“Emily, c-c-can I p-p-p-play with Max?” Sam asked, looking around excitedly. “P-p-please.”
Smiling down at Sam, who wasn’t even looking at her but looking for Max, she laughed. “I think Max would love that, but promise me you’ll stay behind the store. Okay?”
“Heck yeah!” Sam nodded, following Emily to the back of the store. Max lay by the back door as if waiting for a chance to escape the hot hundred-year-old building that only had fans, not a modern air conditioner.
With an excited bark from Max and an excited yelp from Sam, Emily let them out the back door. Leaning against the doorframe, she watched Sam and Max run around chasing each other. She had met Sam her first day back home, and he had been an everyday visitor to the store. Her sister told her about how Sam and his sister Leda had walked into town with Janna. The bitterness in her sister’s voice was not lost on Emily. Deb had always thought she would end up with the eldest Foster brother, but Garrett had never shown an interest in Deb. Everyone in town seemed to love Janna, except for Deb, and Deb had tried to make damn sure Emily didn’t like her either.
“Is he here again?” Deb finally decided to come to work. It was almost eleven. Soon it would be lunch, and then Deb would be heading out the door by three, not that Emily was surprised. It had always been that way. She was convinced Deb was ecstatic that Emily dropped out of school and came back home. Even though Deb was older, Emily had been the one to pick up the pieces when their grandfather and then grandmother had passed away.
Pushing away from the door, Emily went back to finish what she had been doing. “Deb, he’s not doing anything, and it keeps Max busy.”
“And that’s another thing.” Deb scrunched her nose. “That mutt shouldn’t be down here during business hours.”
Emily chanted to herself to stay calm, but with her encounter last night, it was really hard. She was on edge. “She’s fine, Deb.” Emily gritted her teeth to keep the rest of what she really wanted to say from escaping her lips.
Deb made a noise under her breath but dropped it. “So, did you go to the meeting last night?” Deb followed Emily to the front of the store.
“Yes.” Emily sighed before she started restocking a shelf of rat traps. Yeah, she was living the dream.
“So, what was it about?” Deb hedged, making Emily roll her eyes.
“Why didn’t you just go, then you wouldn’t have to quiz me?” Emily sighed again, this time loudly so maybe Deb would get the hint and leave, but she should have known better. When Deb made a funny noise in her throat, Emily looked at her over her shoulder. “What?”
“I know why you went, and it wasn’t to find out about any meeting. You know, I thought you were smarter than this, Emily. After what Hunter did to you, and everyone knowing, I thought you’d stop this obsession you have with him. I really worry about you.” Deb shrugged, letting the sentence hang in the air as if she didn’t care one way or another.
“You know, Deb, how about you don’t worry about me.” Emily said, instead of shouting what she really wanted to say, which was “bullshit.” Seriously, Deb only worried about Deb. It had been that way since they were young.
“Well, excuse the shit out of me.” Deb huffed but didn’t leave. Emily knew there was something more and waited for it. “So, I figure Janna was there?”
And there it was. “Yes, she was.” Emily stocked the last of the rat traps, grabbing the empty box.
“And?” Deb’s voice rose a little in exacerbation.
“And what?” Emily was so tired of the games Deb liked to play. Just ask the damn question straight out.
“What did you think of her?” Deb asked, her voice back to normal.
“Janna is a very nice person, as I’ve repeatedly told you before.” Emily replied, turning toward her sister.
“So you and Janna are becoming good friends now?” Deb blocked her way.
Emily nudged her sister out of the way heading toward the back of the store, wishing more than anything a customer would walk in. “Give up on Garrett Foster, Deb.” Emily tossed the box by the door to take out later. She then glanced out to see Sam and Max still hard at play before turning back to her sister, who looked like she was ready to spit nails. “Garrett is very much in love with Janna. Don’t make trouble.”
“Wow, really?” Deb should have been an actress. The hurt look on her face seemed legit, but Emily knew better. “What kind of person do you think I am? She’s pregnant for goodness’ sake.”
