any business to discuss, or can we skip the check-in this morning?”
“Answer my goddamn question.”
Raising a brow, Win crossed his arms. “I played cards with the man, yeah. How is this your business?”
“He killed your cousin, man. That’s not enough?”
“If Angel had survived that explosion, he would have been the one to go to jail.” Win kept his voice steady.
“He didn’t. He got corrupted by that little fuck, and he got killed. Your Uncle Teddy is beside himself.”
Privately Win thought that Uncle Teddy was beside himself about not having the Reddings’ land. That was what it came down to. Sage was just an excuse.
Thank God the women in his family were more reasonable.
“Anything else? Because we’re done with this conversation.”
“Stay away from him. This is your last warning, kid. He doesn’t need protection.” Jim looked serious as hell, eyes glittering like a snake’s. Too bad Win wasn’t scared of critters.
He just shrugged. “You watch yourself, not me. State police would be mighty interested in how you’re harassing folks like Wilma and Bulldog.”
Jim arched one eyebrow. “So now you’re protecting the head of a biker gang and his bitch? What are you, the Robin Hood of Hunt County?”
“No, I just think honest folks deserve a chance.” This was getting them nowhere, and it hurt his soul to be at odds with a man who’d been his hero once upon a time. “I’m on patrol today, so I’ll see you later.”
He didn’t wait to hear any more, and he didn’t even stop to say good-bye to Grace. Not now. He needed outside and in the heavy weight of the September sunshine. This shit sucked hairy donkey balls. It was only going to get worse, and while he knew he could take it, he sure wished he didn’t have to.
Hell, he wished none of them did, but if wishes were fishes…. Win stopped in the garage to get a mobile unit, and he checked all the systems before pulling out of the garage.
Lord, what a fucking mess.
Why on earth had he come back here to work?
His phone rang as he got himself headed down the highway. His momma’s name popped up on the hands free. Win pushed the button. “Hey, Momma.”
“Hey, baby. How’s it going?”
“Oh, you know, been a heck of a morning already. Everything okay?”
“Yes, I had a need to hear your voice. You’ve been on my mind.” Uh-huh. He’d bet Uncle Teddy had been pushing.
“Anything I need to know, Momma?”
“Yes. Don’t you let those ass hats get to you.”
He grinned. Yeah, that was the more reasonable side of the family. “Thanks. I appreciate it. Want to do lunch tomorrow? We could go into Rockwall and go to El Chico.”
“I would love that. We can share that amazing apple pie on the hot skillet.” She actually sounded excited, and Win loved that. He loved making her happy with simple things.
“Cool. And I can tell you what all I’m doing wrong.”
“You know I live for that. Make a list.”
Evil woman. “I love you, lady. I’ll pick you up at eleven thirty tomorrow.”
“I’ll be ready. You be careful out there, and remember your momma loves you.”
“I will.” Bless her heart, she’d put a smile on his face. He’d so needed that.
He headed into town, checking things out. It was a hard thing—trying to decide whether to be happy all was well or to wish shit would happen so time would pass. He figured he should be grateful for a quiet day. Maybe he could stop and get a coffee. He’d missed his bullpen sludge, thanks to Jim.
He pulled into the diner’s parking lot and headed in, waving to Kelly and Heidi at the counter. Heidi grinned and nodded.
“Just coffee or breakfast, Win?”
“I think coffee and a cinnamon scone, honey.” They teased him unmercifully about his carb intake, but he only drank beer once in a while, so he needed his empty sugar from somewhere.
“You got it.”
He slid into a stool at the counter, nodding to Mike McBride and Terry Mann. The old cowboys nodded back,
“Answer my goddamn question.”
Raising a brow, Win crossed his arms. “I played cards with the man, yeah. How is this your business?”
“He killed your cousin, man. That’s not enough?”
“If Angel had survived that explosion, he would have been the one to go to jail.” Win kept his voice steady.
“He didn’t. He got corrupted by that little fuck, and he got killed. Your Uncle Teddy is beside himself.”
Privately Win thought that Uncle Teddy was beside himself about not having the Reddings’ land. That was what it came down to. Sage was just an excuse.
Thank God the women in his family were more reasonable.
“Anything else? Because we’re done with this conversation.”
“Stay away from him. This is your last warning, kid. He doesn’t need protection.” Jim looked serious as hell, eyes glittering like a snake’s. Too bad Win wasn’t scared of critters.
He just shrugged. “You watch yourself, not me. State police would be mighty interested in how you’re harassing folks like Wilma and Bulldog.”
Jim arched one eyebrow. “So now you’re protecting the head of a biker gang and his bitch? What are you, the Robin Hood of Hunt County?”
“No, I just think honest folks deserve a chance.” This was getting them nowhere, and it hurt his soul to be at odds with a man who’d been his hero once upon a time. “I’m on patrol today, so I’ll see you later.”
He didn’t wait to hear any more, and he didn’t even stop to say good-bye to Grace. Not now. He needed outside and in the heavy weight of the September sunshine. This shit sucked hairy donkey balls. It was only going to get worse, and while he knew he could take it, he sure wished he didn’t have to.
Hell, he wished none of them did, but if wishes were fishes…. Win stopped in the garage to get a mobile unit, and he checked all the systems before pulling out of the garage.
Lord, what a fucking mess.
Why on earth had he come back here to work?
His phone rang as he got himself headed down the highway. His momma’s name popped up on the hands free. Win pushed the button. “Hey, Momma.”
“Hey, baby. How’s it going?”
“Oh, you know, been a heck of a morning already. Everything okay?”
“Yes, I had a need to hear your voice. You’ve been on my mind.” Uh-huh. He’d bet Uncle Teddy had been pushing.
“Anything I need to know, Momma?”
“Yes. Don’t you let those ass hats get to you.”
He grinned. Yeah, that was the more reasonable side of the family. “Thanks. I appreciate it. Want to do lunch tomorrow? We could go into Rockwall and go to El Chico.”
“I would love that. We can share that amazing apple pie on the hot skillet.” She actually sounded excited, and Win loved that. He loved making her happy with simple things.
“Cool. And I can tell you what all I’m doing wrong.”
“You know I live for that. Make a list.”
Evil woman. “I love you, lady. I’ll pick you up at eleven thirty tomorrow.”
“I’ll be ready. You be careful out there, and remember your momma loves you.”
“I will.” Bless her heart, she’d put a smile on his face. He’d so needed that.
He headed into town, checking things out. It was a hard thing—trying to decide whether to be happy all was well or to wish shit would happen so time would pass. He figured he should be grateful for a quiet day. Maybe he could stop and get a coffee. He’d missed his bullpen sludge, thanks to Jim.
He pulled into the diner’s parking lot and headed in, waving to Kelly and Heidi at the counter. Heidi grinned and nodded.
“Just coffee or breakfast, Win?”
“I think coffee and a cinnamon scone, honey.” They teased him unmercifully about his carb intake, but he only drank beer once in a while, so he needed his empty sugar from somewhere.
“You got it.”
He slid into a stool at the counter, nodding to Mike McBride and Terry Mann. The old cowboys nodded back,
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