“I don’t know why you fight me so hard. I’m trying to help you. Trying to make it easier on you.”
He dared to touch my lip with his thumb. I batted his hand away.
Wrong move.
Nolan was quicker than me. He gripped my hand, squeezing until I bit my lip to keep from crying out.
“You hurt me, and there won’t be a safe place in this world for you to hide,” I whispered.
Nolan’s expression twisted. “But I don’t see your felon boyfriend here.”
“You’re lucky.”
“You realize how many favors I had to cash into get his parole hearing?”
My stomach flipped.
That didn’t make any sense. Nolan’s influence moved the parole hearing?
“Why would you help Maddox?” I asked.
“That’s my business. You’ve made it clear you don’t want to be a part of it.”
“Never stopped you before.”
“I’ve tried to be reasonable,” he said. “I want you to remember this conversation. A little professional courtesy would make this transaction a lot smoother…unless you intend for Maddox to be permanently imprisoned six feet under. Your choice.”
I kicked him. I didn’t have time to aim, but I grazed an over-inflated part of him. He grunted, releasing me to collapse against the Escalade.
“Don’t touch me again,” I said. “Don’t come near me. Don’t threaten Maddox. Leave us alone.”
“Don’t do this, Josie.” Nolan struggled to his feet. “I only want what’s best for you. You know I’m in love with you.”
“You have a strange way of showing it.”
He let me go, but he had no choice. I doubted he could chase me with his newfound bruise, and I didn’t like him thinking with that particular part of his anatomy.
Despite the clear sky and beautiful sunshine, I shivered as though I darted through the streets in a rainstorm.
What the hell had happened?
Saint Christie wasn’t a town where someone looked over their shoulder when crossing between Ted’s Hardware and Prissy’s herbal medicine shop. Occasionally we had a rowdy goose in the pond that got a bit feisty, but nothing like this.
Nothing that left me feeling so…rancid.
Maddox texted me during the lunch, wanting to meet with me. No way. Not yet. All I needed was Nolan seeing him with me. Or Maddox seeing me with him.
This was just how everything spiraled out of control a year ago. Nolan threatened Maddox, and I couldn’t risk anything happening to the man I loved or the man I despised. Lies crumbled in my mouth like dry peanut butter, and secrets choked what remained.
I had to clear my head. Maddox wasn’t about to give me space, and I had to calm down before turning him away again.
Except it was usually Maddox who gave me comfort.
I texted Delta, offering to meet her for lunch. I darted through Saint Christie’s park and plopped onto a bench in the gazebo. Someone left a Frisbee from a past tournament. I hid it under the bench. Ultimate Frisbee was the new skateboarding—and the town council received enough complaints and passed enough ordinances that the underground clubs were suddenly the most popular and illegal sport in the park.
Unruly teenagers and angry geese were Saint Christie’s pressing concerns. Not arson. Not threats.
Both Nolan and Maddox swore to kill the other. I knew Nolan could do it, but Maddox? He was dangerous, but he wasn’t a murderer. Was he?
Would he really risk everything for his revenge?
God, and he wanted me back. Promised me a life and a family and wanted a baby. What kind of family could I have with a murderer?
None.
I had to stop him before something terrible happened.
Delta hopped up the stairs to the gazebo, Coke in hand. I took the drink with a smile, but she saw through it.
“What happened?” Delta stretched her legs on the seat opposite me, twirling a finger through her blonde, pixy cut hair. She pulled a sandwich from her paper bag. “Give me the details.”
“Nolan.”
Delta frowned at the soda. “I should’ve brought some rum.”
“No kidding.”
“What’d he do?”
I sighed. “Tried to buy my property.”
“Rumor is he has plans for the lot.”
“He has plans for me.” I made a face. “He…declared his intentions again. Wants me to sleep with him. He said he loved me.”
Delta lowered her sandwich. “Tell me he understood the word no.”
“Not really, but a kick between the legs taught him a lesson.”
“What a slime ball. Think he’ll try anything else? Do you want to stay at my place tonight?”
I flicked a fallen leaf from the banister. “Nah. I’ll be okay.”
