Page 97 of Best Laid Plans

"Yes."

"He owes some very bad people a lot of money," Anson continued.

"Yes. How do you know this, Mr. Larue?"

"Anson, please. I know because I made it my business to know. I intend to bring that fucker down for what he did to Nova."

I gasped.

"Mr. Larue—" Agent Fancie began.

"Please call me Anson."

"Anson," Agent Fancie said patiently, "what did Pete Fontaine do to Nova?"

"Anson," I warned him.

He waved me off. "He helped frame Nova for a theft seven years ago, along with my sister and ex-fiancée."

Agent Fancie raised an eyebrow. "This sounds like an episode of Dynasty."

I laughed softly. Anson joined me. "You have no idea," he murmured.

"How do you have information about Sheriff Fontaine, Anson?" Agent Fancie drank some coffee.

"My colleague Diego Perez has been working with a private investigator we use at Larue Homes."

"You're being very…ah…open," Agent Fancie remarked. "Usually, when people are helpful, they have an agenda."

"Fuck yeah, I have an agenda. I want Pete Fontaine out of circulation."

Agent Fancie took a deep breath. "Miss King…ah…Nova, can you answer some questions for me?"

"No," Anson replied before I could speak. "You want to talk to her? We need to have Lemon Goodwin present. She's her attorney."

I tilted my head into a shrug when the GBI agent looked at me to confirm what Anson was saying. I may not trust Anson to love me the way I needed a man to, but if he said I needed a lawyer, then well, hell, I wasn't going to fight that.

"I just have some—" the agent began.

"And you can ask them as soon as we set up a time for Lemon to be with Nova," Anson cut in, and gave him a brief smile.

"Is this what you want, Nova?" Agent Fancie asked me.

I nodded. "What he said, Agent Fancie."

He sighed. "I have you tellin' me more than I ask, and you're not letting her tell me anythin', Anson."

"I know." Anson grinned broadly. "She's got to be protected."

"And you?" the agent asked, something like amusement flickering in his eyes.

"I'm a Larue, Agent Fancie, I'm already protected."

"You think so?" he challenged.

"I know so. It's not fair, and it's not right, but it's also the fact that I'm a fuckin' Larue, and men like me usually don't get into trouble, even when we deserve it."

"I see."

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