18. Fail Safe
EIGHTEEN
FAIL SAFE
Flynn
I flex my arms against the wall. It’s either try to crumble brick with my bare hands or strangle the woman in front of me. Sweat drips down my neck. Not from the heat, but rather the exertion of all the willpower it takes to remain in her presence and not commit violence.
Beth continues to ramble on about how much she misses me and how obvious it is that I’m not over her blah, blah, blah.
Sweet Jesus, how in the world had I ever thought I loved this person?
I’ve never been so grateful to my brother than I am right now for lighting a fire under my ass to get out of town.
Even if he lit that fire by fucking my ex-girlfriend.
“It was just a misunderstanding, Flynn.”
I’m not sure if she is talking about whatever she said to Jackie or if she honestly is trying to say she misunderstood Holt’s dick in her?
I surprise myself by laughing, but I stop by taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.
Who would’ve thought I’d ever find humor in this situation?
I’m feeling pretty far removed from it now.
I have Jackie to thank for that.
“It was only ever you, Flynn.” Beth pouts, trailing her death talons across my chest.
I try not to roll my eyes and fail.
“Hey!” She stomps her foot, forgetting the broken heel and swaying to the side.
“You know I’m right. You and me, we’re meant to be together.
” She takes a deep breath, pushing her doctor-made breasts in my face.
She’s gone up a size or two since we were together.
“It’s been over long enough, sweetie. Let’s move on.
” She rolls her eyes, like me not getting over the fact that she used me for my wallet then fucked my brother is somehow annoying.
“And don’t worry, baby, I’m not mad about that girl.
I know you had to get this out of your system. ”
She needs to shut up for her own safety.
And not just from me. If Rose hears her spouting this shit I’ll have another brawl on my hands.
It’s only for my sister’s sake that I hauled Beth away.
All so Rose doesn’t get in any more trouble with the cops.
Before they’d arrived, Rose mentioned it wasn’t her first time tangling with Beth.
Lord knew what happened last time, but a second offense with the same person would not be good for Rose.
“I know you miss me, Flynn.” Beth raises her hands to cradle my face.
“Don’t fucking touch me,” I snap, done with playing mediator.
Beth’s hands freeze and slowly drop back down to her sides.
Tires squeal as someone peels out of the lot. I turn to catch a glimpse of a silver car turning onto the road.
“Flynn! Pay attention to me.” She tries stomping her foot again, but only manages to wobble on her broken heel. “Or I’ll go talk to the cops,” she sing-songs.
The look I give her makes her eyes go wide.
“I—”
“How did you think this would work, Beth? You come back and mess with our lives again and one of the West brothers would take you back? Let me guess—your latest sugar daddy get tired of your drama? Looking for another rich man to whore yourself out to for the high-end lifestyle?”
Beth pales.
I know I’m being harsh, but I just don’t care. “I’m with Jackie now.”
At Jackie’s name, Beth’s eyes light up. “You can’t honestly think that girl would fit in where we’re from. She’s not in our league, Flynn. Get real.”
“Jackie is so far beyond your league it isn’t even funny. She’s got a goddamn doctorate. She’s a genius NASA engineer. How the hell you thought you’d compete with that, I’m not sure.”
This time Beth rolls her eyes. “You think just because someone has a few degrees that makes them any less interested in your money?”
The band around my chest snaps. “You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
She laughs, like a hyena going in for the kill.
“Don’t I? I know exactly what I’m talking about.
How many student loans did she have to take out to pay for all those genius degrees?
She can’t even afford decent clothes. Those ridiculous sneakers, for God’s sake.
And yet she surrounds herself with people with money.
” The side of her mouth tilts up. “Who was that fine man she left with? The one with the Rolex and the Tesla?”
“Leave it to you to price out every man in the room, Beth. Not everyone needs five-hundred-dollar shoes.”
She pats my arm like a small child and my already tense muscles turn to stone.
“What was she going to say, that she’s stringing her co-worker along until she decides who can offer her the better life?
That she likes wearing cheap clothes?” Beth scoffs.
“Please. I saw her looking over my outfit when we talked. She practically drooled.”
I remain silent, but it doesn’t stop Beth.
“All I had to do was mention a few of the gifts you’d given me when we were together.
” —she pulls back her hair to expose the diamond studs I’d given her for her birthday one year—”and her eyes lit up.
