Inside is just as busy as the grocery store. The tables scattered around the front are almost full, making the space feel even smaller. Thankfully, there isn’t much of a line, so I’m able to head straight to the checkout counter.
Gage grins at me. “Hello, big daddy!”
I roll my eyes, ignoring him. He’s been like this since he was knee-high to a grasshopper. “You got the cake ready?”
“Yep. And I threw in some chocolate cupcakes too ’cause I know those are Finn’s favorite.”
And there’s the reason we all put up with Gage’s bullshit. “Thanks, man. He’ll love that.”
“I’ll be right back.” He disappears behind the swinging doors to the kitchen. Ten seconds after he leaves, Nix saunters out to the front. I grit my teeth to keep from scowling at him, but it must not do any good.
“What’s that sourpuss face for?”
I grunt. The smirk on his face tells me he knows exactly why I’m not his biggest fan.
“How’s Farrah? We haven’t hung out in a while. I should bring her lunch one day at school.”
“You little shit.”
He laughs before growing serious. “You know we’ve only ever been friends, right? She’s a good girl and wouldn’t have touched me with a ten-foot pole.”
“Wouldn’t want to get any diseases.”
He grabs his chest like he’s wounded. “Ouch. I’ll have you know I’m up-to-date on all my shots.”
Much to my annoyance, I can’t fight the snort that comes out. Nix has always been good at gettingme to laugh.
“You’ll treat her right? She’s been through more than any person should, and I don’t even know all the details. I can recognize trauma when it’s staring back at me though.”
The Basil boys rarely talk about how they got into the foster system. Holt was a baby when Muriel and Stan adopted him, but the rest of the guys came at different ages with varying degrees of trauma behind them.
“She’ll get everything I have to give her,” I say solemnly.
Nix nods in understanding. Before he can say anything else, Gage comes out with two boxes stacked on top of each other.
My phone rings as I’m paying him for the baked goods. The unknown number makes me pause, but then I see it’s from Wyoming, and I gesture at the guys to wait a second while I answer.
“This is Knox.”
“Knox, this is Detective Sanchez from the Ulrich County police department. I’m sorry to bother you, but I couldn’t get a hold of Farrah. I wanted to let you guys know that Mr. Tiernan is in custody for a parole violation. I’ve been swamped with this murder investigation, so it took a bit to check on him. Looks like he’s been in custody for the last three weeks.”
“That’s good to know. Glad he’s… Wait. Three weeks?”
“Yeah, he got picked up in early August, right after he was released, for assault, attempted murder, and possession of a firearm. He almost killed the guy, but he was too drunk to aim accurately. Looks like he’ll be going away for a while.”
“Then who the fuck has been following Farrah?”
“She’s being followed? I didn’t realize that. She just asked if I could get Mr. Tiernan’s location.”
“Fuck. I have to go.” My gut is rolling right now. Something isn’t right. Farrah would have answered that call no matter what she was doing. There’s no reason for her to miss it unless something’s happened. I dart back to the guys who aregiving me twin looks of concern. “I gotta go check on Farrah and Finn.”
I’m walking out the door with Nix’s words at my back. “We’ll bring the cake out later.”
I should never have left them alone at the house. I could’ve had Holt or Grayson bring the cake out. Why did I think everything would be fine?
I have the exact same feeling I had almost seven years ago when Leona nearly killed Finn.
Please, for the love of God, keep them safe.
