“Last I heard, she was staying with her sister after filing the papers. But he’s been making noise. Threats. Showing up places he shouldn’t.”
Fury roared through me, hot and immediate.
“No,” I said. “He wouldn’t?—”
“He already did once,” Henry cut in. “You think the son of a bitch stopped just because she left him?”
I grabbed my coat from the back of the chair, ribs protesting the sudden movement, but I ignored it.
“We’re going,” I said.
Henry didn’t argue.
We were halfway down the hall when I paused.
“One more thing,” I said. “I hired Garrett Graves and his crew yesterday. They’re coming out tomorrow to jackhammer the concrete floor in the barn and pour a new one.”
Henry stopped, eyes sharpening. He knew exactly what that meant — the blood-stained slab from Hayden and Brett, gone forever.
He gave a single, approving nod. “Smart of you to get rid of the evidence. What are they going to do with the old concrete?”
“Garrett’s taking it offshore. Building a new artificial reef for the divers out past the point.”
Henry’s mouth twitched, the expression the closest he ever got to a smile these days.
“Good cover. Ecological bonus.”
“Figured it was time to erase some mistakes,” I said quietly.
“Smart choice to sink the evidence offshore. I scrubbed the stain away with muriatic acid, but still… you can never be too careful. Are you sure it’s wise to hire an outside crew to do it, though? You could always rent a jackhammer and do it yourself.”
“I have to deal with Chrissy and Vivian, and I want that concrete out of here sooner rather than later. Garrett’s a smart enough guy to know what side his bread is buttered on, and the bonus I’m tacking on doesn’t hurt,” I said dryly.
Henry huffed a short laugh.
“Money talks, especially when it’s enough to buy silence and a new boat, but are you absolutely certain he won’t flip on you given the proper motivation?”
“It’s not just the money that makes him trustworthy,” I murmured.
“What made you pick Garrett for this?” Henry asked as we kept walking. “What makes you so sure he and his crew will keep their mouths shut?”
“His dad worked for mine back in the day. He poured the east wing expansion foundation when Mom was sick. Garrett came to the job site often to help out his dad after school, and we became friends, up until Mr. Graves killed himself when Garrett was fifteen. After Mr. Graves committed suicide, Garrett’s grandmother made him finish school. She wouldn’t let him hang around the construction sites after school anymore, but we stayed in touch anyway… until my accident. She wouldn’t let him drop out and start work on his dad’s crew before he had his diploma, either. So, after he graduated, he rebuilt his dad’sold construction business from scratch, with no help from his mother or that prick stepfather of his.”
Henry nodded, letting me talk it through.
“Garrett’s got grit, which is why he’s the youngest construction company owner in the area. By all reports, he’s hardworking, efficient, and discreet. He might be from the wrong side of the tracks, but he’s never forgotten who gave his dad steady paychecks back in the day. I just wanted to be sure you’d thought this through properly before bringing in outside help.”
“I have, I promise,” I said. “Our friendship runs deep, even though we haven’t talked often since my accident. I’ve nudged the board to hire Garrett’s company for several projects, and they’ve always been pleased with his work. Besides, the bonus I’m tacking on — enough for a new boat and a year off, not that he’ll take the year — seals the deal.”
“He’s earned it,” Henry replied. “And we need people we can trust when Vivian starts circling.”
“Garrett’s crew won’t talk. Not to cops, not to reporters, not to her lawyers,” I said, patting Henry on the back. “It’s good insurance for us… one less loose end to worry about. This way, we can focus on making sure Lucia’s okay, and then I’ll see if there’s any way I can work things out with Chrissy before Vivian arrives.”
We reached the front doors. I shrugged into my coat, the cold already seeping through the cracks.
As Henry reached for the doorknob, something hot and furious settled in my chest. Vivian. Lucia’s husband. Anyone who dared touch the people I loved? I was going to find a way to make them regret it, one way or another.
Henry hesitated, hand on the knob. I studied him for a second, taking in the tight set of his shoulders, the way his eyes kept flicking toward the driveway like he was already halfway to Lucia’s sister’s place in his head.
