Page 1 of Derecho

Lachlan

THREE YEARS AGO…

“I really think you should let me take some photos of you working on it. This car is…the amount of work you’ve put into the restoration is incredible, Lach. I’m proud of you.”

My little sister, Jessie, was absolutely beaming at me, somehow bouncing up on her tiptoes while still managing to maintain her balance. I tried not to hover; Jessie was almost to the point in her pregnancy where she could give birth, and I was the family member tasked with making sure she didn’t over do things today. Well, at least until I could get her out to the ranch later. She had a bunch of girly baby shower shit to figure out with our mom and her friends once she was there.

An auto garage wasn’t an inherently safe place for a pregnant lady, but try and tell that to my sister—who’d been working here with me for the last few years. Honestly, she was a godsend in the office, dealing with all the paperwork bullshit that I didn’t want to even think about.

“You think it could really be something?” I asked, running my hand along my jaw to stop myself from reaching out for her. I knew I’d get my hand slapped away if I tried, and pissing off Jessie wasn’t a part of my game plan—for today. I was still her older brother, even if I was the youngest brother she had, and that’s just what brothers were supposed to do.

“Yes. If we market this in the right way, I think you could have people calling here for all sorts of projects. It might be just what we need to keep this place open!”

It wasn’t much, but my mechanic’s shop was my happy place. Somewhere that I could go to just find some peace and quiet, away from my big family. Away from the expectations. I’d always felt I needed to do more at our family’s ranch, even though that life would never be for me.

Yeah, sure, I wasn’t swimming in success over here, but there was something to be said that all the older ladies in town trusted me with their oil changes. Even if my sister was pissed at me because I never charged them for that service. Some things were more important than money.

Running my fingers across the freshly sealed paint of the car I’d been restoring in my free time, the stiff muscles in my shoulders and back finally relaxed. Jessie had already disappeared into the office while I let my mind wander.

Could I really do it? Could I still take care of all the cars that needed service in town and focus on more projects like this?

I hit the controls on the lift to raise the car. Jessie could get some shots of me working underneath…that would look good for advertising.

Just as the car reached the lift's upper limits, the door behind me opened, a small chime coming from the bell we had hanging over it. I turned, taking in the two men standing before me. One had his hands in his pockets, eyes scanning the place, while the other seemed surprised to see me standing there, watching them.

“Sorry, guys. Shop’s closed today. If you’ve got car trouble, you can leave it with me, but I won’t be able to look at it until tomorrow at the earliest.”

My shoulders squared, something in the pit of my stomach ringing alarm bells.

“Hmm. We certainly were expecting this place to be closed. A real fucking bummer that you’re here. Anyone else in here with you?”

I coughed, my eyes bouncing to the tool cart next to me. Jessie was in the office. My super pregnant sister who I was in charge of keeping safe today until we got out to the ranch. Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.

“Nah, it’s just me. Working on a pet project.”

“Mack, check the office. Maybe we’ll get lucky and she’ll be here. Sure as shit would save us some time.”

“There’s no one else here.” I could hear the desperation in my goddamn voice. And based on the smile that crossed this guy Mack’s face, he’d heard it, too.

“Ah, looks like it is our lucky day.”

Jessie walked out of the office, her hands held over her belly. While the two men were distracted looking at her, I wrapped my fingers over the largest wrench on my cart, slipping it down next to my leg.

Fuck. Jessie’s face had drained of all its color, and her eyes were wide as she walked back toward me. “What seems to be the issue? I heard my brother explain the shop is closed today. We can help you if you stop back in tomorrow.”

“See, that’s the problem. My friend and I won’t be in town tomorrow. And what you have, well, we really need.”

“A car part? We haven’t kept spares here in years,” Jessie answered. “If it’s something other than a basic air or oil filter, we’ll need to order it in. And I was just looking over the orders—there’s nothing here that isn’t already accounted for.”

“Not a car part, honey. We have a very particular client who won’t be very happy with us when he learns we’ve misplaced something valuable of his.”

“I’m not following how we can help.” I shrugged, my feet inching closer to my sister. I could tell she was trying to put on a brave face, but she’d started to sway beside me.

I needed to get her out of here.

“Not you. Her. We need to know where it is.”

What the hell? “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Jess shook her head as she ran her hand over her belly.