by Morgan Blaze
No way was she going to let him get away with that.
“I’m not quitting,” she said. “I was hired for a job, and I’m going to do it.”
His eyes widened in shock. “You’re serious, aren’t you?” he said.
“Of course I am,” she shot back. “You did just talk to Mrs. V., didn’t you? And she told you she hired me.”
“Yes, but—” He cut himself off with a growl. “You’re really going to stay.”
“What did you think I meant by not quitting?”
“I thought you were screwing with me, or…proving a point, or some crap. All that stuff you privileged people do when you get paid for showing up at noon.” His shoulders fell. “Let me ask you something, sweetheart,” he said. “Are you insane?”
“Stop calling me sweetheart.”
“Whatever,” he ground out. “You’re not just nuts, you’re certifiable. Can you read?”
She snorted. “I’m not going to answer that.”
“Well, read this.” He marched over to the trailer and slapped the wall. “You see what that says? Dawson. And do you know what your name is?”
“Mark—”
“No. That’s my name.” He clenched a fist. “Your name is Monroe. And when your precious family finds out their little girl is slumming with the Dawsons—”
“They’re not going to find out.” She said it quickly, before she could even think about it. He’d actually sounded hurt. “I won’t tell them a thing, and I’ll ask Mrs. V. not to mention anything. They’ll never know.”
“Bullshit,” he spat.
“I’m serious.” Still reeling from the pain she’d felt behind his words, she moved toward him with caution. “Mark, I need this job. I’m sure you do, too. Please, let’s be professionals and work this out.” She drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. “And when the job’s done, I’ll leave town. For good.”
His eyes narrowed. “I don’t believe you.”
“I will. I’m getting paid enough to start my own firm, and that’s what I want to do,” she said. “Look…coming back was a mistake for me. I know that now, and I just want to earn my ride out of here. All right?”
“Fine.”
She raised an eyebrow. “Fine what?”
“Fine, stay. As long as you’re really going to leave for good when it’s over.”
“I am.” She managed to relax a little. Maybe she could make it through this, after all. At least he seemed the slightest bit cordial now. “Okay, so what should I do?”
He stared at her until she felt like squirming. Finally, he said, “Follow me.”
She walked behind him as he headed around the trailer to a door on the other side. He opened it and stepped back. “Here’s what you do,” he said. “Get in there…and stay the hell away from me.”
With that, he turned and strode across the yard.
So much for cordial.
* * * *
Just when Mark thought he could never be angrier, Aubrey Monroe managed to drive his rage to new heights. She’d breezed into town after eight years, waved her fancy college degree around, and had a fat job fall into her lap. The same job he’d bent over backwards to land.
And now he had to see her every damned day. He still wasn’t sure which one pissed him off more.
Well, she wasn’t going to lay a finger on this project. He might have to let her stick around, but he didn’t have to let her participate. Mrs. V. said she was a consultant, and that meant he could consult her when he needed her opinion.
He figured he’d need that right around the time hell froze over.
Right now, though, he had to break the news to the rest of them. He found Gage out front and sent him to gather the others. For once, his little brother didn’t argue with him. Might have something to do with threatening to snap his spine last night if he didn’t shut up about leaving the bar.
Jonah was the first to come out. One look at Mark, and he was on high alert. “What happened?”
“Hold on a minute,” he said. “I only want to explain this once.”
It wasn’t long before Gage and Reese joined them. “Bro, you look like you landed asshole-first on a broomstick,” Gage said. “Did we get fired or something?”
He couldn’t help a bitter laugh. “No, we got saddled,” he said. “With a consultant.”
Jonah snorted. “Rich people.”
“Yeah, well, there’s more good news,” he said. “It’s someone we know.”
“Who?”
“Mark, I am not going to stay in that trailer all day!”
He sighed and gestured at the angry female marching across the yard. “Her.”
“That’s the Monroe girl,” Jonah said. “We can’t work with her.”
Mark shook his head. “We don’t have a choice. Mrs. V. wants her here, and if we don’t keep her on, she’s going to find another crew.”
“Then let her.”
“We’re not dropping this job, Jonah.”
His brother glared at him. “We have to. You know why.”
“Wish somebody would tell me why,” Gage said. “I bet Reese wants to know, too. Right, man?”
Reese held his hands up and backed away. “No, thanks,” he said with a smirk. “Luka will kick my ass if I get in the middle of this.”
“Are you even listening to me?” Aubrey reached them and heaved an angry breath. “I’m not staying in there,” she said. “It stinks, and there’s no air conditioning.”
Mark raised an eyebrow. “Guess you should quit, then,” he said.
“I’m not quitting!”
“Well, I’m not installing air conditioning for you, princess.”
“That is so not better than sweetheart.”
“Fine. Sweetheart.”
She folded her arms and shot him a narrow-eyed look. “It’s Aubrey,” she said. “Is that so hard to say?”
“Nope.”
“You’re such a—” She ground her teeth together. “All right, look,” she said. “I have no idea what you’re doing with this place yet. It’s Saturday, it’s hot, and this sucks. Do you mind if I take the blueprints home and study them, so I can get ready for Monday?”
