They drank in silence for a while, coffee and quiet filling the space between them.
Winter came up from the bunkhouse with coffee in hand, Rip and Boston trailing close behind.
“Where’s Dave?” Winter asked.
“No clue,” Stone said, swallowing the last of his coffee. “Maybe he’s down in the interrogation building.”
“That unusual?” Sage asked as he climbed the wide front steps, laptop tucked under one arm.
“Not really,” Viper said, stretching his shoulders. “When Dave’s here, he’s always busy.”
Behind Sage, Law stepped onto the porch, a fresh cup of coffee steaming in his hand.
Brrrrrng. Brrrrrng. Brrrrrng.
The ranch phone rang loud enough to rattle the walls. Cookie had wired the damn thing through the mess hall, bunkhouse, and interrogation barn—his way of making sure someone else answered it.
So, when Stone heard Cookie’s gravelly voice on the second ring, he figured it was because they’d just rolled back in from a mission last night.
“Ranch house. Yeah, hang on,” Cookie barked. Footsteps thudded across the floor, the old boards creaking under the cook’s weight.
Stone looked over as the screen door swung open.
“It’s for you or Dave,” Cookie said, holding out the receiver.
“Where is Dave?” Stone asked, frowning as he took the phone.
“Haven’t seen him since five this morning.” Cookie scowled, then turned and stomped back inside.
Stone watched Cookie go, the phone warm against his ear.
“Hello?” he said, stepping around Law and heading down the front steps.
Static hissed on the line before a voice cut through—rough but steady. “It’s Titus.”
Stone froze, his hand tightening until the receiver creaked. Heat flared through his chest, sharp and sudden. He turned, eyes locking on the men watching from the porch.
“Where are you?” His mouth was so dry that the words scraped coming out.
“Still in Vegas,” came the rasped reply. “Got shot by my brother.”
Oh fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
They’d brought Tatum back with them.
The phone slipped from Stone’s hand as he spun, yanking the sidearm from his holster in one motion.
Rip, Winter, and Law reacted instantly, weapons up. Viper grabbed the phone just as Black and Micah came pounding up from the bunkhouse.
“Who was it?” Boston called, already sliding the ankle pistol free.
“Titus—he’s in Vegas!” Stone shouted, breaking into a run.
“The fuck!” Viper barked, bringing the phone to his ear. “Hello?”
Stone didn’t hear the answer. Dread, fear, and raw nausea tangled in his gut, drowning everything else out.
Only one thought cut through the noise—
