Page 78 of Bad Decisions & Back Roads
Justin swallowed.
Lisa slid the papers neatly back into her envelope.“Based on what you offered Gia, which was insulting, and what the land is actually worth, we will be phoning developers.”Her eyes glittered.“In the end, I expect her to have enough left over to send you a handwritten thank-you card for being such a selfish idiot.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from laughing.
Justin pointed at me.“You planned this.”
“No,” Lisa said, voice suddenly flat as stone.“Youplanned.Then you lied and manipulated.You counted on her standing alone.”She stepped closer.“That was your mistake.”
The room seemed to shrink around her.
“In this town,” Lisa said quietly, “when someone hurts one of ours, we pray.We organize.We call attorneys, maybe bankers.Sometimes we call mothers.”Her smile returned, sweet as acid.
Justin’s eyes went wide.“What do you want?”
Lisa looked offended.“I already have what I want.”
She looped her arm through mine and guided me toward the door like a queen escorting favored company from court.At the doorway, she glanced over one shoulder.
“One more thing.If you so much as whisper Gia’s name with disrespect again, my son won’t need a rifle.”Her smile widened.“I’ll handle you myself.”
Justin went still.
Outside, I finally exhaled.
“That was quite something.What exactly are you?”I asked, half-joking.
“A Baptist.”She primly patted my hand.
“I think I might need to walk across the street and convert.”My family had always attended the Methodist church.
“I’ll personally escort you this Sunday.Then you’ll stay for dinner.”Her eyes flashed with wicked delight.“We’ve got bidders to call.I intend to fleece that fool’s pride for every cent it’s worth.”She turned as if a sixth sense told her someone was coming.“Ah, there’s that wild child of mine.”
Timothy stalked our way from the direction of the church.A man in a black baseball cap and dark outfit handed him a suspicious black bag, which Timothy put into the back seat of his mom’s tuck.
I squinted at the guy near Timothy.Even though I hadn’t seen him in a year, the one-inch scar across his chin was unforgettable.“Jackie, is that you?”
ChapterTwenty-Seven
GIA
“Hey, Gia.”Jackson Hurst didn’t exactly smile, but one corner of his mouth lifted in that familiar half-smirk he reserved for people he was genuinely glad to see.With Jackson, that was practically exuberance.Somewhere along the way, life had taken too many shots at him, leaving him permanently serious.
“You’re back!”I crossed the distance and threw my arms around him.
Jackson went stiff in shock for half a heartbeat like nobody in his life hugged him first, which wasn’t true.I did it every time I saw him.Then one rough hand landed awkwardly between my shoulders.
Behind me, Timothy and Lisa both sucked in sharp breaths.Not because I hugged a man.Because I huggedJackson, who over the past two decades had become unpredictable and dangerous.But not to me.To me, he was a hero.
I pulled back enough to look at him.“You said you wouldn’t be back for another few weeks, maybe a month.”
“Got a call that brought me back.”He gave me a pointed glare.“I asked you to wait to come back until I could be here.Then Timothy told me Jimmy hurt you again?”
“Misty needed me.They weren’t taking care of her.”As I stepped away from him, my throat tightened.I nodded toward Timothy.“You never told him you saved my life.”
Jackson’s lips flattened.“You made me swear not to.I take those kinds of promises serious.”
“What are you talking about?”Timothy shoved off his mama’s truck hard enough the suspension rocked.His eyes locked on Jackson like he was seconds from swinging at his own cousin.
