Total pages in book: 142
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 133849 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 669(@200wpm)___ 535(@250wpm)___ 446(@300wpm)
“Lucas is making a call.” Josh wanted that asshole in check. “He’s going to be talking to a friend at the attorney general’s office about opening an investigation into the church. We all know they’re not in any way following the rules of a nonprofit. In addition, the city council will be implementing a couple of new rules about public decency. It doesn’t forbid street preaching, but it will shut down and fine anyone who harasses people. So more Jesus, less women are whores.”
“He could still come after us. I’m worried he’ll come after her,” Grim admitted.
“I wouldn’t be. You know your father had a long talk with Ezekiel after you came to live with us, Grim. There’s a reason he didn’t fight you living here,” Benita said, pouring herself a cup of coffee. “I wasn’t there for the conversation, but I was there when he talked to Sam and Abby about it. Ezekiel is scared of Jack. He won’t physically harm anyone because he knows Jack has plans to take him out if he does.”
“Dad threatened my stepfather?” Grim asked with a little surprise.
“Of course he did.” Josh had no idea why Grim would be surprised. “It’s why I’m not worried about Ezekiel. Between me coming after his cult and Dad and Pops very likely ensuring he understands Nicole is a Barnes-Fleetwood, the most he’s going to do is run his mouth. I’ve heard he’s already talking about selling his land and buying a spread in a less populated area.”
“We’re a tiny town,” Grim pointed out. “How much less populated can he get?”
“I think he’ll go completely off the grid at some point, and good riddance to him.” Josh felt certain he would take the members of his group with him, and they would likely get weirder and closer and closer to crossing a line. But that was a Netflix documentary for another day. As long as they were out of Willow Fork, he would be content.
“Josh is right. He’s put out feelers about selling his spread. He’s been planning on leaving for a while now. This will push him out faster. Last night was him trying to find a way to fuck with you that wouldn’t bring me down on his head. He tried to use the beetle infestation to get people to turn on you since you’ve become such a pillar of our society.” Dad stood in the doorway.
Grim seemed to think. “Why does he hate me so much?”
Dad moved in, putting a hand on Grim’s shoulder. “He’s afraid of you. He always has been. He knows you’re a better man than he’ll ever be, and that’s why he’s going to leave. He’s afraid at some point those boys who say they’re your brothers will figure out you’re not who he says you are. He’s a petty man, and while I wish we could have helped your mother, she made her choice a long time ago. I’m afraid she’s filled with Ezekiel’s hate now.”
“Bio mom. Abby’s my real mom,” Grim said tightly.
“Damn straight she is.” Jack put an arm around him. “Son, I don’t want you to worry about this. No one believes the kind and caring vet is in league with the devil. Well, unless they mean me.”
Grim hugged their old man. “You’re so far from that, Dad.”
It was easy to see how pleased his father was to be called by his rightful title. “Now, come back to my office. Kim sent a text saying she needs to talk to us.”
Josh downed his cookie in two big bites as he and Grim followed their father. “She’s early.”
“She must have found something.” It was good to know Grim could be positive for once.
“Or something’s gone wrong.” Josh had a bad feeling in his gut all of the sudden. He didn’t like when a person as organized as Kim Kent suddenly wanted to change up the time line. It meant she’d found something she hadn’t counted on.
“Don’t borrow trouble, son,” his father advised. “I know it would be better to wait for Nicole, but she’s still in town. I think we should find out what’s happened so we can maybe have a plan by the time she gets back. If it’s bad, I’d like to at least be able to give her a plan.”
What could it be? “Could they have faked a video of her killing Micah?”
He wouldn’t believe it. Not for a second. Nic had told him what happened, and she wouldn’t lie to him.
It was right there—a solid foundation of belief in the woman he loved. It was firm ground to stand on, to build a life on.
“I don’t think so.” His father opened the door to the big, sunlit room he’d used as an office since he’d stopped going into the one in town. Once Josh had taken over the day-to-day operation, his father had been more than content to stay home most of the time.