Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
I leave the divorce comment alone. I can say it over and over, but it doesn’t matter. All I can do on that front is prove it. "Tinsley, this was bound to happen. I have been checking over things, and it was only a matter of time until someone took notice and sunk their claws into that land." It’s a no-brainer on the investment front.
"It hadn't happened before now! If they could have bought it before, wouldn't they have?" I glance around, making sure no one is in earshot. This is still being played close to the chest at Hollis's request.
"Biff got lucky. That land is outside of city limits, so Hollis wouldn't have been alerted to it going up for sale, and it hadn't hit the market."
"I don't understand." She wrings her fingers together in front of her.
"The CliffsNotes says the government owns the land. There had been talk about a highway to connect a few towns, but it appears that was dropped. I don't know if Biff found out about that and pulled strings to get them to drop it, or they simply had, which is a big possibility from what I'm seeing as I dig all this up; but Biff did rush in with an offer."
I need to keep digging to figure out who dropped the highway plans and why. Did Biff pay them off or promise them a piece of the action? It wouldn’t surprise me; that’s his MO.
"How could he rush in with an offer? It's not on the market."
"Friends in very high places." Most deals are finalized before the public even hears whispers of what's going on.
Not only are we facing down the Bilton Estate but possibly a few politicians. If that's the case, then I'll know for certain the King of Thieves is helping Biff do all this.
"You have friends in very high places, right?"
"I do, but it's going to get complicated."
"I could help." I see the hope bloom across her delicate features.
"Right now I need to keep checking into things."
"But you're keeping me updated, right? You won't hide anything?" Her face falls when I don't answer her quickly enough.
"Babe." I cover her hands with one of mine to stop her from wringing her fingers. "I'm not trying to keep anything from you. A lot of things are in play; you have to trust me."
"I want to trust you."
"I'm not going to break that trust," I reassure her.
"But if you do, this marriage—" She runs her finger across her throat. The murdering gesture is in stark contrast to her sparkly gold nail polish. I only shake my head and lean down and press my mouth to hers. She’s adorable, even when she’s threatening to end my life.
And just like that, Tinsley melts into me. All of her sweetness is right there, simmering below the surface and coming out for me. When I lift my head, her eyes are hooded, and a soft smile has taken over.
"Are you going to properly introduce me?" a feminine voice asks. We both turn our heads toward the top of the stairs. Kindred stands there, hands on her hips, assessing us. I can see by the way she’s looking at Tinsley that there’s a lot of love between the two of them.
"You'll never believe this!" Tinsley shouts back, darting up the stairs.
"This is New Hope; I believe almost anything can happen," Kindred says with a smile.
"His name is Pierce Harte."
"Interesting."
"Wait, you knew already!?"
"Of course I knew." I come up behind Tinsley and hold my hand out to properly meet her. "Harte, it's fitting for you," she tells Tinsley. "I didn't love learning about your engagement from someone else, though."
"It all kind of just happened. Not all of us dance around our man for a couple of years."
Kindred cocks her head. "All right, that's a fair point." I hold the door open for them. They disappear into Kindred's office, and I spot Hollis. He nods for me to follow him.
We step into what appears to be a conference room. "You wanted to speak," he says to me. I sent him a message an hour ago about meeting up again. I wanted to talk to him in person and explain a few things before I asked him to hand over any numbers he has. I don't mean money numbers either. This is about the townsfolk.
I lay it all out for him.
"Bullshit. I should have been told about the land."
"Agreed, and most would have extended that courtesy."
"Which makes you think they didn't want me to know."
"Bingo."
"I couldn't stop the highway being built, but I wasn't worried about it. It's far enough out that you wouldn't see or hear it. The path would have circled the outer edge of the mountain.” He rubs his hand across his short beard. "What if I give you these numbers and you fuck me? I bet they'd be worth a lot if you're trying to get investors for the property and build, and you're really with Biff on this?" I don’t take offense in the least to Hollis questioning my intentions. I would expect nothing less.