J.R. took a sip, then gave a half-shrug. “Not bad, but I’ve had better.”

He was good. Damn good. But then, what did I expect from a psychopath?

J.R. set his wine down on the table as I headed back to my chair, but he patted Gentry’s vacant seat. “Come join me, Lady. I prefer to keep my friends close.” He lifted his eyebrows slightly.

“And your enemies closer?” I added in a teasing tone. I caught a glimpse of Jed out of the corner of my eye, and he was not happy. I wasn’t sitting with J.R. in any of my visions. While I wasn’t all that excited about being this close to him, I could see it was a test. He knew the room had been strategically rearranged, and he was trying to tip things to his advantage. But would I call him on it?

His grin deepened, his eyes challenging.

I sat at the end of the opposite end of the sofa, tucking my legs to the side.

“What the hell?” Gentry bellowed.

“Gentry, get Lady’s wine,” J.R. said, keeping his eyes on me.

“If you think I’m going to—”

J.R. turned to look at the man, his eyes deadly. “You will do as I say or suffer the consequences.”

Gentry’s nostrils flared with rage. He stomped over to pick up my glass and then strode toward me, pulling his arm back to throw it at me.

In the blink of an eye, J.R. was up to intercept him. They stood chest to chest for several seconds. The glass in Gentry’s hand tipped sideways and dribbled the red wine onto the off-white carpet as surprise filled Gentry’s eyes. He listed to the side and slumped to his knees.

Jed took several steps toward me, but I remained frozen in my seat, confused by what had just happened.

J.R. pushed Gentry backward and he fell to his back. The wine that spilled onto the carpet almost matched the blood soaking his shirt over his heart. J.R. squatted next to Gentry and wiped his blade clean on the dying man’s shirt. Then he lifted his gaze to me, his eyes cold and dark. This man would wipe away an entire town and feel no remorse. He’d probably get off on it.

I was going to die in this room. But I was going to get what I came for first.

Chapter 32

J.R. stood and turned his attention to me, still holding the knife. “Sorry about that. If you really want to purchase this house, I’ll be more than happy to pay your carpet cleaning bill.”

“No need. I prefer hardwood floors,” I heard myself say.

He grinned. “Let me get you another glass.” He turned around and walked into the kitchen, setting his knife on the counter.

Oh, Lord Almighty. That was another test.

I was so in over my head I wasn’t even sure how to get out. Gentry was gasping for breath, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth.

I cast a sideways glance to Jed, hoping for some direction. I wasn’t Gentry’s biggest fan, but we couldn’t just leave him there. We had to get help.

Jed snuck a glance at J.R., who still had his back to us, then shook his head.

Gentry took one last breath, and his body stilled.

Focus.

I pushed away the fear. I had the power to take this man down, but I had to keep it together. “It must be handy having your son as the chief deputy sheriff in situations like this one,” I said, gesturing to Gentry’s body. “Easier cleanup. No wonder you want in on Fenton County.”

“That was a lucky coincidence,” he said, bringing my new glass into the living room. He left the knife on the counter, and this time he sat closer to me, in the middle of the couch. “My son has a head of his own and wanted to be a simple deputy. When I realized I could use his position to my advantage, I made sure he had a higher position.”

I took the glass and sipped, nearly gagging on the dry, bitter wine. I wasn’t sure why anyone would pay so much money for something so disgusting. “And lucky for you, the chief deputy position had just opened up after the former assistant district attorney uncovered the previous chief deputy’s alliance with Daniel Crocker.”

There was nowhere to set the glass, so I reached out to hand it to Jed, who still stood in between the chair and the sofa, his back to the glass. If nothing else, the move would get him closer to me.

But J.R. saw my gesture and took the glass from me, setting it on the table beside his own.

“Now that my boy is gone, why don’t you dispose of your own?” J.R. suggested. “If we’re going to talk specifics, I would prefer to have privacy.”

Jed’s face hardened, leaving me no doubt as to how he felt about the suggestion. But J.R. was a psychopath, and I had no doubt that he would kill Jed if I didn’t send him away.

If I were smart, I’d leave with him. But I had come too far to turn back now. “Jed, wait for me outside.”

“No.”

I looked up at him in surprise.

“I’m not leaving without you.”

Anger flooded through me, stealing my senses. He was going to ruin everything. I got to my feet and took a step toward him. “You work for me, Jed Carlisle. You will do as I say.” My voice was hard and cold, and it broke my heart to do this to him. Would he hate me later? Better that than risk his life any more than I already had. “Now go wait outside, and I will deal with you later.”

He lowered his face, blocking it from J.R.’s view. I could see the question in his eyes. I reached up and patted his cheek. “If you’re a good boy, I’ll lessen your punishment. Now go.”

He hesitated for several long seconds, then stepped over Gentry’s body. He shot daggers of hate toward J.R. as he stomped toward the front door.