Page 124 of Maximus

“Sure, buddy.” I reached down and picked Eli up, plopped him on the countertop, and looked around for something for him to do.

We were surprising Eva with tacos. One of two meals I could make that was edible.

“Here.” I moved the bowl of half-smooshed avocados next to Eli and handed him a fork. “Smash ‘em up.”

Eli happily went to work and Liam continued to grate the cheese. Together, we got so lost making Eva dinner that when I looked up, another ten minutes had past.

Fuck this shit.

Twenty minutes was too much.

I pulled my phone out of my back pocket and dialed her number.

Straight to voicemail.

I waited a moment in case she was trying to make a call and tried again.

Voicemail.

I sucked in a breath trying to tamp down the panic I told myself was unnecessary and dialed the office.

“Lo,” Garrett greeted.

“Track my truck.”

“Come again? And hello to you, too, dick.”

“Garrett, please track my truck.”

“Damn, brother, someone steal it? Thought that house was good—”

“Eva took my truck to go to a job interview.”

I glanced back in the kitchen, keeping my eyes on the boys but walking far enough away they couldn’t hear me.

“It’s sitting on Chesapeake Avenue near Sixth Street. Hold on, let me check the address.” Garrett paused a moment then continued. “Looks like it’s actually in the parking lot of Bakers Delight.”

“Do me a favor, call the bakery and ask if anyone’s seen Eva, then ask them to go out into the parking lot and check to see if she’s in the truck.”

“Tell me what you’re thinkin’.”

“I don’t wanna think anything, Garrett. I just need to know if Eva’s there and I can’t make the call myself with the boys in the next room. Both of them pick up on everything. Especially Liam. If I give him one inclination something’s wrong, he’s gonna panic.”

“I’ll call you back.”

Garrett hung up on me and for the first time since I’d met the boys, I closed down. They needed me stone-cold and focused.

I walked back into the kitchen, went to the stove, and started pushing the ground beef around in the pan.

I was overreacting. I had to be.

My phone vibrated and I pulled it out and read Declan’s text: Garrett called. We’re on it. I’m on my way over. Everyone else is going out to look.

My hand shook as I tossed my phone on the counter and lowered my head.

This could not be happening.

Then dread hit my gut and I snatched my phone back up and shot off a text to Zane: Where the fuck is Joshua Lemont?