Just a Positive Pregnancy Test - London Casey Page 0,76

of us. I have to look out for my family.”

“My guys aren’t working here,” Tyler said. “I’d rather pay them out of my own pocket than have them deal with the Lovor family. You know what they’ll do, right? It’ll be money up front and then they’ll squeeze everyone. I can’t believe you did this, Silas.”

“I need the house done, Tyler,” I said. “So if you pull your guys, then someone else will have to come in and finish it.”

“I don’t care,” Tyler said.

“Well, then who would you suggest?” I asked.

Tyler stepped up the first step on the porch and Crosby grabbed his arm.

“Wait,” Crosby said. “Silas. You said you need the house done.”

“That’s right,” I said.

“Okay, now I’m getting irritated,” Mila said. “I’m tired. My feet are swollen and hurt. My boobs feel like bricks. Sorry for that, Tyler, Silas, Michael, Zeke, and Thomas. But it’s true. I’m uncomfortable and annoyed.”

“Can I finish my story?” I asked.

“Hurry,” Mila said.

“John threw out the deal,” I said. “Eric and Giles sweetened it. They had everything in writing for me too. No funny games or anything.”

I reached behind me and pulled the contract out of my back pocket.

I held my right hand out and sprinkled the ripped-up pages like thick snowflakes.

“I told them to go fuck themselves,” I said. “I told them nobody in the Justa family would work for them. Not for double pay. Triple pay. Never. I told them that now they were on my radar. The Rhodes radar. And while I’m just one guy, I’m not a guy you fuck with. And when you put Rhodes and Justa together, it’s a force that will keep them up all night, waiting for the next disaster to strike.”

“My man,” Crosby said with a smile.

“You really said that?” Tyler asked.

“I really said that,” I said. I looked at Mila and winked. “No backing out of this house project now, darling.”

The entire family stormed the porch to hug me.

It made me feel like I just got done playing a show.

Right down to Zeke and Thomas.

Zeke squeezed my hand tight.

Thomas threw some air punches. “I still say we go fight them.”

“So what else happened?” Theresa asked.

“They were shocked. And pissed.” I shrugged my shoulders. “There’s nothing they can do. John told me he would do anything to make my life miserable. I told him it would be a shame if bad stuff started happening to him. Eric and Giles looked ready to fight. I stepped back and told them to settle it with me.”

“I bet that shut them up,” Crosby said.

“No,” I said. “They wanted to fight. I was ready though. That’s when something crazy happened. Teddy Rohrick showed up. Siren wailing and all.”

“What did he want?” Theresa asked.

“He chased them away,” I said with a laugh. “He told John, Eric, and Giles to disappear. Then it was down to me and him. Facing off. He told me he really was sorry about what happened with Finn. I told him I didn’t want to hear it. I guess after seeing the Lovor family at the house once before, he decided to take things into his own hands. He told me if something like that ever happened again to just call him. He would personally step in and take care of it. Actually, he told me he would take great pleasure in arresting them all.”

“Yeah, well, good for him,” Zeke said. “Their hate for the Lovor family is the same as ours. But that doesn’t mean anything. The Justa family and Rohrick family will never see eye to eye. Ever. Nothing will change that.”

“Zeke,” Theresa said.

“Sorry,” he said. “Go on, Silas.”

“He shook my hand,” Silas said. “He assured me everything would be quiet at the house from now on. Nothing else to worry about. I told him that if anyone from the Lovor family showed up again, they were going to become a lawn ornament in my front yard.”

Everyone laughed.

“Wait,” Crosby said. “You can’t use a Lovor as a lawn ornament. It’ll decrease the value of the house!”

“That’s true,” Tyler said. “Can’t bury him either because the grass wouldn’t grow.”

“Maybe we just steer clear of murder all together,” Theresa said.

“I’ll do it,” Zeke said. “I’m old enough. I’ve had a good life. It would be worth it.”

“You do that,” Crosby said to Zeke. “You get out of breath walking from the counter at the restaurant to the bathroom.”

“It’s a long walk,” Zeke said.

“Hey, Silas isn’t done yet,” Mila said, clapping her hands. “Don’t ruin the