CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Justice
“It started a few months back,” my father begins, his eyes moving over each of us as we sit at the kitchen table. He waited until Hannah went out back to play before starting the conversation we’ve all been waiting for.
Ryanne moves about the kitchen, clearing the breakfast dishes while continuing to ignore me like she has been since last night. I don’t like it and I especially don’t like that she slept with Hannah instead of me. Something that won’t be happening again.
“I was first approached by Forrest Hamilton just weeks before he passed away. He offered me a generous amount to sell. He said he wanted the land for a development project he had in mind.”
Hamilton was one of the wealthiest men in Winchester until he died two months ago of a heart attack. He’s from the older generation of the founding families, same age as my father. There’s always been bad blood between them, more than any of the other families which is why I’m surprised he would approach my father to begin with.
“How much was the offer?” Knox asks.
My father sits back in his chair and crosses his arms, his expression solemn. “Four million.”
Braxten’s low whistle penetrates the thick silence.
“Obviously, I declined. It didn’t matter though, he came back twice more and when I gave him the same answer both times he really put the pressure on.”
“Did he put his hands on you?” The thought sends a dangerous rage pounding through my veins. If he was stupid enough to do that I have no doubt my father handled himself just fine. Thatcher Creed will only take so much and if you push him past his breaking point you better fucking run.
“No, nothing like that,” he says. “It was more or less just subtle threats.”
“That sounds like him,” Ryanne cuts in, as she continues to collect dishes from the table. “None of them like to be told no. When they don’t get their way they start throwing their money and power around.” Amongst the anger in her voice lies pain.
Before she can walk away, I grab her hips and pull her down on my lap, her body stiff. I press my lips to her shoulder, letting the contact linger until she eventually relaxes into me, the curve of her body fitting perfectly against mine.
“I figured when he died that would have been the end of it,” my father continues.
“But it wasn’t.” The statement comes from me, a brief moment of silence falling over the table.
“No, it wasn’t,” he confirms. “Weeks later, Archer Bishop and Mayor Lancaster came to see me.”
Ryanne tenses against me. “What did they want?” There’s a slight tremble in her voice, but I’m not sure if it has to do with Lancaster or Bishop.
She went to school with Lancaster and as far as I know they got along, which used to piss me off. I’ve always hated the guy. I saw the way he looked at her. He wanted her but the arrogant fucker never stood a chance.
He ended up marrying Lacey Bishop, Archer’s daughter. He’s the district attorney and holds a lot of power within this town. He’s one cutthroat son of a bitch and his family has a lot of ties in the political world. Which is no doubt how Lancaster got the position in the first place.
“They told me they wanted to follow through with Forrest’s development project and dedicate it in his honor. They offered me even more money to sell. Once again, I declined.”
“I don’t understand,” Ryanne says. “Why do they need your land? Why not build it somewhere else?”
“That’s the million-dollar question,” my father says, bringing his coffee mug to his mouth for a leisurely sip.
“Have they ever expressed interest in your land before now?”
“No, but they’ve never hidden the fact that they don’t want me here. Maybe this is their way of finally pushing me out.”
“It’s more than that,” I say, voicing the suspicion forming in my gut. “You have something they want.”
My father runs a hand down his tired face, a weary breath escaping him. “I agree. They’ve gone to great lengths to try and force me to sell. They’ve even been messin’ with my finances.”
I tense at the information. “How?”
“They froze my account so I couldn’t access my money then said it was a glitch.”
“No doubt it was done by my father,” Ryanne seethes, her voice thick with disgust.
He doesn’t confirm or deny her accusation but he doesn’t need to. It’s a given. August Lockwood is a wealthy investor. He funds most of the projects that are done by the founding families and has ties into all the banks around here.
“I never usually keep much at the bank anyway. I like to keep my money close and easily accessible, but I do have a business account and I had just gotten a large sum of money from a sale I’d made. Some of it went missing when that glitch happened.”
“How much?” Braxten asks.
“A few thousand.”
“Son of a bitch!” Knox spews heatedly, jumping to his feet. He begins pacing, his body wound tight with the same rage I’m feeling.
“I moved the rest of the money out and now have it in safe keeping. However, it seems they are now making good on their threats. I have no doubt the damage to my property was done by them. I just need evidence to prove it.”
“Evidence won’t matter,” Braxten spits. “They have the fucking law deep in their pockets with Toder.”
“He’s right,” Ryanne intervenes. “Between Sheriff Toder and Archer Bishop, if there’s any evidence it will be destroyed.”
“I say we eliminate them all and be done with it,” Knox says, revenge dominating his expression.
