Page 11 of Cursed Fox (Willow Creek Security #4)

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Lex

I couldn't believe I was going back. Twelve hours ago, I would've sworn I would never see this town again and yet there I was.

Willow Creek.

"Nancy." I put my hand on her leg and shook it gently. She’d freaked out when I told her where we were going, then proceeded to ignore me for a majority of the drive down except for when she’d fallen asleep about an hour ago. "We're here."

" We "—she pointed between the two of us — "aren't anywhere. You"—she pointed at me—"are." Her tone was laced with menace. "I'm calling Wes as soon as possible to come pick me up."

I’d heard that before. I’d even texted Wes after she fell asleep and he agreed with me. "Go ahead and call him. I'll even dial it for you." I handed her my phone even though it was connected to the Jeep.

My friend answered within two rings and immediately asked, "Is Nancy still giving you trouble?"

"Ask her yourself. You're on speakerphone." I smiled innocently at Nancy.

"I'm not going back to Willow Creek, Wes." To emphasize her point, Nancy crossed her arms over her chest.

"Actually, you're already here," I reminded her. I was parked in the driveway that led to Easton's apartment, just waiting to see what our next move was.

The fiery look Nancy gave me would kill lesser men. It was a good thing I’d built my walls up high a long time ago and didn't get affected by such looks anymore. Otherwise, I would be a pile of ash.

"Fine, I'm not staying here," she corrected.

This was where I turned things over to Wes and kept my mouth shut. I didn't want to be in the town any more than she did, but I was curious as to what her reasoning was.

"It's either there with Lex, or you let Bravo Team protect you here." Wes gave her the ultimatum. "Which would you prefer?"

The thought that she might choose a team she was very familiar with over me made my pulse pick up.

I would understand it, though. On my watch, her son had been run down by a car, resulting in a tibial fracture.

The doctors were saying nine months to a year before he would heal enough to play again.

That meant he was out for the season—a thought that pissed me off because it meant the person sending the threats got what they wanted.

For now, at least. I doubted Nancy would let her son consider this a career-ender.

"Neither," Nancy finally answered. "I don't like either of those options."

Wes sighed. "I know you don't, but it's the best we can do with the information we have."

"I should be back in Oklahoma with Jimmy. He's going to need me there to help with recovery. The doctors are expecting it to be tough to get him game-ready again."

"And you can go back. Just as soon as Lex figures out who’s after you."

Wes's frustration was starting to show. Guilt ate at me for calling him when I should've been the one explaining all this to Nancy. He had enough going on in his own life. I didn't need to be piling more on him.

"Wes, I'll handle it from here." I disconnected the call and turned to Nancy. "I know this isn't ideal. I understand you don't want to be here. Neither do I. But our options are limited. My team is here and can help us."

"Help with what?" she begged. "It's Jimmy who needs protection. The car hit him, not me."

I did my best to keep my own frustration out of my tone. "The car only hit him as he was jumping out of the way. It was gunning for you."

It was obvious as she shook her head that she didn't want to believe what I was saying. I didn't blame her. No one wanted to believe that someone was after them. Even if we had the note to prove otherwise. "You don't know that," she argued back.

I gave her the benefit of the doubt. "You're right.

I can't know for sure, but I don't believe in coincidences.

The fact that Jimmy received that letter and then you show up, a fire alarm goes off that brings us outside, and a car decides to jump the curb and try to run people over …

Could that all be a coincidence? Sure. But, again, I don't think so. "

It was the most words I had used in her presence since we’d met, and by the end, I wanted to jump out of my Jeep and stomp off, that was how frustrated I was.

I wasn't used to someone questioning me.

My friends trusted my instincts, and I avoided nearly everyone else in the world.

This was all new to me, and to be honest, I wasn't sure I liked it.

"You're right," she said in a whisper a few seconds later.

I was shocked silent by her confession, and clearly Nancy found it somewhat amusing because she rolled her eyes and let out a little “haha.” Yes, she actually said the words.

"Yes, I understand that might come as a shock to you, but if there is one thing I've learned after all these years of working with Wes, it's that there is no such thing as coincidence."

While I was happy she was agreeing with me, it was annoying that the only reason was because of Wes. I was starting to despise hearing my friend’s name come out of her mouth. I felt like I was being compared to the man, and truthfully, I didn't even come close to matching up.

"Now that we have that settled, can we go inside?"

"Is there food inside?" She lifted her brow in question.

I only had to think about that for a second to know there was nothing in the fridge or the cabinets. Not unless Easton went on a shopping spree, and that seemed highly unlikely considering he rarely stayed here anymore. He much preferred to stay with Kati.

