Total pages in book: 94
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91286 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 456(@200wpm)___ 365(@250wpm)___ 304(@300wpm)
I shrug. “What can I say, Gayle’s lips flapped like a flag in the wind after a glass of champagne, and she gave me ammo. I decided to use it. Nothing else has been working.”
“Some people really shouldn’t drink.” Olivia shakes her head. “To be fair, though, I was dead sober when I admitted my unhealthy fear of horses. I suspect you have an unusual skill for getting people to say and do things they normally wouldn’t.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard that once or twice.” I jut my chin at the open trunk, where the driver patiently waits for Olivia to release her grip on her bag. “So? You going home early?”
“Yes. A few issues have come up that I need to deal with in person. Plus, I miss my girls.”
“Belinda will be displeased.”
Olivia snorts. “She’s been circling. I told her that the only interesting person at Wolf abandoned me. Let her stew in that.” She reaches into a pocket in her purse and produces a business card. “If you need help, you give me a call. Henry’s not the only one with friends in high places.”
I stare at it blankly for a beat before accepting it. “I might take you up on that.”
“I hope you do. And if you’re ever interested in working for me, I’m sure I can find you something.”
“I don’t know shit about oil and gas.”
“You’re smart. You can learn.” She nods to somewhere beyond me. “Henry Wolf’s wife is not waiting for me.”
I peer over my shoulder to see Abbi standing by the Bronco, wearing a short tan sundress and a pained expression. Clearly, she’s heard the news. A heavy sigh escapes me. This is going to be an uncomfortable conversation.
Olivia pats my arm. “Take care of yourself, Ronan.”
“You too, Olivia.”
“Ollie to my friends.” She winks and then climbs into the back seat of the car.
I ease the door shut and then head over to where Abbi waits, my chest tight with anxiety. “Hey, Red.”
She cocks her head as she peers up at me through a lens of sadness and disappointment and something else I can’t discern.
“I’m sorry. I had no other choice. I can’t sit by and let him do this to her. At least now, maybe she’ll have a fighting chance.” If people start poking around to see how much truth there is to these claims that Henry’s buying votes, what are they going to find? How many trips and projects have been funded by “the foundation”? And is it enough to reverse whatever plans he’s shoehorned into the city development agenda?
Or maybe I’m deluding myself.
“I wish you’d talked to me about it first.”
“Why? So you could talk me out of it?” I scoff. “It was a spontaneous, late-night decision. And don’t worry, he’ll be fine. Henry’s not stupid enough to leave incriminating evidence.” He probably has something on every single one of them in his back pocket, courtesy of his PI.
“You really disappointed him.”
“Yeah, well, I wish I could say the same, but Henry is exactly who I knew he was. A callous prick that I should never have risked my life to save.”
She winces. “I tried. Honestly, I did. I talked to him after dinner on Tuesday and then again last night. I even brought up Wolf Cove and his grandparents’ history and all that. But you know how he can be about business.”
“This isn’t on you.” I smooth my hands over her biceps—delicate but deceptively strong, thanks to all those years on the family farm. “Look, I’m not trying to make your life difficult. And I had every intention of staying here. I was actually starting to enjoy the job, I think. But there’s no fucking way I can work my ass off every day for a guy who says he’s doing all this in memory of his father, who built an entire resort in Alaska to honor his grandparents and personal connection there, but then fucking destroys everyone else’s lives.” I take a deep, calming breath.
“I think that’s the most number of words I’ve ever heard you speak in one string,” she muses.
It earns my laugh, despite my anger.
“Is it just about protecting Sloane’s property and business?” Abbi asks gently. “Or … is there another reason you’re doing all this?”
“Well, yeah, it’s because I care about her.”
“But is there any other reason?”
“I don’t understand what you mean.” She’s fishing for something.
“So, you don’t know?” She studies me intently, as if searching for my lie.
“I don’t know what, Abbi?” I can’t remember the last time I used her actual name, but I’m not in the mood for games.
She lets out a frustrated groan and glances around us. “Okay. I have to tell you something. I promised her I wouldn’t say anything, but I think you need to see the whole picture. You have a right to know.”