“Exactly, she’s pregnant. And honestly, Deb, you talk about me and Hunter, when you’re fascinated with his mated brother. The little saying ‘calling the kettle black’ comes to mind.” Emily eyed her as she walked past, the bell on the door dinging. It was the most pleasant sound that Emily ever heard. A freaking atomic bomb would be more pleasant to hear than Deb’s questioning, and she was sure Deb was close to letting Emily know how big of a loser she was. It was sad their relationship was a series of Deb insulting her, but Emily had come to terms with it a long time ago. “Leave well enough alone, Deb.”
Emily turned her focus to the customer who had walked through the door, but when she turned the corner, she stopped and knew things were about to go downhill real fast.
“Well, look who we have here, boys.” Darnell, the man who challenged Garrett stood in the middle of their store.
“Can I help you?” Emily’s eyes went from the leader to the other two men, wondering where the rest of them were.
His eyes roamed her body, a lewd smile appearing on his face. “Sweetheart, that’s a loaded question.”
Emily wasn’t easily intimidated, never had been, so sometimes her mouth worked before her brain. “No, it isn’t really. It’s pretty straightforward.” She cocked her eyebrow at him. “Do you need something from this store? If not, I suggest you leave.”
“Now, that isn’t any way to treat a potential customer,” one of the men said, but Emily continued to stare at Darnell, the supposed leader. She heard Deb, who had been behind her, take a step back.
Emily was getting annoyed now, her eyes narrowing. There was no reason for these men, who had caused problems last night, to be in her feed mill. “I think you need to leave,” Emily stated, wanting them gone. They were trouble and she couldn’t afford trouble. Everything she owned was in this store, and she was very protective of her stuff.
“And I think you need to be a little nicer.” Darnell took a step toward her. The way he did it was threatening, his eyes again roaming down her body adding to his intimidation. She was a proud size fourteen with generous breasts, which seemed to be where men’s eyes constantly ended up. This man was no exception. “I may want to buy something.”
“We don’t have flea collars in your size.” Oh, yeah, she went there and instantly regretted it when his eyes rose from her breasts burning with rage. With three steps, his hands were around her throat.
Deb screamed, trying to run to the back of the store, but one of the men stopped her. Emily saw Max and Sam peeking out behind one of the stocking shelves, and she did her best to warn him to run with her eyes.
“Listen, bitch,” Darnell spat against her ear, “I tried to be nice, but you had to go and ruin it.”
Emily tried to swallow, but his grip was brutally tight. Blackness edged her vision, her legs becoming noodles. It took everything she had not to pass out. When she was to the point of no return, she started to struggle. He just laughed but eased up his grip. Her breath came out in small gasps as if she had never breathed air before. Every single gasp was like gold.
“Now this is what’s going to happen.” He leaned further away so she could look into his cruel eyes. “We are going to take over this town, and you are going to sign over your deed to this place.”
He loosened his grip around her throat even more. Her eyes found Deb, who nodded at her as if she were ready to give their life to this piece of shit with a tightly wrapped bow. Over her dead body.
“No.” The word came out as a painful rasp.
<
br /> Darnell actually laughed, but there was no humor to it. Letting go of her throat, he grabbed a chunk of her hair forcing her to the large window in the front of the store. He pressed her face up against the glass.
“I wasn’t asking you a question, bitch.” He pulled her head back enough from the window so she could actually see what was going on outside. The coffee shop was directly across the street. She could see men inside harassing Roxy Patel. “See how well the other business owners are cooperating?”
Emily didn’t respond. Instead, her eyes went toward Garrett Foster’s house and prayed that someone would alert him and the rest to what was going on.
“If you do not get that deed pronto, Jimmy here is going to start tearing shit up.” Darnell hissed his threat.
She heard the crash and the ping of seeds hitting the floor behind her and rage overtook her. She pulled her head away from his grip knowing from the stinging pain she had lost some hair in the process, but she didn’t care. Turning, she glanced at the seeds that scattered everywhere. Deb stared at her in terror.
“Just get the deed, Emily.” Deb’s voice shook, her eyes wide with fright.
