Page 45 of Ms. Fortune
I parked the truck and hopped out, noticing a strange, midsize SUV parked where guests used to. It wasn’t unusual to see a car I didn’t recognize with all the different workers and onlookers who’d been crawling all over the place since the fire. I usually scheduled them for when Risky was around so I didn’t have to be alone with a stranger so far away from help. The staff had also cleared out because it was too dangerous to let them stay on the property. They were a liability, and I didn’t want to worry about them, just in case Risky’s former flame didn’t listen to Mommy and Daddy. It’d warmed my heart that most of them asked me to reach out once I got the place standing and operational. Even though they’d only worked for me for a fewdays, they were eager to return, which made me feel like I’d done a few things right along the way.
I could handle anything but dragging innocent victims into a deadly situation they never asked to be part of.
It wasn’t unheard of for the contractors to send someone out to measure this or test that, unannounced. I didn’t think much of it and planned to head to the A-frame, which was now my primary residence. Anything salvageable from the lower part of the house I’d stashed in the large garage or one of the other cabins. There hadn’t been much, so it made sharing a small space with Risky much easier.
I texted Risky to tell him about Banner’s mom when an impatient voice called out, “Excuse me.”
I paused and looked over my shoulder. A man in a suit and an expensive-looking overcoat stepped around the luxury car and walked in my direction. I immediately frowned. He wasn’t dressed to poke around a burned-down building. Hell, his leather dress shoes were going to get ruined as soon as he moved from the parking area. The melting snow and slushy ground were no place for designer wing tips.
Figuring he was another lawyer representing one of the families affected by food poisoning, or another reporter looking for an easy story, I gave him a once-over and said, “I already have an attorney. You need to reach out to him if you want information on the ongoing legal proceedings.”
He held up a hand and started to interrupt me.
I barreled on ahead and informed him, “I’m not doing any interviews without my lawyer present either. I’m sorry you wasted your time.”
I turned my attention back to my phone and planned to give the well-dressed man the cold shoulder. I sent another message to Risky, letting him know I had an unwanted visitor, but he’d yet to respond to the first one I’d sent. He was probably busywith whatever secret thing his friend needed him to handle and wouldn’t get back to me right away.
I gasped when my elbow was grasped in a firm grip and I was pulled to a stop. I turned to look at the man in the suit with a guarded expression and tried to shake him loose. My resistance had him holding on to me even tighter.
“I just need a minute of your time, Ms. Fortune.” The way he said my name was mocking and full of disdain. “I’m surprised you don’t recognize me.”
I tried to shake free and put my phone in my pocket so I could try to pry his fingers off my arm. “Are you famous? Why should I recognize you?”
His eyes narrowed, and his conventionally attractive face twisted into an ugly expression. “I’m Grant Gray. Banner’s husband.”
I stilled and felt my eyebrows shoot up in surprise. I vaguely recalled seeing a picture of him and Banner from their wedding, but I’d never met the man before, and not been around for any part of his relationship with my former friend. I thought it was pretty arrogant of him to assume I knew—or cared—who he was. And I was really irritated he wouldn’t let go of his vise-like grip on my arm.
“Banner’s mom already tried her best to guilt me into getting her daughter out of trouble. There’s nothing I can do now that there are competent law enforcement agents involved. If you want things to be easier for your wife, why don’t you confess to the state police and tell them she was trying to put me out of business so that you could make partner in your law firm? Banner never would’ve done something so vile if it wasn’t for you manipulating her and using her love for you as a weapon.”
I scoffed as I lifted my foot and kicked him in the shin. I left a dirty footprint on his fancy coat, but he finally let me go.
“Were you ever cheating on her, or did the two of you come up with that story so I would feel bad for Banner and give her free rein of the property?”
I rolled my eyes and tried to subtly put more distance between us. I didn’t know why he was on the mountain, but I could tell his intentions were not friendly.
“What did you ever do that was so great to deserve this prime piece of real estate? An opportunity like this is wasted on someone like you. You’re too sentimental, and you have no vision. You should’ve sold as soon as your grandparents passed away.”
“I didn’t have to earn it. The people who loved it gave it to me, so it’s mine, regardless if I’m worthy or not.” I lifted an eyebrow and taunted, “Just like Rosie. She’s your daughter, even if you’re a worthless piece of shit who convinced her mother to risk it all for you. You definitely haven’t done anything to prove you’re worthy of that sweet baby.”
I crossed my arms over my chest and braced myself in a defiant stance. “Whatever designs you have on this piece of land aren’t going to go anywhere. I have an investor now, and the deed for the land and everything on it is going in a trust. If something happens to me, the state takes it over. There’s no need for you to be here. If you have anything else you want to say, go through my lawyer.”
I planned to walk away because I had no plan to be his punching bag. I might owe Banner a touch of consideration in the name of our years-long friendship, but this man was a total stranger, and I hated what loving him had done to my friend. Banner turning a blind eye to right and wrong because she was desperate to be loved by this man reminded me too much of my parents and Baker. It was toxic. There was no room in my life for love like that.
I yelped in surprise when an arm was thrown around my neck and my entire body was yanked backward. I lifted my hands to claw at the forearm blocking my airflow. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the glint of something metallic and watched in horror as a long hunting knife was lifted in front of my face in a threatening manner.
“A skilled lawyer can argue that any decisions you made after the fire were made in distress. Your parents can also dispute the trust as rightful heirs with you out of the way. Banner mentioned more than once that they’re motivated to sell.”
He started to drag me toward the edge of the mountain, where the trail to the river began. We slipped and struggled as he yanked me forward. I tried to get enough leverage to break free, but the terrain and the knife in my face worked against me.
“I’m not scared of your investor either. There are plenty of ways to make him go away. For the right price, no problem is insurmountable.”
Under different circumstances, I would’ve laughed my ass off at this guy hinting at hiring a fixer to take care of Risky. It seemed he was destined to have ties to his old career, no matter how far removed he became.
I couldn’t breathe or keep my footing. He was hauling me around like a sack of potatoes. His balance wasn’t much better, and I’d already been poked by the tip of the knife several times. Small rivers of blood ran down my arm and stained Risky’s flannel that I was wearing. Most of my clothing had been ruined from the smoke and water from putting the fire out, so Risky and I’d been wearing matching outfits for days.
“Where are you taking me?” The words squeaked out as I continued to struggle in his hold. I was looking for any opportunity to break free.
Being isolated was great for a vacation to get away from it all. It sucked when a greedy lunatic was trying to kill you and takeyour land. If I managed to call for help, my closest neighbors might hear me. If they were home. Unfortunately, I knew Dex and his parents were out of town for the next two weeks. One of his aunts had passed away from breast cancer, and the whole family had gone to help with funeral arrangements and take care of the young cousins.
