Right. I’d been there when Tenor and his school bully, Ruby’s dad, had sort of reconciled or had at least agreed to be amicable for his daughter.
“I only play tennis with Robert because he’s your dad.” A muscle jumped in Tenor’s jaw. “And so I can kick his ass.”
“You also enjoy leading him on and letting him think he has a chance.” Ruby had proud hearts in her eyes.
Okay. If Ruby could semivouch for Cara, then I could give her a shot.
It sounded like I was firing my real estate agent.
Teller
I was waiting in the pickup for Madison with my window open. She had marched inside Sal’s tiny office in the corner of his wife’s insurance business like she was on a mission that she would not abandon until she was the only one standing.
It had to take courage. Who the ever-loving fuck called a kid names just because their parent was mean? I pulled out my phone and called Mama.
“Teller.” Mama’s warm greeting flowed through the line.
“Hey, Mama. You still sell eggs to Kathy Wilson?”
“Yes. Now that Cruz and Lane are back in town, I told her my supply is going to dwindle.” She chuckled. “Those boys like their eggs.”
They liked Mama’s food. We all did. “You mind cutting her off? She called Madison a baby ho when she was younger. And Jeff Armstrong doesn’t get any of our beef.”
The silence was loud. “Consider it done.”
“Thank you, Mama.”
“How is Madison doing?”
“She’s firing Sal as we speak.”
“Oh, good.” Her relief flowed through the line, and I knew exactly how she felt. “That man is bad business.”
“Agreed.”
“Do you two want to come for dinner soon? Or does she work all week?”
“No, she doesn’t.” I knew her hours for the next month. “I’ll ask her.” A shout came from inside. “I gotta go.”
She must’ve heard the alarm in my voice. “Give him hell. He deserves it.” The line went dead.
I got out of my pickup. A man’s raised voice emanated from the building. Through the window, a woman sat at her desk, staring slack-jawed straight ahead of her. I was two steps down the sidewalk when the door banged open. Madison’s mouth was set in a mutinous line, but triumph lit her eyes and, fuck, that was good to see.
Sal rushed out after her, stabbing his finger toward her. The first two buttons of his shirt were undone and there was a stain around the third button. “You use another agent and I will sue—” His gaze landed on me and he reared back. “Teller?”
I kept him stuck in my gaze like a bug pinned to a science project. “I’ve got a good lawyer, Madison. She’ll be happy to talk to Sal’s legal team.”
The flush from the cocksucker’s face drained until he was gray.
Madison stopped next to me. “I’m sure she’ll also like to hear about how Sal and his friend were planning to flip the property for seven figures more than he recommended I sell it for.” She snapped her fingers. “There’s also that... what was it? Conflict of interest that wasn’t disclosed?”
“The contract between you two sounds nice and severed.” I kept my tone hard. I didn’t bother to wait for a response. I walked around the hood of the pickup to open Madison’s door.
Her lips twitched, but when I winked at her, she grinned.
“You liked doing that,” she whispered.
Sal gave up and slunk inside.
