Page 108 of The Woman with the Target on her Back (Grassi Family)

I would have to catch her old man alone and tell him just that. He loved her. He had to see the logic in getting her safe, so he had one less thing to worry about while cleaning up his town.

We followed James into the kitchen where Chuck was sitting, holding a glass of something amber in a glass.

It didn’t escape me that James had already cleaned up the mess on the floor from when Stan had attacked him.

“Here,” he said, pulling a stool away from the island where he already had his medical kit set up. “Sit,” he demanded even though Traveler was already moving to do so.

“I got it,” I said as her dad tried to reach for the antiseptic, but was having trouble raising his arm.

James looked at me for a second, then nodded, moving over toward the coffee pot instead. We all noticed how his hand shook as he lifted the pot, then his own mug, but we said nothing. There was no use trying to tell such a stubborn and proud man that he needed to rest.

“This is gonna hurt like a bitch,” I told Traveler as I rolled up her sleeve. “One, two…” Then I poured before she could wince.

“Oh, you fuckhead,” she hissed, rocking in her seat at the burn.

Across the room, Chuck had a ghost of a smile on his lips. Her father’s face was serious as he watched me clean up his daughter’s wound.

“All set. You could have used stitches,” I told her with a disapproving look. “So, now you’re gonna scar. Want some coffee?” I asked, even if she had more than enough already. What she needed was sleep. But we had to get through this first.

She nodded, and I went to make her a cup.

“Okay. What the actual…fuck?” Traveler asked after her first sip.

To that, James sighed.

“Yeah, I think we can all agree with that sentiment,” James agreed.

“You didn’t know?”

“That one of my best friends was fucking me over? Trying to kill me and my daughter? No, I didn’t know that.”

“Did you know about Sheryl?” she asked, voice wavering a bit.

“No. I knew there was a new player in town. I even heard whispers that it was a woman, but no. Had I known, you would have known.

“Up until I was attacked, I had no idea there was even a chance of betrayal from the inside. But, obviously, I had no idea it was Stan, or I’d never have left you with him.”

“I was supposed to be there,” Chuck said.

“It wouldn’t have changed anything, Chuck,” Traveler said, shaking her head. “He would have taken you out before coming for me.”

They were silent about that, likely all knowing she was right.

“Was that Tranq they were dealing?” Traveler asked.

“Yes,” James said, nodding.

“All the times I talked to her about how that shit was ruining the neighborhood…” Traveler said, voice sad.

“She was playing you,” I reminded Traveler. “She was playing this whole town. Just a sweet, innocent farmer. While she was raking in millions in life-ruining drugs.”

“What happens to that organization now?” Traveler asked.

“Now, we bring them in,” James said. “I never did get an offer from their top brass. Now I know why,” he said. “Your Uncle Stan already had a deal with them.”

“But Sheryl has been here for years,” Traveler said. “Tranq is a new problem.”

To that, Chuck shrugged, then winced as it jostled his shoulder. “Maybe she was just a farmer for a while,” he suggested. “But got greedy for more. Got involved with Stan, who could tell her how to get more.”

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