Page 14 of A New Chapter
What grass there was wasn’t mowed, but there were more weeds than grass. The plot of land that held maybe twenty-five trailers total was surrounded by something that looked like it’d been the suggestion of a rusted barbed-wire fence maybe twenty years earlier. On the other side were cotton fields and cow pasture.
Colton let out a shudder, thankful beyond measure that his parents had thrown him out so he’d ended up with Grammy instead of in this place. It wasn’t that it was a low-income area, it was like no one gave a shit. Like hope had been sucked out of them like a rancid cancer.
The first three trailers they passed were gutted husks, one with a rusted-out pickup truck sitting parked in front of it on three flat tires.
“Honestly?” Rom said. “Unless it’s pictures or books or something, I don’twantanything from this place in my car.”
“Agreed,” Colton said.
They pulled around to the last row of trailers, Colton uncomfortably noticing how different residents peeked out at them, or even blatantly watched them as they passed.
Loren snorted. “Next week onMeth-House Makeovers…”
Colton offered her a fist bump.
“Be ready, Lor,” Ross told her. “Have your stuff ready to go. In and out. Preferably getting them outside and signing on the hood of the car.”
“Yes, Sir. I am.”
When they pulled up to the trailer, they saw an old Ford Escort parked next to it, which fit what Clayton had told them.
“Letmedo the talking,” Ross repeated. “I have the scary Dom attorney act down pat. Once they sign the papers, and Loren witnesses them, and we have Clayton’s paperwork,thenknock yourself out. But once you start in, they’re going to shut down, and we’redone. Rom, make sure you’re recording video with your phone so we have proof of what happens, in case they try to claim something later.”
“Will do.”
Colton noticed Rom parked the car so he could easily leave without having to turn around first, and made sure to lock it once they were all out. Then Rom pulled out his phone and held it so that it’d capture video.
Colton hung back with Rom while Ross, Loren on his heels, walked up to the door and knocked.
Not just knocked, but a firm, hard rap that just barely missed being a pounding fist.
When Colton’s mom opened the door, he felt a sick twisting in his gut. She looked ancient, deep wrinkles in her face that hadn’t been there before. She wore a wary expression that Colton knew meant she’d give in.
Whether his father would remained to be seen.
“Eileen Oakes?” Ross asked.
Colton could tell she recognized him, from the way her eyes went wide for a moment before she focused on Ross. “Who areyou?”
Ross didn’t smile. He wore a grim frown that would’ve scared the piss out of Colton if he were on the receiving end of it. “Mrs. Oakes, I’m Ross Connelly, one of Clayton’s attorneys, and—”
“One of? We’renotpaying for any attorney!”
“—and I’m here for you and your husband to sign the custody papers.Now.”
“We’renotpayin’ you.”
“Then I suggest yousignthese papers,rightnow, or you’ll be paying alotof money, because I’ll make you people my hobby. You broke at least six state laws, and I’ll be happy to call the sheriff and file charges against you, starting with child abuse, child abandonment, and child endangerment.”
Holy shit.Ross wasn’t fucking around.
“You have no right to tell me how to deal with that boy!”
Ross’ smile held no humor and a lot of steel. He dropped his voice. “Getyour husband out here.Now.”
A look of uncertainty furrowed her brow. “He’s napping.”
“Thenwakehim up,rightnow, or I’ll call a sheriff’s deputy to come out to this charming hovel and wake him upforme. We can do this fast, easy, and with zero money out of pocket by you,or—andbelieveme, I’ll enjoy option two alotmore—we can do it the hard way, with youbothending up in jail and me making sure you stay there for averylong time, and I’llstillget the paperwork handled. Totally your choice. Pick one.” He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. “Before I pickforyou.”
