on my behalf. I can assure you, it will not happen again.”
Probably because I’m going to skin Jennings alive the moment I see him.
I’m debating the ways how when Amanda lets out a sigh of relief. “Not a problem at all, Ms. Malone. And again, on behalf of everyone at Teachers First Credit Union in Jacksonville, we’re sorry for your recent loss.”
“Thank you, Amanda.” I disconnect the phone, crushing it between my fingers.
I wonder how Amanda and Teachers First Credit Union in Jacksonville is going to feel when they see I’ve been brought up on charges, I think fleetingly as I stomp over to the basement door. “Kevin!” I yell at the top of my lungs.
A few seconds later, he edges toward the bottom of the stairs with his “uh-oh” face on. When the first words out of his mouth are “It wasn’t me; I swear,” I relax slightly.
“I know, sweetheart. Maris ran to the store. She’ll be back soon; I have to go see your father.”
“Okay. Tell him I said hey.” I hear the sounds of things blowing up before he yells, “Oh, yeah! That’s how you do it!”
Briefly, I wish I could go downstairs and join him, but sadly, I have to go hurt his father.
Badly.
Closing the door, I pull out my phone and text Jennings. Is your call done?
He responds right away. Just finished. Why? What’s up.
I’m on my way.
His concerned Are you sure you should be driving in this? doesn’t get a response. Neither does the phone call he makes as I’m dashing to my car.
Jennings is just going to have to wait until he can deal with my temper face-to-face.
What’s normally a ten-minute drive takes thirty in the pouring rain. By then, I’m in a complete state. How dare he do this without talking to me? I throw my car door wide, uncaring my jacket’s open, and dash through the rain and up the steps.
Just as I open it, the heavy front door is flung back on its hinges as the wind picks up at just the wrong moment. Expecting to dash up the stairs to his room, I pull up short. There he is—my target for my anger. He’s leaning negligently against the counter talking with an older gentleman. As soon as he spots me, the conversation dies abruptly.
He gently mocks as I stalk toward him, “Owl, it helps if you close your coat up so you don’t get wet.” His fingers toy with the wet zipper as soon as I’m close enough for him to touch it.
I slap his hand away. His brows shoot skyward. I emit a feral sound before hissing, “How dare you?”
“Well, when it’s raining, I often take the time to—”
“I don’t need your goddamned money!” I shout.
“Ahh,” he hums, fanning the flame inside of me. “I see Reg got it done.”
“I have no idea who Reg is, nor do I care. Just tell me how to give it back.”
Jennings interrupts me to say to the man behind him, “If you’ll excuse us, Ron, the things Kara and I need to say to one another are likely not fit for your other guests’ ears.”
My head barely jerks in the direction of the other man even as Jennings yanks me toward the direction of the stairs leading upstairs. Increasing my stride, I manage to keep pace with his long legs as we hit the landing.
I’m burning up with the intensity of my emotions when he lets go of my fingers to reach for his keys once we reach his door. “Don’t you dare move,” he snarls, green eyes burning.
I’m about ready to snap by the time he fumbles the key into the lock and shoves the door open. Storming past him without waiting for an invitation, I don’t notice a damn thing about the rest of the energy around me until the door slams.
The lock snicks. Immediately, Jennings hurls his keys. “We’re not leaving this room until you understand one simple concept,” he growls as he approaches me.
“What’s that?” I ask. The anger is still pulsating through me, making my voice come out rough as sandpaper, but so is something else.
Desire.
“By the time you walk out that door, you’re going to realize I will do anything I damn well please for my family.” He’s so close I can feel the waves of tension coming off him.
My outrage overrides my urgency to jump him. Hands slamming into his chest, I shout, “Not by dumping a bunch of money I neither want nor