After I Refused to Save My Ex-Wife’s Brother, She Went Crazy Chapter 05

After I Refused to Save My Ex-Wife’s Brother, She Went Crazy Chapter 05

“Who the hell are you?”

Claire stepped back. Pierce jumped in front of her.

“Ms. Rhodes’s brother is worth more than you’ll ever be. He’d never waste his time on lowlife trash like you. If you’re going to make up a story, at least make it believable. Look at your face.”

Claire said nothing. After a long moment, she pulled herself back together.

“I don’t care who you are. Any grudge can be settled for the right price.”

She put her sunglasses back on.

“Figure out what you want and tell me. My brother doesn’t have time for your breakdown.”

She turned and started walking away.

Vince came back from the sun, lips cracked. He downed half a canteen before he could speak.

He leaned in. “Cole, are you serious?”

I didn’t answer.

The guys crowded around.

Sully got up, brushing sand off his knees, avoiding my eyes.

Hank, our truck driver, lit a cigarette and scratched his chin.

Vince waved them off.

“Scram. Everyone back to work.”

When they were gone, he turned back. His eyes were red.

“Cole, if you’re going, I’m coming with you.”

“If you’re not going, I’ll take the heat. Let her blacklist everyone—we’ll move to another desert.”

I shook my head.

“You can’t take that heat.”

“Then what are you going to do?”

I didn’t answer.

Claire’s guards reformed. One started walking toward us.

The leader had a scorpion tattoo on his arm. Thick neck. Mean face.

He stopped in front of Vince and looked down at his hand.

“You hit my guy.”

Vince lifted his chin. “He threw the first punch.”

Scorpion Tattoo grabbed Vince’s shoulder.

Vince’s face went white, but he didn’t make a sound.

I shoved the man off and stepped between them.

“Touch my friend again, and we all die out here. Then you’ll have nothing.”

It wasn’t a threat.

There wasn’t another soul for a hundred miles who knew the quicksand and the sinkholes.

Without me, their SUVs wouldn’t make it fifty miles before the sand swallowed them.

The man looked into my eyes. Then he let go and stepped back.

Claire had heard the commotion from the SUV. She walked back.

She paused, then raised her hand. The guards fell back.

She stood there, her voice suddenly softer.

“My brother is like a child to me.”

“You were a father once. You should understand.”

I lost myself for a second. The old images flooded back.

The dispatch center gate flashed through my mind, along with the memory of me collapsing outside it.

I had pounded on the locked gate until my knuckles split and blood ran down my hands.

I had begged them for help.

One vehicle, one person, anything at all.

They pulled the blinds shut. No one even looked at me.

Vince’s voice brought me back.

“Cole.”

I pulled my hand back and patted his shoulder.

“Everyone back inside.”

Claire called after me.

“It’s getting late. I’ll give you until morning. I want your answer by sunrise.”

“Don’t wait till morning.”

I didn’t turn around.

“My answer won’t change.”