Page 9 of Emeric

The best was when he called to tell me the stream was too loud and keeping him awake at night. As if I had control over the decibel level of the naturally occurring stream that ran through my property and his.

There was no telling what this call would be about.

“Did you put the rabbits there?” he asked instead of saying hello.

“Excuse me?”

“The rabbits,” he snapped. “They have babies now. I almost ran them over with my tractor. There’s a nest in the ground near the tall oak tree.”

The land mainly had pines on it, but there were a few other species here and there. This particular oak had been a thorn in Mr. Webb’s side. It was one of the trees on my side, but its branches hung over to his. Birds built nests in it and then shit on his side of the property line. I enjoyed that phone call immensely.

“Are you accusing me of placing rabbits outside, making sure the female becomes pregnant, and nests on your side, just to irritate you?” He had to hear how wild that sounded.

“Don’t be ridiculous,” he blustered. “My point is, they need to stay on your side. It’s clear they like the tree and chose to be there.”

“On your property.”

“Only because the fence is preventing them from staying on yours.”

“Right, because the spaces in the fencing don’t allow rabbits to get in here.” I rolled my eyes. It wasn’t a solid wood or vinyl fence. It was steel rails. Smaller animals could easily slip through. “She nested on your property for a reason.”

“It’s the tree,” he stated firmly.

“I have no control over where animals decide to birth and raise their young. If you don’t like the rabbit and babies where they are, call someone to have them relocated.”

“I’m not handing over the money for that. You should handle it. It’s clear they want to be under your tree.”

“Mr. Webb, I’m not paying for anything. The wild rabbits who have made a home on your property are your problem, much as are most of the things you call me to complain about.” I was a nice guy, friendly, usually reserved, thanks to being an introvert. That didn’t mean I let people push me around. In the past, I did. Now, I had a friend who was a mafia boss.

“I’m going to contact my attorney.”

“Please do. I assure you mine is better.” I hung up. I probably shouldn’t have said what I did, but I was over this.

Jordan had been here once when Mr. Webb called. I was surprised Jordan didn’t take the phone from my hand and threaten Mr. Webb’s life. He let me handle it though.

The thing was, I lived here; Jordan didn’t. Although the property was in my name, Jordan purchased it. He needed a safe house and someone to run it for him. If he put his name on it, those who came after him would know where to go. This way, they just thought I was a wealthy author with too much money and no idea what to do with it, so I bought this huge house.

If Mr. Webb was calling his attorney—a threat I was certain he’d follow through on—I needed to call Jordan. If he had an assistant, I’d call them, but Jordan had tried that, and it didn’t work out.

I really didn’t want to bother him. Instead of calling, I decided to text him.

Me: The neighbor threatened me with his attorney because of wild rabbits I have no control over.

My phone rang seconds later.

“I’m going to force him outside at gunpoint and let the goddamn rabbits feast on his flesh,” Jordan bit out when I answered.

“Hello, Jordan.” I grinned. Never had his anger been directed at me. “You didn’t have to call me.”

“Of course I did. No one should bother you.” To almost everyone else, Jordan was a man you didn’t walk up and talk to. He’d cut out someone’s tongue for speaking to him wrong. To me, Jordan was my friend, a good one, who gave me an opportunity when the world didn’t want to see me succeed.

“I’d like it very much if this particular asshole left me alone, but this is the curse of having him for a neighbor.”

“There will be an attorney at your house within the hour. You can trust them. They know everything about me.”

“You don’t have to send someone right now.” I was hoping he’d help, but no one needed to stop what they were doing to come out here.

“Trust me when I tell you I pay my attorneys very well. They knew what they were getting into when they agreed to work for me.” I’d met Lana Saylor when we purchased the house in my name. She went with me to the closing to ensure everything was done properly. I hadn’t seen her since.