27. Twenty-Seven
27
TWENTY-SEVEN
I didn’t want to leave Ruby. She was still warm and happy in bed with a baby catalog when I finally rolled away from her. I had no choice, though. I really did want to talk to Cora … and about more than one thing.
Ruby happily accepted my kiss and promise that I would bring her a snack later when I returned. Then she waved me off, still naked and blissful when I walked out of the room. Under different circumstances, nothing could’ve forced me to leave her. This felt important.
Cora had her reading glasses on—something she only wore when tucked away from the public because she was vain—and she looked over the rim when I knocked on her open office door. “Is something wrong?” she automatically asked. “Is it Ruby?”
“Ruby is fine,” I assured her as I stepped in. I motioned toward the door. “I need to talk to you. Is it okay if I close this?”
“This sounds serious.”
“I want to be involved in the thing with Haskins.” There was no reason to beat around the bush. Cora wasn’t an idiot. I couldn’t manipulate her. It was best to be straightforward. “It’s important to me.”
“Sit.” She motioned toward the chair across from her desk once the door was shut. “Tell me what this is about.”
“It’s about keeping my family safe.” I rested my hands on my knees as I got comfortable. “Haskins has a bad reputation. We need to go at him as a unit, and as head of security—and the man who loves your daughter—I need to be involved.”
Her lips quirked. “You love my daughter, do you?”
“You’re not actually surprised by that news.”
“I’m not.” Her smile spread. “I’ve known it for quite some time.”
“How long?”
“Oh, months.” She sighed. “I kind of wanted to push you together—we all did—but Zach insisted we let you find your way without input. I didn’t think it was going to work—you were really dragging your feet—but eventually you came around.”
“I wasn’t dragging my feet. I was playing the game how it needed to be played for Ruby’s benefit.”
She nodded. “Ruby has always been a tough nut to crack. She’s different from her sisters. In a weird way, she’s more like Zach.”
I frowned. “Please don’t say stuff like that. Now I’m picturing myself dating Zach.”
She laughed, a full-throttle belly laugh. “You’re very funny.”
“I am.”
“You’re good for Ruby. You don’t let her spend too much time in her head and when she does get lost, you’re the one who manages to drag her back out of that dark cave.”
“I want to be good for her. I’m going to ask her to marry me. I want your permission to do that when I think it’s time.”
“Before the baby gets here?” Cora looked hopeful.
“She made me promise I wouldn’t propose until after the baby is born. I have to respect her wishes.”
“You don’t have to, but you will. You get Ruby better than anybody else could … because you get Zach.”
I scowled.
“You have my permission. I think the three of you are going to make a beautiful family.”
“Thank you.”
“Don’t mention it.” She sighed. “What do you think we should do about Haskins?”
“I think we need to approach him a specific way. He likes to screw with people. If we explain that he’ll be able to screw Ryder if he partners with us, he’ll agree to our terms. We can’t go in there and try to strong-arm him, though. He’ll fight us on principle if we go that route.”
She pursed her lips, considering, then nodded. “Do you want to do this now?”
“Is that an option?”
“Yes. I’m going to be involved in the conversation too. If he wants to screw Ryder, who better to help him screw my ex-husband?”
“He’ll like that. He’ll probably hit on you, but I’m sure you can handle him.”
“I’m not worried about that,” she agreed. “I can get the others I want with me—Lionel Marks is the attorney who will be handling the paperwork, Carl Dobkins will handle the accounting on this one instead of your sister—within the hour.”
“Then let’s do it.” I was firm. “I want to go to bed tonight knowing that we’re all safe.”
Her forehead creased. “There’s something else you’re worried about. What is it?”
I was hoping I wouldn’t have to tell her this last part. I couldn’t keep it from her when she asked point blank. I wouldn’t lie. “Ryder has never shown violent tendencies, but he’s about to lose everything. He still thinks he can manipulate us. When he realizes he can’t…” I trailed off.
“When he realizes he can’t, he’ll become a desperate man,” Cora surmised.
“And Ruby is the most vulnerable right now because she’s pregnant,” I agreed.
“Plus, he’s showed interest in manipulating her instead of the others. She’s the one he’ll go to when he recognizes his plan is falling apart.” She bobbed her head. “We need to end this today. I don’t want this hanging over our heads when we should be planning the arrival of my first grandchild.”
“Exactly.”
“Then I’ll arrange it.” She reached for the phone on her desk. “Just one other thing.”
I braced myself for something bad.
“Tomorrow, we’re throwing a surprise baby shower for Ruby,” she explained. “You don’t have to be there—men usually aren’t—but she’ll be more open to the process if you are.”
“You want me to go to a baby shower?” I wrinkled my nose as I considered it. Then I smiled. “I can do that. I’m going to want something from you, though.”
“And what’s that?” She seemed tickled at the prospect of me negotiating with her.
“You need to tell Ruby that Rexanne is a great name.”
“No way.” Cora vehemently shook her head. “We’re not naming that baby Rexanne. What is wrong with you?”
“Oh, I don’t want to name her Rexanne.” I smirked. “I just want to drive Ruby insane so she’s more open to my real suggestion.”