“Knock yourself out.”
She blinked. “Really?”
“Yeah, study away. Take your time,” he said. “Hell, come back Tuesday. Or Friday. Or how about never?”
Her eyes met his, and he saw fire in them. “I’ll be here Monday morning,” she said. “Bright and early.”
He watched her walk away for what felt like a long time. When she was out of earshot, he turned to his brothers and said, “Thanks for backing me up.”
“Hey, I don’t fight girls. Er, women,” Gage said. “Can we get back to work now?”
“You actually want to work.”
“Nah. I just want to get far away from you.” Grinning, Gage nodded at Reese and said, “Come on. I need an extra pair of hands in the back.”
“The back? I am so there.”
Unfortunately, Jonah stuck around while the other two left, and he didn’t look happy. “Mark, we have to—”
“Don’t,” he said. “I know this is bullshit, but I’ll deal with it.”
“It’s dangerous. You’re playing with fire.”
“It’s temporary,” Mark spat. “She won’t last a full day. I’ll make sure she’s miserable enough to quit, and then we can get back to our lives. Without her.”
Jonah stared at him. “What if she doesn’t quit?”
“She’s going to.”
“Well, you’d better start working on a backup plan,” Jonah said. “Because if you don’t get rid of her, then I will.”
He walked away, and Mark bit back a nasty reply—because Jonah was right. It was dangerous for him to be around Aubrey Monroe.
But his brother had the wrong reason. The fire was already burning his heart.
Chapter 4
Aubrey tried every excuse in the book to get out of dinner with her family that night, but her
father wouldn’t take no for an answer. She knew they’d want to hear all about her first day on the job, so she spent some time going over a story in her head—one that had nothing to do with anyone named Dawson—until she practically believed it herself. It was the only way to keep Jason from getting suspicious.
But it wasn’t any easier struggling through the small talk, armed with nothing but lies.
“So this foreman, Martin,” her father said while they were still on the salad course. “What’s his last name? I can’t think of any Martins in town, off the top of my head.”
Aubrey stared at her salad. “I don’t know his last name,” she said. “I didn’t ask.”
“And he didn’t offer it?”
“Dad, I barely spoke to the man.” She sighed, put her fork down, and took a sip of the wine. Being in the house where she grew up didn’t exactly comfort her anymore. Things still looked the same, everything spacious and elegant and tidy. But it all felt stale—like no one really lived here. If she was honest, it’d been that way since they lost Mom. “I told you, I was only there for a few minutes. I took the blueprints home so I can be ready for Monday.”
Of course, there were a few more things she had to do before then. Like get over the shock of having to work with Mark Dawson. She doubted she’d ever be ready for that.
Jason cleared his throat and reached for his wine glass. “Sounds like this guy’s a real salt of the earth type,” he said, with clear distaste in his voice. “Why would you want to work with people like that, anyway?”
“People like what, exactly?”
“You know. Laborers.”
She stared at her brother like she’d never seen him before. “Since when do you have a problem with people who work for a living?”
“Don’t be too hard on your brother,” Roger said. “He’s been working almost exclusively with our high-powered clients, and learning a lot about what makes the world go round.”
She gave a dry smile. “Inertia?”
“Money.” Jason raised his glass. “And lots of it.”
“I see.”
“Well.” Roger leaned forward with a smile. “Let’s save the economic philosophy debate for another day. I’m just glad you’re home, and the family is together again.” His smile wavered a bit as he reached for the wine bottle and refilled his glass. “I am sorry about last night, though.”
Her brow furrowed. “For what?”
“Those Dawsons.”
A chill snaked down her spine at the raw hatred in her father’s tone. “Dad…it wasn’t like they were crashing the party,” she said. “It’s a small town, and there’s only one bar.”
“And?”
“And he—they didn’t do anything.”
“I knew it,” Jason said sharply.
“Knew what?”
“Mark said something to you. When you came back from the bathroom.” He tossed back the rest of his wine and shivered visibly. “What was it, Bree? I swear to God, if he touches you—”
“You’ll what? Kill him?” She had her own reasons to be furious at Mark Dawson, but this was too much. “You’re the one who hit him first,” she said. “Both times.”
“He had his filthy hands all over you.”
“And did you see me trying to stop him?”
The shocked silence seemed louder than her shout. If there was any way to end the Monroe-Dawson feud, this wasn’t it. After a long, deep breath, she said, “Look. That was a misunderstanding, and it was a long time ago. Trust me, I don’t like him. At all.” She stared at her brother, and then her father. “But don’t you think it’s time we calmed down a little? This hatred isn’t doing us any favors.”
Roger flushed a deep, ugly red. “Calm down?” he said. “They killed your mother and your baby sister. And they never paid for it.”
“They didn’t kill anyone!” The words burst out of her, and she regretted them instantly—but it was something that should’ve been said a long time ago. “They were just kids, Dad. Same as me and Jason. Do you think they held their father down and poured beer down his throat, and then shoved him in the car?”
“Bree, stop it,” Jason said tightly.
