Greer stood in front of the door, taking his cell phone out of his pocket. He muted the sound, not wanting anyone interrupting him before putting it in the front pocket of his shirt.

Knocking on the door, he saw Jessie Hayes come out of her apartment with a basket of laundry.

“Hey, Greer.”

“Jessie.” He nodded at her as the apartment door he was standing in front of opened.

He had to take a half-step back when Diane jumped into his arms, giving him no choice but to catch her or get knocked into the metal railing behind him.

“Excuse me,” Jessie stepped around them, going toward the steps that led down to the lower floor.

Greer didn’t give a flying fuck what Jessie imagined he was there for. The thing that mattered now was pushing Diane off him.

Brushing her to the side, he went into her apartment and turned once he was inside. He saw Diane close and lock her door with a seductive smile that had fooled him too many times before. When she would have rushed into his arms, he put out a contemptuous hand, pushing her back.

“I’m here to talk. Nothing else.”

The smile disappeared, her face becoming guarded. “Honey, what’s wrong? You said you texted me that you missed me—”

“I did miss you … when you came over last night. You should have called instead of taking off before I could see you.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about?”

“You’re a terrible liar, you know that?” Greer shook his head at himself.

“I don’t—What are you accusing me of?”

“I’m not accusing you of shit. I’m flat-out telling you that I know you’re responsible for trashing my house yesterday.”

“I didn’t …”

At least the lying slut was smart enough to be afraid of him. Greer saw Diane edge toward her cell phone sitting on her coffee table.

“You going to call Knox? Go for it. Or are you going to call Luke? Or the Hayes?”

She lowered her lashes. “Knox.” The woman couldn’t lie if she had her hand on a stack of Bibles.

“You want to call Knox, don’t let me stop you. I was trying to keep him out of this for old time’s sake, but if you want him here, I have no problem with that.”

“Maybe you should just leave.”

“I will when I’m done.” Greer held out his hand. “I want my ma’s ring back.”

“I don’t have it.” Her voice became shrill in her denial.

Greer dropped his hand to his side. “I know you were the one who trashed the house.” His lips curled scornfully. “You’re the only one I showed those quilts to that my ma made.” When she still tried to deny her responsibility, he continued, “The thing about the cedar chest that struck me was how it was opened. The latch was opened with the key still in it. You’re the only one who knew where that key was hidden. You watched me take it out from under the floorboard where I had hidden it. You thought the fire would erase any evidence that you were there. As criminals go, you are dumb as shit.” He held his hand out again. “I want that ring. It’s not yours.”

Diane didn’t move. By her expression, she was still going to try to find a lie to exonerate herself.

“Don’t make me look for it,” he threatened.

She went to the candy jar on the coffee table and took the lid off, taking the ring out and throwing it at him angrily.

“Like I said, dumb as shit.”

His insults took her over the edge, which was what he had been waiting for.

“You’re mine! You bought that slut a ring you promised me!”

“I was yours,” he corrected. “I’m not now. You bargained on me coming back to you like I always did. I’ve jumped off that merry-go-round. Who did you sucker into helping you?”

Her eyes went cagey. He knew he wouldn’t be able to get her to admit who she had conned into killing his livestock.

“Poor bastards. They would do anything for you, just like I once would have.”

“What have you ever done for me? Take me out to dinner a couple of times a month, pay a bill for me when you had enough money from selling weed, fixed a garage disposal when it broke? I wanted more than that! You could make all kinds of money if you sold that property that isn’t good for anything except growing pot! Even if you didn’t sell it, Luke makes more in a month than you make in a year! Even Dalton pays my rent! You’re good for nothing but fucking, and for the last year, you haven’t even been good at that!”

The filth spewing out her mouth made him sick with the knowledge he had almost married her.

“You’ll be begging to come back to me after a month of being with that slut!”

“The only slut I know is you. You think I’m stupid enough to believe you all were just shootin’ the shit when I showed up at your apartment? Dalton’s stuck-up wife may let get him get his nuts off watching you two play, but I don’t want my woman cheating, even if it’s with another woman.” Diane paled. “Don’t worry; I won’t tell anyone. I made an ass of myself over you without everyone knowing how much of a big fool I was.”

