Free Simon: Le Beau Brothers: New Orleans Billionaire Shifters with BBW mates Series (Le Beau Series) by V.A. Dold Page A

in those colors, wear them. I’ll gather the herbs, crystals, and candles. While we are busy doing our jobs, I’ll have your mother make a putsi pouch and a magical poppet . You’ll wear the putsi around your neck until I tell you to remove it.”
    “Thank you , little sister, this means so much to me.”
    She hugged him . “Believe me, I know exactly what this means to you.”
    She waited for Simon to leave and then w oke Rose. Anna knocked on her bedroom door. “Rose, are you awake? Would you like to go to the French Quarter with me this morning?”
    She hear d sheets rustling and Rose yawning. “Sure, give me a few minutes to get ready.”
    Anna told Cade her plan to shop in the French Quarter for healing supplies . He had told her he didn’t want them to leave the plantation unprotected. Cade agreed to let them go without escort as long as he could notify Etienne and have him watch over them once they arrived.
    Faster than Anna thought possible they were driving to town. Rose normally took forever to get ready. She had her nose buried in a cup of coffee, the real stuff, as she tried to shake off the cobwebs.
    “I need to buy a few things at some specialty shops, is there anything you want to look for?”
    “I heard there are interesting bargains at the French Market . I’d like to check that out and see what they have.”
    The ride to New Orleans was quiet as Rose sipped her coffee and enjoyed the scenery. Before she knew it , they were parking.
    “How about we each do our shopping then meet back at the car to stow any purchases. Once we’re done I want to take you to meet my friend Richie and get lunch.”
    “Sure, sounds like a plan,” she said as she pulled her purse onto her shoulder.
    Rose meandered toward the market on the east end of French Market Place. After two hours of browsing she had found a few treasures to purchase and was heading back toward the car. She walked a block up Barracks Street and turned on Decatur to meet Anna where she had parked. She slowed as she felt the sensation of someone watching her, it was the same sensation she felt at the corner store. The crowd had thinned dramatically, leaving her feeling exposed and vulnerable.
    Checking her surroundings, she half-expected to find the man from the reflection, not that s he’d seen him well enough to recognize him. She shook the chill off and was laughing at herself when rough hands grabbed her from behind. It happened so fast she couldn’t scream for help before she was pulled into an abandoned retail space.
    The grip holding her eased as her assailant shut them in from prying eyes. Taking advantage of her one chance at survival, she broke loose and tried for the exit praying for a still open door. What she found was a second man blocking her escape. He was a scruffy-looking man and eyed her with manic interest. Fear assaulted her. His attention was too focused to be sane. Way too intense and threatening, as he advanced on her.
    “What do you want?” her voice barely a squeak.
    His silent sneer was his reply.
    “You didn’t tell us she was a pretty little thing, Travis,” a voice said behind her.
    She spun around, alarmed there was a third man, this one with dark hair she hadn’t known was there. She glanced about, frantic for a weapon, a pipe lay near her feet. It wasn’t her first choice but beggars couldn’t be choosers and she wouldn’t go without a fight.
    Dark Hair lunged for her as she swung the pipe with wicked accuracy.
    Snarling he held his busted arm for a moment before he punched her hard. “Don’t fight me, bitch!”
    Her head snapped back and blood trickle d from her nose, the impact sent her stumbling. She was so scared, she reacted totally on instinct. She righted herself and kneed him hard. “Bastard!”
    Scruffy snarled at Dark Hair. “Don’t hit her asshole, she’s mine.”
    “Since when?” Blondie barked.
    Shit, there are too many of them.
    As Dark Hair doubled over she dashed past him for the