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I could do that.
If it made her happy, there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do.
Two Weeks Later
A knock on the door drew my head up from the file I was studying to the man standing in the open doorway of my office.
I knew him instantly. Even if he hadn’t been carrying an air of importance and disdain, I would have recognized the old man anywhere.
Rudolph Brady. Tolliver Brady’s grandfather, and the worst of that entire fucking family.
“Chief,” he greeted, his tone respectful, but I wasn’t fooled for a second. “I was hoping you had a second.”
For this man, I wanted to say no. But on the off chance he’d come here to turn his grandson in, I forced myself to respond civilly. “Mr. Brady. What can I do for you?”
He moved into the office, closing the door behind him, and taking a seat, like he had every goddamn right. “I wanted to start by congratulating you on your new position.”
I lifted my hand, cutting him off right there. “We aren’t going to do that. You aren’t here for that, and I don’t feel like listening to fake-ass platitudes, so whatever you came to say, say it so we can be done with it.”
“A man who gets right to the point. I can respect that.” The fuck he did. But I’d let him have that play. “I came to assure you that my grandson will not be a problem for you and your young lady anymore.”
Well, that got my attention.
I pushed up slowly to my feet, bracing my hands on the top of my desk. “Where is he?”
He shook his head. “I can’t tell you that, because I’m not sure myself. But I am sure he won’t be a problem for you any longer.”
“You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t take your word for that.”
“I understand. Either way, I wanted you to know. I also wanted to speak with you regarding the department’s ongoing relationship with the Brady family. As I’m sure you know, my family and I have had a strong relationship with the Ashland Police Department for some time, and I don’t see why, even with a change in leadership, that needs to change. We both want the same thing, son, to take care of this town, and I’m sure that, if we work together, we can reach our common goal.”
I laughed, unable to keep it in. The audacity of the man sitting in front of me was astounding.
“You know what, Mr. Brady? I’m glad you brought that up.” The man smiled like he’d gotten his way. Little did he know. “I’ve been meaning to send a message of my own.” I moved around to the front of my desk and crossed my arms over my chest. “And that message is, the reign of the Brady family in Ashland is over. If you or any of your family even so much as jaywalk in this town, I’ll be there to arrest you.”
His face started to grow red as he blustered. “That’s not—you can’t—”
“Oh, I can, and I will. And it would be the biggest fucking mistake of your life to test that.”
“We are a legacy in this town!”
“You’re a fucking bully, and your days of running roughshod over innocent people are done!” I stood up, leaned in close, and lowered my voice. “You better prepare yourself, old man, because I’m coming for every last one of you. And when I’m done, you won’t have a goddamn pot to piss in.” I pushed up, moved to the door, and threw it open. “Now get the fuck out of my station, or I’ll remove you myself.”
He stormed out like a hurricane. Or more accurately, a toddler throwing a temper tantrum.
Archer came in a second later, a shit-eating grin on his face. “You in here kicking a hornet’s nest?”
I returned his grin. “Sure the fuck am. And I’m going to stomp every one of those motherfuckers to death.”
Archer’s head fell back on a laugh. “Something tells me the small-town life isn’t going to be as slow as I originally thought.”
He was right about that.
EPILOGUE
IRIS
Three Months Later