“No, you stop it,” she said to him. “There’s no reason for this. What do you think’s going to happen if you keep picking fights with them? They’re—”
“Animals!” Roger roared, banging a fist on the table. “They’re just as bad as their father. Worse. It’s only a matter of time before they kill someone, and I will not lose one of my children to a Dawson.” A hoarse sob escaped him, and he pushed his chair back and stood unsteadily. “They’ve already taken enough from me,” he said. “I won’t let it happen again. I’ll kill them all first.”
He looked around wildly for a minute, and then lurched from the dining room.
Shaking and sickened, Aubrey turned to her brother. “Jason…how long has he been like this? He needs help.”
“No, he doesn’t,” Jason said. “You do. Why are you sticking up for the Dawsons?”
The cold inside her intensified. “I wasn’t—”
“Do you think they’re innocent? Just a bunch of misunderstood orphans, right?” He sneered, reached across the table and grabbed the wine bottle—and started drinking directly from it. “The big one, know what he does for a living? He breaks people’s legs for Eddie Verona. You know…the loan shark. And Mark. Do you have any idea how many fights he’s been in? How many times he’s been in and out of jail since you left?”
She shuddered, and whispered, “You’re lying.”
“Yes. I’m lying. I made it all up, just now.” He took another long swig from the bottle. “They’re dangerous, Bree. A bunch of lowlife, scumbag thugs. Dad’s right…they’re all animals. Especially Mark. And someone should kill them, before they hurt anyone else.”
Her eyes burned, and she struggled to keep the tears from falling. “All right,” she said softly. “I’m going to leave. You’re both drunk, and you don’t know what you’re saying.”
Jason stared dully at her. “I know exactly what I’m saying.”
“I have to go,” she whispered, standing so fast she nearly knocked the chair over. “Listen, I’ll call you tomorrow. Okay?”
He didn’t respond, and she left quickly, thinking it had to be the alcohol. Her father and brother might be angry and upset, but neither of them was a murderer.
She’d just have to find another way to get through to them.
* * * *
Every time Mark closed his eyes, Aubrey Monroe was there.
By midnight, he figured he was never going to sleep again. Just one more thing she’d taken from him. He gave up and got out of bed, deciding if he was going to be awake, he might as well work. And drink.
Especially drink.
He headed downstairs, but slowed when he heard voices coming from the lighted kitchen. Luka had gone home with Reese earlier, and Jonah had headed out on an errand for Verona—but it sounded like he was back now, and talking to Gage. That was not normal.
Frowning, he advanced quietly until he could hear what they were saying.
“I don’t know, man.” That was Gage, in a serious and worried tone that wasn’t like him. “I mean, she’s…well, a she.”
“We have to.” Jonah was using his no-arguments voice. “She can’t be around. Period.”
“Yeah, but…” Gage sighed. “Look, I get the whole family feud thing,” he said. “But I can’t hurt a woman.”
He’d heard enough.
Mark stormed into the kitchen, teeth bared in a snarl. “No one is touching her,” he said. “You hear me?”
Gage recoiled with widened eyes, but Jonah just sneered. “Do you think I’m telling him to punch her in the face?” he said. “Come on. You know my rule.”
“You mean the one Verona promised to kill you over?”
Jonah stood slowly and folded his massive arms. “Yes. That one.”
“Uh, guys?” Gage said. “I’m not used to playing the peacem
aker, so knock it off. Besides, Jonah was saying we need to be assholes. Not monsters.”
“I want her gone, Mark.”
He took a step forward. “I told you I’d take care of it.”
“And I told you I’m making a backup plan.”
“What the hell?” Gage got up and glared at them both. “Somebody needs to tell me why we’re so serious about this. Right now.”
Jonah’s lip curled. “Go on,” he said. “Tell him.”
“Fuck no.”
“Fine. Then I will.”
“Goddamn it, Jonah—”
“He needs to know.” Jonah looked at Gage. “Last time Mark was around that girl, Roger Monroe went after him. With a gun.”
“Jesus Christ,” Gage said weakly. “He tried to kill you?”
Mark shook his head. “It was a long time ago.”
“How long?”
“Eight years.”
“It was the night Mom died.” Jonah’s voice caught for an instant, but he recovered fast. “And we’re all going to come clean about this. Right now.”
“Fine,” Mark said. “Let’s start with how the hell you knew what was going down.”
Jonah shrugged. “Adam Rhodes called me. Said it took five of them to pull you and Jason apart, and then you took off toward Main Street. He told me Jason called someone and it might’ve been the cops. I’d been looking for you, anyway—and I didn’t know about Monroe until I got there.” He leaned forward, and added, “So how about you fill in the rest?”
“That son of a bitch.” Mark stared at the floor, feeling like he’d been gut-punched. “He must’ve called Roger.”
“Because you started a fight with him?”
“I didn’t start it, Jonah,” he said through clenched teeth. “But I was going to finish it.”
“So what did start it?”
“Never mind.”
“Why was he fighting you?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It damned well does matter,” Jonah said. “It’s not over. You saw that. So why—”
