Page 21 of Frankie (Big Northwest #5)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

FRANKIE

“ Y ou’re fucking kidding me?” Frankie stared at the men sitting across from her. Each one of them had a different expression on their face. Phillip seemed completely unbothered. Craig’s brow was pinched in concern.

And JD looked ready to kill someone. Probably Carl.

“He acted completely shocked.” Craig leaned forward on the sofa in JD’s living room, bracing both elbows on his knees. “Tried to tell us you were the one who told him to send his team home yesterday. Claimed he was only doing what he was told.”

“Fucking lies.” She stood from the chair they’d convinced her to sit in, ignoring the twinge in her hip as she started to pace. “He knows damn well he was supposed to be at that job site yesterday.” She stopped and faced the trio. “What about the tree that fell? Had someone fucked with it?”

JD’s nostrils flared. “They’d cleared it all out. The tree. The area I think it came from. We couldn’t find any sign of it besides the truck it fell on.”

Up to this point, she thought the worst-case scenario would be discovering the tree hadn’t accidentally fallen. That someone tried to take her out in the most ironic way possible.

She was wrong. And not being able to find out what happened was way worse. It left her in fucking limbo.

“What about my house? Have you heard from the fire marshal?”

“Not yet.” Craig pulled out his phone, checking the screen. “But Kenneth said he got there about a half hour ago, so we should have some idea of what happened soon.”

“This is ri-fucking-diculous.” She went back to pacing, needing the outlet. If she wasn’t so worried she’d send herself back into needing help to get on the toilet, she’d be out in the trees, racing off the emotions making her jittery and restless. “We were supposed to be done with all the bullshit.” She rubbed her eyes. “Why does this keep happening to us? It’s one freaking thing after another.”

“I don’t have an answer for that.” Craig’s expression softened a little. “But to be fair, not all the bullshit was yours. Adam and Tate brought some to the table.”

That was a good point. One that made her feel incrementally better. “So this could be because of one of you.” She turned her accusing glare to Craig. “There something you’re not telling me?”

“Me?” He pointed to the men at each side of him. “What about them?”

“Pshhh.” She waved him off. “Phil’s leaving and I’ve known JD forever. The only drama he ever brought to town was you.”

And she’d hated him for it. Hated that JD seemed to be on Craig’s side as the prying PI infiltrated the haven she and her sisters had worked so hard to create.

To be fair, she’d hated him for most things at that point, but now had to wonder if maybe he’d had an ulterior motive. If maybe JD was looking for a way to get out from under that damn promise his father made him make.

She was still salty as fuck over it.

“It’s possible this is all nothing, but I doubt it.” Phillip met her gaze, his lips hinting at a smirk. “I’ve learned some people are drama magnets.”

Her eyes went wide. “The fuck did you say?” Was this prick really trying to insinuate she and her sisters thrived on drama? “We just want to live in fucking peace, you ass. It’s everyone else who keeps bugging the shit out of us.” Her accusing finger wagged between Phillip and Craig. “And that includes you two.”

She couldn’t throw the same accusation at JD. Because she and her sisters had technically been the ones to pull him into their lives. And because he’d worked so hard to do what was right for them. Even if it was total bullshit.

“Not me.” Phillip’s smile bloomed. “I was invited here.”

“Not by me,” she snapped. “And I’m seriously starting to judge Craig for the friends he keeps.”

“Can we all relax a little?” Craig turned to JD. “A little help here?”

JD shook his head. “Don’t look at me.” His eyes fixed on her, heating as they took her in. “I like her this way.”

“I can’t believe that asshole called me a drama magnet.” How did she ever think Phillip Foster was attractive? He was a presumptuous, arrogant?—

“He’s not actually wrong.” JD held up one hand as she scoffed. “Calm the fuck down and listen.” He turned away from the skillet of sauteing chicken he was making for dinner, and tugged her into his arms, holding her close.

Close enough she wouldn’t be able to swing on him, which she had to think was by design.

“You and your sisters never had a chance at a normal life, Frank. That’s just how it is.” He sounded apologetic. “Mehir set you girls up for failure right from the beginning.” He lifted one hand to move back a few of the curls falling into her face. “You might have escaped him, but he laid so much groundwork, it’s going to be hard to put it all behind you. ”

She did her best not to think about her father or the tainted legacy he left. It had festered so long, it shouldn’t be shocking it might linger. “Do you think this could have something to do with him?”

Mehir was gone. Dead, thanks to Sam’s fiancé Tate, but JD was right. The man had a way of lingering. Like a greasy fart tainting the air. The trauma he caused might never go away, and it was possible the zealots he created might not either.

She and her sisters would always be their biggest enemy. They were the ones who didn’t see his vision. Who refused to accept his glory and sacrifice themselves for his plan. And ultimately, they were the ones responsible for his downfall.

And his death.

“I wish I could say no, but I’ve seen enough to know not to take him off the table.” JD’s big hand curved against her cheek, rough and warm and grounding. “But whoever it is, they won’t get to you. I promise.”

She smothered out a smile. “What about my sisters?”

JD’s hazel eyes fixed on her face. “They have their own men to take care of them.”

“Does that mean you’re mine?” she asked, a little surprised at how certain she was of the answer he would give.

He didn’t hesitate. “I’ve always been yours, Frank.”

Frankie leaned closer, lowering her voice. “Don’t tell Lena that. She’ll probably get real butthurt about it.”

JD sighed. “I feel like an ass for what I did to her.” He closed his eyes, letting his forehead rest on hers. “She was a nice woman she just wasn’t?—”

“Crazy?” Frankie finished for him.

