“He can talk to the man all he likes. According to the way Pop-Pop’s will was written, he’s got to give me a chance to buy him out before he sells to a stranger. Don’t worry, Sera. I’ve got this. I’m going to be home soon.”

“That’s what you’ve been saying for years,” she said in a perfectly stubborn tone.

“Well, I mean it this time. And you can’t count the Army against me.”

“I can indeed. I can be as unreasonable as I like.” She was silent for a moment. “We miss you.”

“I’ll be home soon,” he promised. “I’ll be back and I’m going to take charge. I’ll make everything right.”

She was quiet for a moment. “Right? What do you mean by right?”

How could she not understand this? “I mean I’m the reason we lost our half in the first place. I’m the reason Zep is twelve kinds of screwed up. I’m the reason you haven’t gotten married. I’m coming home and I’m going to fix everything.”

“Maybe Momma’s right to pray for you. You sure are taking a lot on those shoulders of yours. Before you come home, think on this. Yes, you married poorly, and yes, Josette demanded that you give her the money from half of your half of the wharf. That was her choice, not yours, and when Momma or I tried to find a way around it, you plowed on through and sold to Jean-Claude. I know it was a lot of money, but I wish you had given us a chance to try to figure it out. Zep was an awkward kid. He is not a kid anymore. You’ll be surprised at how baby brother has grown up, and I haven’t gotten married because I don’t want to. Think about that before you walk back in after seven years of barely being home, three of not seeing us at all. You think before you try to walk in as the patriarch of this family and start issuing orders. And remember that Momma taught me how to use a gun. I would remind you that I think Jean-Claude is going to try something, but you know better than I do. Good-bye.”

She hung up with a decisive click.

Shit. His sister was pissed. Somehow he’d thought he would march back into Papillon as the returning hero. He might have to rethink that.

He set the phone down and heard a masculine laugh. Remy sat straight up in bed.

The first thing he was going to write into their contract was a clause where she didn’t let strange men into her apartment. He reached for his jeans. It could be Will. Her brother might have stopped by, and wouldn’t old Will be surprised to find the bodyguard he’d hired was taking his job seriously?