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Charlie was dead. He’d killed the only friend he’d had in years by being stupid and careless. Charlie, who’d done everything he could to help Lou.
Tears threatened to fall down his cheeks. He couldn’t lose control of himself. Not now.
He had to make Bailey understand. Once he did, Lou was going to have to run for it. Not how he’d wanted it to go, but his luck hadn’t been with him tonight. If things had worked perfectly, Charlie would still be alive. And Bailey would have gone home with Bert. But the cards hadn’t stacked that way. So Lou was going to deal with the hand he’d been dealt. “The sheriff...he’s no good for you. He’ll ruin things. Make you broken, like I did your momma.”
She shook her head, sending a look at that damned Clay Addy. “No. He will never hurt me.”
“You just don’t see it. You’re too young. Too naive and sweet. But he’ll wear you down until there’s nothing left. I had to get rid of him. Sometimes you have to do things that don’t make sense, for your kid’s own good.”
“You are crazy!”
His daughter moved closer to the sheriff when he shifted again.
Lou shot the younger man a glare.
She had her hands on that boy’s chest. Then the back of his head. Saying his name all tender and loving. Touching him like they’d been together a thousand times. Like she loved him.
Damn Clay Addy for doing this to her. To him. “You need to be with Jake. He’s the better man for you.”
“I don’t want to be with Jake. I don’t love him like that. Not like...”
“You don’t love Clay Addy! You don’t!” For the first time since she’d been a four-year-old child, Lou raised his voice at his daughter.
He swung the gun toward the problem. Just as the younger man’s eyes opened.