“It kills you to say that, doesn’t it?” I taunt. “But, yes. I take excellent care of my wife. Best thing you’ve ever done, and she’s mine.”
“For now,” he retorts, and I snort at that. “One day, she might wake up and dump your miserable, pathetic, unethical ass.”
“All traits your other son-in-law has. Tell me, Sheriff, did you bless that union?”
He tosses the folder down and turns his back on me. Eden comes outside holding a tray.
“I made appetizers.” She stands next to me, and I put my hand around her waist. “Mom wants a tour of the house.” When I don’t reply, she says, “Can I give her one?”
I put my tongs down and place both hands on her shoulders. “Woman, if you don’t stop. She’s your mom, and this is your home.” I don’t need to tell her to keep her mother out of my office and the basement. After she moved in, I showed her the hidden compartment where I keep my guns.
“Okay.”
She grabs a cracker from the tray and puts it in my mouth. Holding it between my teeth, I wrap both arms around her while I press her to my body. I lean down, and she takes half of the cracker from my mouth.
I let her go, and she giggles while she walks away. I take my rag and hit her ass with it.
“Not in front of my daddy,” she gasps.
“I’m your daddy now.” I wink at her.
She returns to my arms, looks into my eyes, and presses her warm lips to mine. “I love you,” she whispers.
“Forever.” She goes inside, but I notice her father watching me while he shoves cheese and crackers down his throat.
He walks to me and stares into my face. I do my best to ignore him, but it’s unsettling having him so close to me.
“Eden looks just like her mom, don’t you think? Has her eyes, too.”
“I don’t see it,” is all I say.
“Well, you should look closer.”
“I have no interest in looking at your wife, Sheriff.”
From the corner of my eye, I see him grin. “You are a callous little asshole, but you do care about one person.” He points at the sliding glass door. “And that person happens to be my daughter.”
“Only good thing you’ve ever done in your worthless life.”
“You have nothing else.” His voice is smug.
“Don’t need nothing else.”
“How about the way she looks at you? I bet you love that, don’t you, asshole? You don’t deserve it.”
“We all know life ain’t about what you deserve, Sheriff. I don’t deserve to have you and your wife in my fucking house, but here we are.” I shrug.
Raising both hands, he takes a few steps back. “That’s how Serena would look at me.” Instead of telling him I don’t give a fuck, I pretend to tune him out and flip the steaks. “I was addicted to that look. And then I ended up with a fifteen-thousand-dollar gambling debt, and I lost that. She would barely look at me, and when she did, the light in her eyes was dead.”
“Good thing I’m not a degenerate gambler like you, then, huh? And what is this? I don’t need to hear what went on between you and your wife. I already know.” This time, it’s me who looks smug.
“You’re an idiot,” he mutters. “And I’m tired of this. I can confess this whole thing to Serena, including your involvement and blackmail.”
Dropping my tongs, I cross my arms.
“Guess who else will know when I confess?”
I don’t answer.
