Clay was pretty sure he’d said too much. The old man was really pissed now. Clay could see it in his eyes. Shit. That was not good.
“Yes,” Cyrus admitted.
The sadness that suddenly overwhelmed the old man’s face was almost enough to make Clay regret his smartass remark.Almost.
“I was a different man then,” Cyrus offered.
What the hell? What was this? Confessional time?
“I lost my oldest son and my only brother within the space of one year. That kind of loss changes a man.”
Funny, Clay mused, he never mentioned missing his wife—the mother of his two sons. She’d died first, a couple of years before Gage.
But Clay didn’t have to ask why. He knew. His daddy had married the wrong girl.
Hell, probably wasn’t the cancer killing him. It was more likely the regret.
A man just never got over some things. Apparently coveting was one of them.
“I don’t want to lose you, too, Clayton,” his daddy said, emotion shining in his eyes. “Whatever it is you’re doing, just stop. That’s all I’m asking.”
This was too damned weird, but he couldn’t deny the fact that the old man’s words had gotten to him on some level. He wasn’tcompletely heartless. Clay sat up, straightened his jacket. “You got nothing to worry about, Daddy. I told you, I’m not going to touch Addy. And just because it’s what you want, I’ll make certain that none of my buddies do, either.”
“That’s all I ask,” Cyrus said wearily.
Clay stood, walked over to his pitiful old man, and gave him a little hug. It was the least he could do. “Merry Christmas.”
If Clay was real lucky, this would be the last time he’d ever have to say that shit again.
By this time next year, he’d be planting that old bastard next to Gage.
And then Clay would show folks around here that Cooper law was still the only one that mattered.
7:30 p.m.
Clay barreled down the gravel drive, headed back to town. He had plans.
“Screw that old man!”
That old bitch, he thought, glancing west toward where her farm sat beyond his daddy’s, was whispering shit in his daddy’s ears. Clay knew exactly where his daddy was getting his information. All Clay could say was that she’d better watch what she said and did or she’d find herself asleep one night with the house burning down around her. She and her daughter were just alike. So damn self-righteous. Thought they were a cut above Clay and his daddy.
Clay grunted a laugh. It would be nice as hell to have both those bitches out of the way.
“No need to be greedy, Clayton, old boy.” He grinned. One out of the way would be close enough.
Very soon he would have complete control. All the money, the land. And the whole county would look up to him then. He would have the power.
Wouldn’t nobody dare to tell him what to do. Or even look at him the wrong way.
Hell no.
He turned onto the main road and headed to Pascagoula. The boys were waiting for him. They were going to party the night away. All the beer and girls they could handle. That was his Christmas present to his friends.
“Hell yeah!” He smirked. Lots of beer and girls.
Blue lights flickered in his rearview mirror.
“Shit.” He glanced down at the speedometer. Hell, he wasn’t even speeding. Well, maybe a little.