“Whatever. Night.”
Brad watched Newman jog off down the road as he turned into the cabin’s driveway.
“This place is just plain crazy,” he muttered, running up.
He made coffee, because there was no way in hell he was sleeping much tonight, then sat and brooded. When his phone rang several hours later, he pulled it out of his pocket and noted the time was 1:30 a.m. He didn’t recognize the number.
“Hello.”
“There is a piece of land on the right, as you look out at the lake. A resort would go nice there too. There’s another under that mountain directly ahead. Maybe harder to acquire, but money usually seals any deal.”
His father’s voice had its usual effect on him, but Brad made sure his sounded even and steady when he spoke. He’d had years of practice hiding his reactions.
“The authorities will never allow you to build what you’re proposing.”
“You sure about that?
He wasn’t, because his father had enough money to make most things he wanted happen.
“What do you want, EG?”
“Had a nice night with your brother and that little whore.”
“Be very careful, EG, I’ll take your insults about me, but not anyone I care about, and that includes Ethan, Annabelle, and Macy.”
“You don’t get to warn me, son.”
“Then this conversation is done.”
“I’ll stop the Buchanan development, and anything else, on one condition.”
Brad had known there must be a strong reason for his father’s call; he would never have made the connection otherwise. EG had people to do that for him.
“I’m not interested in anything you have to say.”
His heart was thumping, his palms felt sweaty, and hated that his father could still drag this kind of reaction out of him. Hated how his body betrayed him.
“Then I will buy up any and all land I can find in Howling. I’ll put a brothel right next to that house your girl lives in!”
“Why?”
“Because I need you to come home and take over from me when the time comes.”
Brad’s laugh held no humor. “You’ll be there for years, and there is no way in hell I want to be in that house, or anywhere near you again.”
“Then I’ll destroy everything you care about.”
“Why, for fuck’s sake!” Brad lost his temper. “You don’t give a shit about me. Train some other monkey to do your business.”
“No, everything should go to one of my sons when I’m gone. Ethan knows nothing about the business, and I don’t want him here. You, however, I want.”
He knew what his father was capable of. Knew that his threats were real.
“I’ll destroy that pathetic town if you don’t come home.”
Brad felt the hopelessness well up inside him. The noose around his neck that he’d managed to slip out of was once again in place.
“You have four days. If you haven’t returned home by then, I’ll start doing what I promised.”
