Chapter 19 #2
“How could I what?” Luna asked, the sound of clothes rustling behind me nearly enough to make me turn, but I was frozen. Anger and hurt and betrayal coursing through me, making my feet blocks of cement.
I breathed out a disbelieving laugh and shook my head.
“Right. Like you had nothing to do with this. Your parents just happened to show up in Starlight Cove, at the site you’ve been protesting, to fight the same thing you’ve been fighting.
The same thing you promised me you’d lay off.
Just until the article came through. You knew how important this was to my family. To me.”
She rested a hand on my back, and I nearly flinched at the touch, hating myself that, even now, I wanted to lean into it. To seek comfort from it. “I know it is. And Brady, I didn’t—”
“Save it,” I said, my voice too harsh, but I couldn’t rein in my temper.
Pissed at her for what she’d done, and pissed at myself that I’d lost sight of what was most important.
That I’d loosened the restraints on my control and let her slip past my defenses.
That I’d let her steer me away from what needed to be done.
From what was most important. “After everything I told you on the beach, you still went and did this.”
“No, Brady. I—”
But I didn’t hear the rest of what she said.
I couldn’t. I couldn’t stand there another second and listen to whatever lie she wanted to tell.
Whatever narrative would fit what she wanted.
Not when my family’s livelihood was on the line.
Not when I was about to watch my mother’s legacy go down in flames.
Instead, I typed out a text to Aiden, letting him know I was on the way, and stormed down the stairs and out the door, not looking back as I climbed into my car. Before I pulled out, a text from Aiden popped up on my screen. Just two little words, but they lit a fire inside me.
Aiden:
Fix it.
That was my job—as both the sheriff and the head of my family—and it was exactly what I intended to do. I just had to figure out how.
I’d just pulled up to the Williamsons’ property when my phone rang.
Again. Luna had been trying in vain to contact me, and I’d let them all go to voice mail.
Now, I glanced down, seeing the mayor’s name on the screen, and closed my eyes on a groan.
At least I didn’t have to reject another call from Luna, but this wasn’t much better.
I didn’t have time for this, but I couldn’t exactly ignore it.
There were already cars all over the place, way more than I’d assumed would be here, which could only mean one thing—news had spread like wildfire, and I was about to get my ass reamed.
“Mayor Drummond,” I answered.
“Sheriff McKenzie,” she said, her tone clipped. “I understand you’re not on duty today, but justice doesn’t wait for a schedule.”
“Justice doesn’t get doled out when it’s convenient, either. I just got here, but right now, it’s just a bunch of residents congregating.”
She huffed. “Yeah, well, it’s all fun and games until the reporters show up.”
I stepped out of my car and scanned the crowd, swearing under my breath when I spotted Harper at the door of Holton Group’s trailer, her hand raised to knock. “Guess it’s not fun and games anymore, then.”
The mayor expelled a heavy sigh, her disappointment ringing loud and clear through the line. “This doesn’t look good for the town, Sheriff. Whatever is going on down there, you need to put a stop to.”
“If they’re protesting peacefully, I can’t do anything. Not unless Holton Group comes and presses charges, and they’ve been absent for the past two weeks.”
“Not for long. I just received a call, and the foreman is on the way.”
“Fantastic. Can’t wait.” The guy was an asshole, and I hated dealing with him, but I might not have a choice.
“Look, Sheriff, when we had the town hall meeting, everyone was excited about the shopping center.”
I glanced around at the growing number of Starlight Cove residents, some with handmade signs that said some variance of Stop the Development. “I’m not sure everyone feels that way now.”
“Unfortunately, that’s not how things work. What’s done is done. The deal’s already been made. The land’s been sold, and we’ve approved the plans. Holton Group is only unable to move forward right now because of the paperwork you rushed through.”
“Paperwork I rushed through on behalf of a concerned citizen. I’m doing my job.”
“Do it better.”
I gritted my teeth against the words that wanted to spill out, this constant pressure in my chest making it hard to think.
I was doing my goddamn job, but what was I supposed to do when they all conflicted with one another?
Right now, I couldn’t be the sheriff of Starlight Cove, the patriarch of the McKenzie family, and Luna’s…
whatever the hell I was to her, without disappointing one or more.
Her tone softened as she said, “I appreciate what you’ve done for this town, Sheriff, but we’ve got a long way to go.
Everyone will be on board when they realize how convenient the new store will be.
No need to run to five different places.
Just remind everyone of that, of why they wanted it in the first place.
And then shut down whatever nonsense is happening over there. ”
I ground my teeth together, frustration making my words too harsh as I said, “I can’t just shut it down.
That’s not how things work. There’s nothing illegal going on.
Right now, the only person on the Williamsons’ property is Harper, and she’s with the press.
All the residents are clumped on the resort side, so it doesn’t matter if Holton Group is on their way or not.
They can’t charge anyone with trespassing. ”
“They can’t, but you can. That’s your family’s property. Your mom’s legacy,” she said, enunciating the words like they hadn’t been a constant litany in my head already. “I thought you loved this town as much as she did.”
Her words had the effect she’d no doubt intended, slicing straight through to my heart. My mom had given Levi his love for sailing, Aiden his love for the resort, Ford his love for building, Beck his love for cooking, and Addison her love for flowers. But she’d given me my love for this town.
I glanced up, spying a car as it rolled to a slow stop near the road, and out ran Luna, tossing money through the opened driver’s side window.
My heart seized at the sight. Her hair was in disarray, pillow creases still marring her cheek, as she frantically scanned the crowd. For what or whom, I didn’t know.
God, I was furious with her. Furious she’d done what she’d done and hadn’t talked to me about it. Warned me, at least. Furious she’d put the resort’s future in jeopardy. And furious with myself that I’d fallen for her in the first place.
I cleared my throat. “I do love this town. And the residents.” One spitfire of a woman in particular, but I didn’t need to share that with the mayor.
“Then fix this.” With that, she hung up, and I was left staring at the pain in my ass I’d somehow fallen head over heels in love with and wondering what the fuck was the right thing to do.