“And what’s your real suggestion?”
“That’s a surprise.”
I thought she might argue for a beat, but ultimately she nodded. “Okay. I’ll tell her I think Rexanne is a good name. If she really tries to name my grandbaby Rexanne, though, you and I are going to war.”
“Cool.” I grinned. “Get the others on the phone. I want to end this. The sooner, the better.”
“Yeah. I’m right there with you.”
THE CHIFFON SMELLED EXACTLY HOW I IMAGINED. I hadn’t been inside since I was in my early twenties. During a night on the town, Zach and I decided we wanted to check it out. We hadn’t been disappointed. It was garish, overflowing with smoke, and filled to the brim with the dregs of society. Nothing had changed from my first visit. That was the first thing that went through my mind when I walked through the door with Lionel, Carl, Cal, and two other security guards. The second thing I thought was that I couldn’t wait to raze this place to the ground.
Haskins sat in the little lounge in the lobby. It had a pit lizard vibe. He wore a white shirt that was missing three buttons and a mess of wiry chest hair—complete with potato chip crumbs—was on display as we approached him.
“Well, this is a surprise,” he drawled before sipping his cocktail. “To what do I owe the honor?”
Cora’s disgust with our surroundings was obvious. She was determined, though, when she sat across from him. “It’s time we came to an agreement, Chet.” She didn’t smile. “Do you have a private room you would like to have this conversation in?”
“Why would I want to be anywhere else?” He laughed like a loon. “This is my kingdom. As the king, this is my throne.” He took another sip. His eyes briefly moved to me, then he went back to looking at Cora. He seemed to be struggling to decide who was in charge. “What do you want?”
“This property,” Cora replied. She crossed her legs and was careful not to touch anything but the chair she’d settled in. She had an air of calm about her, but I could tell she was antsy under the surface. “I know you’ve entered into an agreement with Ryder. I’m here to tell you that whatever he’s promised, it’s not going to happen.”
Haskins narrowed his eyes. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
I raised a warning finger and shook my head. “Don’t.” This was Cora’s show, but I wasn’t going to let him try to run her over with his attitude. “Just … don’t.”
He frowned at me, then went back to staring at Cora. “What agreement are you referring to?” His tone wasn’t deferential, but it wasn’t aggressive either.
“I don’t know what dirt you have on Ryder,” Cora replied. “I have a few theories, but I honestly don’t care. I’m sure he was paying you—that’s your thing, right?—and now he doesn’t have the money to follow through. He came up with some scam to build an amphitheater on this property, securing a huge payout for you and a partnership in the business as part of it. The thing is, he doesn’t have the authority to promise you anything.”
Haskins’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t speak.
“I do have the authority to make an offer to you.” She inclined her head toward Carl, who let loose a cough due to the thick smoke and then sat.
“We’re willing to give you this much for the property.” He shoved a piece of paper in front of Haskins. “We can’t give you a piece of the amphitheater. You know as well as I do that it’s not going to happen. We can, however, give you a piece of the parking garage. This is how much money we believe that structure will bring in on a monthly basis.” He shoved another sheet in front of Haskins.
Haskins’s gaze bounced between the two sheets of paper. “This is nowhere near what I was promised from Ryder.” He shoved them back toward Carl. “Do better.”
“No,” Cora replied, not missing a beat. “That’s what you’re going to get.”
“Then I’m not selling.”
“That’s fine.” Cora stood. “Just know, you’ll get nothing from Ryder because he doesn’t have the power to offer you anything. If he told you he did, he was lying.”
Haskins worked his jaw. “He said he had a plan.”
“Oh, I’m sure he did.” Now Cora looked amused. “He always has a plan. He’s crap on follow-through. You realize he has so few shares he can’t change a vote either way, right? He needs somebody from our family to vote with him even if he gets every other board member on his side. That’s not happening.”
“He did you dirty,” Haskins mused. “You’re going to make him pay no matter what, even if he has a good idea.”
“Pretty much,” Cora agreed.
Haskins ran his tongue over his lips. “I really wanted a piece of that amphitheater.”
“The amphitheater is years down the line.” Cora opted for honesty. “Let’s say we do buy the property. We still have to demolish this place, come up with building plans. We’re talking years. What money are you going to have coming in from Ryder in that time?”
“Um … the money for the sale of the property.”
“You’ll still get that money from us. Are you suggesting that Ryder offered you more for the property than we did?”
“Actually, you offered me more up front but less on the back end.” Haskins recognized he’d said something he shouldn’t have right away. “No take-backsies.”
“The offer stands,” Cora assured him. “You’re not getting a piece of the amphitheater, though. Your name is a red flag, and we need to get a liquor license for the amphitheater. We won’t get it if you’re involved.”
“You could give me a fake name on the documents.”
“No. That’s not going to happen.” Cora folded her arms across her chest. “This is our only offer.”
Haskins let loose a growling noise. “I’ve been holding onto this property forever. I got a kick out of keeping it from the other developers. I never wanted to give it to Ryder. I’ve always hated him. He made a good offer, though.”
