“Is that so?”
“Well, I take that back. My recent conversation with Simon was interesting.” I smiled into the phone as I heard him tense through theline. “He made an offer on Solomon Place. I need one document signed by you before we can proceed with that.”
I was met with silence.
“Cane?” I asked again, my voice shaking a little.
“Solomon Place is no longer for sale,” he snarled.
“Excuse me? It’s not for sale? Are you serious?”
“Dead serious.”
Silence reigned again. I could feel his anger boiling through the phone, and I wasn’t sure why. I knew he didn’t like Simon for some reason, but to pull the property off the market so he wouldn’t buy it? That was extreme, even for Cane.
“I have no idea what is going on right now. You want us to remove the property from the market?”
“Let me ask you a question. Is my property the only connection you have with Powers?”
“What?”
I heard his chair squeak through the phone. “Is my property the only one you have associated with Powers?”
“Yes. He was interested in another one in Gila Bend, but my dad had someone else show him that.” I pressed my fingers against my temples. “You’re losing me here, Cane.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” His voice was quiet, just above a whisper.
“Excuse me?”
“That property, all of my properties actually, are unavailable for purchase by Simon Powers. I don’t care what offer you submit on his behalf, Jada, I will reject it. I will make it impossible. So please, save yourself the trouble.”
“That’s insanity, Cane.”
“Probably.”
I stared into space, trying to find something I understood in the mayhem.
“I don’t care if it ever sells. What I do care about is that you don’t see Powers again.”
Confusion riddled me.
“Do you hear what I’m saying, Jada? Stay away from Simon Powers.” His voice was cool, lethal, and it caught me off guard.
“You’re joking, right?” I realized I was holding my breath, but I couldn’t help it. The entire situation was getting out of control.
“Does it sound like I’m fucking kidding?”
“Why, Cane?”
“Can’t you just trust me?”
“I trust me,” I replied softly. “And the more I go through life, the more I see the value in that motto.”
“Jada.” Cane’s voice wavered slightly as he said my name. “If this is about me going to Payson—”
“It isn’t. Not really. This is going just how I expected it would, and it’s fine.”
He let out a strained breath. “Look. Simon Powers is very bad news, Jada. I need you to do what I say.”
