Free After the Storm: Midseason Episode 1 (Rising Storm) by Lexi Blake

How is it going to help your children? If we allow this to stand, there will always be a cloud hanging over those kids’ heads. And what exactly will Sebastian do with his time? He’ll come home and be with you, of course. Can you think of anything worse than that?”
    It sent a chill along her spine. She really couldn’t think of anything worse than a retired and bored Sebastian Rush. “He could get a job.”
    “No one will hire a disgraced senator with no other skills than managing to get himself sober enough to vote the party line. No. We put all our eggs in one basket a very long time ago and now we have to deal with it,” Marylee said with one last drink. She stood and reached for her Prada bag with a little huff. “You know what I’m telling you is true. For your children and their future, for your own self, you have to come home and stand beside your husband. You can have another day or two, but after that it will all fall apart and there won’t be any going back. And good job on firing the Alvarez girl.”
    “So you do know her name.”
    Marylee’s lips pursed in disdain. “Of course. I know the names of all who threaten me and mine. I know my enemies and I take care of them. She’ll discover she’s being evicted from her apartment later today. I now own the mortgage on that building.” Her eyes gleamed. “I actually feel the urge to invest in more real estate, too.”
    Likely any place that might rent to Dakota Alvarez. Despite how the girl had turned everything upside down, Payton felt sorry for her. She’d thought she had some small power, and her inlaws were about to prove to the girl how the world really worked. “Let’s say I do come home and agree to this insane plan to refute what Dakota said. How will we make sure the papers print it as anything but a joke? You can’t make people believe just based on your word alone. Or rather Sebastian’s. His word means nothing in this town right now.”
    A nasty smile lit Marylee’s face. “Oh, but I know where all the skeletons are buried, dear. If the good folks of this town won’t believe Sebastian, then I’ll find him someone they will believe to make his case. I’ll fix this one way or another. And I’ll talk to you tomorrow. When you return, expect Sebastian to be on his best behavior. I still have high hopes for this family, Payton. You and I, we’re the ones who will see this through. Behind every successful man is a bunch of women who sacrificed everything to ensure he didn’t screw up. That’s what my mother taught me. I love my son so we need to do our duty and clean up his mess. Good-bye, Payton.”
    She sat completely still for a moment until she heard the door close.
    “Are you all right?” Francine walked in, taking the seat beside Payton.
    She’d thought she could have a little longer here, but some of what Marylee had said was true. And beyond that, if she wasn’t around to lend her voice, she wasn’t sure what would happen to the people of this town. Marylee could start a fire that would make Dakota’s look like a matchstick.
    “No,” she admitted. “I thought I might be for a little while, but no.”
     
    * * * *
     
    Dakota parked her car outside of Murphy’s and wondered briefly if she would even be allowed inside. The lights looked homey and inviting and she remembered so many times her dad would take her and she would feel all grown up. Yes, Murphy’s served alcohol, but it was a true pub in the style of the old Irish places. It was a spot for families to gather and neighbors to engage.
    Maybe there was a town law now that stated Dakota Alvarez was locked out of any place she enjoyed. It wouldn’t surprise her. She was apparently going to be locked out of her apartment in a couple of days. It seemed to be the day for the world to kick her.
    After she’d been fired by her manager with no explanation other than she’d brought it on herself, she’d been walked out of the building. She’d gotten the feeling