His brother walked in and he was carrying. Too late. For the first time in his life, Zep had kept his promise and was here to check the marina before he headed home. It was dark out there and lots of critters came out at night. Which was precisely why Zep was carrying a rifle.

And Remy watched in complete horror as Porter reached for his pistol and shot his brother in the back.

* * * *

Lisa froze as Zep walked in, a worried look on his face. He had a rifle in his hand, but then she’d been told she shouldn’t walk much past the parking lot without one at this time of night.

She was about to tell him they were all fine, about to lie through her teeth, when one of the marshals tensed and his hand went to his holster. He’d pulled that revolver and fired before she could shout out a warning.

Zep’s eyes flared as though he couldn’t quite understand what was happening to him. The rifle fell from his hands, clattering uselessly to the floor. “Remy? What was that? I can’t…”

He pitched forward, his body hitting the floor with an audible bang.

She didn’t think. She ran toward him, hearing Remy curse behind her.

Armie’s gun was out, too. “What the fuck was that? Remy, call a goddamn bus.”

She looked up and Remy already had his cell phone out. He dialed with one hand and gave short, sharp instructions.

“He came at me with a rifle,” Porter said, his voice shaking.

“It’s Southern Louisiana. We’ve all got a rifle, you ass.” Armie knelt down beside Zep. “And he was turned away from you. You shot him in the back.”

“Lisa, get back here right fucking now,” Remy yelled.

She stopped but she’d gotten too close. Porter reached out and grabbed her, shoving that same gun he’d used on Zep into her side.

“Put the fucking guns down,” Porter said. “Put ’em down or she’s dead.”

Remy immediately set his gun down and held his hands up. “Please let her go. You need to get out of here. I know you’re not a real marshal. There’s an ambulance coming. This is your chance to leave and disappear. I assume you’re being paid. You’ve already shot one civilian. Do you want to have to shoot me and the sheriff, too?”

“What do you mean they’re not cops?” Armie asked.

“I don’t know who sent them, but the real marshals are set to show up tomorrow,” Remy explained. “These two are going to kidnap Lisa.”

That was what Mitch had explained to her on the phone. He’d gone as quickly as he could, explaining something was wrong with those two and she needed to get to safety so Remy could do his job.