Standing His Ground: Greer (Porter Brothers Trilogy 2)

Diane didn’t move. By her expression, she was still going to try to find a lie to exonerate herself.

“Don’t make me look for it,” he threatened.

She went to the candy jar on the coffee table and took the lid off, taking the ring out and throwing it at him angrily.

“Like I said, dumb as shit.”

His insults took her over the edge, which was what he had been waiting for.

“You’re mine! You bought that slut a ring you promised me!”

“I was yours,” he corrected. “I’m not now. You bargained on me coming back to you like I always did. I’ve jumped off that merry-go-round. Who did you sucker into helping you?”

Her eyes went cagey. He knew he wouldn’t be able to get her to admit who she had conned into killing his livestock.

“Poor bastards. They would do anything for you, just like I once would have.”

“What have you ever done for me? Take me out to dinner a couple of times a month, pay a bill for me when you had enough money from selling weed, fixed a garage disposal when it broke? I wanted more than that! You could make all kinds of money if you sold that property that isn’t good for anything except growing pot! Even if you didn’t sell it, Luke makes more in a month than you make in a year! Even Dalton pays my rent! You’re good for nothing but fucking, and for the last year, you haven’t even been good at that!”

The filth spewing out her mouth made him sick with the knowledge he had almost married her.

“You’ll be begging to come back to me after a month of being with that slut!”

“The only slut I know is you. You think I’m stupid enough to believe you all were just shootin’ the shit when I showed up at your apartment? Dalton’s stuck-up wife may let get him get his nuts off watching you two play, but I don’t want my woman cheating, even if it’s with another woman.” Diane paled. “Don’t worry; I won’t tell anyone. I made an ass of myself over you without everyone knowing how much of a big fool I was.”

“You think I made a fool out of you? Dalton told me you tried to buy a ring and didn’t even have enough money for it!”

“I had enough money for any ring I wanted to buy her in that dime store he calls a jewelry store. Did it hurt when he told you I was going to buy her a ring?”

“You bastard!” Diane came at him with her manicured nails drawn.

Greer caught her hands, pushing her back.

“Get out! I’m glad I tore your mother’s quilts and wrecked your place! The only thing I’m sorry about is I wished I could have watched it burn to the ground!”

Greer reached into his pocket, taking his cell phone out and turning it so she could see it was recording. “If you ever go near me or mine again, I’ll give this to Knox. Orange isn’t your color, but if you take one breath in my kin’s direction, you’ll be wearing it. Knox took plenty of pictures of the damages, and he’s wanting to close the case, so give me a reason, and you’ll have bigger bitches than you as roommates.”

Greer went to the door. “And just so you know, whoever helped you hasn’t gotten off scot-free. As soon I find out who did it, I’ll be dealing with them, too.”

The candy dish broke against the door as he opened it, meeting Jessie’s shocked gaze at the volley of Diane’s curses following him.

“I forgot to ask how Logan was doing in school?” Jessie stepped out of the way of an ashtray that came flying out of the door, her eyes going to the door warily.

“Fine. You did a good job with him. He’s excelling at everything. I guess he takes after his uncle.” Greer grinned, leaning back to avoid the glass from the picture Diane had thrown that smashed at his feet. “I hope you’re able to come to the wedding. Logan is looking forward to seeing you. He has a new suit Holly bought him just for the wedding.”

“Um …” Jessie jumped when Diane slammed the door to her apartment. “I wouldn’t miss it.”

Greer stepped on the picture of him and Diane, grinding it under the heel of his boot. “I’ll see you then.”

He went down the steps, whistling as he made his way to his truck. Turning his music on louder, he drove through town, waving when he saw someone he knew. Passing the street where Holly was staying, he was tempted to make another surprise appearance, but he didn’t want to spoil the woman.

Making the turn into his driveway, he saw Tate had been busy replacing the camera and alarm. Getting out of his truck, he saw Tate coming out of the barn.