“Sorrow,” I bite out as he takes a seat. He looks at me with confusion.
I tip the glass back and drink down the contents before slamming the glass on the desk. “The girl who killed my brother is back.”
He winces before leaning back. “I didn’t know you then, but I remember the case. Well, part of it. It was being wrapped up just as I came back. I wasn’t up on all the local news because I was focused on setting up shop.”
When I don’t say anything else, he continues.
“She was driving under the influence, right?” he asks softly.
I nod, folding my arms over my chest.
“I remember the place turned into a media circus. I’m surprised she came back at all.”
“Her mother died. When she didn’t come back for the funeral, I figured that was it, she never would. I waited for the house to go on the market so I could buy it and burn the fucking thing down. It’s why I bought the house next door, so I’d have a ringside seat. But it’s been months, Blake. What the fuck is she doing here now?”
He leans forward; his eyes latched onto mine. “Perhaps it took a while to track her down. I won’t lie; I thought she was in prison.”
“She was. She got five years, but you know what the fucking system is like. She got out after two and a half years for good behavior. That was the bullshit they told my parents, anyway. Can you imagine what that was like for them? To know their son was gone for good, but the person who killed him was free to continue living her life as if Alec’s death was nothing but a minor blip on their radar.”
“Yeah, I feel for them, but they were lucky she got that at all.”
I growl, but he shakes his head.
“I don’t mean it the way you’re taking it. But she was seventeen years old, had no previous offenses, not to mention the crazy storm that rolled in.”
“She had no fucking business being on that road in that weather, let alone drunk,” I snarl at him.
“I’m not saying I disagree. But most judges would have tried her as a minor, and her sentence would likely have been even less than she got.”
“Yeah, well, the system is a fucking joke,” I grunt, sick of this bullshit already.
“My advice is to stay away from her. I doubt she’s planning on staying. I can’t imagine she’ll get the welcome mat rolled out for her. She’s probably just here to get rid of her mother’s house.”
I swallow, knowing he’s right, but having her this close is like having an itch you can’t scratch. I need her gone—like yesterday—before I do something stupid.
“You need to warn your parents. I’d hate for them to get blindsided at the diner or grocery store.”
I tip my head back and let my eyes drift closed. “They’re going to lose their minds. They’re already stressed out over Katy. This will tip them over the edge.”
“Tell them the same thing I just told you. Stay away from her. Let her get the house sold, and then she’ll be gone. But if they cause issues with that, she’ll be stuck here longer.”
I sigh. “They won’t do anything to prevent her from leaving. They’ll do anything to make sure she’s gone.”
Now, it’s Blake’s turn to sigh. “Greif makes you do crazy things. Don’t bank on them acting rationally. They have a lot of influence in this town and money on their side. Their need to make her hurt like they do might override their common sense.”
I shake my head because he’s wrong in this instance. My parents hate her. Like hell will they want her in town for a second longer than needed.
“What do you need?”
I open my eyes and look at him. “Bail money.”
He narrows his eyes at me.
“Tell me you didn’t.”
I curse, gripping my hair. “I heard something from the house. I thought someone had broken in, so I went to investigate. Imagine my fucking surprise when I walk in and catch Sorrow before she slips and breaks her neck.”
I don’t add anything else, not exactly proud of how I acted. But my blinding rage toward the woman means it could have been a whole lot fucking worse.