“An offer he can’t back up,” I pointed out. “He never had the power to give you what you wanted. You must realize that.”
“I knew he was desperate,” Haskins conceded. “I just thought maybe … I mean, they’re his kids too.”
“Children he’s mistreated their whole lives,” Cora said. “They’re not going to side with him out of spite. He could have the best idea in the world and they’re still not going to give him what he wants.”
Haskins pressed the heel of his hand to his forehead. “I’m going to want it all in writing. My lawyers need to go over it.”
“We have everything drawn up.” Lionel stepped forward. “Get your attorney here.”
“You want to do this now?” Panic licked across Haskins’s features. “I need time to think about it.”
Lionel pulled a check out of the folder he was carrying. “If you sign the documents today, we have a bonus for you.” He held up the check so Haskins could see all the zeroes on it. “The bonus is only good if we do the deal today.”
Intrigue lit Haskins’s face. “You really want to screw him.”
“We do,” Cora agreed. “As part of that, we want whatever you’re holding over his head so we can hold it over his head.” She leaned forward. “I promise you that we’ll torture him endlessly with it. He’ll be crying by the time we’re done with him.”
Haskins choked on a laugh. “You’re a freaky lady.”
“You have no idea,” Cora agreed.
“Do you promise to make him cry?”
“Yes.”
“Then I’ll sign your papers.” Haskins reached for his phone. “My lawyers have to look over them first, but I’ll sign them.”
“Great.” Cora returned to her chair. “I love what you’ve done with the place. The giant flamingo in the G-string is charming.”
Haskins chuckled. “The place is a hole. It always has been. I only kept it because everybody else wanted it.”
“And now?”
“And now I’m ready to give it to you because it will tick off all the men in this town. That gives me a certain level of power too.”
“I agree.” Cora rested her hands on her crossed legs. “Let’s get that attorney here, shall we? I have someone whose life I want to ruin before the sun sets.”
“I like that you’re proactive.” Haskins winked at her before adopting a flirtatious smile. “Are you looking to trade up from Ryder?”
“Not at present. When I’m ready, though, you’ll be the first to know.”
IT TOOK THREE HOURS FOR THE ATTORNEYS to go through all the documents. To make sure there wouldn’t be an issue, they arranged for a notary to be present. When it was done, all the contracts signed, the relief I felt was profound.
“When are you going to tell Ryder?” Haskins asked. He almost seemed giddy with relief. The property had been an albatross around his neck for a long time. Now he was about to be free.
“Just as soon as I see the dirt you have on him,” Cora replied. “I want to make sure I really torture him when I drop the hammer.”
Haskins reached in his pocket and came back with a thumb drive. “I have about eight of these to make sure that I never lose the footage. This isn’t the only copy.”
“That’s fine.” Cora took it. “How bad is it?”
“Bad enough that Ryder knows he’ll never be in charge of anything but a car wash again if it goes public.”
“Please tell me none of the women on this are underage.”
Haskins shrugged. “I can’t promise that. I didn’t go into it trying to trap him with an underage girl. That’s not my thing. If any of them are underage, they lied to me … and in this town, we all know that’s possible.”
“Is it kinky?” I asked, genuinely curious.
“Yes. Ryder has … peculiar tastes.’
I both didn’t want to know what those tastes included and couldn’t help myself from being curious. “Well, thanks. We’ll close on the sale in three weeks. I would live it up here until then.”
“Oh, I plan to have a few parties.” Haskins looked smug. “They’re going to be ones for the record books.”
“Whatever you want to save, just tell my people,” Cora offered. “We’ll get it into storage for you until you decide what you want to do with it.”
“Thanks for that.” Haskins winked at her. He was clearly enamored. To my surprise, instead of waving us off, he sobered. “You should know that Ryder promised he would have his deal in hand by the weekend. He said he had one of his kids that he could manipulate into doing what he wanted. He seemed sure of it.”
“Did he say which kid?” I asked.
“Not the boy. He had nothing good to say about the boy. Whoever is currently in charge, he hates her too.”
“That leaves Pearl and Ruby,” I murmured. My stomach constricted. There was no way it was Pearl. She wasn’t going to be motivated to agree with her father no matter what. “Did he say how he was going to get them on his side?”
“Just that he had a surefire way of forcing them to do what he wanted. Something about a baby.”
My stomach dropped to my shoes. “My baby?”
Haskins balked at my tone. “I don’t know who the baby belongs to. Just that he was going to force someone’s hand regarding a baby.”
I met Cora’s gaze over the table.
“Go,” she said, correctly reading my mind. “We’re done here. Make sure Ruby is safe. I’ll be in touch when it’s time to drop the hammer on Ryder. We’ll do it as a family.”
I nodded. “I’m looking forward to that.” I started toward the door, then hesitated. “Come with me,” I said to Cal. “I just want to make sure I have backup when I get there. You know, just in case.”
“I’m on it,” Cal said. “In fact, I really hope he’s there so we can mess him up.”
That made one of us. Hurting Ryder wasn’t the outcome I was looking for. Happily ever after was. “I want this over with. Today. No matter what.”