Page 67 of Homicide in Water Creek

“Whatever keeps us alive long enough for Maverick to save us,” King said as a black SUV pulled up in front of the station. “There’s our ride. Keep your mouths shut and don’t react to anything they say. Remember, we all want the same thing. Jacks safe at the end of the night.”

The old men walked out first, and King brought up the rear, having left his service belt locked in Maverick’s desk. Parenti wanted no weapons; he’d get his wish. At least not visible ones. But the first chance King got, Parenti was going down.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

After being patted down for weapons, they were driven to the ranch, where King could only assume Parenti was waiting. He’d better have Jacks with him, or there would be hell to pay.

The lights were on at King’s Korner ranch when the blacked-out SUV stopped and King glanced at the men on each side of him. “Do what they say and trust that we’ve got this, right?” he asked when the driver got out to open their doors.

The men didn’t have time to answer before they were escorted into the house and straight to the kitchen.

“King!” Jacks exclaimed as he walked through the door. “Granddaddy!”

Jacks sat in a wheelchair, and other than looking terrified, she appeared physically no worse for wear. King looked at the two men in the room, Chinos and a man he could only assume was Parenti. “I need to check on her. I’m not making any funny moves,” he said, holding up his hands.

“She’s fine,” Parenti said, motioning with his gun for King to stay back. “The two old guys, sit down. This won’t take long. It just so happens my son here,” he motioned at Chinos, “is a notary. Once my lawyer arrives, we’ll button this up.”

“We haven’t heard the terms of the agreement yet,” Jackson said, sitting down beside Keene.

“Well, your granddaughter drives a hard bargain,” Parenti said. “You should be proud of her.”

Jackson’s lips sneered, and Jacks jumped in before he could say anything. “Twelve million,” she said. “That’s 7 million for The Double J and 5 million for King’s Korner Ranch. It’s more than we can spend in three lifetimes.” The look she gave the old men was one King had seen before. She wanted them to stop asking questions.

“Sign the papers, and everyone walks away with their lives. Don’t sign the papers, and everything burns.”

“How do we know you won’t kill us after we sign?” Keene asked.

“I give you my word.”

King suppressed a snort at the thought that Parenti’s word was good for anything.

“Your word? How can we trust it when you’re holding us hostage at gunpoint?” Jackson asked.

“The word of Palatino Parenti is always good.”

“Just sign the papers and don’t worry about the rest,” Jacks said.

“But Jackie, this is our land. Our home,” Jackson said, but Jacks sat resolute in the wheelchair. King watched as her spine straightened further. She refused to look weak in the face of all these men and their guns.

“We’ll build a new home, Granddaddy. If we don’t, we lose our lives, and he takes the land anyway. At least this way, we survive.”

“She’s right,” Parenti said. “All I want is the land. I don’t want to hurt anyone. I tried to do it the fair and honest way, but Vonita ruined it for me, so I had no choice.”

“I’m not signing my land over to you,” Jackson said, and Chinos moved so quickly that King couldn’t even react.

“Shut up, old man!” he yelled, pistol-whipping him in the head. Jackson fell forward onto the table, out cold.

“Granddaddy!” Jacks said, jumping up from the wheelchair and nearly falling. King grabbed her, not even caring what Parenti did. If he went down taking care of Jacks, that was a legacy he was happy to leave.

“Deep breath,” he whispered as Chinos got an ass-chewing. “Maverick incoming.”

Her eyes widened, but she nodded as he helped her sit back down in her chair.

“Are you stupid? How is he supposed to sign when he’s unconscious? It has to be your mother’s genes. You sure as hell didn’t get your stupidity from me. If you hadn’t made such a shitshow of this operation, I wouldn’t have to be here, getting my hands dirty to clean it up.”

Keene reached for Jackson, and Parenti pushed the gun into Keene’s head. “Don’t move.”

His granddaddy held up his hands. “I just want to check on him, make sure he’s breathing. He can’t sign if he isn’t breathing.”