“I second that idea,” Braxten adds.
My father shakes his head. “Not yet.”
“If there was ever a time to take action, Dad, it’s now,” I tell him. “They’ve gone too fucking far this time.”
“I know and they won’t get away with it. I’m putting a plan together.”
“What’s that?” I ask.
“Last night I spoke with Jaxson Reid.”
My brothers and I share a look as he talks about a SEAL he met during one of the training sessions he instructed years ago. I’ve never met the guy myself but my brothers and I did a job for him a while back at the request of my father. It was a bloodbath but a necessary one, and it made the world a hell of a lot safer.
“He has a friend in the FBI who is going to be contacting me soon. He said he would be able to help us.”
“I don’t know, Thatcher,” Ryanne starts quietly. “For all we know they have someone on the inside there, too.”
“It won’t matter if they do. This agent can be trusted and is known for taking down prominent people. He’s the one who brought down Senator Michaels a few years back.”
It was a scandal that rocked the state of Georgia. The senator, among many other politicians, ran a sex trafficking ring with underage girls. Knowing this agent is the one who took them down gives me a little more hope.
“If we can find the evidence we need I have no doubt this agent can bring them down.”
“How do you suppose we do that?” Knox asks.
“What about her?” Braxten points to Ryanne. “She has a way in with her parents.”
“No!” I shut down the suggestion immediately, my hard voice leaving no room for debate. “She’s not going anywhere near them.”
“Why not?” Knox says. “It’s the least she can do.”
Ryanne stiffens, hurt bleeding from her.
“Watch it, Knox,” I warn, my eyes narrowing.
“It wouldn’t matter anyway,” Ryanne whispers. “My parents would never tell me anything. They know how I feel about Thatcher.”
Silence fills the room as we all attempt to come up with a different alternative.
“What about Gwen?” Ryanne suggests, talking about Hamilton’s widow. “She’s always been kind. She’s not at all like them. I’ll bet she knows exactly what they want with your land. I could ask her if—”
“Gwen stays out of this!” my father’s answer is clipped, a sudden hardness entering his expression.
My eyes narrow in suspicion, wondering why he wouldn’t want to involve her. She’s the perfect person considering she was married to the asshole.
“I understand. It was just a suggestion,” Ryanne says softly.
My father reaches for her hand, taking it in his. “I appreciate it. I just don’t want anyone getting hurt over this. Let me talk to the agent then we can decide what our next move will be.”
We nod, giving him our word.
“Good. Now excuse me while I check on my granddaughter and go feed some cows.” He pushes from the table and drops a kiss on Ryanne’s cheek then claps us boys on the shoulder before walking out.
Grim silence fills the kitchen before Braxten breaks it. “Fuck it. Let’s go hunting.”
I shake my head. “You heard him. We do it his way…for now.”
“And if his way doesn’t work?” Knox asks.
My eyes meet his hard ones. “Then we’ll take it upon ourselves but not until then. Right now we have to trust that Dad knows what he’s doing.”
Thatcher Creed isn’t a stupid man and he doesn’t jump the gun. He’s careful and calculated. If he’s waiting, there’s a reason, but I will only wait so long. One way or another these fuckers are going to pay for what they’ve done.
“They’ll never stop,” Ryanne whispers. “As long as they are alive and breathing, they will never stop ruining people’s lives.”
“Hey.” Grasping her chin, I force her gaze to mine. “I told you, it will be okay. We got this.”
She nods but doesn’t seem convinced.
“I’m going for a smoke.” Knox leaves the kitchen without sparing us a glance, the front door banging with his departure.
Braxten mumbles something about checking on him then follows out after him.
“They hate me,” Ryanne sighs, hurt laced in her voice.
“No, they don’t.”
“Yes, they do, especially Knox. He won’t even look at me.”
“He’s like that with everyone. Don’t take it personally.”
“Sure he is,” she grumbles.
I brush her hair to the side, pressing a kiss to her neck before tilting her face to mine. “You still mad at me?”
“Yeah.”
My lips kick up in a smirk, amused by her blunt honesty. “Well make sure you get over it by tonight because you aren’t sleeping with our daughter again,” I tell her on a growl, my fingers squeezing her hips.
Her pretty face pinches in a scowl. “Don’t you bark orders at me, Justice Creed. Once you stop acting like an ass then maybe I’ll share a bed with you again.”
The sass that rolls off her tongue makes my cock harden beneath my jeans. The need to bend her over this table and fuck the anger out of her burns in my blood. I consider doing exactly that but the creak of the screen door cuts through the moment, followed by Knox’s hard voice.
“We got company!”
