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As I walk inside, I see Teddy standing in the foyer. “Did you get everything moved?”
I nod. “Yeah. They’re keeping it on the southside, about thirty minutes from the casino.”
“What kind of building? Any security?”
Before I can answer, a knock vibrates through the foyer. I look to Teddy with confusion. The same expression on my face mirrors on his. He holds his finger to his lips and moves behind the door.
I nod and reach for the handle. When I open it a man in his late thirties is standing on the other side. “Can I help you?”
“Charlotte Welsh?” His voice is deep.
I lean against the open door and weigh my words carefully. “It’s actually Hale. And you are?”
“My name is Andrew Scott. I’m in town investigating some claims and was wanting to ask you a few questions.”
Bingo. I knew it had to be him, the ATF agent. Growing up in this town, I know almost every face. Maybe not names, but I know faces, and this is one I haven’t seen before.
“Oh, a real investigation? What kind of claims?” I peek behind the door and see Teddy listening just as intently as me for his reply.
“I can’t disclose that information right now.”
I huff. “So, you’re here to ask me questions, about something you can’t disclose? Sounds to me you’re just fishing for anything I’m willing to give. Have a nice day.” I look behind me and see Julius standing with an amused smirk plastered on his face, chin jutted upward and his arms crossed over his chest.
I go to close the door, but he stops it with his foot. “I’m a government agent with the ATF. If you don’t cooperate, I can have you arrested for obstruction of a criminal investigation.”
Julius moves closer behind me, pressing his chest into my back. I look behind the door and see Teddy watching, nostrils flaring, fists curling, because he can’t do anything about this man trying to practically force himself inside. Not if he wants to keep him being back a secret.
I chuckle at his threat and step forward away from Julius. “Am I supposed to be scared because of who you are? I mean, I can’t think of any other good reason as to why you would be so forward. Unless it’s because you already know that I know who you are.” I drop my hip and level my eyes with his. “And if you know who I am, the same way I know you, then you must know who my father was. I was learning the legal system and laws before I could walk. I’m not obstructing shit. So, unless you have a warrant, probable cause, or feel like spilling what you’re actually investigating, go fuck yourself.”
He takes a step back and raises his hands in surrender with a smug smile.
I shrug and chuckle again. “That’s what I thought. Tell Cameron I said hello.” I slam the door before he can reply.
When the door slams shut, Teddy steps forward. “That motherfucker!” he yells.
His booming voice penetrates every pore in my body, a wicked mixture of venom and ice, sending a chill down my spine. I’ve seen Teddy mad before, but never to the point of yelling.
“He has some fucking nerve trying to get into my home!” He walks to the small table by the door in two big strides. Picking up the golden vase housing lilies, he doesn’t hold it for more than a second before throwing it down the hall.
The shattering of the glass on the marble floor has me jumping with the sound. I almost want to run away, but more than that, I want to try and comfort him. I rush to his side and touch his arm tentatively. “Teddy, it’s okay. I handled it.”
He snatches out of my hold. “That’s the point, Charlotte. You shouldn’t have to handle it with me standing right fucking there!” He points to the door. “You don’t know how much it took not to step around you and pummel his face. He disrespected you!”
Warmth floods my body with his confession. I shake my head. “I’m used to it. One of my main advantages is people thinking I’m weak. People not taking me as serious. It’s okay.”
His head falls back as he lets out a laugh. “This isn’t about weakness, Charlotte. You’ve already shown your weakness. Your composure wavers when a certain someone comes around.” He leans down and brings his eyes to mine. “This is about disrespect. You called yourself a Hale, and he still had the nerve to do what he did. No one treats anyone with the Hale name that way and gets away with it. Don’t think this is about you when it isn’t. This is about my family’s name and the reputation I’ve built with it.”
My jaw becomes slack, and my hands start to shake. Just when I thought maybe we were past the Lucas thing, he brings it up again. I bite my lip so hard that the copper taste of blood touches my tongue. I want to fire back, but it’s pointless.
I turn and see Lucas stepping out of his room as I start toward the hallway.
“What, running away because you can’t handle the truth, Charlotte?” I hear Teddy call behind me.
My eyes catch Lucas’s for a split second. He raises his brow slightly and tips his head, almost like he’s waiting to see what I’ll do, and it pisses me off. These men brought me here for my strength. They’ve groomed me and trained me to be hard and cold, and yet, Lucas has the nerve to look at me with pity in his eyes while Teddy talks shit.
I turn on my heel and storm back to Teddy. “Fuck you. You want to say you’re just a man questioning all he’s done for a woman who doesn’t love him the same way, but you know what? I’m questioning all the same shit too.” I throw my hands up and raise my voice. “You want to prove a point that I’m yours? You’ve done it. Look at Lucas’s bruised face and my fucking piss-poor excuse of dignity! I’ve let you treat me like shit the entire time you’ve been back thinking maybe you just needed to let it out. But fuck you, Theodore! I’m not your fucking doormat anymore.
“Nothing I’ve done deserves this kind of treatment. You’re a prick on a power trip at this point, and I’m sick of it! If you want to treat someone like shit, find a new victim because I’m done being yours!”
