Fuck.
“Stay here,” I tell the kids, who just give me absent nods.
I trust them to listen—or at least to stay hooked on the music—as I bolt over to avert a standoff.
“—I should’ve known. Just the kind of nasty shit you expect from a Blackthorn!” Viola spits, her mouth twisted. Gone is the kind, folksy blueberry farmer, replaced with this venomous snake. “You always treated us like redneck criminals!”
“Inever treated you like anything,” Margot throws back. “Your beef was with Gramps. Maybe he had a good reason to—”
“Hey,” I say sharply, grabbing Margot’s arm.
Her gaze flicks to me and she jumps, like she was expecting a physical attack.
Just seeing her this on edge makes me want to wrap her in my arms and rip Viola Babin a new mouth she can’t bitch with.
“There a problem here?” I look at Viola sharply with knives in my eyes.
“She sicced the cops on us,” Viola snarls. “Imagine, making us feel like petty criminals in our ownhome.People talk, y’know? And guess what they’ll say? It should be the Blackthorn brat for once getting dirty looks and whispers—not us!”
I stare at her coldly, just long enough to start melting the hatred off her face.
“If you didn’t do the break-in, then you didn’t do it. Let the evidence speak for itself,” I say flatly. “Even if you feel targeted, that gives younodamn right to go harassing Margot in public. Don’t you think she has enough going on right now with the house?”
“You think I care?” she huffs loudly.
“Clearly not. Let me give you a good reason to start caring, Viola.” I step closer, all quiet fury now. “If you don’t start keeping your distance, then I’ll have to start getting lawyers involved. Your shit-fight with the Blackthorns affects my family as long as we’re here. Maybe you didn’t break in, no, but I can nail you for harassment and child endangerment. Maybe dig up an old arson case or two while we’re at it.”
“Arson?” Her eyes widen. “What the hell you think you’re—”
“Don’t think we don’t know. And don’t think I won’t defend Margot Blackthorn like my own if you keep this little grudge rolling. Stay away from them, and keep off the damn property, too.”
“You people are all the same,” she snarls, “thinking your fancy money and ten-dollar words solve everything.”
“Let me make myself crystal clear.” I walk closer again, and she takes an automatic step back. “I look out for good people.For folks with less than noble intentions, you don’t want to find out what I do. Understand?”
“I—”
“Simple question, Mrs. Babin. Yes or no.”
She grits her teeth, but nods, her face streaked red from holding in a thousand curses.
“Good,” I clip. “Have a blessed day.”
Without giving her another second to yap, I take Margot’s hand and lead her away.
Yes, I’m fucking erupting, but I know my girl wouldn’t want me to make more of a scene.
She stops short before we reach the kids, not ready to face them. Her eyes are too dark and disturbed in her pale face.
“I think that went well,” I joke bitterly. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, yeah. I just hate that I’ve made another enemy here—or remade an old one. Or whatever. I thought the Babins were just trying to scare me into selling the place. But if it’s someone else… Iwishit was that simple.”
“Not your fault, duchess.” I grab her shoulders until she meets my gaze. “The ugliness, the refusing to accept an apology, that’s their problem. And even if they didn’t do it, it’s no surprise our minds went there, knowing the history.”
She almost smiles.
“I can’t believe she went off on me here.”