The warning sends me to my feet, lifting Ryanne in the process. “Go get Hannah.” I leave her with the order and head for the door.
Through the screen I see it’s Sheriff Toder. My father rounds the house to greet him, my brothers not far behind. I push through the door and hop the porch railing to catch up.
“Sheriff,” my father greets him with a nod, the three of us flanking him. “What can I do for you this afternoon?”
“Just came by to let you know that we were unable to find any evidence that could lead us to the perpetrators.”
Braxten’s grunt portrays all of our disbelief.
“What about the fingerprints that were collected?” my father asks.
“No match.” His answer is as smug as his expression, my fists clenching with the need to wipe it off his face. “I’m going to assume it was just a couple teenagers causing some harmless trouble. Something I’m sure you can understand.” He makes the comment casually as he eyes the three of us.
Knox pushes forward but my father holds him back, placing a warning hand on his shoulder.
“I’d hardly call it harmless trouble, Rick. The damage is quite expensive. Some of it is even irreparable.”
Toder hefts his belt up on his thick stomach. “Well, I heard you were made a generous offer by the town. Maybe you oughta think about accepting it now.”
“You son of a bitch.” I push past my father, bringing myself toe to toe with him.
His head tilts all the way back, eyes narrowing as he meets my hard gaze. “Watch yourself, boy.”
“If I were you, I’d take your own advice, Sheriff, and share it with all your friends before someone gets hurt.”
“That a threat?” he asks.
“A warning,” I tell him. “The law in Mississippi states we have the right to defend our property and that’s exactly what we intend to do. Any more unwanted trespassers will find themselves leaving in a body bag.”
He points his finger at me, his eyes bulging in fury. “Don’t you quote the law to me, you smug son of a bitch. I am the law and I’ll—”
My father steps between us, forcing him back. “That’s enough, Rick. I think it’s time you leave.”
He opens his mouth but whatever he’s about to say is silenced when the front door flies open and Hannah’s voice cuts through the air.
“Wow, look at the cool police car!”
I turn around to find Ryanne running out after her, lifting her into her arms. “I told you to stay inside,” she scolds softly.
“But look at the police car, Mama.”
“I see it.” She positions Hannah on her cocked hip and faces the rest of us from the porch.
“Ryanne,” Toder speaks in stunned surprise, shock replacing his furious expression as his eyes shift from her to Hannah.
“Rick.” Ryanne’s greeting is anything but friendly, her chin lifting in indignation.
“Do your parents know you’re back in town?” he asks.
“I haven’t had anything to do with them for a long time now, something I’m sure you’re well aware of.”
Admiration fills my chest as I witness that strength I remember from her all those years ago.
He clears his throat, having the decency to look like the ass he is. “I know they’d at least appreciate a phone call.”
“Well they aren’t going to get it,” I say, cutting back in.
His gaze narrows once more on me before shifting to my father. “You really should reconsider that offer, Creed.”
“You know what this land means to me and my family, Rick. I’m not selling it for any amount of money. It’s best y’all respect that, or like my boy said, someone is going to get hurt.”
His jaw clenches with the need to say more but thankfully he’s smart enough to know when to quit. “Have it your way.” He climbs back into his patrol car and drives off.
“How come that policeman seems angry, Daddy?” Hannah asks, her voice timid as she and Ryanne walk up to us.
“Because he’s an asshole,” Braxten answers without thinking.
I send him a glare then take Hannah into my arms. “Don’t worry about it, baby. He was just here asking some questions. Next time Mama tells you to stay inside you listen, got it?”
She nods. “Yes, sir.”
I press a kiss to her hair, breathing in her scent and letting it ease the rage burning inside me.
My father reaches for her. “What do you say, Farmer Hannah, you wanna move on to them pigs now?”
“I’m ready.” Her excitement returns full force as she leaps into his arms. “You wanna come watch, Mama?” she asks, looking at Ryanne.
“I’d love to.” Ryanne begins to follow but before she can make it too far, I snag her wrist and swing her back to me, reeling her in for a hard kiss.
My tongue parts her lips for a quick taste, inhaling everything that belongs to me, with my brothers’ watchful eyes on us.
By the time I pull back her breathing is heavy and eyes hooded. “What was that for?” she asks.
“I’m proud of you for standing your ground with Toder.”
“Yeah?” She quirks a brow.
I nod.
“Good. Remember that the next time I stand my ground with you, Justice Creed.” With a hard pat to my cheek, she walks away, tossing a sassy smile over her shoulder.
Braxten breaks into muffled laughter, finding her as funny as she does herself.
We’ll see which one of us is wearing that smile by the time I’m done with her tonight.