Swapping a Broken Heart for a New Start novel Chapter 226

A couple of small-time goons? Dennis Williams couldn’t even be bothered to give them a second thought.

He spoke up, voice cool and indifferent. “No need. Just let them go with a warning. Tell them if they show up again, they’ll disappear for good.”

“Got it,” Kevin replied, nodding before making himself scarce.

Larry Adams, watching this go down, couldn’t help but press, “You know who’s been tailing you?”

Dennis set his towel down on the armrest, looking completely unfazed as he nodded.

Larry’s eyebrows shot up. “Who is it? They got a death wish or something? And you’re not even gonna do anything? Man, do you even realize how special your position is?”

Aaron piped up, putting two and two together. “Don’t tell me it’s Smith? He’s still pissed about that whole thing with Ms. Davis, right? Guy never lets anything go.”

“Wait, hold up, what’d I miss? This has something to do with Ms. Davis?” Larry’s curiosity was instantly piqued.

Aaron was about to give him the short version, but just then, Dennis’s phone rang.

Caller ID: Mr. Williams.

Dennis raised a hand, cutting off the two of them, and answered, “Mr. Williams.”

It didn’t take long for the elder Mr. Williams’s booming, slightly exasperated voice to come through the line. “You still remember I’m your father, huh? I was starting to think you only cared about your work and forgot about the family.”

Dennis arched a brow, his tone smooth. “Dad. Weren’t you the one who always said, ‘Country comes first, family comes second?’”

That shut the old man up for a beat. Then he grumbled, “Sure, I said that, but does that mean I get to see you, what, twice a year? Don’t think I don’t know you’ve had fewer assignments lately, yet you’re still hiding out in Harrisburg. What’s so great about that town, anyway? You can’t even come home for a game of chess?”

Larry pulled a face, part admiration, part dread. He used to think he was hot stuff at chess—among the younger crowd, nobody could touch him.

Then he played Dennis.

He still remembered that night—game after game, until he was completely cleaned out, even his lucky socks lost in a bet. He’d seriously wondered if the board was rigged, because nobody should lose that badly.

Eventually, he’d had to face the facts: Dennis was just that good. And Larry had sworn never to play him again.

If he did, he told himself, he’d eat his own hat.

Still, he couldn’t help but give credit where credit was due. “Gotta hand it to Grandpa Williams, though. Guy’s got guts. Takes his losses on the chin and keeps coming back for more. I respect that, man. I really do.”