“Creo en ti,” I reply, rising to my full height.I believe you.
Lockhart’s shoulders drop in relief.
I raise the revolver again, aiming it between his eyes. “But that doesn’t mean you get to live.”
“Wait! No?—”
Squeezing the trigger, the pop of the bullet exiting the chamber rings in my ears.
Checking the time, I realize why I’m ready to fall asleep standing.
Nine hours? Damn. The high school teacher lasted a lot longer than I thought he would.
My phone vibrates in my hand.
Walker: Are you done yet? We have a problem.
Me: Just finished. What’s up?
Walker: Clean up, then meet me at the edge of Taylor Morrison’s land.
Me: What happened?
Walker: Just get here.
Damngruñón.
Shoving my phone into my pocket, I groan as my stomach rumbles.
Lunch then Walker.
Killingthe engine of my truck, I stretch my neck side to side before heading into Main Street Diner.
If it wasn’t for Javier, my right-hand man at Falling Sky Ranch, I’d be dead on my feet. I gave him a call and let him know there was a mess to get rid of in the old barn on the edge of my property, and that was it. Javier doesn’t ask questions. He’s been with Falling Sky since my father ran it.
Entering the diner, I note the peeling teal paint and the shelves covered in mismatched mugs. The tightness in my chest eases a fraction just by being here.
The usual lunch rush crowds every single table, so I head to the counter to place my order. With Silver Pine located just up the road, we get a lot of tourists.
As I weave between occupied seats across the worn linoleum, I inhale the hunger-inducing aroma of burgers and fries.
“Hey, Martha,” I greet the owner as she taps away at the register screen. I rest an elbow on the short counter, leaning on my side and facing the rest of the diner.
She flashes me a tender smile. “Hey, Santi. The usual?”
I nod. “To go, please.”
By my elbow on the counter are various fliers and ads printed on neon paper. The one for the grand opening of Silver Pine catches my eye.
I know business like this is good for the town. It creates jobs, boosts the local economy, and all that. But Walker has been on edge since he found out about Neil’s plans for the tourist attraction. He says that crime will spike, and while I prefer not to borrow tomorrow’s worries, he’s not wrong.
Scanning the crowd of tourists and locals, my attention stops. I can’t see her face, but something about her has me ensnared. I’m not sure I can even name what it is. Maybe it’s the slope of her neck or the way her ample hips taunt me.
Whatever it is, I can’t look away.
Something about her draws me in. It’s like she’s my center of gravity.
She’s so focused on the notebook in her hand, I’d be surprised if she even noticed the grumpy toddler flinging his food at the table beside her.
