Page 65 of Kisses Sweeter than Wine

“She’s not here right now.”

“Well, she needs to vacate the premises.”

“That’s crazy, Andy. She sent you money to extend her rental. You can’t kick her out. Don’t make me bring my father into this because you know I will.”

Andy held up his hands. “Go right ahead. I’m well within my rights. Just give Ms. Grant my message.” He hopped into his vehicle and backed out.

Fucking jerk. He wasn’t there to send Talbot packing. He was there to let them know Richard was onto them.

Merlot stepped into the family room and froze, staring at Richard holding a gun to Talbot’s head.

Talbot

Talbot felt a warm breeze coat her face. She stretched her arms. “Merlot?”

“You haven’t changed. You’re still a trashy little whore.”

She pulled the covers to her chin and sat up straight. She blinked. No. She couldn’t be staring at her father. How did he get in? Where was Merlot? Where was her son?

This couldn’t be happening.

Play dumb. That’s what Carter had told her to do if she bumped into him.

“Who are you?”

Her dad laughed. “That’s fucking rich.” He rummaged through her drawers and tossed some clothes at the bed. “Get dressed. We have four minutes to make it into the family room so I can surprise that pansy-ass boyfriend and son of yours.”

“What have you done?” She clenched her teeth while she tugged the shirt over her head. “If you touch either one of them, it will be the last thing you do.”

“You should have thought about that before you came back from the dead.” He grabbed her by the arm and yanked her off the bed. “I couldn’t believe it when Andy told me about this girl Talbot Grant who was renting a house that one of my companies owned who looked incredibly like my daughter. The picture he texted me sent me to my knees.” He shoved her into the hallway. “I always knew you and your mother didn’t die in that fire. I spent years trying to prove it, but fucking Carter thought he was smarter than me. Well, I’ll have my revenge.”

“Whatever you have planned, you won’t get away with it.”

“Yes, I will.” He grabbed her around the waist and pressed the gun against her temple.

She gasped.

“Get your fucking hands off her.” Merlot raised his weapon.

“I’d put that thing down,” her dad said. “And before you go bragging about what a good shot you are, I do remember that man you shot, saving that young woman. But this isn’t that situation. First, I’m trigger-happy, so shoot. I’ll pull the trigger before the bullet hits me. Second, Andy isn’t far away and he’s not alone. That was just a decoy and he won’t hesitate to shoot you in the back.”

Merlot grimaced. His eye twitched. He lowered his aim. “I’m going to enjoy wrapping my fingers around your neck and watching the life suck right out of you.”

“Kick that thing over here,” her father said.

She took in slow deep breaths. Corbin had friends close by. She had to trust that Merlot had caved to her father’s demands because he knew things she didn’t.

Merlot set the gun on the floor and used his bare foot to send it flying.

“Now, where’s that grandson of mine?” her father asked.

“You’re no grandfather to me,” Corbin’s voice rang out.

Her father spun her around, squeezing her arm with all his might, the cold metal of the gun still hard against her temple.

“Well, looks like someone brought a bigger weapon, but that won’t help you.” Her father laughed. “Put it down, boy. In less than five minutes this place will be crawling with my people.”

“Don’t let my youth fool you.” Corbin kept his gun pointed at her father’s head. “I could squeeze the trigger and you wouldn’t know what hit you.”

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