Page 97 of Rival
There’s nothing I can do. She’s gone. Hidden away until this guy is permanently out of her life. We all know how long the courts take and it could be months, maybe even a year or two, before she’ll feel safe to come back. She’ll have the baby without me. I fuckingpromisedher we’d get through this and I’d help before I fucked up.
“Get the fuck out.”
“Get the fuck out!” Clayborn shouts the same words I used on her. I blink slowly, then turn my head to the side to watch. Apparently, Mason and Griffin have swapped positions because now he’s leaning his forearm against Clayborn’s throat.
Pleasure fills me when I see his face turning purple from lack of air and I whisper encouragement for Griffin to end him.
A hand moves in front of my face and I drag my eyes from Clayborn to find Mason standing over me, holding that same hand out. “Let’s go. We’ve done enough.”
Begrudgingly, I take it and wince when he hauls me up, my bruises from last night aching. “He needs to die,” I tell him, and he nods once with understanding.
“He does, but for now, we’ve got a shitload of days to come visit and take our pound of flesh.”
“Ya’ll are ruinin’ my flow here,” Griffin yells over his shoulder. Then, shoving Clayborn back, he backs away andwipes his hands on the front of his shirt. “Alright boys, we got a barn to build and I’m feelin’muchbetter now.”
When he passes by to head out the door, Mason gives him a murderous look as Griffin smacks him on the shoulder.
I’m shocked that I actually want to laugh when Mason mutters, “That asshole is fuckin’ next.”
Chapter Forty-Three
Griffin
“You know, if you’d lay that sh—”
A gruff cough stops me from cursing, and I glance apologetically over at Mrs. Danielson, which she’s insisted we all call her now. Her nameRuthis no longer allowed for boys who can’t even respect Jesus on Sundays, according to her.
We’ve been over here for weeks, every single day, working our asses off, and this barn isalmostdone.If Jaxon would stop being so fucking stubborn about suggestions…
“Sorry, ma’am. Don’t know where my heads at.” Flashing her with a broad smile, I turn back to Jaxon. “I was just sayin’, if you lay thatstuffout here, we can mark the backs with numbers so we can pre-cut and not worry about tossin’ it down every five minutes.”
Jaxon blows out a breath, clearly frustrated as he stares down at the stacks of flashing we need to get up on the roof. From the corner, Mason snorts, drawing our attention to him. “What?” Jaxon snaps out.
This guy has been a real grump ever since Edith left, but I have to admit, he’s fucking great at his job. I haven’t saidanything yet because of this uncertainty over what’ll happen when Edith comes home, but I wouldn’t mind working for him.
With an annoyed sigh, Mason straightens from where he’s bent over from installing flooring and points at me. “He’s right. Pull your head out of your ass and take some advice once in your life.”
Mrs. Danielson makes an intelligible noise in the back of her throat, but Mason being Mason, disregards her objections to his language. He’s the only one with balls big enough to only placate her in very small ways.
Slapping Jaxon’s shoulder, I make an executive decision and lean over and start laying everything out.
“What if it doesn’t work?”
“All human wisdom is summed up in two words. Wait and hope.” A pang of remorse hits me when I quote mine and Edith’s book to Jaxon, who’s now staring at me as if I’ve grown two heads. “What?”
“The hell does that mean?”
My laugh isn’t as full now, but I mask how I’m feeling and explain. “It’s from the Count of Monte Cristo. You know, the book?”
“I think we all know the book. Shocked you do. Didn’t think you could read,” Mason complains.
Ignoring him, I point at all of us. “I was reading it with Edith before she left.” There’s a flash of pain behind Jaxon’s eyes, and I choose to keep going instead of avoiding the topic. “It just means we should have patience and hope it all works out in the end.”
Mason snorts and comes to stand next to Jaxon. “Doesn’t really apply to the situation.”
Shrugging, I keep working. “Sounded good, though.”
“I think we’ve had enough for today. Jaxon, walk me to my car, please?” Mrs. Danielson is slowly hobbling herself out of thechair she’s set near the entrance of the barn. Best place for her to watch us.
