Standing His Ground: Greer (Porter Brothers Trilogy 2)

“Which is?” Holly instinctively knew she wasn’t going to like what Diamond had to say.

“Greer and Shade do business together.”

“So? Greer does business with half the town.”

“If Greer asks Shade to find out who he’s talking to online, he could do it.”

Holly frowned. “I don’t think Greer will bring the subject up to Shade, do you?”

“I don’t know. They aren’t friends. It depends on how much Greer wants to find out who he’s been talking to. Shade could easily find out where the messages are coming from.”

Holly dropped her orange back into the lunch bag. Crash wouldn’t be able to find out where the messages originated from, could he?

She only started messaging Greer after one night he had her nearly crying from his cutting remarks. When she had come in to work the next day with swollen eyes, she hadn’t been able to help herself. She had confided in Diamond how mean he was being. Every month, it grew worse, and she didn’t know why. The meaner he was to her, the nicer she became until she was practically walking on glass to survive in the same house with him.

When Greer’s picture showed up in her profile as a new member, she had shown Diamond, expecting to get a good laugh. Except, Diamond had come up with the idea of messaging him.

“Do it! Come on. We can have some fun with him, and he’ll never know who you are.”

“You sure?”

“Positive,” she’d promised.

Well, that was coming back to bite her in the butt.

“Don’t be so scared. I don’t even think Crash is in Treepoint. I think he’s gone back to Ohio, so maybe he’ll be too busy to help if Shade asks.”

“He won’t have to ask Shade. He could ask Cash to do it. Cash is his brother-in-law. Hopefully, you’re right and Crash will be too busy if anyone asks him.”

“I forgot Cash. Damn. I still think he’s too conceited to ask either of them for help.”

“Me, too,” Holly agreed.

“I still think Crash is too busy to be of any help to whomever asks. Viper has even turned over the computer stuff to Knox. Between his job at the sheriff’s office and Viper, Knox hasn’t had time for me.”

“Could Knox figure out where the messages came from?”

When Diamond didn’t answer, Holly became even more frightened. If Greer found out she had been playing him all along, he would kill her.

She placed her hand over her heart. It was beating so fast. She tried to catch her breath. She was starting to feel like she might pass out.

“Holly? Are you okay?”

Holly waved her hand in front of her face, trying to cool herself down. She felt as if she were on fire. “He’s going to kill me and never let me see Logan again. He’ll tell Tate and Dustin, and they’ll let him.”

Instead of calling an ambulance, Diamond started laughing at her.

“Are you crazy? I’m having a heart attack, and you’re laughing at me?”

“Get real. You’re not having a heart attack; you’re having a panic attack.” Diamond left her desk to come behind her, pushing Holly’s head down to her knees. “If Knox finds out it’s you, he’ll tell me before he tells anyone else. You don’t have to worry about Knox spilling your secrets.”

At Diamond’s calm tone, Holly started getting herself back in control. “I’ll take your word for it, but if you’re wrong, I’m taking you down with me.”

“Did she finally screw up enough that you’re strangling her instead of firing her?”

Holly froze at the sound of Greer’s voice. When had he come into the office?

“I knocked, but you must have been too busy trying to strangle her to hear.”

Holly tried to raise her head, but Diamond’s hand on the back of her neck kept her head down.

“I-I-”

“Holly wasn’t feeling well. She almost passed out.”

It wasn’t a lie. She had nearly passed out.

Holly knew better than to expect any concern from Greer, and she didn’t hear any when he asked for her car keys.

“You don’t need to pick up Logan today. That’s why I need to get his car seat out of your car. I promised Logan ice cream for getting his award.”

“Oh … I can get it for you.” Again, she fought Diamond’s restraining hand, and she finally released her.

“Stay still. Just tell me where the keys are, and I’ll bring them back in a minute.”

“I feel better.” Holly practically jumped out of her chair, going to the front office.

Trying to maneuver her body so Greer couldn’t look inside the drawer, she barely opened it, using her fingers to rummage for the elusive keys.

“Just open the damn drawer so you can see.” His hand shot out, opening the drawer.

Holly knew the instant when he saw what was inside.

“Are these what I think they are?”

“Greer, those are none of your business.”