Page 48 of Legacy of Lies
“No.”
His smile twisted within his bearded face. “Where’s fairy boy?”
“Who?”
“That Taggart asshole. I saw his truck parked nearby. He’s got to be in here.”
“Please leave, Hank. It’s late. You’ve said your piece.”
“But you didn’t obey me.” Sick logic, but he clearly believed it. “I am to be obeyed.”
She resisted the urge to wipe her sweaty palms on her shirt. “You’re not my boss.”
“Yeah, but my brother is. You don’t do what I say, you’ll be out of a job, maybe forever.”
Nausea threatened to drive her to her knees, but she maintained a calm demeanor. No need to give him any advantage.
“My life is none of your business.”
His eyes bulged as he looked into the house. Then he leaned back and sighed. Flickers of the old, genial Hank interspersed with this new, strange Hank.
“Taggartismy business, sweets.”
The old endearment sounded like poison coming from him today.
“Why?”
“I’ve been called to destroy them.”
“Seriously, what in the world are you talking about?”
“In the world? It’s what’snotin the world that’s important. Get it?” He shook his shaggy head. “You wouldn’t understand. No one does. But the Great One knows.”
“Who?”
He clapped a hand over his mouth, then whispered. “Can’t say.”
Was Hank experiencing some kind of mental breakdown? Maybe he needed professional help.
He stepped forward again. “Let me look around.”
Breakdown or not, she’d had enough of his behavior. “No. This isn’t your house, and you’re not welcome here.” She hung on to the door with one hand and put her other hand on the doorjamb, barring his entry.
He stared at her.
Sara froze.
The crack as he slapped her arm away vibrated up to her shoulder, bringing tears to her eyes.
Garrison flew around her in a split second and went nose to nose with Hank.
Standing behind Garrison, she had a front-row seat when the back of his neck turned an ungodly shade of red, contradicting his own much-too-calm tone of voice. Only, unlike Hank, Garrison didn’t sound nuts. He sounded dangerous.
“Don’t touch her. Ever. Again,” he growled.
Hank rocked back on his heels, as he stood a few inches shorter than Garrison’s six-foot-plus frame. Fury and heat radiated off Garrison. One hand clutched the door while his other hand extended back to keep Sara behind him.
“Back off, Taggart.” Hank sneered. “This conversation is between Sara and me.”
