Page 88 of Faking I Do
“I gotta say, I didn’t think you would do it,” Buck said.
“Didn’t seem like I had much of a choice.” I slid the backpack off my shoulder, letting it fall to the table. Mayor Little didn’t look nearly as intimidating in a pair of plaid pajama bottoms and a plain white T-shirt.
“You’re a smart kid,” Buck said. “You’re going to make a great sheriff.”
“No. I don’t want the two of you fixing any election.”
Dad put a hand on my shoulder. “But, son?—”
I shrugged it off. “This ends here. I’m done trying to save your ass. You and Pops are on your own now. I can’t be a part of anything you’ve got going on.” I’d thought about it as I dug up my grandfather’s stash. Buying off Buck would fix only my immediate problem. If I wanted to make Ido a safe place for Lacey, I had no choice but to do the right thing. Besides, aftermy fake wedding to Lacey, I’d need to get out of town. No sense agreeing to take on a job that would only keep me here, close to her.
“Fair enough.” Buck reached for the bag. “Shall we see what we’ve got here?”
“It’s all there,” I said. “Fifty thousand bucks to clear my dad and granddad’s names. That’s what we agreed to, right?”
Buck eyed me through narrowed lids. “Anything you want to tell me, son?”
“No, sir. Just want your word that my family’s satisfied their obligation to that little cigar ring you’ve got going.”
I waited for a response. Instead, Buck reached for a piece of paper and a pen. He scratched something across the paper then slid it in front of me.
Are you wearing a wire?
I stared at the black ink, my vision speckled with black dots. Of course Buck would think that. He’d screwed enough people around that he’d naturally be suspicious. Taking in a deep breath, I tried not to wince as the tape I’d used to fashion a makeshift mic stretched across my stomach.
“Of course I’m not wearing a wire. You think I’d risk messing with you? I just want out.” I spread my arms wide, hoping the boost to Buck’s ego would prevent him from initiating a full pat down. “The cash for the out, right?”
Buck nodded, his hand closing around the bag. “Let’s make sure it’s all here first, shall we?”
“Be my guest.” I stood, pacing the large kitchen, my boots clomping on the ceramic tile. I’d hoped that by catching Buck at home I’d throw him off guard. Especially in the middle of the night. As I rounded the table, I cast my gaze over the wall of the office across the hall. Framed photographs hung from floor to ceiling. I wandered over, my attention caught by a photo ofLacey’s dad shaking hands with Buck. Must have been during his tenure as mayor.
Seeing how many people Buck had probably manipulated and blackmailed over the years lit a fire in my gut. I couldn’t wait to see the man go down in a bonfire of his own creation, even if it took a piece of me with it.
“Is it all there?” I returned to the kitchen, hands on my hips, ready to put this nastiness behind me.
“All there.” Buck slid the piles of cash he’d counted back into the bag. “Pleasure doing business with you, son.”
“Don’t call me son,” I said as I took the hand Buck offered. “You have the right to remain silent?—”
“What’s this?” Buck’s eyes went wide.
I flipped one hand around Buck’s back and reached for the other wrist. “Anything you say can be used against you in court.”
“What’s going on?” Dad stood, looking older than his fifty-some years. “Bodie?”
“I’m sorry, Dad. I can’t be a part of this anymore.”
“What are you talking about? Family comes first.” My dad slammed his fist against the heavy wood table.
The front door opened. As Sheriff Suarez and the two other deputies moved through the living room, my dad cracked open the door leading to the garage then disappeared into the darkness.
Dammit. This was going to be even worse than I thought. I handed Buck over to the sheriff and followed my dad through the door to the garage.
“Dad? Don’t make this harder than it needs to be.” The smell of oil hit me as I rounded the front of Buck’s oversized truck.
The door to the backyard hung open on its frame. I passed through and found myself standing on the deck of a giant in-ground pool. My dad was doing his best to put some distancebetween us but a bad knee and years of limiting his exercise to sitting behind a desk ensured he was no match for me.
“Stop. Let’s end this.” I jogged around the pool.