I could practically see the wheels turning in her head, wondering how long she’d have to wait, and what to do to speed up the process. ”
“You’re lying.” And I know she is. Jackie honestly doesn’t care about material things.
But a sick feeling settles when I think of the huge amount of school debt she must have.
I’m such a privileged ass for not thinking about it.
My degree was simply paid for out of pocket, not even a drop in the bucket to the West fortune.
“Am I? Or is that just what you want to believe, Flynn? You said yourself she’s a big shot NASA engineer. What could someone like that want with a mechanic ?” She spat the word. “But an heir to the West Oil fortune? Oh yeah, I can see that.”
“Not everyone is a money-grubbing social climber, Beth.”
Beth laughs so loud, my jaw ticks. “Oh, you poor, sweet, delusional man. So much like your father.”
The mention of my father has me pushing back away from the wall.
“You drive her around in your half-a-million-dollar car, take her to your top-of-the-line house and you think she didn’t notice? You did say she was smart, didn’t you? Have you ever Googled your name? ‘Cause I’m pretty sure she has.”
Images of Jackie’s face when sitting in my car and when she’d looked over my house shuffle through my mind. I shake them off.
“Flynn West, the joke of the oil elite everywhere,” Beth says on a satisfied sigh.
I push back into her space.
“News flash, Beth—you’re the one they laugh at.
” I look her up and down, making sure not to hide even an ounce of my contempt.
“You think the people back home like you? You’re the goddamn entertainment.
Walking around like you’re mightier than everyone, working off your shopping habit on your back. ”
It’s Beth’s turn to stiffen.
“You already messed with my family once, Beth. You mess with them or Jackie again, I will end your social climbing.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You think I don’t have connections just because I dirtied my hands with my ‘stupid cars’? Think again. You’ll be blacklisted from every event in Houston. You’ll be lucky if you get invited to some backwoods hoedown when I’m done.”
“You think you’ve got that much pull? You’re just a mechanic these days, Flynn.”
“But I’m not.”
I turn to find Holt beside me.
Beth crosses her arms over her chest. “What are you going to do, Holt? Fuck me again?”
“God, no. Once was enough to get my brother out of your gold-digging clutches. You couldn’t pay me to touch you again. I don’t even like being this close to you.”
Beth’s mouth drops open. Mine too.
“Don’t think for one minute that Flynn can’t follow through on his threat. Or me. I know all about your activities these last few years. I know your debts, and I know your suppliers.”
Beth’s shoulders drop against the wall.
“Still like a little blow when you party, Beth?” Holt asks, crossing his arms over his chest.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Her voice is shrill.
“No? ‘Cause I have a video that proves otherwise.”
“What—?”
“Leave.” Holt steps forward and Beth tries to shrink further back. “You don’t know us. You don’t talk to us or about us. You don’t so much as look at us. And it goes without saying that you don’t press charges against Rose and you convince Pam to do the same.”
Beth scowls at both of them. “Whatever. You Wests think you’re so great, well think again. Y’all are nothing but trash,” she shoots back before hurrying away.
Holt and I stand in silence, watching as Beth speaks to one of the cops, then pulls Pam away to her car and leaves.
“Do you really have a video of her buying drugs?” I ask my brother.
“No.”
I bark out a laugh, causing Holt to smile.
“Did you really just fuck her so I’d dump her?”
“Yeah,” he admits, smile fading.
I shake my head. “That’s messed up, Holt.”
“I know.” He lifts his hat, runs his hand through his hair and settles the hat back on his head.
“But think back to what you were like on the ranch, Flynn. You got in with that society crowd—going to parties, thinking your shit didn’t stink.
You had passion before Beth, dreams of owning your own shop.
I tried to talk to you about it, bring up the stupid shit she was getting you into.
All the bills she ran up. You wouldn’t listen.
” He rubs the back of his neck. “You stopped working on cars. You even let her talk you into working the corporate side of West oil. A desk job of all things. Then she started talking about engagement rings and penthouses. You hate that stuff, man. That was going to be your life and I knew you’d be just as miserable as?—”
“Dad?”
“Yeah.” Holt sighs. “I just couldn’t take it if you choose someone like Mom. You deserve better.”
“Then you should’ve talked to me. For God’s sake, Holt. I’d figured out what she was a whole month before I saw her in your bed.”