Page 117 of Twisted Knight

“Never said I was going to.”

That property thing really got to you, didn’t it? Don’t want your sister to start researching the LLCs and find your name sitting as the president of one? You don’t want her questioning how exactly you got the money to do that, do you? Questions are a dangerous thing when you have something to hide.

“Is this about building our own distribution center, then? I know that was part of the discussions.”

It was? I don’t quite remember that but go ahead, Rhett, shift the gears so I chase another lead instead.

“What about it?” The less I say, the better. Let Rhett talk himself into whatever corner he’s going to talk himself into.

“I already have things figured for that.”

“You do?” He’s going to fucking try to sell me the WillowBend land, isn’t he?

“Yep.” He nods emphatically, as if he sees the light here. “We were scouting places. Properties. If we build a distribution center—our own—we can cut costs and produce a quicker finished product.”

“So why have you waited to do this till now?”

“Red tape. A shit ton of red tape. That’s why I’m running for city council. To help cut through it and get shit pushed through.” He smirks. “We have the perfect place picked out to buy too.”

“You do?” I say, face in mock surprise. “Planned and prepared. Where is this property? Maybe I should take a look at it. Pull the trigger and get it purchased.” God, this is fun.

“That’s a great idea. Chad and I have it all figured out. We pay some guys to cause some problems—maybe even spread some rumors about the property. Devalue it—but it’s not like it can get much lower. Once I’m on the council, I’ll pull some strings and get the permits approved to raze the whole fucking place to the ground so we can build new. The place is a fucking eyesore. The town will be so goddamn grateful to us for taking out the trash for them.”

Build new? Raze what to the ground? I purse my lips and narrow my eyes, trying to figure out how he’s going to do that to barren land. “It’s a solid plan,” I say, confused but curious. He’s not talking about WillowBend, is he? “Where is this you’re talking about?”

“The dregs of the earth. It’s a place across the river. You might not know it yet. Lucky you.”

Dread tickles at the base of my spine.

“Try me.”

“Fairmont,” Rhett says, smug smile in place, oblivious to the fury that just ignited in me.

But I hold it in.

I yank it back.

My Adam’s apple bobs, and I have to force my fingers to relax out of my fists, one by one.

“Huh.” I play it off. Or try to.

“You can’t miss it. It’s over the Roosevelt Bridge. It’s where losers go to lose. Trust me. Everyone I’ve ever known from there is just … trash.”

Steady, Knight.

“So buy the land, push shit through the council with some favors in return, raze it to the ground, and build a distribution center there?” I ask and he nods. “What about the people who will be displaced?”

“Why would we fucking care? The place is a shithole. I’d be doing them all a favor by demolishing their shanties.” Clank. Click. Clank. “Besides, we can drown out their moaning by saying we’re delivering jobs to the community like we’re their saviors.”

“They can’t work a job if they can no longer live there,” I say.

“Not our fucking problem, is it? Besides, we’re the ones cleaning shit up for the rest of us, right?” His chuckle burns a hole in my gut and fires every goddamn vein in my body.

Over my dead body.

“You’re speechless,” Rhett teases. “See? I have good ideas.”

Hell the fuck no.