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Concern number one centered around keeping LJ from having a panic attack. He’d completed three sessions with the therapist she’d recommended, and the results seemed to be positive, but three sessions didn’t exactly equal a cure. She shot him what was supposed to be a reassuring smile.
Probably just looked like gas with the way her insides churned.
“All right, sheriff,” Toni said as she lost the air of friendly ignorance. “You’ve made your spectacle in front of my customers. Got everyone all worked up and wondering what’s going on. This will fuel the town’s gossip for days. Now, state your business or let me go about mine.”
You go girl.
God, if only Holly had balls half the size of Toni’s, she could have wiggled out from under her parents’ heavy thumbs years ago.
He handed a folded piece of paper over to Toni without another word.
Holly rolled her eyes. So this was how he planned to play it? Couldn’t even make a bit of a concession for the fact his daughter stood five feet away.
Screw it.
“What’s this about, Dad?” Holly asked as Toni unfolded the paper. Her friend’s face went from mildly annoyed to infuriated in a matter of seconds. The diner remained quieter than ever before as every patron, employee, and cop stared in their direction.
Jesus, was that a smirk on her father’s face?
“Apparently, I’m using the diner to traffic illegal narcotics,” Toni said with a huff.
“Jesus fucking Christ, this is some rank bullshit,” LJ said.
Holly laughed. It came out as a bark of shock and disbelief but quickly morphed into a full-on laugh. “You have got to be kidding me.” She turned to her father. “Toni? Trafficking drugs?”
The sheriff wasn’t laughing. “This isn’t a joke at all, Holly. We arrested a low-level dealer yesterday who claimed he received his supply here.”
“Then he’s lying,” Toni said as she tossed the papers to the counter. “Go ahead Sheriff, search the fuck outta my place. Waste your time and mine.” With that, she stormed off to her office.
“Don’t leave the building, ma’am,” one of the deputies called.
“Wouldn’t dream of it. I’m not going to miss out on the apology when you find jack shit,” Toni called, but she was no longer within view.
“All right,” the same deputy yelled, the one who’d interrogated LJ a few weeks ago. Deputy Brown. “If you work here, please stay. If you’re a customer, I’m sorry to cut your meal short, but you need to vacate the premises immediately.” He wandered farther into the diner, ushering customers toward the exit.
LJ didn’t budge from where he stood sentry, neither did Rocket who’d joined him midway between their booth and Holly’s counter. Though, as Brown passed by, LJ’s nostrils flared, and he cracked his knuckles. Thankfully, LJ seemed to realize walking over to where Holly stood by her father would only antagonize the man and escalate a volatile situation, so he stayed put, but sent death rays her dad’s way.
“Dad, Toni isn’t some secret drug kingpin. I’m not sure who gave you this information, but it’s not accurate. It’s seriously ridiculous.”
And please don’t let it be made up by you as a way to screw with the MC’s businesses.
“Your friend Toni has an ugly history, Holly. You think the best of people, always have, but that’s a naïve way to go through life.” He rested his palms on the counter and sent a pitying look her way. Not for the first time since he began his war on the MC, Holly noticed how unhealthy he looked. Pale with bags under his eyes and more rapidly graying hair. Was it their strained relationship taking a toll on his health? Or had he just forsaken caring for himself in favor of using all his time and energy to screw with the Handlers?
Normally, she’d have more sympathy for him, but after the incident with Schwartz, she’d reached her limit.
With an exaggerated roll of her eyes as though she were a huffy teen again, Holly threw her arms in the air. “Oh, come off it, Dad. I know all about Toni’s history. Which is why I know she isn’t dealing drugs. Toni was a young, dumb kid when she got into trouble. What? All of a sudden you’re holding who people were as kids against them now? You should probably lock yourself up because I’m pretty sure you told me some stories about making a few shitty decisions yourself back in the day. Trust me, Toni is not that kid anymore. She’s a fully-grown woman who has suffered over the decisions of her past. She’s a business owner who helps kids in situations similar to the one she found herself in back in high school.”
“Or she sells those kids drugs,” her dad said in a mocking tone as though Holly were a moron.
Holly frowned. Did he truly believe that?
