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“I need to get some things taken care of. I'll be done soon, and I'll be back,” he said. Hayden nodded slowly.
“I'll be here,” he said, understanding what Austin meant. Austin jumped in his truck and drove off.
†
In a dimly lit cafe, Austin leaned across the table, his eyes burning with frustration...
"Nicole, I need you to do something for me.”
“What do you want?” She asked him. She could see the anger in the way he clenched and unclenched his jaws, the way he tapped the table with his middle finger, almost like a lion ready to pounce, every muscle tense and ready.
“I know this may be too much of an ask, but I want you to use your PI connection. Dig into every detail about my brother, Kenneth—every skeleton he's got hidden. I need to know everything."
Nicole sighed.
"Austin, I know you are rational, and you are smart. You wouldn't do something like this. Why do you want to…”
“There is no time.”
“He is your brother!” Nicole whispered. It was more a hiss than a whisper.
“You think I don't know that?” Austin's voice was more a growl than anything else, his eyes staring at the table, rather than at her.
“I know you do but…”
“There is no time for contemplation. If he is allowed to take this any further than it has gone then there is a good chance that the ranch will be lost. Trust me on this. Just do what I am telling you,” He said.
Nicole stared at him for a while then she reached out and took his hand. She held it there for a while then she sighed.
“Austin…”
He placed his other hand on hers.
“I know what I am asking you and I know you are conflicted about it but it has to be done. He's been pulling some shady stuff, Nicole. I can't take it anymore. I need to find a way to make him relent. He doesn't seem like he would do that on his own."
Nicole hesitated, then placed a reassuring hand on his. "Austin, I understand you're angry, but you do understand that if you go down this route then…”
Austin's voice trembled. "I've tried talking, Nicole. Nothing gets through to him. I need evidence, something concrete to protect myself and my family. Please, help me."
Nicole looked conflicted, torn between her professional ethics and her personal connection with Austin. "I can't promise I'll find dirt, but I'll look into it legally. We need to be careful, Austin. This can backfire."
Austin nodded, a mixture of determination and frustration in his eyes. "I don't care. I need to know the truth, Nicole. Whatever it takes."
†
“You know he is going to use this. It's only a matter of time before he springs this trap,” Lenanee said.
“I know that.” Hayden replied as he walked out of the barn.
“What will you do?” She asked him. He looked up at the sky then back at her and shook his head.
“Should talk to my lawyer and see if there is a way out of this.”
“But…” Lenanee asked him.
“Austin is working on something.
“Wait, that is the best you have to offer. Austin is working on…son of a…” she stopped, and he looked around to see Kenneth walking towards him with a big smile and sunglasses on.
