Page 102 of Havoc
“So, it could be him.” I wasn’t giving up easily. I hated that man.
“We’re sure some of the men he works with are involved. Trouble is we’re not positive he’s behind it,” Mom added cautiously.
“He might be smart, but I know he’s really an idiot.” Dad got up and ran a hand through his hair. “I can’t believe all that’s been happening. He was a good friend once. He did a lot for me when I needed it. I wonder if it was ever real.” He suddenly really did look frail, and my hatred for whoever was behind all this almost boiled over.
“Jim, I know it’s been eating at you, but now we’re going to get to the bottom of this once and for all. Maybe he’s just being played and doesn’t know anything.” Mom sent him a sympathetic look. “Now, I want you both to listen.” Her tone made us both look over. “The Gates family won’t be beaten. No one will bring us to our knees. We’ve worked long and hard to create a life for our family here.” Her face was set and her voice strong. “We know this seems to be some sort of long con, it’s been going on for a while now, and the only way we can win this is by waiting it out.”
“Okay.” I nodded. I understood that much. “Tell me the names of who you suspect so far.”
“All right.” Dad nodded and sat up straight. He placed a hand over my mother’s. “I think it’s time we tell him everything.”
Kenna
“How ya holdin’ up, baby girl?” Rail turned his chair around and hung his arms off the back of it as Minnie took a seat next to me. I know they were concerned about my state of mind after Leo’s murder and everything else that was going on. It didn’t help that I probably looked like shit after being up for more than half the night looking for Leal.
“I’m still here, so I’m better than some.” I closed the lid to my barely eaten pasta salad and pushed it aside. Rail snatched it up, flicked the lid back off, and dove in.
“You should really eat.” Minnie scrunched her nose up at him. “Did you eat breakfast?”
“Yeah.” I’d had a banana around five.
“I’m worried about you.” She stroked a hand down my arm.
“I’m not the one to be worried about. I just feel bad for Jim and Laurel. They must be beside themselves.”
“You see Knox today?” Rail mumbled around his fork.
“No, why?”
“Guess he pissed Grim off in a meeting this morning and was rewarded with a fist to the face.”
“What?” Minnie and I looked at one another.
He scraped the bottom of the plastic bowl so as not to miss anything. “Yeah, it’s not like he didn’t deserve it. The kid’s a punk.”
“He has his moments,” I agreed, “but what made Grim do it?”
“Don’t know.” He slurped a noodle, and Minnie snagged the bowl away from him. “Hey!”
“You sound like a damn porno,” she snapped and closed her eyes like she was trying to get her head back on track. “Okay, clearly, Grim is really on edge. Kenna, that’s your cue.”
“My cue?” I laughed sarcastically. “Oh, hell no.” I tossed my phone in my purse. “I opened myself up to that man, and he slammed the door shut in my face. Trust me, I’m the last person who can help Grim Gates.”
“He’s grieving.” Minnie tried to smooth the situation over.
“I know.” I sighed. It was hard to describe how much the conversation bothered me.
“You know,” Rail chewed on the end of the fork, “we men suck at feelings, and often lash at the ones we love because we can. You need to remember we don’t mean it. We just need time to process what’s going on inside.” Minnie and I both stared at him as his words sank in.
“That’s…” Minnie stumbled with a complex expression. “That’s actually true. Wow, Rail, that was well said.”
“I seek to please.” He leaned back to stretch like he loved the moment. “I went to a Dr. Phil seminar last week, and I’ve got three dates just from spewing that guy shit to the ladies.”
“There it is.” Minnie rolled her eyes. “Anyway,” she drew out the word, “I’ve been meaning to ask, have you had any more texts from that guy who attacked you?”
“No. It’s odd, really. I haven’t heard anything in days.” I snagged my phone from my purse and went to his last text message.
“Don’t you find that a bit strange?” Minnie tilted her head at me.