The Better Brother

“The whole city block where Roberts’ Steakhouse and six other businesses sit,” she said. “They want to knock everything down and put up the new place before next tourist season.”

“I asked Carl about it the other day, but he said they were just rumors,” I said. “He said they’d never sell. They’ve owned the place for thirty years.”

“They may not have a choice,” Jackie said, her head turning slowly from side to side. “According to Ted, by this afternoon, it’s a done deal.”

“By this afternoon?”

“Ted and the mayor meet with the developer today.” She glanced at her watch. “They’re probably at City Hall right now.”

Holy crap, why didn’t I see it before? This was the business meeting Tyler was alluding to.

Why else would a billionaire like Tyler Jenner build a luxury cabin overlooking a dinky little town like Mountain View?

Why else would he take an interest in the antique shops and restaurants on Main Street?

The out-of-town developer that was going to destroy my little hometown and put up a tourist-trap hotel was the man I thought I was falling for.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: TYLER

“What a fucking asshole that guy is,” I said as Charlie and I left the meeting with the mayor and the head of the city council, Ted Something-or-Other. “Demanding we give him a bigger payoff under the table when we meet to sign the letter of intent with the city. Really? Who the fuck does that?”

“Crooked little politicians in shitty little towns,” Charlie said with a sigh, like it was no big deal that I was having to shell out another twenty grand in payoffs to these cocksuckers. He put his hand on my chest and gave me a sly smile. “Don’t worry about him. It’s money well-spent. Once the hotel is built we’ll push the lot of them out and take over just like we did in Bedford Falls and Overlook Canyon.”

I was still pissed. I gritted my teeth and pointed at the door to the mayor’s office we’d just come out of. “Look, I’ve told you over and over, I don’t care what you have to do to make deals work. I don’t want to know the details because I don’t want to have to lie in court. S

o long as we make money on the other end, that’s all I care about. But if that guy in there fucks us, Charlie, I’m going to come back here and fucking — “

“Don’t worry,” Charlie said, putting a hand on my shoulder and giving it a shake. “I got this. I’ve always got this. Let me handle this kind of shit and you handle building the business. Now come on, I’m hungry. Let’s see if we can find a place to get a decent steak.

* * *

“Tyler!”

As we came out of the courthouse, I heard a familiar voice call my name. I turned to see Maggie coming down the sidewalk toward us. She had her shoulders hunched and her hands balled into fists at her side.

I gave her a smile. “Hey, Mags, what are you…”

Before I could finish my sentence, she caught me with a right hook that nearly turned out my lights. Her fist connected with my jaw and sent me stumbling sideways into Charlie.

“What the fuck!” Charlie got between me and Maggie and held up his hands. “Are you fucking nuts?”

“I know what you did,” she said, glaring at me with tears in her eyes. She shook her fist in the air and spat out the words. “You’re going to destroy this town and put people I love out of business.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, hiding behind Charlie. I was a foot taller and a hundred pounds heavier than her, but I’d rather face down a grizzly bear than a pissed off woman any day of the week.

“I know that you just paid off the mayor and the city council president,” she said. “I know that you’re going to tear down Carl and Doris’ restaurant and the other shops. You’re killing their dreams! They’ve worked their entire lives for those businesses and now you’re shutting them down.”

“They’ll be paid very well for the land and the business,” Charlie said. “Everyone will walk away with more money than they could have hoped to get otherwise. Most of those businesses are old and dying.”

She glared at me. I swallowed hard and put a hand on Charlie’s shoulder. “Go on, Charlie, get in the car. I’ll be done here in a minute.”

Charlie hesitated for a moment, then shook his finger at her. “You’re nuts. And you’re fucking fired!”

“Fuck you! I quit!” she screamed at him.

I held up my hands. “Maggie, calm down and let’s talk. This really is the best thing for everyone. Like Charlie said, downtown Mountain View is dying. You know it was well as I do. The other day when we were walking around, we didn’t see but a handful of other people. You told me yourself, the restaurant is struggling. The Roberts are old, Maggie. They want to retire. They have agreed to the deal.”

“You’re a fucking liar,” she said, gritting her teeth at me. “Ted told Jackie everything. You bribed him and the mayor to help you convince people to sell! You’re a fucking criminal!”