Page 64 of Gideon

“You want me to leave?”

“I don’t want anyone else getting hurt.”

“I can’t tell whether or not that’s a threat.”

“It is if it needs to be.”

Gideon looked at Cole. “It wasn’t you who started that fire, was it?”

“Understand, Gideon,” Fairfax said, stepping closer and dropping his voice. “I will not tolerate anyone coming into my town and disrupting the fragile equilibrium that I have created. The fire was a small warning. Imagine who could get hurt if you pushed me a bit farther.”

Gideon swung before he could register enough to stop himself. Fairfax stumbled backward as Gideon wastackled to the ground. He grunted when Cole yanked his arms behind his back and cuffed him.

A shadow covered his face as Fairfax stood over him, wiping blood from his nose. “Thanks for that. Made my job a lot easier.”

Nikki pulled into the hospital parking lot, passing the sheriff’s car, but slammed on the brakes when she made eye contact with Gideon in the back.

She swiveled around in her seat, trying to get another look, but it was too late. Then Fairfax drove past.

She turned the car around and followed them out. Why would Fairfax wait until now to arrest him for the damage he did—that they all did—to the totems?

Things were supposed to get better, not worse.

She arrived at the sheriff’s office and parked on the street as Cole was pulling Gideon from the back seat.

“Gideon,” she said as she ran over. “What’s going on?”

“Here we go,” Cole said. “Trust Nikki Morris to stick her nose where it doesn’t belong.”

“You can’t lock him up. It was my idea.”

“Nikki,” Gideon said.

Cole laughed. “Save it for the lawyer.”

“He was going along with it because he didn’t have a choice,” she said.

“Nikki. Leave it.” Gideon said. “Go home.”

“You should listen to your boyfriend,” Cole said. “Helped you last time at the markets, didn’t it?”

“Someone’s gotta stand up to your bullying,” she snarled. “Is Fairfax behind this? I want to talk to him.”

“Fairfax is the victim.”

“Fairfax is nothing but a cruel man who beats up on powerless women. He doesn’t care about this town.”

“That’s the best you can do?” Cole snapped. “You’re pathetic. Your dad probably killed himself to get away from you.” Gideon struggled against his restraints, but Cole slammed him up against the car. “Settle down. You’re a feisty one, but you’ll get hurt if you’re not careful.”

“Leave her out of this,” Gideon growled.

“She put herself in it. Maybe she doesn’t know how bad you are at keeping your anger in check. She doesn’t know about your unprovoked attack.”

“Against who? You? You shouldn’t have beaten up an old man.”

Cole’s eyes locked onto her. “Did your boyfriend tell you about that?”

“Does it matter?”

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