Bad Boy (Invertary 5)

“No kidding.” Matt kept his eyes on the crowd. “Got any ideas?”

“I’m worried if we start to strong-arm people out of here, things will blow. We need to defuse the situation. We need to do something that won’t cause violence. I especially don’t want to do anything to give the weasel what he wants. We need to turn the crowd around, make them leave on their own.”

In the distance, Flynn spotted Lake’s car arrive. Whatever they did, they had to do it soon, before Lake and his muscle inadvertently started a riot. What he needed was a miracle.

A miracle?

Flynn grinned slowly. He turned to his cousin, pleased to see the black eye he’d given him was filling out nicely. “I have an idea.”

Matt was suspicious. “Is this like the ideas you used to have when we were teenagers?”

“Better. Hold the fort with Lake. I need to make some calls. I know exactly how to defuse this bomb.”

30

"Chile have three options—they could win or they could lose. It’s up to them, the tide is in their court now."

Ron Atkinson, former England manager

“You have a decision to make, Vicki,” Lawrence said softly as they sat side by side in the window nook in the kitchen. “You need to decide what you’re going to tell your mother. Are you going to stand for Abby, or against her? Time is running out.”

Katy was playing on the floor in front of them. It was a complicated game involving lots of marbles, each of which she’d named.

“I know,” Victoria said.

Lawrence reached out and covered her hand with his. Victoria jerked, looked around to see if anyone was watching and tried to move away from him.

“Nobody’s here. You can let me hold your hand.”

“What if someone comes in?”

“I doubt anyone would be shocked at this timid display of public affection, but I promise to move away as soon as the door opens.”

She relaxed slightly and he almost smiled. His Vicki would never be good at touching in public.

“Mitch is working on the TV angle,” he said, getting back to the most pressing issue. “But no matter what we do, some of the footage being shot out there is going to make it onto the internet and possibly the news. Your mother will know about this by the end of the day.”

Victoria didn’t say anything. She just stared at Katy with sad eyes. His heart broke for her, this woman who kept everything tightly locked behind a polite veneer.

“You know your mother is wrong. She can’t take Katy away from Abby. The child is well loved. I suspect even Flynn loves the girl. He certainly made it clear this morning that he would do whatever he could to shield them from harm.”

“He brings the harm,” Victoria said, but there was no malice in the words.

“He’s trying to change. Everyone deserves a second chance, don’t they? He made stupid mistakes in the past and now he’s trying to make it right.”

“What if it isn’t possible to make it right? What if the consequences of some decisions can’t be rectified?”

He wanted to weep for her. She wasn’t talking about Flynn, that much was clear. He squeezed her hand, knowing she wouldn’t take kindly to being wrapped in his arms. Not here, where someone could see.

“There’s always that risk. Sometimes we can never get past the consequences of our foolish pasts. Sometimes people can’t forgive us for the decisions we make.”

To his surprise, her grip tightened on his fingers.

“I know you’re scared,” he said. “All I can tell you is I’m here for you. You can’t let your mother keep pushing you into doing things you know are wrong. You have a way out now. Choose it. Choose me. Choose getting to know your sister and your niece. Choose starting afresh and being the person you were meant to be.”

She gave a shallow laugh. “You make it sound so easy.”

“I know it isn’t. But you have a job with me. You’ll have a place to live, with me, if you want it. You just have to reach out and take it.”