Chapter 17 BACK IN HOLLOWMERE
Nancy's POV
"I can't believe you're really leaving," Gia said as she pulled me into a tight hug.
"I'm going to miss you," she added, her voice soft and shaky as she slowly pulled away.
"Me too, Gia. Please take care of Brianna-and don't let her overwork herself," I replied, managing a faint smile even as a lump formed in my throat.
"I will," she promised gently.
I walked over to Brianna and wrapped her tightly in my arms.
"You better take care of yourself or I'll come back and drag you with me," I warned, my voice light but my heart aching.
"I'll be fine, Nancy. Go handle things and then come back in time for our grand opening. We're not starting that firm without you."
I nodded and wiped the tears clinging stubbornly to my lashes.
Turning to face the two men beside me, I couldn't help but notice how deeply I'd come to care for them.
They weren't just my colleagues-they were family.
"Hey, everything's going to be fine," Dax said as he pulled me into a warm hug.
"Tell Mum and Dad I'll visit as soon as I can, and let Renna know I'm sorry I'll miss her birthday. I'll make it up to her, I promise."
"Call us if you need anything at all. Our family lawyer can fly in and help you if it ever comes to that," Michael added.
I smiled through my tears and hugged him, feeling the warmth of their support surround me.
They had all insisted on driving me to the airport this morning.
I'd be lying if I said they hadn't made my time here unforgettable.
"Thank you, guys. I promise I'll be back as soon as this is over. And Dax, I'm sorry I couldn't stay to wrap up the case-I'll make it up to you both," I told them, and Dax grabbed my luggage as we walked toward the entrance.
With one last wave, I headed into the airport to catch my flight, my thoughts spinning.
\---
Throughout the long flight, I couldn't stop thinking about what awaited me at home.
My mom must be overwhelmed.
My thoughts bounced around, mostly circling how I was going to confront that arrogant bastard.
Why us? Why our ranch?
First, I was going to meet with Mayor Ridge and demand an explanation.
What gave him the right to sell off my parents' land?
I spent the entire flight trying to keep myself composed until the plane finally landed.
\---
It was close to 4:00 p.m. when I left the airport and caught a taxi straight to the mayor's office.
He'd better have a damn good reason-or I couldn't guarantee I'd be able to keep my emotions in check.
As the taxi pulled up in front of the building, I spotted a luxurious car parked right outside.
Clearly, he had guests. But I didn't care-not today.
I stormed inside, ignoring the secretary's protests as she tried to block my path.
This man was supposed to be a close friend of my father.
How the hell could he do this to us?
"Ma'am, you can't go in there without an appointment," the secretary said as she reached to stop me.
"Touch me," I snapped, my eyes burning with fury, "and I promise I'll leave you with a broken wrist."
"Vivian, let her in," came Mayor Ridge's voice from within the office.
His calm tone cut through the tension like a blade.
I finally turned to face the room-and just as I suspected, he wasn't alone.
But it wasn't the mayor that bothered me.
It was him-the man sitting there, staring at me with an expression I couldn't read."
The one man who had unknowingly shattered me.
We had met only once, but that was enough.
That single encounter had left me bleeding in ways he'd never understand.
And now, here he was-those cold steel-blue eyes staring right through me.
I hated it.
I hated how much my daughter resembled him.
The memories, the pain-it all came flooding back.
Our eyes locked, and for a moment, everything stilled.
The air between us thickened.
I was the first to look away.
"Detective Nancy. What a pleasant surprise," Mayor Ridge said with a smile I wanted to rip off his face.
"When did you fly into town?"
"Let's drop the formality, sir," I said, dragging out the word with disgust dripping from my voice.
"Nancy, I know you're probably angry," he began, stepping closer and reaching for my shoulder like he always did, "but give me a few minutes to finish up with these gentlemen and then we'll talk."
I took two steps back, avoiding his touch like a curse, and walked straight to the chair facing Mr. Lennox and his partner.
I sat down deliberately, not taking my eyes off the man who had unknowingly caused my pain.
"And you don't think I have the right to confront the man who's forcefully taking my parents' home?" I asked, my voice low but charged, my eyes burning into Jaxon Lennox as we stared each other down.
"Nancy, please!" Mayor Ridge said, his tone suddenly firm, laced with that air of authority he always carried.
But all it did was make my blood boil.
I stood from the chair, my body trembling with rage, and marched toward him.
Enough was enough.
\---
Jaxon's POV
"Jaxon, what is going on? Who is she?" Troy whispered beside me, his tone low and cautious.
"I don't know," I muttered under my breath, eyes locked on the woman sitting across from me-the one who stared at me with a fury so intense, I could practically feel it burning through my skin.
Her deep forest green eyes, rimmed with gold flecks, held no mercy.
That look... it wasn't confusion or even frustration-it was pure, unfiltered rage.
But why?
Why would a complete stranger glare at me like I was the reason for every wrong in her life?
And did she just accuse me of forcefully taking her parents' ranch?
"Nancy, please!" Mayor Ridge's voice thundered through the office, but it only ignited the fire inside her.
She stood abruptly, her movements sharp and fueled by anger, then marched up to the Mayor with clenched fists.
"Did you just yell at me?" she snapped, her voice cracking with raw emotion.
"I don't fucking get it. Why are you doing this to my family? You were supposed to be a friend-no, you were family! We took you in like one of our own! So why are you turning your back on us!?"
I shifted uncomfortably.
Something about this was off.
It didn't feel like a business matter anymore-it felt personal.
Why would the Mayor sell their ranch without speaking to them first?
"This feels like a full-blown family war," Troy muttered just loud enough for me to hear.
"Did the Mayor really try to sell the Carter family's ranch behind their backs? Damn, that's messy."
I didn't respond. I was too distracted by the woman-Nancy.
Every emotion radiated off her like a storm, and for reasons I didn't understand, I couldn't look away.
"She's a detective, huh?" Troy added, tilting his head with a smirk.
"Damn, she's really pretty for her job. I mean, when have you ever seen a detective that hot?"
I shot him a glare sharp enough to slice through glass.
"Seriously?" I snapped.
He just lifted his hands in surrender and shrugged.
"I mean, just look at her."
"Maybe shut up and let me figure out why the hell my time is being wasted," I said as I stood and approached the scene unfolding in front of me.
I needed answers.
Now.