“Hmm.” He looks out the windshield. “I don’t have to tell you what will happen should you break her heart, do I?”
“Is that a threat, Cap?” I ask, a grin on my face.
“Let’s hope it doesn’t have to be. I love you like a brother, Sawyer, but she is my sister.”
“I would never hurt her,” I say, tone serious. “Ever.”
“Good.” Zane puts his truck in reverse and backs out of the spot, then heads toward the highway. “You’ll be the one taking the hit for this trip. Just FYI.”
“Why me? You’re her brother. She could choose not to forgive me.”
Zane laughs. “I’m still letting you take the heat. Let’s see what you’re made of.”
By the time we’re pulling back into the parking lot between my shop and Anastasia’s, it’s just before closing time. Weston’s truck is still parked just outside, and now, so is Ryker’s. Seeing them both here brings me immeasurable relief.
“Good luck,” Zane says as he puts it in park.
“Coward,” I reply.
Zane laughs. “I’ve been on the receiving end of Anastasia’s wrath. I’m happy to sit this one out. Call me if anything comes up or if you hear from Jack.”
“Will do, but my guess is you’ll hear from him first.” I push open the passenger door, grab the bag with my laptop in it, then shut it and head for Anastasia’s shop. Weston and Ryker are both seated at my usual table, while Anastasia chats with a woman at the register, so I opt to go sit with them for a few minutes.
Anything I can do to buy time for the fact that Zane and I just met with her ex-boyfriend.
“It been quiet around here?” I ask as I take a seat. Unfortunately, my back is to Anastasia, but since both men are sitting facing her, there was no other option.
“Yeah,” Weston confirms.
“I’m actually surprised to see you. I figured Zane would call us because you’d been arrested for assaulting a man with a badge,” Ryker jokes.
“He did threaten to arrest me. Though it was for digital crimes he’ll never be able to prove.” I glance over my shoulder just in time to catch Anastasia smiling at me before she finishes off making the order. “How’s she been?”
“In relatively high spirits,” Weston replies. “We got her apartment door fixed. Both need to be painted, but?—”
“I’ll handle that.”
“Garrison said you’d told him to leave them unpainted.”
It’ll give me a reason to hang out after closing. That way, I can convince her to let me sleep in the spare bedroom. “Thanks for fixing the doors.”
“Of course. What did you find out?” Weston asks.
“It’s not Jack.”
“I didn’t think it was,” Ryker says. “I would have been really surprised if I’d been wrong.”
“He wouldn’t hurt her. That much is clear,” I say.
“He going to help?”
I nod at Weston’s question. “We left the stuffed cat and the bug with him. He said he’d be in touch with any information.”
“Good.” Weston nods past me. “Looks like it’s closing time. Have fun breaking the news to Anastasia.”
I groan as he and Ryker stand. “Not you two, too.”
“Hey, not my girl. Not my confession.” Ryker holds up both hands.
