Page 1 of Price of Paradise

Chapter One

“I don’t want anything to do with it, Jake.” Gunner stared at his brother, his only living relative, from across the desk and tried to remain calm. “I’ve said it a thousand times. Sell, don’t sell. I don’t care.”

Jake ran a hand through his dark, unruly hair, then shot to his feet. “I get that, but it belongs to both of us, and we both need to make a decision.”

“Look, Dad left it to us in the will, that’s true, but that abusive bastard did it to save his fucking soul or some shit.” It still made Gunner ill just thinking of the old man. “He doesn’t get to go out like that. Not after what he did to Mom. To us.”

In two long strides, Jake loomed over him. “This isn’t about him,” he growled. “It’s not about the past. It’s about the lawyers breathing down my neck because you won’t return their calls.”

He could see the strain etched into his younger brother’s face, the way his blue eyes darkened. As much as Gunner hated to admit it, Jake was right. A decision needed to be made. “I’ll call them tonight,” he said, acknowledging defeat.

His eyes widened. “Seriously?”

“Yeah.” Gunner sat back in his chair and began tapping his foot beneath the desk. “I want that mausoleum out of my life for good.”

He whooped and shot a fist in the air. “Finally!”

“But I’m not taking one cent from the sale,” Gunner warned. “That’s non-negotiable.”

Jake rolled his eyes. “Yeah, figured you’d say that. I have an idea there.”

“Burn it?” Gunner helpfully supplied.

He snorted. “Tempting, but no. I think we donate a portion to the women’s shelter downtown.”

Gunner tilted his head, contemplating his brother’s idea. “Mom would’ve loved that.”

Jake’s gaze darted away, and he dropped back into the chair. “I miss her. She got the raw end of the stick.”

“She did.” An image of their soft-spoken mom with her long dark hair and smiling blue eyes sprang to mind. Two years she’d been gone, and it still felt like yesterday.

Jake fisted his hands on his thighs. “As if it wasn’t enough to put up with an abusive asshole like Dad for a husband, breast cancer has to go and finish her off.”

“Hey, she wouldn’t want you doing this. She hated when anyone pitied her.”

“Yeah,” Jake grumbled. “Anyway, I was thinking that when the place sells we can celebrate. Go out to the lake and do a little fishing. What do ya say?

“Sounds good.” Another thought occurred. “And just because I’m not taking any money from the house, doesn’t mean you can’t.”

He snorted. “Oh, I fully intend to. Not all of us are independently wealthy. I got bills to pay.”

Jake was having financial problems? That was new information. “How’s the business doing?”

Jake winced. “This winter was tough. It’s a hard time, but lately it seems as if people are tightening their belts and it’s made an impact on JP’s Landscaping.”

“You should’ve said something. I could’ve floated you a loan.”

“I don’t want your charity, Gunner,” he bit out, squaring his shoulders. “Anyway, the money from the house will be more than enough.”

Gunner smiled. “Can you imagine if Dad knew you were investing money fromhishouse into your landscaping business? Fucker would roll over in his grave.”

A wicked gleam lit his eyes. “Kind of half the reason I want to do it.”

“A Price doesn’t do manual labor,” Gunner said, mimicking his father’s voice.

“I was a disappointment the day I was born,” Jake muttered, staring down at the floor. “Not going to college was icing on the cake.”

“Hey, Mom was proud of you,” Gunner offered. “Remember the red velvet cake she made the day you got your first client?”

---