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“We have a problem,” Henry muttered.
Mason rolled his eyes. “I’m sure you can handle it.”
“No, it’s a big problem.” Henry glanced down the hall both ways before slipping into Mason’s room and shutting the door.
“You realize that shutting my door won’t do you any good if anyone is in the rooms beside mine. The remodel might have made everything look decent, but they’re still thin walls.”
“Everyone is downstairs right now,” Henry muttered as he moved closer. “When was the last time you saw Carter?”
“I don’t know, yesterday?”
Henry shook his head, his arms folded over his chest. “No. He wasn’t in his bed two nights ago. Not even three nights ago. Honestly, I can’t remember seeing him for at least a week. Do you think someone is covering for him?”
Mason stared at his book but was unable to read the line he’d been working on. This couldn’t be happening.
“Elijah wanted to know where he was, but no one could place him. He’s not picking up his phone, and the work truck is missing.”
Still, Mason didn’t move. This had been something he was worried about in the back of his mind, but then, after what had happened with Harley, he’d let it slip. Slowly, he lifted his gaze to his brother. “Where do you think he went? Have you tried calling around? Maybe someone in town saw him.”
Henry frowned. “Don’t you think I’ve tried that already? No one has seen him in at least five days. I don’t know how he managed that with his chores, but that’s what I’ve figured out with asking around. I don’t know what he thinks he’s doing, but he’s barely out of high school. He can’t have any plans. I doubt he has money. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he dipped into the family emergency fund.”
“Have you checked it?”
“What? The fund? No, why would I do that?”
Mason tossed the book to the side. “Because we have a much bigger issue if Carter decided to steal from the family before he ran away.”
Henry’s hands dropped to his sides. “Ran away? You think he actually ran away?”
“Yeah, why? What did you think he was up to?”
“I don’t know. Maybe he drove down to Nevada to do some gambling. He’s been really angry lately. I just figured he needed to burn off some steam.”
Mason shook his head, muttering, “No one ever listens to anyone around here unless it suits their own needs. I can’t believe you didn’t realize he’s been wanting to escape this lifestyle.” He made his way past Henry, but his brother’s arm shot out and blocked him.
“And you knew? Why didn’t you tell anyone.”
Mason shrugged away from Henry’s touch. “To what end? Do you honestly think it would have helped anything? Of course it wouldn’t. It’d only prolong the inevitable. If Carter wants out, then he’s gonna get out. The best we can do now is try to find him and bring him home.”
Henry snorted. “With that logic, he’s gonna stay gone if he wants to stay gone.”
“Whatever. Are you going to help me find him, or are you going to stand there being upset because you weren’t smart enough to see when our baby brother was hurting?”
Neither one of them was willing to admit they were in the wrong, but there was one thing they could agree on.
They needed to track down Carter before Wade and Elijah found out. Those two would have a fit—especially if he stole money from the jar they kept in the cupboard above the fridge.
“Come on then,” Henry muttered. “Where do we look first?”
Mason pulled out his phone, opened the find app, and then muttered a curse. “He locked me out of seeing his location.”
Henry leaned over his shoulder. “He used to share that with you?”
“Yeah, but not anymore.”
“Why didn’t he share it with me?”
Mason gave him a flat look.
