I tilt my head to the side. “Why?”
“Because you want everything and everyone to be perfect, and that’s not how life is.” She sighs, not knowing how close she hit to the bullseye. Her words are what Josie has been telling me all this time. “I knew it’d be a long time until you found someone who’d be able to see through it all.”
“Through what?” I ask, confused. My baby sister likes to talk in metaphors.
“Through you.” She lifts a brow.
I snort, wrapping my arm around her shoulders, and pull her with me to the station. “There’s nothing to see there.”
“Sure,” she replies, and I hate the way she says it.
“Lei-i-ila,” I start my warning, “don’t do that to me.”
“What?” She shrugs and points at the window. “Who is that?”
I follow her hand through the glass and see someone sitting at one of the deputy’s desks, vigorously writing. “That’s a very good question.”
We go inside, and the first thing I do is walk toward the desk, sending a questioning look at Jennica. She just raises her brows and shakes her head. The man at the desk is about twenty-five with longish, dark hair, wearing civilian clothes.
When he sees me, he leans back in the chair and waves at me. “Sup, Boss.”
I pause and look at Jennica again. I left twenty minutes ago and don’t remember hiring anyone. But with her desire to hire someone and me postponing it, she must have taken the matter into her own hands. “Care to explain?”
She only smiles as the dude starts talking. “I’m Brad. Brad Dudley,” he says as if it’s supposed to tell me something. “Mayor’s son,” he adds when he notices me not looking particularly happy.
Right, Dudley. The disruptive asshole who pocketed half of Little Hope’s money and let big developers buy the buildings owned by locals for generations, forcing Donna to sell her special blend under someone else’s brand.
“And?” I cross my arms over my chest. I know who the little fucker is—I’ve got a profile on him.
“He talked to you, right?” He looks between me and Jennica, seeming a bit confused.
“He did not.”
“Oh.” He sniffles and stands up, offering me his hand. “I’m Brad Dudley, your new deputy.”
I look at his hand as if it was Frank’s shit and then back at his face. “I didn’t hire you.”
“I guess my father was supposed to talk to you.” On cue, the phone in my office rings. Brad’s face brightens. “I guess that’s for you.”
I grind my teeth and walk to my office. Picking up the phone, I bark, “Benson.”
“Hello, Sheriff. My son should be there any minute,”comes the cheerful voice of our dear mayor.“I was hoping you could provide him with a place to work since you’re hiring anyway.”
“He was not on my list.”
“Well,”he laughs,“he is now.”
I look back at the brat who’s scrolling on his phone and sending my sister dirty looks from time to time. “I don’t think it’s happening, Dudley.”
“Oh, I think it will. You owe me. For that favor of yours. Remember?”His voice turns threatening.
Shit. I knew he’d collect but didn’t think he’d force me to take his piece of shit son, who will be nothing but trouble as law enforcement of Little Hope. It’s like doomsday.
The mayor takes my silence for hesitation and continues,“As I recall correctly, I had to get rid of certain evidence for a couple of your friends who went a little—shall I say, free?—in our neighboring city?”
Fuck. I owe him. When Mark and Justin went on a warpath intent on delivering justice for Alicia last year, they forgot about a tiny camera on the wall of the building across from the club. I didn’t know about that either. The mayor pulled some strings to get the video erased. I still can’t sleep without being part of fucking corruption, but I couldn’t let two rapists roam free and deliver more evil. They’d done enough over the years and flown under the radar.
When it happened, I became even more deliberate about serving justice the way it should be. No corruption. No gray areas. Just black and white. And here I am, being pulled by the same string back into corruption. I know the mayor is an asshole, but he is a man of his word. We agreed a favor for a favor, and I’m sure after this one, my debt will be paid. I just wish he picked something else for payment. I’d rather give him my kidney than hire his son.
