“We’ll lay low, Ben,” Brandon opened the door to leave. “At least until we’ve got something else to go on. Then all bets are off.”
“I don’t care what’s on the horizon. They come after us again, we’ll go to war.” Nick opened the door. Ben nodded as the brothers filed out. He didn’t envy whoever was doing this. The Coalsons were going to make their retribution very long and painful.
****
Down in the basement at the Jersey County Jail, Jeb Hawkins reclined on the prison issue cot roll in his holding cell and wished he was anywhere but here. His big plans of getting rich and getting the hell out of this town went up in flames as sure as the Coalson offices. His wife was divorcing him, his kids wouldn’t even write him a damn letter while he was here, and that son of a bitch that hired him left him holding the shit bag of trouble he had caused, without even paying for the last job.
“Hey, Hawkins,” Jeb heard the door close as the deputy came toward him. “You got a visitor.”
Jeb took in the dark haired man in the three piece suit. His eyes widened as he came to the man’s face. He knew who he was, but he had no idea what he wanted. The man regarded him with cold, black eyes. He smiled and Jeb shivered.
“Mr. Hawkins. I would like a moment of your time. I believe you may have some information that may be of interest to me. I can make it worth your while.”
“How so? You gonna get me out of here?”
“As to that, given your current circumstances and the respect the Coalson family has in this quaint community, it would, perhaps, be in your best interest to stay under lock and key. However, if you would prefer, I can have you released on bond or the accommodations improved here if you decide to stay. Consider, however, if you are released, you will be indebted to me as the favor I ask of you is small compared to the amount of bond required to acquire your release.”
Jeb swallowed. “I say you let me out and then I give you the info and we’re square. You need it or you wouldn’t be here.” He nodded his head.
“Mr. Hawkins, you are, indeed as foolish as I imagined. Or perhaps you do not understand your predicament. While you are here surrounded by law enforcement, who is protecting your wife, your children? Family is all that you have left, Mr. Hawkins. It would indeed be a shame to lose them as well.”
Hawkins sneered. “Screw them. You see any of them here. Nothing but a bunch of ingrates, always wanting shoes or books or some such shit.” He waved his hand in the air and turned away. “You try and scare me with that, you made a mistake.” Jeb plopped down on his cot and regarded his visitor.
The man stared back at him. “And what of Mac Coalson?”
Jeb sat up straighter, an evil grin splitting his face. “Now we’re talking. That bastard’s been a thorn in my ass for years. Thinking he was better than me. I showed him. I burned his damn business down.”
The man grimaced. “Yes. You showed him – you’re in jail and he’s with his family. And that’s what I meant. How does Mac Coalson feel about his family? His wife? His mother and father? His brothers?”
Jeb came off the cot in a flash. “He loves them more than anything.”
“Then that is his weakness. His brother, Samuel, has caused me immeasurable difficulty with the drug bust. That needs to be remedied. While Mac has also offended my colleague. I feel the need to repay him in kind.”
Jeb smiled in understanding. “You want to hurt Mac Coalson, you go for his family.”
“Well,” the man smiled slowly. “I suggest you give me what I want, and I’ll make it easy for you to hurt Mac Coalson. I’ll take care of Samuel. Do we have a deal?”
Jeb stuck his hand through the bars. “Deal.”
I hoped you enjoyed Leather and Lace! Please leave a review and tell your friends! And, by all means, contact me and let me know what you like about the series.
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Maggie-Adams/713601315374402
Good Reads
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/9867300.Maggie_Adams
And don’t forget to look for Chance and Georgia’s romance in Book Three in the Tempered Steel Series, Love and War, coming in May, 2015.
Acknowledgements
Well, I’ve certainly learned a lot since publishing book one, Whistlin’ Dixie, just a few short months ago. I’ve learned about marketing, publishing, BETA readers and Street Teams. These are the folks that have become sweet friends in a short period of time.
So I want to thank my BETA readers – Tammy Bugger, Maddie Bugger, Renee Holmes Kennedy, Jennifer Andrews-Leise, and A. Nicole. You gave me support when I needed it. And constructive criticism when I asked. Thank you for your honesty and friendship.
I also want to thank my street team, Maggie’s Merry Widow Mates! Renee Holmes Kennedy, Jennifer Andrews-Leise, Tammy Bugger, Maddie Bugger, Tonya Hauser, Donya Claxton, Wendy Shelton, Ashley Gibbons and A. Nicole. They have given me such wonderful praise and support on their pages and their groups. Thanks so much!
And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my new group friends in marketing and promotion. Obsessive Pimpettes, Deb and Lisa’s Romance Showcase, Dayreader Reviews and Take-Overs, and Goddess Fish Productions have been fantastic in helping me get the word out about my novels.
I’d also like to thank Jennifer Jakes and The Killion Group for their help in editing and cover design. They have been with me from the beginning and I don’t know what I’d do without them!
Finally, I want to thank my family, friends and fans. I am overwhelmed with the amount of support I have received in the past few months. I promise to try and live up to your praise. Thank you!
Ginny’s Gentlemen’s Orange Layer Cake
1 box yellow cake mix
4 eggs
¾ C oil
1 (11oz) can of mandarin oranges
In a large bowl, mix by hand, cake mix, eggs and oil, Add oranges and juice, mix well. Pour into 3 greased and floured 8 or 9” cake pans. Bake at 350 degrees about 20-25 min. Cool.
FROSTING:
1 (20oz) can crushed pineapple drained
1 sm. pkg. instant vanilla pudding
1 (9 oz) Cool Whip.
Mix pineapple, juice and pudding. Fold into Cool whip. Frost cake layers. Top with toasted coconut (if desired)
Copyright © 2015 Maggie Adams
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Please Note
The reverse engineering, uploading, and/or distributing of this book via the internet or via any other means without the permission of the copyright owner is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the author’s rights is appreciated
No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher, except where permitted by law.
Cover Design and Interior format by The Killion Group
http://thekilliongroupinc.com
Thank you.
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Leather and Lace (Tempered Steel Book 2) Page 13
