Page 144 of Wildest Forever

“You shouldn’t even have that on anyway,” Riggs makes a point of saying as he brings my phone to his ear then furrows his brow when he gets the same tone I did.

“Where is Marty now?” his pushes from the table.

“With Austin I guess.”

“Does he know anything?” he asks, and I blink a couple of times.

“Who? Marty?”

“No, Austin,” Riggs tone is growing more agitated as the seconds pass.

“Not really, just told me to check the number out,” I take my phone from Riggs and glance down at the number.

“This is a shit show,” Tripp mumbles and runs his hand around the back of his neck as he gives it a tight squeeze.

“That it is,” I nod as I push away from the table and follow Riggs out.

“We really need to end this…” I look over my shoulder just as Dixie walks into the room, leaning down and kissing Tripp.

“Before it ends us,” Riggs finishes and I swallow down the bile that threatens to spill up my throat, burning as it does. “Let me speak to Austin, you still got the suits business card?” he asks as he lifts his hat from the stand and places it on his head.

“Buck took it,” I mumble, and Riggs gives a nod.

“You sort a meeting with the suits, I’ll speak to Austin.”

“What about me?” Tripp calls out and I chuckle softly.

“You just worry about Dixie, we don’t need you getting hurt now do we,” he lifts a brow and doesn’t give Tripp a chance to respond before he is out the door.

I hover for a moment, and I see Dixie give him a sad smile.

“Everything will be okay Dix, we’re not going to let it get to a full-blown war,” I try and reassure her just as mom walks around the corner.

“You hope,” my ma says and I sigh.

“Ma, I am trying to make her feel better, not panic. She’ll go into early labor,” and mom rolls her eyes.

“We need to be realistic. This has been going on for a lot longer than us Pacey, our family have been dealing with this for generations. Sure, you might stop it for a few years, but before we know it, your kids will be dealing with exactly the same thing,” and that sentence makes my blood run cold because she is right.

We’re not stopping what’s inevitable. We’re just delaying it.

The first-born son will become heir.

If they choose to sell the land… then so be it.

She sighs as she sits down, and Tripp reaches his hand across the table and covers hers with his.

A fire burns in my stomach, and I find myself storming from the room and out of the front door.

Climbing into the truck, I glance the time. Four p.m.

Not too late for an unannounced visit to the new neighbours.

Pulling out of my family’s ranch, I drive towards Blossom Cove. Slowing when I see their sign, I turn my blinker on and drive down the red dirt road before cutting the engine just before the car port.

Blood thrashes through my veins and I have no idea why, but my mom’s words haunt me. Maybe because it is the truth. We can fight to save our little corner of earth, but we can only save it for so long.

Greed wins most of the time.

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