lucas wondered how Shiloh felt about his twin meeting his soulmate.
“Bro, good to see you. Things slowing down any?”
Lucas turned at the sound of Liam’s voice. His brother had showed up a few minutes ago, late as usual. It seemed like every time he came home from Dallas for a visit, Liam was up to his eyeballs with work, always at one job site or another around Shiloh Springs. Between Dad and Liam, the Boudreau Construction Company had thrived and prospered into one of the most successful in the state. Although over the past couple of months, Dad had cut back on some of the bigger projects. Oh, not enough to consider retiring, not by a long shot. But he’d become involved in helping resolve some of the serious situations revolving around the new women his sons had fallen head over heels for. Seemed like each one came with their own personal baggage, and Dad being Dad, became their rock, the constant that held things together. Dad had taken the women—and little Jamie—under his wing like he’d done with all the boys he’d welcomed into the Boudreau clan over the years. Lucas nodded to Rafe as their brother joined them.
“The life of a reporter is never slow, bro.” Lucas took a swallow of his sweet tea before adding, “I’ve got a couple stories I’m working on. One, in particular, is giving me fits, but I’ll figure it out. Just need to do some more digging. How’re you doing, Rafe? Tessa looks happy.”
“She’s amazing. Wedding’s getting closer, and we’re neck deep with planning and minute details, but Momma’s helping. I swear I’ve never seen her so—content.” Rafe grinned. “I just stand back and do the heavy lifting.”
Lucas chuckled before his gaze shifted back to Ridge and Maggie. He’d met the dark-haired beauty when he’d arrived, having driven in from Dallas that afternoon, although he’d heard all about her over the last few days. Shiloh sang her praises and was working with her on setting up a nonprofit to help victims of domestic abuse, since she apparently refused to stop helping those women and children who needed her, and she was financing the new operation with her own money.
“Guys, I’m going to grab a quick shower, before Momma notices I’m still in my work clothes. I’ll catch up with you in a bit.” Liam clapped Lucas on the shoulder, and headed upstairs.
“I haven’t seen Chance since I got here. Heard there was some excitement over by the county line. Something to do with Maggie?”
“Yeah, it’s a long story. Gotta ask, did you know about Ridge working with the DEA?”
Lucas started at Rafe’s question. Ridge and the DEA—nope, he’d had no idea. “No clue. When did that happen?”
“Apparently, he’s been working with them for years, and none of us knew. Except Shiloh, Antonio, and Dad, though he swears he only suspected what Ridge was up to, but didn’t have any cold hard facts. Turns out Ridge was working with the DEA when he met Maggie. The DEA suspected Maggie was allowing drug smugglers to run illegal contraband across her property. They tasked Ridge with finding out if she was involved, and where on her property they were moving the drugs. Of course, one look at Maggie and Ridge knew she couldn’t possibly have anything to do with smuggling illegal drugs.”
“I can’t imagine anybody looking less like a drug runner, but looks can be deceiving.”
“Oh, with Maggie still waters run deep. Maggie did a few things that skirted the edge of the law, but that’s been nipped in the bud. Chance and Shiloh are working with her, setting things up all legal and above board with her new initiative.”
“Nica said something about domestic violence and a nonprofit?”
Rafe nodded. “Maggie was helping women and kids get away from their abusers, acting as a waystation or stop-gap along an underground network. The thing is, what she was doing wasn’t exactly on the up-and-up, legally speaking, and skirted the edges of the law. The stress was eating her up inside. Now Momma is helping her find some property where she can set up a safe place where these women and children can get help through legal channels. Chance is arranging legal representation, getting attorneys to do pro bono work, because most of the time, they can’t afford to fight their spouses or significant others in court. On the plus side, Maggie’s loaded, and she’s willing to invest a big chunk of money into the project.”
“Underground network? The kind that helps provide new identities and relocation for the victims?” Lucas glanced across the space at Maggie, appreciating her on a whole new level. “I did some research for a story about this exact situation about six months back for a series of articles we ran. I might be able to point her toward some people who can help.”
“Figured you’d know people who know people, bro.” Rafe grinned and slapped him on the back before turning serious. “You sure you’re okay? You look tired. Anything I can do to help?”
“I’m good, I promise. Guess I’ve been burning the candle at both ends for too long. I’ve been spending a lot of time looking for Renee. I can’t shake the feeling she needs me, that she’s in trouble.”
Without a word, Rafe pulled him into a hug. Lucas slapped his brother on the back a couple of times, appreciating the familial show of affection and support. Rafe knew how long and hard Lucas searched for his sister, ever since they’d been separated as children and forced into the foster care system. They’d been separated almost immediately, and Renee had been adopted out, and Lucas lost all contact with his baby sister.
“I can’t believe nobody’s been able to find anything on her. It’s not like she disappeared off the face of the earth.”
“I’m not giving up. Renee’s out there and I have to find her.”
“You will. I know it.”
“Son, good to have you home.” Lucas smiled as Rafe jumped at the sound of their father’s voice. He’d seen his father approaching, but Rafe’s back was to him, and he hadn’t heard him coming.
“It’s good to be home, Dad. You’re looking well.”
“Can’t complain. Your momma takes good care of me.” Douglas turned to Rafe. “Son, mind if I have a moment with your brother?”
“Sure, Dad.” Rafe put his hand on Lucas’s shoulder. “We’ll talk more later, okay?”
“I’ll be here.”
As Rafe walked away, Lucas leaned against the doorjamb between the open foyer and the kitchen, where most of the family had gathered to celebrate Ridge and Maggie’s love. He didn’t fight his grin when Nica jumped onto Ridge’s back and wrapped her arms around his neck, whispering something in his ear that had him laughing out loud. He loved this big, crazy family.
Douglas stood at his side, watching the mingling of his sons, his daughter, and their loved ones and smiled indulgently, before turning to Lucas and handing him a folded piece of paper. Lucas stayed silent, knowing his father would tell him what he wanted him to know when he was ready. Douglas was a stoic man, but when he loved, he loved fully and completely, and his family was the most important thing in the world.
“I had one of my Army buddies do some digging. I didn’t want to say anything, not until we had something concrete.”
Though he was a wordsmith and made a living finding the right words, Lucas couldn’t describe the sensation that swept through him at the seriousness of his father’s words, the somber inflection underlying the cautious, yet optimistic undertone. It felt like he was encased in ice, frozen, immobile except for the indrawn breath that caught in his chest.
“Tell me.”
“We found Renee.”