Total pages in book: 75
Estimated words: 77170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77170 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 386(@200wpm)___ 309(@250wpm)___ 257(@300wpm)
“I just told him we’ll be there tonight. After dinner.”
“Good. I can’t eat anyway.”
“I can. Rory and I are heading over to Lorenzo’s with Jesse, and you’re coming along.”
“I don’t—”
“You need a break. Rory knows what’s going on, but Jesse’s still in the dark, so we won’t be talking about any of this at dinner.”
“Brock,” I say, “that sounds like a freaking dream come true.”
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Brendan
Ruby walks toward us quickly then. “Good, you’re no longer in there. I need to talk to you about something.”
“What’s that, babe?” Ryan asks.
“Something that just occurred to me. Something that may be related. I can’t believe I didn’t see it before.”
My phone buzzes.
It’s Dad.
“I’ve got news. Come home right away.”
I want to stay and listen to what Ruby found out, but I need to go.
“When are you going to talk to Joe?” I ask.
“Tonight, if possible,” Ryan says.
“All right, I’ve got to go. My dad needs me. But would you please call me? Let me know what’s going on?”
“Yeah, of course.”
I have no idea if Ryan is telling me the truth, but Dad’s voice sounded desperate. I hop in my car and head back to town.
“What is it?” I say, walking into my house. “Where’s Mom?”
“It’s bridge night. I’m just as glad she’s not here, because look…” He hands a paper to me.
“What’s this?” I scan the document.
“A demand letter. From the Steel Trust. Demanding we pay our lien now or they’re going to foreclose on our property.” Dad shakes his head.
I blink several times, reading the words. “I don’t understand. I don’t understand at all. I just talked to Donny about this. He doesn’t even know what the Steel Trust is.”
“This law firm sure seems to know.” Dad gestures to the law firm logo at the top of the stationery. “And who the hell is the Fleming Corporation?”
“Let me call Donny. He’ll know what’s going on.”
“No, Brendan. Do not bring a Steel into this.”
“Donny’s a friend, and he’s the city attorney for Snow Creek.”
Dad shakes his head vehemently. “I won’t have you bring them into this.”
“But he can help. Dad, I was just talking to—”
“No, Brendan.”
That’s Dad’s final word on the matter. He’s using that voice. I won’t push him further, but I will talk to Donny once Dad and I figure this out.
I scan the document again. The address is a law firm in Denver.
“I guess we could go talk to these people,” I say.
“For the life of me,” Dad says, “I look back and I don’t know why I bought that damned bar subject to that lien. The realtor at the time said it was nothing. That nothing would ever come of it. And for forty damned years, nothing did. Until now.”
“I’ll figure this out, Dad.”
“We need a lawyer.”
“We’ll have to go to the city, then. There aren’t any law firms here in Snow Creek.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I wouldn’t even know who to call.”
“I can ask Don—” I stop. Better not mention Donny Steel again. “Dad, don’t worry about this. Nothing will come of it. Nothing has happened for forty years, and nothing will come of it now.”
“I’m glad your mother wasn’t here when I opened this. I don’t need her worrying about it.”
“Don’t you think,” I say, “that this is coming at a very strange time? I mean, just when we find out that your uncle had a kid? Over twenty years after his death?”
“Yes, the timing has occurred to me.” Dad shoves his fingers through his hair. “I need a fucking drink.”
“I could use one myself.”
Dad heads to the kitchen, pulls out a bottle of rye whiskey, and pours two glasses.
Rye is what Dad drinks when he’s worried about something. It’s grainy, acidic, and damn, it tastes good.
“Have you eaten?”
“I fend for myself on bridge night.”
“Let’s go out. We can go to Lorenzo’s or something.”
“I can’t go out, Brendan. I’m not fit to be around other people right now.”
“All right. I’ll order something from Lorenzo’s and pick it up.”
He shoves his hands through his hair again. “Yeah. That’s fine. Get a pizza. Everything. No anchovies.”
“Good enough.” I pull out my phone, order the pizza from Lorenzo’s, and then head over.
And as soon as I get there, who do I see?
Ava, sitting at a table with Brock and Rory and Jesse Pike.
For God’s sake…
“Hey, Brendan!” Brock motions me over.
“Hey, Brock. Ava, Rory, Jesse.”
Ava meets my gaze for a moment but then looks away.
I can’t blame her.
“You want to join us?” From Brock.
“No, thank you. I’m just picking up a pizza for my dad and me. It’s Mom’s bridge night.”
“I can’t believe you’re taking time off,” Brock says.
“Yeah, we’ve got some family matters going on. That’s what Dad and I are discussing tonight.”
Ava looks down at her plate, stares at a piece of bread that she just dipped in olive oil.
“What have you guys been up to?” I ask.