Page 34 of Small Town Secrets

That said, her thoughts on this peaceful evening at home were a far cry from the chaos outside, where the syndicate schemed and some townsfolk did the same. And her thoughts tangled on yet another complicated situation, her one with Ramos.

Though their relationship was yet another thing she had to juggle, she didn’t consider it a burden so much as a confusing—but positive distraction—amidst a bunch of ugly events. And didn’t she need more positive distraction? A relaxed evening and a chance to appreciate the good people in her life, before all hell broke loose?

She grabbed her phone from beside her on the table and then texted an invitation to Adrian for dinner with her and Whitney later. Within minutes she had a reply. He couldn’t make it. He had work.

She sighed away her disappointment and reasoned that he had an important job to do. A job she downright appreciated since lives quite literally depended on him. Even if his work meant he couldn’t and didn’t tell her everything… Well, sometimes.

Wanting to shake away any twinges of sadness, she slid her phone away and stared at her books once again, her mind snagging on the last time Ramos stayed over. The way he’d held her, his lips always quick to find hers.

She wasn’t used to feeling so seen or supported, and her body heated at the memory. Ramos was different. So very different from Mike. He was kind, and present, and he’d warmed to Whitney in ways Laila only ever wished Mike had. And unlike Mike, Adrian was here. Even if temporarily. Even when he didn’t have to be. And she couldn’t deny the way he made her feel.

She cleared her throat, as if that might work to clear her head, only for the distinctive thud of footsteps to hit her front porch. Ramos? Had he changed his mind?

Her heart leapt and her cheeks rose with a smile. The footsteps stopped and a soft rustling sound took over. Something about that sound snapped her back to reality. That whoever stood outside didn’t pause to knock, and with all the antagonizing behavior directed at doorsteps lately, she would be a fool to make assumptions on who was out there.

Determined to be brave, she braced every muscle in her body and strode over to the door, giving Whitney quick orders not to follow. Soon, an icy chill pushed against her on the dark landing, that chill seeping deep into her veins, because no one stood out there.

All that waited was another red note shifting ever so slightly in the evening breeze.

At least it’s not roadkill…

Anger had her pressing her lips together to stifle a growl, and she pushed the mesh door open, grumbling expletives under her breath as she bent for the note. Her belly soon rocked with sickness at the cruel words staring up at her. Yes, she wanted to cry, but she’d learned some time ago that tears achieved little, while actions could do a lot.

So, she stared into the murky dark and searched for signs of the vile note sender. A shadowy figure moved along her side fence to her right. Her hand shook, but she crumpled the note with her fingers and jammed the thing into her jeans pocket, while her better sense escaped her, and she stormed across her yard.

“Hey!” She recognized the tall but round figure as Gerry Gibbons and picked up speed toward him. “Don’t you dare run, you sniveling piece of shit!”

About five years ago, Gerry had been a better-than average football player, but pity for him, he was much slower these days, while she’d grown significantly less tolerant of bullies.

Mere seconds passed before she closed the distance and leaped into the air, locking her arms around his neck from behind, turning herself into dead-weight against his next steps.

He twisted and twisted, swearing as he tried to knock her loose. But she wasn’t budging and used the arm not locked around his neck to swing at his fleshy shoulders, kicking wildly with her legs and throwing in a few derogatory insults of her own.

“Who do you think you are?” She yelled into his ear, making this experience as unpleasant for him as possible. “I have a small child inside and you think it’s fine to terrorize us?”

The audacity. Such a pigheaded Gerry Gibbons trait. Maybe no one close to him thought to keep him in check, but she sure as hell would. Especially given the nasty things his note contained about Ramos.

She kicked Gerry some more, not at all dulling the volume or rage in her tone. “You could spend the rest of your life trying to do better and you still won’t contribute half as much to this town as that man has!”

“Fuck you, Laila!” Gerry swung around, dipping his left shoulder and sending her off balance.

No doubt he sought to knock her free, but the move did so much more than that as he stumbled and then fell onto her cold, hard lawn. Her shoulder took the force of the ground, and he crushed her beneath him, just as a loud popping sound came from her shoulder.

Excruciating pain ricocheted through her body like a hot knife dragging through muscle, forcing a loud cry from her lips. She wriggled for freedom. So caught in a confusing desire to cause as much hurt as possible, even as she attempted escape, she still kicked at him.

Her heart pounded from the pain and agitation, everything about this completely unfair. Especially her aching shoulder. That her ability to work or look after her daughter would be halted because this selfish asshole just had to make her bad situation worse.

She yelled more obscenities and angry tears burned down her cheeks, her elbows grazed from the ground and her skin plastered in loose blades of grass.

In an instant Gerry’s weight disappeared and the words “Get off her!” cut through on Adrian’s booming voice.

She rolled onto her back and lay there gasping, her body wracked with pain, while Gerry stood over her, his shirt twisted in Adrian’s hold.

His eyes blazed and he shoved at Ramos. “This has nothing to do with you.”

“The hell it doesn’t.” She launched herself up and lunged at Gerry, only for Adrian to catch her shoulders, where she hissed through another wave of pain. Still, she held Gerry in a fiery glare. “This has everything to do with him. Your note says as much.”

“What note?” Adrian shifted his hold to her waist, as though he now knew to avoid her shoulder.

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