The minute she turned the corner, there was Kane walking toward her.
It was like he was everywhere she went. How many times in the past few weeks did she run into him or his father? It felt as if it was more than normal, or it could be she was hyper aware of it.
Coming face to face with them after everything she’d learned, put together, and talked about with her brothers and Rory made her more concerned of her situation and surroundings.
She pressed her purse close to her side, her gun in there where it always was. Funny how she was double-checking something that had become second nature for her to always have.
“Gale,” Kane said. “Good seeing you frequenting businesses.”
“I always do,” she said. “Why would you say that?”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Kane said, a condescending smirk on his face. “Seems to me you’re spending time with someone who might not be good for your family and the community.”
Rather than grind her teeth, she forced a smile. “What person would that be?”
Kane reached for her arm and pulled her out of the way. She wanted to yank it back, but it’s not like he brought her to a place where people couldn’t see them, just out of foot traffic in front of a store.
“Rory. I’m not buying his crap and you shouldn’t either.”
“What crap is that?”
“That he’s here writing a book about his sister and trying to have his agent pitch it for a documentary. There is more going on and you shacking up with him is only going to hurt your reputation in this area, along with your brother’s business.”
“I wasn’t aware you were so concerned about my reputation, let alone anyone else in my family,” she said innocently, her head angled, the smile still there, but her eyes were anything but friendly.
She just loved baiting people and Kane’s red and twisted face said everything she’d been hoping wasn’t true. Could this guyreallybe a killer? Had they all been fooled by him for so long?
He relaxed his stance and put the same smile on his face that she’d been giving him. “I’m watching out for the area. His being in town isn’t good for anyone.”
“I think it’s not good foryoubut not sure why. I thought your father loved the idea of it.”
Kane’s fingers flexed into a fist, but she was positive she wasn’t supposed to notice that. “He’s old and falling for shit he should be smarter about. His ego is getting in the way. He needs to let me take care of it now, sit back and just do what he’s been doing for years. He’s good at one thing and it’s not that.”
She let out a laugh. “What is it that your father is good at? Community relations?”
Her polite way of saying buying people’s silence.
“Yes,” Kane said. “My job is to expand and it’s what I’ve been doing for over fifteen years. I’m not letting some outsider with an ax to grind about his sister’s unsolved murder stop that. He’s not going to find what he’s looking for and he’d be smart to leave before someone gets hurt.”
She narrowed her eyes. Everything in her wanted to say it was too late, that Rory had gotten hurt, but she didn’t want to let on to anything else.
“That sounds like a threat,” she said. “Or is my hearing off?”
“Not a threat,” Kane said. “I don’t do that. I state facts. Listen, I am watching out for you and the community that I’ve poured my heart, sweat and tears into. No one wants things to fall through now. There are too many jobs and opportunities on the line.”
She didn’t think Kane had a heart, ever sweated, and sure the hell didn’t drop a tear. Nor did she know what the hell he was talking about.
“You’re getting all worked up over a restaurant venture and some new condos?”
“It’s always more than that,” Kane said. “Don’t think there aren’t plans or talks before it’s released. Just remember that.”
“Kind of hard to forget,” she said. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to get some lunch.”
She walked past him and went into the first restaurant she came to. And there in front of her were Daniel and his wife, Diana.
What. The. Fuck.
They were everywhere.