JD’s eyes opened, meeting hers. “That, but she also wasn’t you.” He shook his head. “No one was. And trust me, I fucking looked.”

“Well it’s good to know you weren’t sitting home alone crying in your hot tub because your daddy told you we couldn’t be together.” She couldn’t be mad at him for dating. She’d found her fair share of distractions. However, her understanding had limits. “But you better not have let any other bitches in my hot tub.”

“So now it’s your hot tub?” JD’s hold on her changed. His hands slid down to grip her hips, fingers digging into her flesh as he pressed her closer. “You haven’t even been in it yet.”

She rolled her eyes. “Because I’ve had so much free time between nearly being crushed by a tree, watching my house burn down, and trying to keep some old man from taking over my company.”

JD’s nostrils flared. “We’re going to deal with good old Carl first thing tomorrow morning.”

Her eyes narrowed. “What do you mean deal with him?” She shook her head. “We’re not murdering Carl. He’s a pain in the ass, but I don’t want him dead.”

“I’m not sure what it says about you that your first assumption was murder.” JD’s hold on her hips tightened and then she was being lifted onto the counter, knees parting to bracket his hips. “I was talking about firing him.”

She frowned, wanting to argue against firing as steadfastly as she had against murder, but seeing a path forward where Carl still worked for her was getting more and more difficult.

“I feel bad firing him. His wife died like, twenty years ago, and he raised their daughter all by himself.” She sighed, head tipping back. “And now he’s old enough I don’t know how easy it will be for him to find a new job.”

What happened to Carl shouldn’t matter to her, especially after he lied to JD and Craig about the directions she’d given him. But for some stupid reason, she’d always had a soft spot for the guy. Maybe it was the way he talked about being a dad. The warmth that crept into his eyes when he talked about his daughter.

After having a father who wanted to use her like a breed mare, it was hard not to like a man who was a halfway decent dad.

“I know it fucking sucks, but you can’t let this keep going. You’ve given him chances and he keeps pulling the same bullshit. You’ve got no choice.” JD laid out the truth in calm, measured words.

She still didn’t like them.

“I know.” Frankie blew out a loud breath, her shoulders dropping. “I just feel bad.” Her eyes snapped to his. “But if you tell anyone I have feelings I’ll kill you. ”

JD angled a brow. “I didn’t think you were into murder?”

“I said I didn’t want to murder Carl.” She leaned forward, looping both arms around his neck. “You’re different.”

JD’s mouth dropped open in fake outrage. His hands gripped her ass as he slid her off the counter and turned toward the hall.

She pointed back at the stove. “Our chicken.”

JD spun, quickly flicking the knob to off and sliding the pan away from the heat before going back to his original path. “Dinner’s gonna have to wait while I convince you I’m worth leaving alive.”

Her head tipped back as she laughed, feeling shockingly light in spite of all the wild shit happening in her life. That was likely because for the first time, she wasn’t facing it all alone.

She’d always had her sisters, but putting her own problems on them was never her style. Not just because they didn’t need anything else on their plates, but because she didn’t like admitting she had them. And she didn’t like anyone being up her ass about them.

It was always easier to tackle shit on her own.

But JD didn’t crawl up her ass or smother her with concern. He gave her shit and told her when she was being stupid, but he also stood by her side while she did what needed to be done.

“I feel like I’ve already proved my worth, but since you’re not convinced.” He carried her into his bedroom and tossed her onto the mattress before crawling over her. “I guess I’ll have to give it another go.”

“I’m actually a skeptic, so it might take me a while to really form an opinion.” Her hands went to the buttons of his flannel shirt, working them loose. “I guess it’s a good thing I have to stay here for a while, huh?” She widened her eyes, faking shock. “Wait. Did you burn my house down so I’d have to stay here?”

“No.” JD leaned in, running his lips up the column of her neck. “But I wish I’d thought of it.”

She laughed, tilting her head to give him better access to her sensitive skin. “I might have burned it down myself if I’d known about the fireplace and hot tub.”

JD’s hand worked down her body to grip the hem of her T-shirt. “It is a swimwear free hot tub, just so you know.”

“Lucky me, since all my swimming suits went up in flames.” She hooked one leg around his, locking him in as her hands unfastened his jeans. “Are there any other hot tub rules I should know about?”

“It’s also—” JD froze at the sound of his doorbell ringing.

Both their heads snapped toward the front of the house. Frankie’s hands gripped the open panels of his shirt as she asked, “Are you expecting someone?”

“No.” JD’s big body left hers as he climbed off the bed. “Stay here.” He didn’t wait for her to answer him, just walked right out of the room, looking half ready to do a little murdering of his own .

She didn’t blame him. Her body was throbbing in time with her pulse and her nipples were so hard they hurt. Whoever was outside had terrible fucking timing and she was totally going to hold it against them.

Especially if Phillip came back to tell her more about what a drama magnet she was.

Hopefully his expertise wasn’t needed here and he’d go find her sister. If anyone could put him in his place it was James. She might have been the baby of the family, but she was born with the shortest fuse.

And the biggest temper.

When a deep voice carried in from the main part of the house, Frankie groaned. That ass.

She jumped out of the bed, grateful her hip was finally feeling a little less annoying so she’d have an easier time chasing the PI down. Stalking down the hallway, she tossed out a warning. “You better fucking run, because when I get my hands on you—” Her words died when she rounded the corner and saw who’d actually interrupted their little afternoon interlude.

JD’s mother turned, her face lighting up when she saw Frankie. “Look who it is. How are you, dear?”

Frankie ignored her. She didn’t have beef with Rosalee.

Her husband on the other hand…

Narrowing her eyes, she focused on the giant man standing next to JD. “You’re on my shit list, Ronald.”