Page 139 of Family Jewels

His face hardened. “You were never chasing your tails. And you don’t know me at all if you believe that.”

“But you were sure usin’ the leads I was finding.”

He didn’t deny that either.

“Did Jed have one of your men question Leah Dyer at One Eyed Joes yesterday afternoon?”

More silence.

“And Jed is there with Neely Kate right now because he plans to take possession of that stupid necklace himself. For you. Are you even gonna give it back to Buck?”

His eyes filled with anger. “This ismyworld, Rose Gardner. You have no right to show up and make demands. I’m the king of this county. I’ll do as I damn well please!”

“Then what in Sam Hill am I doin’ here? Are you even interested in a truce?” Then it hit me. “You’re not here for a truce at all. I’m just the bait. You want to force their surrender.”

“Is that so damned wrong?They threatened you.”

I took two steps away from him. “You’re using me.”

“How is this any different than what you did for me last winter?”

“You forced me into it last winter.”

“Not at the end,” he said in a low voice that rumbled through his chest.

“Because we became friends. We were partners. I thought we were partners in this too.” I sucked in a deep breath to regain control. “You should have told me what you had planned.”

“You never would have gone through with it.”

I released a short laugh. “I might have. If you’d discussed it with me.”

The front door opened and Brett leaned inside. “They’re pullin’ up now.”

“Still no sign of Jed?” James called out.

“No.”

“Hold them off for a few goddamned minutes!” he shouted. When the door shut, he turned to me. His face was a blank slate, cold and impersonal. “I can force you to do this.”

I held his gaze. “I dare you to freaking try.”

His eyes darkened.

I could do this his way, but it didn’t sit well. At all.

But I couldn’t leave either. I had a reputation to maintain. I had created the Lady in Black. James Malcolm may have forced my hand and given me the name, but I’d made her into what she’d become. I could use her to avert a disaster, whether James liked it or not. And if there was one thing I knew for certain, it was that this county couldn’t handle another war.

I lifted my chin and gave him a hard look. “We’ll have this meeting, butIcalled it. Not you. It’smymeeting, and I’ll run it as I see fit.”

He moved closer and towered over me. “Like hell you will.”

“How do you propose to stop me?”

The back door banged open, but I didn’t dare look to see who’d entered. I was in a staring contest with the crime lord of Fenton County, and I’d be damned if I would cave first.

James cursed a blue streak as he turned to face the back door. “Where’s Jed?”

“I’m sure he’ll be comin’ along shortly,” Neely Kate called out. The tight edge in her voice caught my attention. She was a muddy mess, and her hair was drenched. She was wearing a jacket that looked like it belonged to Jed.