One Southern Cowboy - Jennifer Youngblood Page 0,52

a flash of triumph that her instinct was right on the money.

“You will meet me.”

“Or what?” she challenged.

His voice grew sly, menacing. “How’s Shade doing?”

A bolt of dread darted through Lemon.

“It would be a shame if anything happened to Paul or Shade’s boys.”

Her throat tightened as she swallowed. “Don’t hurt them.” She heard the fear in her own voice. She detested what Wesley was doing to her and everyone around her.

“The ball’s in your court here,” Wesley said pleasantly. “It’s like I told you before. You belong to me. The sooner you realize that the better off we’ll all be.”

Wesley spoke with arrogance, like he was untouchable. Lemon glanced at Jaxson. His expression was livid.

“Here’s how this is gonna go. Meet me at Pinkerton Park tomorrow night at nine pm at the playground. Come alone or someone in Shade’s family dies. You know what I’m capable of. Don’t try to cross me.” He hung up.

“Well, it looks like our meeting’s tomorrow night,” Knox said with a grim determination. “Did you get that?” he asked into the large, black desk phone on Chief Blankenship’s desk.

“Got it,” Ramsey clipped. “I’ll be there.”

Jaxson looked at Lemon. “You did good. For the record, even when Wesley was playing Mr. Nice, I never doubted you.”

An appreciative smile touched her lips. “Thank you.” She was so grateful to have Jaxson and his family in her corner.

“I’m sorry for all that you’re going through,” Jaxson added.

The tenderness in his voice brought tears to her eyes. She nodded, looking down at the floor.

“Did anyone catch the part about Pinkerton Park?” Ramsey asked.

Lemon rewound the conversation back, trying to figure out what he meant, but her brain was too muddled to reach any conclusion.

Jaxson pushed out a heavy breath. “I caught it.” He looked at Lemon. “Wesley knows where you are.”

She gasped softly. “How?” she stammered. She wouldn’t have thought that Wesley could frighten her any more than he already had, but him knowing where she was jolted her to the center, stripping away her confidence. Her lungs squeezed. She forced herself to take in a steady breath. She had to push past the fear. She had to be strong and face this.

Knox stroked his chin. “He might’ve been tailing Lexi. She said he stopped by the restaurant where she worked yesterday, demanding to know where you were.”

Lemon’s hand went over her chest. “Do you think Lexi’s in danger?”

“It’s hard to say,” Knox mused. “Just in case, I’ll call Dylan and Lucas. Tell them to keep a close eye on Lexi.”

Lemon hugged her arms. “I’ll be so glad when this is over.”

“It will be soon,” Jaxson assured her. “Wesley Livingston is about to get put away for a long time.”

“I sure hope you’re right,” she breathed.

Knox gave her a wise look. “Just remember, the Lord favors a righteous cause. It will all turn out for our good. You’ll see.”

Please, Lord, help us, she prayed silently.

11

Officer Williams glanced in his rearview mirror. “You doing all right back there, Miss Massey?”

She offered a tight smile. “I’m fine. Thanks.” Her purse was in her lap. She squeezed it before looking through the window and peering unseeingly into the dark night. This afternoon, Lexi and Lucas had stopped by Jaxson’s place. Lexi gave Lemon some pepper spray and a sharp-tipped nail file. “I have to walk from the restaurant to the parking deck after work,” she explained. “These make me feel a little safer.” Lemon wasn’t sure either of the items would help, but she appreciated Lexi’s gesture. Lemon was terrified and numb at the same time.

She’d called Shade to check on her, not mentioning the amnesia or Wesley’s threat. Shade seemed perfectly normal, which was a good sign. Shade mostly just scolded Lemon for not answering her calls, and she wanted to know how the meeting with Wesley went regarding the children’s line. Lemon told her she was running short on time and couldn’t talk about it right then but promised they’d discuss it soon.

It was eight thirty p.m. Lemon was headed to Pinkerton Park. Officer Williams, one of the policemen who’d shown up at the scene of Jaxson’s accident, was driving her in an unmarked car. Jaxson and Ramsey were in Jaxson’s truck, following close behind. Knox, Lucas, and several police officers, along with Chief Blankenship, were at the park, planted in strategic locations. The unmarked car Lemon was in had Uber stickers on the front and back windshields, and Officer Williams was wearing regular clothes.

Lemon’s stomach was tied in knots.