Chapter Six #2
Paul wondered if Vanessa’s ex had put his hands on her.
No woman deserved to be treated that way, but it was none of his business.
He had to focus on protecting himself and let Jackson Nava worry about his sister.
Jackson might be a little too easygoing for the task.
He was an entry-level peacekeeper in a sleepy lakeside town.
He didn’t have the experience to anticipate every threat.
Paul did, and he’d learned to be cautious.
Since he’d been shot, he’d become an expert at imagining worst-case scenarios.
Any scenario involving Vanessa Nava spelled disaster.
“I’ve been real hospitable up to this point,” Paul said. “But my patience has expired. You folks need to clear out of here by the end of the day.”
Jackson offered a frosty smile. Instead of extending their conversation, he reached into his front shirt pocket for a business card. “I’ll relay the message to my sister, but I can’t make any promises. She’s as stubborn as they come.”
Paul accepted the card. “She’s parked illegally.”
Jackson shrugged. “If you’d like to file a complaint, be my guest. Call the number on that card and ask for Sheriff Nava.”
“Sheriff Nava,” Paul repeated, his stomach sinking.
“He’s our father.”
Paul didn’t react to this smug statement, but it took effort. Jackson Nava wasn’t quite as guileless as he appeared. Instead of sputtering with outrage, or cursing the Nava family to hell, Paul thanked Jackson for the beer and walked away.
Their father was the town sheriff?
Great. Just fucking great.
Paul stormed into his cabin and slammed the door behind him. He paced the living room and tried not to panic. Then he called his own brother, who knew how to talk him down. Kyle answered on the third ring.
“What’s up?”
“We have a problem.”
“I’m all ears,” Kyle said, but he sounded distracted. Loud music played in the background.
Paul explained the situation with Vanessa while Kyle listened. “She made a rental agreement with the previous owner, who passed away recently. Her brother is a cop, and her father is the town sheriff.”
Kyle went silent amidst a chaotic blend of bells and whistles.
“Are you in a casino?” Paul asked.
“Amusement park.”
“Did you hear me?”
“I heard you.”
“I don’t need a conflict with local PD. What if they ask me to leave?”
“They won’t. The rental agreement is void.”
“Are you sure?”
“Pretty sure,” Kyle said. “The guy is dead. She can try to get her money back, but she can’t force you out.”
“I have a bad feeling about this.”
“You have a bad feeling about a lot of things.”
“She’s trouble.”
“Describe her.”
“Why?”
“How old is she?”
“I don’t know. Twenty-five.”
“Is she a bunny?”
Paul mulled the question over. Bunny was a word they used to describe young, single women who wanted to settle down and get married. Paul had coined the term, and he’d never been reluctant to apply it before.
“Is she hot?” Kyle pressed.
“Yes.”
“How hot?”
“She’s a ten,” Paul said. “But that’s not the point.”
“What is?”
“She’s not giving up. She’s been sunbathing on my dock all day.”
“So what? Sit back and enjoy the view.”
“She’s got a kid. A little girl.”
“Oh.”
Paul didn’t like the way the conversation stalled whenever this subject came up. He wished he hadn’t mentioned it.
“You’re thinking about the kid at the scene,” Kyle surmised.
“Actually, I’m not.”
Kyle made a skeptical noise.
“Why is that so hard to believe?”
“Because you overthink everything else.”
“I did what I had to do. I’m not dwelling on it.”
“If you say so.”
“I didn’t call for a wellness check.”
“Maybe you need one. You sound tense.”
Paul ignored Kyle’s casual advice, though it irked him. He was tense, for good reason. His concerns about Vanessa Nava were legitimate. “We both know I have a target on my back, and that puts everyone in my vicinity at risk.”
“You had a target on your back in Houston. That’s why we relocated you. The threat in Lost Lake is minimal.”
“It’s not zero.”
“You have to relax, bro.”
“That would be a lot easier without unexpected guests, and an increased police presence!”
“Just stay calm and stick to the plan. You’re not doing anything suspicious. You’re remodeling a cabin. They won’t look twice at you.”
“Maybe I should find another hideout.”
“No,” Kyle said with emphasis. “This place has been vetted. We can’t start over because of a booking error.”
Paul massaged his upper arm, contemplative.
“How’s your shoulder?”
“It’s better.”
“You’re lying,” Kyle said. “Did you try the edibles I gave you?”
“No.”
“Why not? A couple of those will ease your muscle pain and kill every bad vibe.”
Paul hadn’t told his brother about the morning panic attacks, but he’d admitted to having trouble sleeping. If the natural remedy would reduce any of his symptoms, it was worth trying. “I’ll think about it.”
“Don’t think too hard.”
“How are the boys?”
“They’re right here, riding bumper cars. Crashing into each other on purpose.”
“Tell them I said hi.”
“Will do. In the meantime, stop obsessing about strangers. You’re at a lakeside retreat. Go fishing. Chill out. Get some rest.”
Paul admitted to buying a boat, which his brother approved of wholeheartedly.
Then Kyle had to go, because his boys were begging to ride a rollercoaster.
Paul hung up with a faint smile. He remembered being that age, wreaking havoc with his brother at every opportunity.
They’d been a couple of daredevils. Now they were grown up, and not exactly soft with age.
They both had dangerous, demanding jobs.
Paul was the younger brother, and he’d always been more cautious than Kyle, more sober-minded. This tendency hadn’t prevented him from taking risks in the line of duty, however.