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“I can, and I have. It’s a done deal, Uncle. The decision has been made. Now, they’re waiting for you in security.”

“Fuck you,” Rick spat out, his face now bright red with rage. “Fuck you and all my brother’s brats. You don’t deserve to run this company. You haven’t sacrificed like I have. You were just born in the right place at the right time.”

Sam wasn’t going to get into a debate about who deserved what with Rick.

“Get out,” Sam said, his voice quiet in comparison to his uncle’s bellows. They could probably be heard all over the top floor. “It is over. You’re done here. Oh, and you might want to let Henry know he’s done. His shit is being boxed up as we speak, too.”

Turning on his heel, his uncle snarled some words that Sam didn’t understand, but they probably had something to do with Sam impaling himself anally with a sharp object.

Rick stomped out of the office and down the hall until Sam couldn’t hear him anymore. He would have sighed in relief when it was over, but he had a feeling Rick wouldn’t go down without a fight.

Round two was inevitable.

But Sam would happily turn over all the evidence to Finn if he needed to. Then Rick could try to explain himself to Joel.

Sam picked up his phone and texted Alli. He needed to get out of this office and get some much needed fresh air.

Kicking Rick and Henry out on their asses had been a long time coming, but the whole company simply felt better with them gone.

Add in his relationship with Alli, and things were starting to look a hell of a lot brighter.

Chapter

Twenty-Four

“Congratulations on your new job,” Tate said to Alli as they were all having lunch at the tavern. “It sounds like it’s going to be exciting.”

“Now, don’t raise her hopes too high,” Gabe joked. “I wouldn’t call this town all that exciting. For the most part, it’s the same thing day after day. Until it isn’t, of course.”

Tate had pushed two tables together in a quiet corner away from the other diners, and they were all enjoying lunch. Alli, Sam, Tate, Frankie, and Gabe. Frankie and Tate had been hanging out together when Alli had arrived with Gabe. Sam showed up last but in a good mood.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Alli said. “Community stories are my favorite to cover. I don’t need a mass murder to make my days worthwhile.”

“What about you?” Frankie asked Sam. “What makes your day worthwhile?”

“Doing the right thing,” Sam announced. “I fired Rick and Henry. Security packed their belongings in cardboard boxes. It was a banner day.”

“I doubt they took it well,” Frankie replied, her eyes wide, but she was grinning with delight.

“I don’t know how Henry took it. He never bothered to show up when I called him. The little weasel is hiding out somewhere. Rick took it about how you’d expect. He blustered and lied, then said he would tell Dad. I told him to be my guest. You know how our father feels about disloyalty. If Joel finds out, he’ll never speak to Rick and Henry again.”

“That will be the kindest thing he’d do,” Tate declared. “Although, every time I see Dad since the heart attack, he’s been fairly mild mannered. Maybe he’s changed.”

Frankie gave her older brother a withering look.

“Are you kidding? He’s just recovering, that’s all. If he gets his strength back, you’re not going to be describing him as mild mannered.”

“He may never get his strength back,” Sam pointed out. “How he is right now may be the best he’ll be able to do. In the meantime, it’s one more mess at the firm that I’ve cleaned up. The changes are making a difference.”

Sam looked over at Alli, reaching for her hand under the table. His skin was warm and reassuring, and it made her wish that they weren’t surrounded by so many people.

They hadn’t announced their relationship to his family, but she had the feeling they might be able to tell by the way she was looking at him.

And she hoped, the way he was looking back at her.

The rest of the meal continued with good food and friendly banter. It was clear that Gabe knew the Winslows pretty well, although he and Frankie hadn’t talked in years. They both had a few funny stories from their time in high school that had everyone laughing.

Lunch had almost wrapped up, and Alli and Sam were getting ready to go back to the office when Sheriff Finn walked in. From the dark, grim expression he was wearing, it was evident that he wasn’t having the best day.