“You think I made a fool out of you? Dalton told me you tried to buy a ring and didn’t even have enough money for it!”

“I had enough money for any ring I wanted to buy her in that dime store he calls a jewelry store. Did it hurt when he told you I was going to buy her a ring?”

“You bastard!” Diane came at him with her manicured nails drawn.

Greer caught her hands, pushing her back.

“Get out! I’m glad I tore your mother’s quilts and wrecked your place! The only thing I’m sorry about is I wished I could have watched it burn to the ground!”

Greer reached into his pocket, taking his cell phone out and turning it so she could see it was recording. “If you ever go near me or mine again, I’ll give this to Knox. Orange isn’t your color, but if you take one breath in my kin’s direction, you’ll be wearing it. Knox took plenty of pictures of the damages, and he’s wanting to close the case, so give me a reason, and you’ll have bigger bitches than you as roommates.”

Greer went to the door. “And just so you know, whoever helped you hasn’t gotten off scot-free. As soon I find out who did it, I’ll be dealing with them, too.”

The candy dish broke against the door as he opened it, meeting Jessie’s shocked gaze at the volley of Diane’s curses following him.

“I forgot to ask how Logan was doing in school?” Jessie stepped out of the way of an ashtray that came flying out of the door, her eyes going to the door warily.

“Fine. You did a good job with him. He’s excelling at everything. I guess he takes after his uncle.” Greer grinned, leaning back to avoid the glass from the picture Diane had thrown that smashed at his feet. “I hope you’re able to come to the wedding. Logan is looking forward to seeing you. He has a new suit Holly bought him just for the wedding.”

“Um …” Jessie jumped when Diane slammed the door to her apartment. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

Greer stepped on the picture of him and Diane, grinding it under the heel of his boot. “I’ll see you then.”

He went down the steps, whistling as he made his way to his truck. Turning his music on louder, he drove through town, waving when he saw someone he knew. Passing the street where Holly was staying, he was tempted to make another surprise appearance, but he didn’t want to spoil the woman.

Making the turn into his driveway, he saw Tate had been busy replacing the camera and alarm. Getting out of his truck, he saw Tate coming out of the barn.

“You take care of Diane?”

“Yes, she won’t be giving us any more trouble.” Greer took the ring out of his pocket, showing it to Tate before tucking it back into his pocket.

“You hope?”

“I know. What you’ve been working on?”

“I was stacking the chairs I borrowed from Lucky for the wedding.”

“That’s one more thing I can check off my list then. I caught King while he was still reading his morning paper to work out a deal for the catering.”

“Do I want to know what you promised him?” Tate’s nose started wrinkling.

“Probably not. Asshole drove a hard bargain, but I managed to get him down. You know how much a fucking steak costs? I told him chicken is fine. You think Holly will be upset we aren’t having steak?”

“No.” Tate started walking toward his truck.

“What’s your hurry?” Greer hurried up to match his quick strides.

“Those dead chickens are already stinking up the yard. I told you to get rid of them.”

“Where do you suggest I dump eighteen dead chickens? Anyone catches me with them will say I’m a mass murderer.”

“Take them to the dump.”

“I have plans for them.”

“What plans?” Tate asked, swinging into his truck.

“You don’t want to know.” Greer caught Tate’s truck door before he could swing it closed. “Before you leave, do you have any idea what a fucking hors d’oeuvre is?” Greer racked his brain to make it sound the same way King had pronounced it.

“How in the hell am I supposed to know that?” From Tate’s expression, he didn’t know any more than Greer had.

“Okay.” He opened his mouth to ask him another question then realized it would be a waste of time.

“What’d you start to ask?” Tate asked, curious despite the foul smell that was wafting into his truck.

“Never mind. If you don’t know what a ‘whore dee’overs’ are, you sure as shit ain’t gonna know why ‘Pete’s fours’ are so expensive.”