“Uh-oh. Now what aren’t you telling me?”
She’d find out sooner or later. “Promise not to freak out?”
“Oh, no—”
“Maddox might be staying with me.”
Delta screeched. She stood, pacing the creaking floorboards of the gazebo. She still avoided the one weak spot where Donny Kennen cracked the plank to hide a pack of cigarettes when we were ten. “Are you serious?”
“It’s okay.”
“Holy shit, it’s not okay.” She groaned. “I wondered why two people came to the office today to ask if their fire insurance was up-to-date. He’s staying in town?”
“We haven’t really talked about it.”
“Then get rid of him. He’s a criminal.”
“He’s not the arsonist!”
Delta didn’t want to hear it. I slurped my soda, but Delta fell silent on the subject. She wasn’t done, just courteous to our neighbors. Mrs. Greentree rounded the gazebo, out on her afternoon walk with Saint Christie’s second most famous dog, Millie the shih tzu. Rumor had it she was the only dog in the state who could challenge the reigning champion, poodle John-Baptiste. Of course, it was Mrs. Greentree spreading that particular rumor.
“Good afternoon, girls.” Mrs. Greentree smiled at us. We knew to look away. Not everyone in town could pull off yoga pants. Mrs. Greentree couldn’t if she tried, even twenty years ago. “Lovely weather?”
Delta agreed. I simply nodded. Millie prattled around Mrs. Greentree’s legs, growling at her own shadow. We tucked our feet under us. No sense losing another shoe or toe to Millie.
“And just how are you doing, Josie?” Mrs. Greentree wrapped the leash around her hand and nestled in for the gossip. “I just heard terrible news. That dreadful boy is back.”
I didn’t answer. Delta did.
“Maddox is out of jail.”
“Heavens. And he brought his older sister too, the trashy thing.”
My stomach churned. I leaned forward. “Chelsea’s home?”
“From what I hear, time has not been kind to her. But that’s neither here nor there. Two Maddoxs in town. Both of them are just…trouble.”
I frowned. Maddox hadn’t said a word about his sister. He hardly ever did. He was the declared bad boy of Saint Christie, but Chelsea wasn’t even brought up in polite conversation.
Not even by her brother.
That was strange. Chelsea didn’t wander into town without reason. She might have been visiting her brother now that he was out, but the thought didn’t settle well.
Something was up. Something bad.
“How is Matthias these days, Josie?” Mrs. Greentree’s smile was genuine. “My Johnny’s missed him at the track. They used to have such fun together.”
There was a gut punch. Delta avoided my gaze.
“He’s fine,” I said. “Some days are better than others.”
“Do tell him we said hello.”
Sure. I’d just tell Granddad his bookie’s mother passed on Johnny’s regards. And probably another threat to repay what was yet owed.
She excused herself to harass Postmaster Alan as he began his route. The dog immediately launched at Alan’s leg. The mail scattered everywhere, and Millie stole the packet of registered letters.
Just a normal afternoon.
“There’s gotta be a bar open somewhere,” Delta said. She winked at me. “Don’t worry about Johnny or the debts. You’re taking care of it.”
“I don’t worry about the money.” That was a lie. I sighed. “I worry more about Granddad. He’s not been the same since the fire. He really loved to be working and…useful.”
“Maybe one day?”
I doubted it. “That’s why Maddox was so good for him. They used to work well together. Granddad trained him, taught him everything he knew. Maddox could take over his business now, and Granddad could consult. I’m sure they’d make a lot of money doing it.”
“But Josie…no one’s going to let him in their house now.”
She was probably right. It just wasn’t fair.
“I know what you think of him,” I said. “I know what everyone thinks of him. But Maddox isn’t as bad as they say. He’s just different. Came from a rough family.”
Delta didn’t believe me. “He used to do drug deals for his family.”
“Because his dad would beat his mom and Chelsea if he didn’t.”
That quieted her. She shrugged. “I’m glad they went to jail.”
I wasn’t. The law stepped in too late, the first time it let him down. I wished Maddox had a better chance at life. His parents went to prison, he ran away from home, and Chelsea had to do things no one Saint Christie could imagine.