Page 27 of Dangerous Secrets
“You dealt with him?Thenwhy’s he still walking?And where the hell’d you get an Escalade?You failed.I gave you a job, and you fucked it up.”
Reed rolled his eyes and Neil groundhis teeth together so hard they ached.He didn’t bother to keep thederision from his voice.“Listen to me, you fucker.I told you tobeat the shit out of him, break a few bones, to make sure he gotthe message.Instead, you put bullet holes in his truck.What adumbass thing to do.He’s still standing, and you brought ashitload of scrutiny we don’t want.Which is why I specificallytold you not to use a firearm.”
Reed removed a toothpick from his fatlips.If he wasn’t feeding his face, he had a toothpick in hismouth.Why the hell did he need to chew on a splinter of wood allday?Another reason to despise him.
“Don’t be so uptight.Iknow what I’m doing.I rented the Escalade in Carson City and it’salready returned.No worries there.Bobby got a little overexcitedand popped off a few rounds.Not a big deal.”He shrugged.“I didwhat you asked.You said to send him a message, but not kill him.Me and Bobby rattled his cage, gave the fucker McGrath the warningyou wanted us to give.Now he knows somebody’s on tohim.”
Neil gripped the steering wheel, hisknuckles showing bony white through his thin skin.Rage snakedthrough him until it was like a red haze covering his vision.Heshould’ve taken care of McGrath himself.The satisfaction ofbeating the asshole senseless would’ve been sweetjustice.
It was McGrath’s fault Neil’d losteverything.When he’d been in charge, he could’ve ordered any oneof his men to work over the bastard and it would’ve been done theright way.Now he had to use idiots.“It’s not enough.He’s beenasking questions, too many questions, and he’s not the kind to backoff.You should’ve hurt him bad enough the message got through loudand clear.”
“Bobby fired five or sixrounds.One of those bullets had to have hit him.But if he’s nothurt bad enough, we can go at him again.”Reed shrugged, thengrinned, his fat mouth splitting to reveal stained teeth.“But lastnight we did one better.You’ll like this one.Bobby seen McGrathlocking lips with smokin’ hot Delaney Bryant at Easy Money.Theyleft the bar about the same time.I bet he’s fucking her hard,making up for the years he’s been gone.It’s what I’d do.Anyway,so Bobby and me, we left her a little present.”He smirked.“I toldyou I’d take care of things and I did.”
“What the hell’d youdo?”
“Never mind what I did.Itook care of things.That’s all you need to know.”
“You fucking idiot.You’vealways been a screwup and you’re still a screwup.If you’d donethings right back then, we wouldn’t be in this messtoday.”
For the first time since climbing inthe car, anger clouded Reed’s expression.“I didn’t screw thingsup, you did.I’m getting fucking tired of your superioract.”
Neil gave a sharp bark of laughter.“You’re talking out your ass, as usual.I’m in charge becauseyou’re not smart enough to be in charge.If you were, you’d knowyou mess with the Bryants you’re just asking for attention.Thistown’s full of dumb fucks who think those women walk on water.Tellme what the hell you did so I know if I have to fixanything.”
“I told you I’m dealingwith shit.You might have a little trust.McGrath will get word,and when he does, he’ll realize she’s in danger because of him.That’ll make him back off.”
Boiling resentment threatened to chokehim.Neil hated when orders weren’t followed.And what’s more, hewas damn tired of not getting the respect he deserved from not onlyfuckup Reed, but from every other loser in this two-bittown.
They didn’t know the sacrifices he’dmade to keep the town and the entire county safe and now theytreated him like he was invisible, like he didn’tmatter.
There was a time when his commandswere followed without question, and now he had to explain everylast detail and still his orders weren’t followed.If the assholesitting in the passenger seat didn’t watch himself, he’d learn thecost of not doing what he was told.Not that Neil could leave himalive once everything was taken care of.That was too much arisk.
Patience was a hard-learned charactertrait, but he’d use it now.He’d wait to see how things playedout.
If they didn’t go his way, he’d beforced to do what needed doing himself.
CHAPTER TEN
Delaney stood at the open door of theshed, trying to decide what tools she’d need.It wasn’t even eightin the morning, and so far, her day sucked.She was operating onone measly cup of coffee, and now she had to take care of anunpleasant task.Her phone rang and she unbuttoned the cargo pocketin her loose cotton pants to retrieve her phone and check thecaller ID.If Keeley couldn’t give her mood a boost, she didn’tknow who could.Following the Vance Norris incident, it’d taken allof Delaney’s persuasive powers to convince Keeley she wasn’t toblame because she had left Easy Money earlier than Delaney.Sincethen, Keeley’d been calling regularly to, as she put it, make sureDelaney wasn’t suffering from PTSD because Vance Norris would giveanyone PTSD.
“Hey, Keel.”Delaney madea split-second decision not to tell her friend what she’d foundthat morning on a dusty road on her farm.Keeley would only worry,and there was nothing she could do about it.
“I’ve called to tell youI’m a single woman again.”
“You and Oliver broke up?How’d he take it?”
“We did, and about howyou’d expect.He cried and I felt awful.He’s really a decent man,but he wants a woman who’ll take care of him and adore him, andthat’s not me.He asked if he could call me in a couple months andsee if my feelings have changed.”
“You need a cleanbreak.”
“I know.” Keeley’s anguish carried throughthe phone.“But he was crying, and I couldn’t say no.I’lldefinitely make sure we’re all the way done when he calls in acouple months.”
“You’re asofty.”
“True words.But moving onto a more interesting topic, how are things between you andWalker?”
“There’s nothing betweenme and Walker.He’s going about his business and I’m going aboutmine.Though I’m not sure what his business is.I’ve seen himdriving by several times a day, and I know he’s doing work on thecabin, but I’ve been busy getting ready for opening day and wehaven’t talked since that night at Easy Money.”
“Mom heard gossip thatVance is pissed because Walker filled Owen in on what happened inhis parking lot, and now Owen has banned Vance from Easy Money.Idon’t think he ever planned on becoming a regular.Easy Money’s nothighbrow enough for him.It’s more likely he doesn’t like beingtold he can’t do something.Vance acts so entitled I’m sure beingtold no would rub him raw.”
