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“You’re right about that.” His smile faded as he glanced around the shop. “Just so you know. No one could have helped me. I fell into the kind of darkness I wouldn’t wish on anyone. I just couldn’t get myself out, but I was the one who needed to do that. When I realized I’d lost everything I cared for, I gave it up and never looked back.”
Darkness. The word would forever haunt me. “I’m glad to hear that and I understand more than you know. I’ve been there myself.”
“I can’t tell how sorry I am about Carmine and that I wasn’t there to help you through something so horrible.”
“You had your reasons.”
“No. I didn’t. I was selfish. A prick,” he offered.
“Okay, yes, you were.” At least we could both laugh easily. “Look, I need your help.”
“My help?”
“You’ve heard the rumors about Prescott Westfield. I’m certain you have.”
Snorting, he shot another look around the coffee shop then lowered his voice. “I don’t think there’s anyone in town who hasn’t heard what the bastard is planning. The problem is no one can seem to stop him. There’s nothing concrete to go on, just rumors.”
“Yeah? Well, that’s not entirely true.” I allowed another grin to form.
He narrowed his eyes. “You’re a cagey one. What do you have?”
I took a deep breath before telling him what I knew, sharing more details than I had with the good sheriff. When I was finished, I sat back, twirling the cup.
“You’ve been busy, brother,” he said with a sly smile on his face. “I can’t believe the board is honestly thinking about selling stock. That’s insane.”
“I know.”
“Buy up every last one.”
“You know I can’t do that.”
Jackson grumbled under his breath. “Yeah. I know why. The same honor our father had. That doesn’t mean it can’t piss me off.”
“Trust me, brother. I’m furious and have been for a long time. I refuse to allow Prescott to get away with destroying lives any longer, including ours. If Sheriff Sanchez is on the up and up, great. But if he’s not, I’m prepared to do what it takes. Do you want to be a part of it?”
“Hell, yes. I would love nothing more than to take that bastard down. I know what he did to our father.” Jackson sighed. “And I know the asshole was responsible for our father’s death. He didn’t have to pull a trigger in order to do so.”
“Good. I’m glad you’re as pissed as I am. I have a nice villa for you to stay in if you’d like.”
He cocked his head. “I kind of like my little house. Let’s just take it a step at a time.”
“Works for me. And Jackson, I’m glad to have you back. I’m sorry we wasted so much time.”
“We both did that. I do have a question for you.”
“Of course.”
“Why haven’t you said more than a few words about this new hire of yours that I’m going to be working with?”
I could feel the heat rising on my face.
Laughing, he placed his hand over his heart, his damn face beaming. “My God. You’re in love with her.”
“Keep your damn voice down.”
He couldn’t stop laughing. “I am thrilled. Way to go, brother. You need to tell me everything about her.”
“Uh-huh. Not so fast, lover boy. We have work to do.”
