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Woods

Darla Lowry, er, was now a board ht I trusted Darla withBethy, Darla's niece, ere just tying the fahter Darla was also wise She was older than row and flourish for over twenty-five years She deserved a seat on the board She also deserved the paycheck that calanced down to see Braden's number I hadn't talked to her in a few days but she always called when she had any infor this wasn't going to be so bad

"I knohy she left There was more to it, just like I said there was But before I tell you anything I need you to make me a few promises and listen to all I have to say, because I'ton I will hunt you down like a dog and bury you Do you understand me?" Braden was fired up and ready to attack

"If you can helpwater," I replied

"Good I thought so However, she thinks very differently She's of the belief that she has done you a favor That you wanted to get rid of her and didn't kno That she walked away and now you're relieved and living the good life"

"What? Why the hell? What the fuck gave her that idea? Did Tripp tell her that? Because I swear to God I'll kill him"

"Sit down and take a breath You did this Don't go pointing fingers at other people First, I have to tell you about a conversation Della overheard the day before she ran off You had better tell me what she really heard, because what she thinks she heard will get your ass killed, and sexy biker dude will get off scot-free Capisce?"

"Please tell me what she heard, because I honestly have no idea"

"Did you have a conversation in the stairith your friend Jace that day?"

The stairwell? I sat down in ht back to before Della ripped my world away I had talked to Jace that day About my mom "Yeah, I did"

"And"

I wasn't sure what she wanted h "What did you and Jace talk about?"

Hell, I couldn't re on installing the new board I was going to let Della co that should've upset her "I can't think of one thing I said that would have made her leave me"

"So Jace never told you that you had to stop dealing with her crazy ass? And you didn't say that it was affecting your work and it was easier to ith Angelina? And Jace didn't say that you had to get rid of the batshit crazy because you had a corporation to run?"

I shot up out of my chair "What?" I roared

"I didn't think so Didn't sound like you at all If someone had called Della batshit crazy you would have beat their ass Della, however, felt sorry for you for having to put up with her and thought it was in your best interest if she left"

"Holy hell! I swear to God I never said that Jace never said that I would've killed hioh, motherfucker" I knehat she'd heard She hadn't heard everything She'd just heard enough

"Please tell me you didn't just have an epiphany and this conversation did actually happen," Braden said, warning me

"No Of course not Iabout Della God! Never Della We were talking about my mother She had just caused proble to Jace about how to deal with her Ifuck! I can't believe she thought ere talking about her I'et her I can't do this anymore I have to explain this to her She has to know"

"No! Shut it, Kerrington I told you at the beginning of this conversation that you would do just as I said I' you need to hear So calm down and put your daet her, I'll let you know, but this time I think it's real important that she come back to Rosemary on her own She ran She needs to find her way back The cavalry can stay put and be patient"

"I have to see her, Braden!"