to try and pretend it was Hayley?”
Leigh had no idea what he was talking about. She didn’t care. All she wanted was for him to move away from the opening so she could escape.
“Go away, Nolan.”
He tilted his head. A quiver skittered straight down her spine at the fury in his steely blue eyes. Despite her intention not to show any fear, Leigh looked away.
“Now you’ve made me curious, Leigh,” he said with chilling softness. “I wonder exactly what it is you’re trying to hide?”
What was he talking about? She started to protest and stopped. Arguing was pointless. It didn’t matter what he was talking about. Escape was all that mattered.
“Get lost, Nolan. I mean it. You don’t have any business here.”
“Now, that’s where you’re wrong,” he said, sounding pleased. “We’re doing business together right this very minute.”
His evil smile sent her pulse racing.
“Didn’t you know? I have an interest in R.J.’s construction company.”
While his voice leered, his expression did not. Cold and calculating, he seemed intent on deliberately baiting her.
“I’ve got an interest in any number of local businesses,” he continued when she remained silent. “In fact, it looks to me like you could use the services of my landscape company.” He waved a flaccid hand toward the overgrown hedges.
“Not even if they are the only ones in town. I’m not afraid of you,” she lied boldly. “I know exactly what you did.”
His eyes gleamed, murderous shards of blue. Her fingernails bit into the palms of her hands.
“Why don’t you call the cops then?” he demanded. “Let’s see which one of us they believe.”
“I know all about your family’s political pull, Nolan. I don’t care if your father and Chief Crossley are old friends. And I don’t care how many other politicians he’s bought. Do you really believe you’re invincible? Even you must realize you can’t buy your way out of everything.”
Fury brought him a step closer. She held her ground by sheer force of will.
“Don’t try to play games with me, Leigh. You’re out of your league.”
“Get out of here.”
“We aren’t finished yet. Don’t think I forgot how you made me look like a fool seven years ago.”
“Oh, please. You didn’t need any help from me.”
She hadn’t meant to say it out loud and she knew immediately that she’d gone too far. Nolan reached for her. Even as she dodged away, Gavin’s distinctive voice whipped through the clearing.
“I thought you understood what would happen if you ever touched her again, Ducort.”
Nolan pivoted in shock. “Jarret?”
Leigh exhaled in relief. The cavalry had arrived.
“Maybe you need a reminder,” Gavin added, his voice dangerously soft.
There was no swaggering bravado in the way he stepped forward. He wasn’t as big as Nolan, yet he appeared larger and far more intimidating. He seemed to glide into the clearing, dominating the space with easy assurance. Faded jeans and an open-necked shirt accentuated his tough, lean build. His hands swung loose at his sides, yet his casual air was far more daunting than any cocky pose.
Nolan wasn’t stupid. If it came to physical blows between the spoiled rich kid running to fat and the lean, once street-savvy bad boy of the county, there was little doubt of the outcome. Gavin would take him apart without even working up a sweat.
“I warned you once before. You should have listened. I never make idle threats, Ducort.”
Despite his casual tone, a lethal, raw energy flowed from Gavin. Nolan began backing away. He stopped when the back of his knees came up against the concrete bench that sat under the large maple tree.
Leigh was frightened by the leashed power she sensed so clearly in both men. Nolan’s cheeks deepened to a dark cherry red. He shot her a look of pure malice.
“If your pet goon lays a hand on me, I’ll sue you for every cent you inherited.”
Despite her shock and fear, she wanted to laugh at his posturing. “Pet goon?”
“I think he means me,” Gavin said without a trace of humor. “Since you plan to sue her, Ducort, I’ll give you one of my cards. I’m also her attorney.”
Gavin made no attempt to reach for his pocket. Nolan’s gaze darted from one to the other. His anger was as tangible as the waiting silence that had settled over the clearing. He settled for glaring at Leigh.
“I don’t know what your game is, bitch, but nobody screws with me.”
“I can understand that,” she muttered.
Raw fury started him in her direction. Gavin moved so fast Leigh didn’t have time to do more than gasp. The lawyer vanished in one beat of her heart, replaced by the street warrior Gavin had once been. He grabbed Nolan by his tailored, white linen shirtfront and spun him to one side, shoving him hard against the prickly, overgrown hedge.
“That’s going to cost you,” he promised.
Nolan squealed. A shadow speared the entrance to the clearing. Bram Myers stood framed in the opening. He was dressed all in black, from his sleeveless T-shirt to a stained pair of jeans. He appeared completely relaxed as he stood there blocking the only exit. Leigh would have thought him totally unconcerned if she hadn’t seen the expression in his midnight eyes.
“Problem, Gavin?” he asked lightly.
Gavin kept his gaze riveted on Nolan. He released the shirt with deliberate slowness before stepping back. “No problem. I was explaining some basic facts to Mr. Ducort.”
“I’ll have you on charges for assault and battery,” Nolan threatened. He straightened his shirt with unsteady fingers and shot Leigh a look that made her stomach contract.
“Now, what assault would that be?” Bram asked quietly. “You look pretty good for someone who’s been battered.”
Nolan sent him a look of impotent rage. “You’ll pay,” he sputtered. “You’ll all pay,”
“Ah. Now that sounded like a threat,” Bram said.
“The only one who’s going to do any paying around here is you, Ducort.”
As if he, too, worried Gavin might lose control, Bram stepped all the way into the circle. Leigh spoke quickly, hoping to diffuse some of the surging testosterone before someone got seriously hurt.
“Nolan was just leaving,” she said. “Weren’t you, Nolan?”
“Then
