Page 17 of The King of Halloween
“Cool,” Logan said with a thumbs up. “So, where’s the mayor? I should make my introductions and all…”
Adam dragged his toe across the cement so hard that sparks shot out. He turned to watch every minute detail as Raj happened to lay his hand across Logan’s strapping shoulders. Then the man pointed toward the only door. “Oh, that way. Got it. Nice to meet you…?”
“Adam Stein. You’d do well to remember that name.”
“Right. Okay. Adam. You two have fun or whatever.” With that, Logan bounded up the cement stairs and flung open both doors.
The man wearing the mask of naivety gave an almost apologetic grin for his partner.How could I be so stupid to think…?Adam clenched his hand tighter inside his pocket, doing his best to let that imaginary water roll off his back. He should have known.
He did know.
“So…” Adam dropped his palm onto the statue and began to circle it. “You came to Anoka for no reason whatsoever.”
Raj watched him make a half-loop. Adam only had to look from the sides of his eyes to see it now. Guilt. Regret. Secrets. He’s hiding something, and Adam knew what.
“That’s quite the convenient answer, don’t you think?” Adam froze in place, then crossed his arms.
The outsider blinked and shook his head. “Excuse me?”
“No. Because I know what you’re doing. You, Mr. Fancy Movie Man—”
“Fancy?” Raj snorted as if he could play this off.
“Move into a small town acting the bit part of humble entrepreneur while you scheme to buy up everything you can and destroy its rich history.”
A rage snort shot from Raj’s nostrils. “Are you serious? Of course, I’m not. I—”
“Bought the Rushford hotel.”
“It was condemned!” Raj shouted, his dark eyes flaring like a flint struck in the night. “I’m restoring Anoka history. Trying to.”
“So you tell the council now. Play the part for a year, be so humble and magnanimous that they have to shower you with praise, give you anything you want. Come five years, every quaint shop is abandoned because you built a Walmart where the hotel used to stand.”
“You’re insane,” Raj didn’t refute his accusation. “And I think you’re jealous.”
Adam laughed. “Jealous?”Just because you have gobs of cash to throw around and a California boy toy? Ha. As if.“I’m not jealous.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Am not.”
“Are too!”
Their petty grade school arguing drove both men closer. Adam didn’t realize how close until he nearly brushed his chest against Raj’s. A rattling wind cut around them, drawing him to the muscles hidden under Raj’s hoodie.Back off now, tiny boy, before you turn into twink paste.
Swallowing, Adam chased after his calm, customer voice. “I’m watching you.”
“Well, I’m watching you,” Raj said.
“I will protect this town with my life.” Even as the words slipped past Adam’s mouth, he frowned. That threat was a lot more serious than he’d meant.
Raj seemed to take it as badly as he had. A gravelly breath rattled in his nose, and he bit his lip. The flush in his cheeks and fire in his eyes would usually set off something other than alarm bells in Adam, but he kept wondering if California types carried bear mace. Or at least a bejeweled flail. When Raj started to curl his fingers into fists, Adam tried to diplomatically slide away without giving up any of his high ground.
Shaking from his wide shoulders down, Raj asked, “Did it ever enter your thoughts that I’m here to help? That I want to make this place better?”
Better for whom? For his rich investors looking to buy up cheap real estate and force out the locals? For those men in suits who sit around moving numbers from one column to another and have houses worth more than the GDP of a small country? For him?
“You’re not going to win, Mr. Choudhary.”
