Page 92 of When the Smoke Clears

“I’m not sure yet.”

Maci closes her eyes. “He threatened to sue me.”

My head snaps in her direction. “What?”

“He blames me for Colt’s death. He never took any responsibility for anything, and apparently, he didn’t teach his son to either.” She gives me a pointed look. “I don’t think the investigation is going how Alan wanted. I can’t be sure just yet, but the detective doesn’t seem to be sending the case to the prosecutor.”

For someone who never spoke of his son, he’s acting very strangely. Though, I may know a reason he’s even more on edge. “And I didn’t contest the will.”

Maci nods with a smug look. “And you didn’t contest the will. Money-hungry bastard.”

She has a point. Winning a civil lawsuit would get him money, which is always at the forefront of his mind. As a partner, I felt it made him responsible. Now it’s clear there was far more to it than that.

“Could he actually win a lawsuit?” The words tumble out as I contemplate the situation.

She hesitates. “I think so. If the investigation concludes that I acted in self-defense, I think he could still argue that I acted neglectfully.”

Alan has lawyers in his pocket, and I don’t know what kind of money I have access to right now to help Maci. “Did you?”

“Are you—”

I press a hand up for her to pause her tirade. “I’m not attacking you, Maci Grace. I’m asking if he has a leg to stand on. Because if there’s anything, thesmallestthing, he’ll be like a dog with a bone. He’ll bleed you dry.”

She’s angry but pushes it aside for frustration. “I don’t know. And there’s nothing to bleed. I don’t have anything to give him.”

“Except for your inheritance.” Not to mention, if she’s in cahoots with my sister over Mother’s house, Alan will come for it in no time. Fucking bastard.

Maci rubs her face with both hands. “The inheritance may be enough to retain a lawyer, but I don’t know that there’s as much as he may think.”

“What?” I sigh. For all her strengths, this may be the silliest thing I’ve heard. “You haven’t secured a lawyer yet? You need to. And not Mother’s handsome estate lawyer, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

She shakes her head through her disgusted tone. “I’ll figure it out.”

“I guess that means the lawyer’s not the boyfriend, then.”

She breathes a laugh. “No, he’s not the boyfriend.”

Chapter 33

Maci

Attheconclusionofmy meeting with Stephanie, she mentions having an appointment somewhere, so I take the opportunity to try to go by Nana’s once more. The timing hasn’t been right since the last time I made an attempt, and I’m eager to make some progress.

I make it to the end of Bluebonnet Cove again, and even manage to drive all the way into the cul-de-sac, as the pressure on my chest strengthens and my breathing becomes heavy. I can’t bring myself to pull up to the driveway though, so I park across the circle.

The trees hide the house and the majority of the yard. A calm breeze blows through and the leaves rustle. Autumn has its own effect here, even if all the trees don’t turn and drop their leaves.

Flashes of Colt making his way to me, seen through the flames of the fire I had going, infiltrate my mind. Closing my eyes does nothing to stop them. I want to push them away. To ignore what’s happened. But the articles I read in the dining room of The Big House said to let the memories wash over me instead of forcing them out.

His angry eyes will live with me forever. And the grunt when the second round fired.

My stomach turns and I will the contents of my stomach to stay put.

When I’ve finally settled my mind and emotions, I make my way back to the Strickland Ranch. At some point, I need to loop in Sutton.

Chapter 34

Sutton

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