Darkness at the Edge of Town (Iris Ballard #2)(69)
Billy told him I was a cold, cynical bitch and I would have hated to disappoint. That was all he saw. He was a businessman. It was just business. Or maybe it wasn’t. He had the pen on the paper, but when he looked back at me his eyes slightly narrowed. He set the pen down and my stomach lurched. He gazed at me like a disappointed father, tilting his head and frowning. “Out of everything you’ve said and done to me and mine these past few days, this is the most offensive, Dr. Ballard. You lie about who you are. You manipulate good people for your own selfish needs. You threaten us. You belittle what we believe. And now you insult me and the brother you claim to love in one fell swoop. Your brother is here of his own free will. Everyone here is. I’ve done nothing illegal, and you cannot prove otherwise, or I am sure you would have contacted the police already. So here is my counteroffer. You honor your bargain. You leave this place and never bother us again. Your brother is happy here. Let him be happy. It would be horrible for him to hear about this conversation, wouldn’t it? How you tried to buy him so you could leave town with a clear conscience, because once again it is all about you?” Mathias leaned in. “He would also hate if the authorities heard what really happened to Sheriff Meriwether.” My mouth went slack. “Your brother and I have had many conversations about his family. I feel as if I know you all. Intimately. Not just that you executed that man in cold blood, but how your boyfriend lied in a federal investigation to cover up your crime. How your grandparents don’t claim their odd jobs when they do their taxes and haven’t for decades. It’d be a shame if the IRS and FBI discovered these horrible crimes, wouldn’t it?”
I wanted to punch him. To scratch his eyes out. To rip his tongue out. I managed to stop myself but couldn’t stop the literal seething. “You have no proof of any of that because it’s all lies.”
“Even if it is lies, a few phone calls to the press, the FBI, and the IRS and all your lives become quite difficult. And that’s only if they’re not true. And why would Billy lie?” Mathias’s smiling eyes met mine. “I believe it’s time you vacated my property, Dr. Ballard. And if I hear you’ve been causing trouble to me or mine, there will be dire consequences. Not just for you. This is over. Your brother belongs here. With me. I’m able to provide him something beyond resentment and loathing. Go back to your life, Iris. No one wants you here.” Mathias rose from his chair, still holding my pen and paper. “Can’t wait to read the book.”
My willpower waned with each sentence, and I was really worried I’d assault him if he said another word. I stood as well. “If you hurt my brother in any way…”
“Fine words coming from you.”
I needed to get that fucking pen back to salvage at least some of the clusterfuck. I pulled down my shirt to regain some dignity. “Whatever, asshole. You…” I groaned in frustration. “Give me my fucking pen and pad back.” I grabbed for them, but Mathias took a step back and Ken sprang beside me. “You don’t get one more thing…” I took a deep breath to calm myself. “They’re not yours.”
Mathias stared at me, eyes slightly narrowing. “Consider them a donation to the Movement.” He picked up his glass as well. He must have suspected my motives. Fucker. “It was illuminating meeting you, Dr. Ballard. May our paths never cross again. For many people’s sakes. Ken?”
“Time to go. Come on,” the muscle said.
The man didn’t touch me but didn’t need to. Ken moved close enough that I could smell his BO and sense his anger against my skin as if ants crawled over me. He herded me around the porch. “So what’s your story? You two in this con together or are you just the lover/enforcer?”
“Shut the fuck up and keep walking.”
Ken stayed an inch away the entire tense march to my car. He backed away only when I opened the car door. But I couldn’t let the bastard get the last word. I spun around to face him. “You know you’ve built a house of cards, right? Your boss may have fixed me, but one mistake, just one, and your life topples. You go back to prison where you belong. And when that day comes, I’ll be in court. Smiling smugly as they lead you away in handcuffs.”
“Threaten us again, bitch, and the only one wearing cuffs will be you, your boyfriend, and your grandparents. Now get the fuck out of here before I make the calls just for shits and giggles.”
Ken moved in closer, so I had no choice but to get into my car. I honestly wanted nothing more than to be away from him. I barely got inside the car before he slammed the door shut hard enough that the car shook. Glaring at the fucker through the window, I realized my hands were trembling as I turned on the ignition. I felt as if I were about to explode. Spontaneously combust with anger. I drove up to the locked gate, and Ken just strolled up to it as if he were taking a leisurely walk. Another fucking power play. He smirked as he passed by my window. My labored breath came out in short bursts as my anger grew. The moment there was room enough, I peeled out of the compound. But it was as if I could barely see. I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t think. I was fury incarnate.
About a mile down the road, I couldn’t stand it a moment longer. I pulled to the side of the road, got out of the car, and just screamed. I hollered. I kicked my car’s tires like they were part of a gang initiation. I screamed some more until I truly couldn’t breathe. I slumped to the ground, rested against the car, and banged the back of my head on the door.