“No,” Emily repeated. She fought the urge to touch the back of her head to check for blood. It definitely hurt, and the strands of blonde-brown hair entangled in the bastard’s hand indicated there was some damage. “I will not sign the deed over, and you’re an idiot to even think that is all I need to do. This isn’t the 1800s. Even if I signed the deed over and you took it, it would be of no use to you, dumbass. Why don’t you learn the—”
She didn’t see the slap coming. It was fast and hard. She tasted blood, but she’d be damned if anyone came into her business as if entitled to all her family’s hard work.
“You’re a mouthy bitch.” He snarled, but he looked unsure.
“What’s she talking about, boss?” one of the men asked looking nervous as he glanced at the door. “You said all we needed were the deeds signed over to us. What else needs to be done?” the man asked Emily.
“Google it,” Emily replied, spitting blood before wiping her mouth. When the man who asked the question looked toward the door again, Emily smiled. “Nervous? You should be.”
Darnell raised his hand to smack her again but stopped when the bell above the door dinged, making everyone jump. Emily’s relief turned into horror as Janna walked inside.
“Hey, is Sam…?” Janna’s words slowed to a stop as she scanned the room, her eyes landing on Emily.
Emily jumped into action. “No, he went home.” She quickly headed toward Janna to usher her back out the door, but she was caught once again by the hair.
“Not so quick.” Darnell chuckled, nodding toward the man nearest him to grab Janna. “Today is my lucky day.”
“I’d rethink that,” Emily said as she watched Sam running and tripping up the street to Garrett’s house while looking behind him at the feed mill. Emily looked at Darnell, whose gaze was on Sam. The pleasure of seeing the flash of fear in the man’s eyes made her knees feel weak. Yeah, he should be scared.
Chapter 7
Hunter had just raised a fork full of Janna’s pancakes to his mouth when Sam ran inside with Emily’s dog right behind him. Tears and fear filled the boy’s eyes. Hunter’s fork dropped to his plate, fear for Janna overtaking him. She had just left to find Sam for breakfast.
“What is it, Sam?” Hunter stood, then yelled for Garrett.
Sam was pointing behind him, swallowing hard and trying to force the words out of his mouth. “B-b-bad m-men….”
Hunter yelled for Garrett louder before turning his attention back to Sam. “Slow down, Sam.” Hunter wanted to pull the words out of the boy’s mouth but knew he had to be patient. Him getting upset would just make it worse for Sam. “Where are they?”
“E-Em—” Sam fought for the words; it was heartbreaking.
“Emily?” Hunter asked, knowing that Sam had been going to the feed store every day to play with Max. “At the mill? Are they the same men who were just here?” Hunter knew without asking but needed to make sure.
Sam nodded just as Garrett rushed into the kitchen. “What the hell is going on?”
“Stay here, Sam.” Hunter grabbed his phone sending out a text before glancing at Garrett. He also sent a mental message to each of them. Either way they’d get the message. “I don’t think we chased those bastards far enough. They’re at the feed mill.”
“Fuck!” Garrett turned to leave, but Hunter stopped him.
“Janna went there to get Sam for breakfast,” Hunter warned. He didn’t want Garrett taken by surprise.
Garrett didn’t say a word but rushed out with Hunter hot on his heels. He watched Garrett’s lead. If he shifted, then Hunter would shift. Dell, Marcus, Jonah and Leda ran beside them. While Garrett headed straight for the front door, Hunter motioned Dell and Marcus to head around the back.
“Garrett.” Hunter tried to get his brother’s attention, but Garrett wasn’t having it. He was through the front door of the feed mill before Hunter could finish what he wanted to say.
Rushing inside behind Garrett, Hunter stopped, his eyes taking in everything at once. Janna stood against the wall holding her stomach with Garrett hovering over her. Janna gave him a nod, indicating she was okay. Emily cleaned up seeds on the floor with Deb standing over her yelling.
“How dare you put me in danger like that!” Deb screamed at the top of Emily’s head since Emily was on her hands and knees cleaning up the mess.
