“We have to make sure he doesn’t sell that house,” I say. “How’s the plan going?”
“That hermit author is a hell of an actress,” Ryland says.
“Her name is Lennox,” Cash says, glaring at our brother. He shifts to look at me. “She did great. So did Hailey and Ellery. Harley ought to be feeling like there’s no way he’s selling that house without first spending a lot of money to get it in shape.”
“But he hasn’t taken it off the market,” I say. “Is Jamie still insisting he can only fuck around with the sale for a week?”
“That’s what he says,” Ryland says. “But we still have the bargaining chip of not just the next six months of our builds and flips, but a full year.”
“He won’t go longer than a week,” Sebastian says. “We push this too hard and Harley might make a complaint to the Better Business Bureau. If Jamie goes down, he’s taking us with him.”
“We need to do something.” I run a hand through my hair and pull, the hint of pain a welcome outlet for my frustration. It’s too bad none of my brothers is in a fighting mood. “If Harley sells that house, he’s taking the money and getting the hell out of town. Gentry and her sisters are going to be homeless.”
The room goes so quiet, I swear my brothers aren’t breathing. “He wouldn’t do that,” Deacon finally says, his tone a level of angry I almost never hear from him.
To our family, the idea of stealing from blood is capital punishment worthy. “He loaned money to a single-mother living in a one-room apartment and charged her fifty percent interest. She needed the money for a sick kid and, when she couldn’t make her payment, Harley threatened to tell the police her oldest child had been the one spray painting buildings downtown.”
“Holy shit,” Cash breathes. “He really is a sociopath.”
I nod. “That’s my take. I’m no shrink, but I think he’s also a narcissist.”
“What happened to the woman and her kids?” Deacon asks, his eyes glassy. He is so fucking empathetic it’s painful.
“The cops got wise to what Harley was doing. Someone must have tipped off Harley, because he and Trisha got out of town without collecting on the money owed to them. Once they were gone, the people Harley loaned the money to were suddenly unwilling to testify against him.”
“But they talked to you,” Sebastian says, leaning toward me.
I wink. “People love me.”
“Hmm.” I don’t like the look on Sebastian’s face. “Maybe we should use you for sales.”
I hold up my hands. “That’s Cash’s department. Not mine. I want no part of it. I’m strictly the electrician.”
Sebastian studies me way too intently, but he doesn’t say anything else.
“What can we do to step up the pressure on Harley not to sell the house?” Deacon asks.
Luckily, I’ve had hours of travel time to come up with a few ideas.
Chapter Thirty
Gentry
I’m yawning as I pull into the driveway on Tuesday evening. It was a long day of work, and I’m ready for a comfort-food dinner and curling up on my couch to read a good book.
A familiar car pulls in behind me. As I get out, Daisy, my boss’ wife and Levi’s cousin, gets out of the car.
“Everything okay?” I ask. “Does Noah need me back at work?” Daisy and I are friendly, but I don’t know her well.
“Noah, who?” she asks, giving me a sly smile. “I’m here in my capacity as your CPS caseworker. I need to speak to your father, Harley Lendew.”
“Is that right?” I rack my brain for what she could possibly do to convince Dad not to sell the house.
“With your biological father returning home, I believe it’s important he understands how disruptive it can be to teenagers to move them out of their childhood home.”
Giddy joy floods me. “Way to think outside the box.”
“Thank Levi,” she says as she breezes past me.
