Page 109 of Small Town Sizzle

The restaurant is suddenly louder than earlier as someone is banging pots and pans around in the back.

“The land isn’t protected,” TJ says, his voice low but eager.

Natalie leans closer, her tone sharper. “We get it for the company, and we’re looking at millions in profit. This… town… small. No one… It’s not…”

I almost groan, trying to focus on what they’re saying.

“…belonged to your family?” TJ asks her.

“That old bitch hated me. Advantage… pathetic girl… chaos to even notice. Too late.”

I wish I could hear more of what they’re saying or at least understand it better. My blood boils. Rage bubbles up, white-hot and searing because I may not be able to understand it fully, but I know that the two of them are up to something underhanded and dirty.

I clench my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I want to storm over there, call her out, demand answers.

I take a step toward their booth, ready to let loose, when the door slams open behind me. The force of it rattles the glass, and everyone in the diner turns to look. Ethan stumbles inside, his face stark white, his eyes wild.

My stomach drops. I’ve never seen my brother look scared before in my life.

“Garrett!” he shouts, his voice trembling.

I’m already moving toward him, my heart pounding in my chest. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

He grabs my arm, his grip tight enough to hurt. “It’s Maya. There’s been… there’s been a shooting at her house. Someone’s dead.”

The world tilts on its axis. My ears ring, and for a moment, I can’t breathe.

“What?” I choke out, the word barely audible.

Ethan’s shaking his head, his chest heaving. “I don’t know details. I just—someone called it in. The cops… they’re all there.”

The diner fades away. The noise, the people, even Natalie and TJ—it all blurs into the background. All I can see is Ethan’s face, pale and terrified.

I don’t think. I don’t say another word. I just run.

Chapter Forty

Maya

Jaz sits on my left, her small body tucked under my arm, trembling even though it’s really not cold. Alex is on my right, sitting stiff and silent, his face pale and blank like he’s not fully here.

Sheriff Clark kneels in front of us, his notepad balanced on his knee, his pen poised as he listens. His voice is calm, steady, like he’s done this a thousand times before. “Maya, let’s go over it one more time. I know it’s hard, but I need every detail you can remember.”

I nod, my throat dry, my pulse still racing. My mind feels like it’s moving a hundred miles an hour, trying to sort through the chaos of the last hour, but I force myself to focus. For Jazlyn. For Alex.

“He had a knife,” I say, my voice shaking but determined. “He was… he was going to kill one of us. He came into the kitchen drunk, yelling, threatening me. I tried to keep him calm, but he wasn’t listening.” My grip tightens around Jazlyn’s shoulder, and she burrows closer into me. “I… I grabbed my gunfrom my purse when he wasn’t looking. I didn’t have a choice. He’s tried to kill me before. He went after Jazlyn. He was going to do it this time if I didn’t stop him.”

Sheriff Clark nods, his kind eyes meeting mine. “I understand. And Jazlyn, did he hurt you?”

“He grabbed me,” she says in a very quiet whisper. “He had the knife.”

Her body is racked with sobs, and I pull her in tighter.

Sheriff Clark looks over at my nephew. “Alex? You were in the house when this happened?”

Alex blinks like he’s coming out of a fog. “Yeah,” he says quietly. “I… I came in the front door and saw him. Devon. He was yelling at Aunt Maya, and he had the knife in his hand.” His voice cracks, and he clears his throat, trying to steady himself. “I don’t even remember moving. I just… I grabbed him and tackled him. I don’t even know why.”

I squeeze his arm gently, my heart twisting with guilt and relief all at once. “You saved us,” I whisper, my voice thick. “You stopped him, Alex.”

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