“Are you okay?” Hunter asked Deb, whose face was red with rage.
“No, I’m not okay,” Deb shrieked, then pointed to Emily. “She’s crazy!”
Dell, Marcus, and Leda ran in from the back of the store, Leda going straight to Janna.
“You need to check the coffee shop. There were men over there giving Roxy a hard time,” Emily said without looking up. Marcus was out the door in a flash with Dell close behind him.
Hunter thought it was funny that Emily was still cleaning seeds and wondered if she was in shock. “Em?”
“They took off when they saw Sam running to Garrett’s,” Emily explained, her voice low but strong.
He figured that but making sure the women were okay was his main concern. He’d find the fuckers later. “Em, are you…?” He watched a drop of blood land on the worn hardwood floor beside her hand. Reaching down, he gently pulled her up to face him. Rage like he’d never felt before slammed into his body at the sight of her face. Blood trickled from her nose and the corner of her mouth, which was red and swollen. “Which motherfucker is going to die?”
Emily looked at him confused. “What?”
“Who hit you?” Hunter’s tone was deadly, his eyes searching the damage.
“It was the one who was here yesterday doing all the talking,” Deb replied, crossing her arms across her chest. “But she wouldn’t shut up and refused to sign over the deed to the mill.”
Emily pulled away from Hunter to grab a broom. “They will never get the deed to this place.”
“You would rather be beaten than give the deed up to this piece-of-shit building?” Deb asked in disgust.
Hunter watched Emily closely, never realizing how strong a woman she really was. She was hurting and trying her best to hide it from everyone. She was also scared, but she’d be damned to let any of them know it, especially him. Yet he could read her like a book.
“Deb, shut up.” Emily glared at her sister.
“You practically begged him to hit you.” Deb didn’t take heed. “You called him a dumbass. You may have a death wish, but I don’t, so you need to calm your crazy ass down.”
“Well, he was a dumbass thinking me just signing the deed over would give him any rights to what my family, our family, fought so many years to keep. Next time he wants to do something he probably saw on a movie, he needs to Google that shit.” Emily snorted and then turned serious. “Anytime you want to sign your half of this piece–of-shit building to me, just meet me at the l
awyers, Deb, and consider it a done deal. Now, either help me clean this up or get the hell out of here before I get really pissed off.”
Even as angry as he was, Hunter had to hide a smile. Emily definitely said what she thought. Unfortunately, this time, it had put her in danger and that was something he couldn’t allow. He watched Deb huff a few times, glancing at Garrett and Janna before storming off to the back of the store.
Dell had just walked in from checking on the coffee shop and frowned when he saw Emily’s face. “Who the fuck hit you?”
“I’m fine,” Emily answered, looking uncomfortable.
“That’s not what I ask you.” Dell stepped closer, reaching out his hand toward her face, but Hunter knocked it away.
“I’ve got this.” Hunter gave Dell a wicked glare in warning. If the fucker touched her one more time, he was a dead man. His protective nature kicked in to high gear, and his wolf was ready to kill somebody, and so was the man. Dell was definitely playing with fire.
“Do you, Hunter?” Dell replied, his eyes narrowing dangerously. “Because I have serious doubts about that.”
Not knowing exactly what to say, Hunter resorted to a growl. He didn’t want to tangle with the huge son of a bitch, but he would if pushed, and Dell had a way of pushing people. Just thinking of him touching Emily drove him insane, which proved what he knew long ago: She was his fucking mate. As much as he fought it, denied it, and fucking ran from it, Emily Snodgrass was his mate, and it scared the holy hell out of him.
******
Emily wished everyone would just get out of her store. She needed to clean up and to take some aspirin for her throbbing jaw. She dealt better with this stuff alone, always alone.
She didn’t know what was going on between Dell and Hunter, other than they both looked like they were ready to tear each other’s throats out. Honestly, she was past caring. As much of a badass she wanted to think she was, what happened today scared her, even though no one would believe that as she ran her mouth.
Forbidden Seduction (Lee County Wolves Series) Book #2 Page 5