"How does the diner sound?"

I expected an argument when Nancy winced, but thankfully her words didn't match her expression. "Sounds good."

I backed out of the driveway and headed a couple of streets over to Main Street, where the only diner in town, The Crazy Fox, was located.

It was late enough in the day that most of the street parking was open.

I found a spot in front of the security firm I worked for, and quickly pulled in.

The lights were on inside the office, which meant someone was still working.

I hoped they didn't come out because I wasn't ready to tell them what was going on.

As far as I knew, only Maverick was privy to my current situation, and I wanted it to stay that way.

I didn't need my other friends knowing my business.

Luck was indeed on my side because we made it into the diner without running into any of my coworkers. The luck stopped there though. We were barely three steps inside when Bee's voice could be heard over the patrons.

"Nancy? Nancy Green? Is that you, darlin'?" Bee waddled her old self across the place and pulled Nancy in for a hug. "It is you."

It was obvious to everyone in the diner—except possibly Bee—that Nancy wasn't very receiving of the hug. Her arms hung down at her sides and a frown pinched her face.

"Bee, I think you're crushing her." I stepped in and tried to save the woman who I was slowly starting to care a little too much about.

The old woman stepped back but said, "Nonsense,” anyway. “These old arms couldn't hurt a fly."

I smirked. "I've watched you kill several flies in this place."

"It's an expression," Bee scolded me.

"Obviously not a very good one," I returned, then grabbed Nancy's hand and pulled her along until I found an open table off to the one side.

It was bad enough that everyone in the diner was staring at us, I didn't want to make it worse by grabbing a table in the middle of the place as well. Nancy didn't need that.

Bee didn't get the hint and followed behind. I whispered, "I'm sorry about this," in Nancy's ear before Bee caught up with us.

I watched Nancy take a deep breath and paste on the fakest smile I ever saw. "Hi, Bee."

"I just can't believe my eyes." Bee barely took a breather before she continued on. "I never thought I would?—"

"Grams." Jo, Bee's granddaughter, stepped up to the table and interrupted. "They need you back in the kitchen."

"Good heavens." Bee huffed. "I swear they can't do a dang thing without me."

I waited until Bee made it to the kitchen door before looking at Jo. "Thank you for that."

Jo smiled. "Any time. I know how my grandmother can get, and if left to her own devices, she would've talked your ears off. Sorry about that." She turned to Nancy. "I'm Jo, by the way."

"Hi." This time the smile on Nancy's face was genuine. "And yes, thank you for the save. I should've known coming here was going to be similar to being dropped into a pit of vipers. I didn't exactly leave this town on the best of terms."

"No need to thank me. I know how my grandmother can get. Now what can I get you today?"

We both ordered drinks and the daily special. When Jo walked away to put our order in, I jumped at the chance to find out a little more about Nancy.

I leaned over the table some before I asked, "So what is it about Willow Creek that you don't like?"

Based on the sour look on her face, Nancy wasn't too keen on answering, so I was surprised when seconds later she spoke. "I grew up here."

I waited for her to say more, but when it was obvious that was all she was going to give me, I raised a brow. "That's it?"

With a heavy sigh, Nancy spoke again. "No, that's not all.

I met my ex-husband when I was in high school.

Everyone in town convinced me it would be smart to get married and have his kids, so I listened.

After I had my son, Jimmy, I decided to become a stay-at-home mother.

Well"—she snorted—"it was more like it was decided for me.

As soon as both kids were in school, I wanted to go back to work.

But my ex convinced me not to. Said a woman's role was in the home. Like an idiot, I listened. Then I found out that he’d been cheating on me for years.

We fought about it, and then one day, he drained our bank accounts and left. "

What a fucking asshole.

"And no one in town helped you?" I found that hard to believe. With how much these people were in each other's business, I thought for sure they would've rallied around Nancy and her kids to make sure they were okay.

"Honestly, they probably would have, but I didn't give them the chance. When the bank foreclosed on the house because the prick hadn't been paying the mortgage, I was too embarrassed to face anyone. I packed the kids up and moved us out of town before anyone could question me."

After hearing her story, I felt even worse about bringing her back. I knew all too well how it felt to face my demons. I didn't want Nancy to have to go through that.

"We can leave Willow Creek tonight. Find someplace else to stay while I figure out who’s threatening Jimmy and you."

Nancy shook her head. "No, it's okay. I'm overdue to face this problem."

I wasn't so sure about that. "If you change your mind, just say the word and we leave, got it?"

"Got it." Nancy smiled at me and that feeling in my chest was back again. The one I didn't know what to do with or how to feel about it.