“Fuck you.”
Clearly this wasn’t going to be resolved anytime soon.
“I like the idea of an eye for an eye,” Beau spoke up, staring at Jimmy. “A little retribution is in order, if you ask me. Someone have a baseball bat handy?”
“What the fuck are you doing?” Zane asked, moving close to Beau.
Glancing back at his friend briefly, Beau ignored him.
“Clearly I didn’t use the bat enough,” Jimmy bit out, glaring back at Beau. “I shoulda killed him when I had the chance. Then my brother would still be alive,” Jimmy said, pushing to his feet.
“Is that right?” Sawyer asked, taking a step toward Jimmy but coming to a halt when Curtis put a hand on his shoulder. “From where I stand, your brother was just another one of your victims.”
Ethan pushed off the post and moved to Beau’s side. It didn’t take long for the rest of the Walkers to move in around them. Surprisingly enough, the sheriff had moved off to the side, standing beside Mack, the bartender, who had apparently decided to watch the show.
No one said a word for long seconds. That was when Sheriff Endsley must’ve gotten bored. “How do you suggest we resolve this?” he asked the group collectively.
“I’ll settle it my way,” Jimmy said, spitting on the ground. “I’d suggest you watch your back.”
Ethan took a step forward, and Beau stepped behind him, letting him know he was there. He would not take this away from Ethan. It was his turn to stand up, to let Jimmy know he wasn’t going to take his shit anymore.
Beau watched as Ethan notched his chin up, his eyes trained on Jimmy. “I didn’t kill Gavin,” Ethan said adamantly. “I loved your brother. You’re the one who made him watch while you tried to kill me.”
A series of gasps erupted. No one said anything. They didn’t have to. Ethan had just done what no one would’ve ever believed he could do.
“And let me tell you this, you fucking piece of shit,” Ethan continued, his hands shaking as he stood just a few feet away from the man who’d sent his life into a spiral years ago. “You won’t get another chance at me. Gavin paid the ultimate price for your ignorance and your bullshit. I won’t let that happen again.”
Ethan had no idea what spurred him to speak up. Maybe it was the support he felt from his family, from Beau. Whatever it was, he couldn’t seem to contain all of the words he had wanted to rant at Jimmy over the years.
“Gavin took his life because you embarrassed him. You’re the one who should be dead.”
That possessive, beastlike growl erupted from Beau and Ethan moved one step closer to him. This was over; Ethan knew it, Jimmy knew it. Now it was just a pissing contest.
“Let me hear you say that one more time and I’ll haul your ass in,” Sheriff Endsley growled in that raspy tenor that many folks feared.
“Me? What the fuck? He’s the one who should be punished. He’s a fucking queer. This ain’t over, Walker.”
“It’s over,” Curtis’ voice boomed from behind him and the next thing Ethan knew, his father was stepping up beside him. “It’s fucking over because I say it’s over. If I hear one whisper that you’ve targeted anyone, I promise you that this,” Curtis gestured toward Jimmy as he continued to lean against the truck, “will feel like a day at the spa. Got me?”
Everyone was quiet. Not even Jimmy was stupid enough to challenge Curtis Walker.
Ethan felt himself being pulled backward, urging him back inside the bar. The fight was over. There was no winner. Not this round. There would never be any winners either. After all that Ethan had suffered, after Gavin had paid the ultimate price, no one would ever come out on top.
“I want to press charges!” Jimmy bellowed as people were making their way back inside.
Ethan stopped suddenly, waiting to see what would happen next.
To his surprise, Mack took a step forward, glancing around at the people still left in the parking lot. “I’m the one who’ll be pressing charges if you come on my property again. You’re not welcome here.” Mack looked around at the men who had come with Jimmy. “Your kind ain’t welcome here.”
“Our kind? Don’t you mean the fags? They’re the ones who –”
Mack cut him off with a snarl. “No, I was very fucking clear the first time.” With that, Mack turned and stormed back toward the door.
Sheriff Endsley, standing just a few feet away, glanced over to where Jimmy was still propped up against the truck and then over to Ethan. Then to Beau. Then over to Curtis. “What’s it take to get a beer around here?” he finally asked, deadpan.