Free Under the Bayou Moon by Gynger Fyer

growled as he sniffed the air. They all recognized the scent at the same time.
    “Boucher!” his mother sneered before marching out of the room.
    Dozens of eyes were looking at him expectedly, so he did the only thing he could do, he nodded toward the door.
    “It looks like we have company. Let’s get this over with.”

Chapter Eight
    “I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d stop in to see the newest member of the gator family.”
    Philip Boucher strutted into the living room of the Bertrand home. Angel wasn’t sure what she expected, okay, so she did know what she expected. She expected a big man with a huge belly, cowboy hat, and chewing tobacco. What she hadn’t expected was for Philip Boucher to look like Jeff Bridges. The man was handsome to the extreme, but from the vibe in the room, she could tell looks were probably deceiving. She’d seen his kind in the Tiki. Polished and impeccably groomed but malicious once they’d been caught cheating. She schooled her features into a mask of serenity as his eyes raked her from head to toe, sizing her up. She didn’t shy away from him. Men like him would attack at the smallest hint of weakness.
    “What are you doing here, Philip? I told you I was going to have a formal verification before the rest of the pod leaders in a few days.”
    Jackie’s voice held a rudeness that surprised Angel. She didn’t know Jacques’s mom was capable of such hostility.
    “Hi, Jackie, I see you have your claws out. Are you still speaking for your son? I thought the man had his own tongue.”
    “Why you…”
    “Mom! Can you bring Mr. Boucher a drink, he’s come a long way, I’m sure he could use something refreshing.”
    Jacques’s voice was cordial despite the look of hostility he was shooting at Philip Boucher.
    “Thank you, Jacques. It looks like I missed dinner. I’ll have to catch something in town.”
    The way he said “catch” made her wonder what type of food he meant.
    “Henri, Diane, Henri and Diane’s offspring. Y’all are looking well.”
    “You too,” was muttered by the Dubois.
    “Tom, it’s been a long time.”
    “Yep,” was all her father said. His eyes never left Philip’s. There was a wealth of meaning in that stare.
    “Sofia, you get prettier every time I see you. I see you’ve finally found your daughter.”
    “Yes, we’re all very happy to have Angel home.” Her mother’s smile was sincere as she looked over at her.
    “Well, just looking at this beauty, any fool can tell she’s your daughter. I’ve always said Creoles were the most beautiful of all women. My first two mates, rest their souls, were both Creole beauties.”
    “Yeah, what is it about you that make Creole women commit suicide after marrying you?”
    Jackie returned with a tumbler of a brown liquid. She shoved the heavy tumbler into Philip’s hand.
    “Don’t tell me you believe those filthy rumors, and here I thought you were a smart, educated woman. You and I know my wives were butchered by that animal you called a husband. But he got what he deserved in the end.”
    Jackie lunged for him, growling, her mouth elongated and her skin instantly changed to a brilliant moss green. She was on Philip in an instant, but he held her by the neck with little to no struggle. Chaos erupted in the room. Charles shifted fully and charged Philip, who smoothly planted his booted foot on his snout, pinning him. Jacques was pulling his mom away from Philip, and her father was trying to get between them. Philip pulled Jackie toward him and whispered to her.
    “I love my women with fire. You were always too much cow for that husband of yours. There’s always room for you in my bed.”
    Jacques punched Philip in the face, and the man stumbled back, allowing his mother to be released. Jacques grabbed her before she could lunge again.
    “ Enough !” Jacques bellowed.
    “Mom, Charles, out !” His voice was as cold as ice.
    “And take Max, Jake, and Monica with you.”
    After a few