Page 66 of Brock’s Mate

“Maybe later, Spanky Boy. I’m busy here.”

“What are you working on?”

She muttered, “No fucking privacy,” but he could tell she wasn’t really mad, because she answered the question. Not to mention the fact that she didn’t growl at him.

Her fingers still moved with precision as she said, “I’m experimenting with pendants. If the glazes come out right and they don’t break in the kiln, then I might start putting them up for sale.”

A surge of pride went through him. “Good for you. Let me know if you need any help with a website or anything.”

“Getting a little ahead of ourselves, aren’t we?” But he could see the tiny smile at the corner of her mouth. She liked when he was supportive—she just wasn’t used to it yet.

“What do the symbols mean?” he asked.

“They’re Japanese.” She indicated each one with her carving tool. “Perfection. Innocence. Heroism.”

Well, hell. That wasn’t much to live up to. “I thought that inspirational-type jewelry went with things like ‘Believe’ and ‘You are Enough’ and shit.”

“Really? You think that’s my brand?”

“Okay, when you put it that way… you just be you.”

“All the fucking time,” she said. Which made him smile. He touched her shoulder before leaving, and to his surprise she caught his hand and pressed a kiss on his knuckles. “Wait till I get this in the kiln, and then we’ll talk about that cage obsession of yours.”

Well, that was enough to make him hot. Brock wandered the studio impatiently while Desi finished up. Just as she was putting the clay away, Nick walked in through the wall.

“Hey,” Brock greeted him casually, before he saw the look on Nick’s face. “Is everything okay?”

I hope so, Nick said into his mind. When was the last time you saw DB?

Brock tried to think back. “Not sure. That night at the cabin? Why?”

Nick said, Because yesterday he was supposed to come by and watch hockey with Britt and me. He never showed, and he’s not answering when I call.

“He does disappear. Sometimes for a week or two at a time.” But Brock knew as he said it that this was different.

I know. But… he’s never not answered when I called him directly, ever since he gave me the amulet. Not for this long.

Desi came up. “Is everything all right?”

“Probably. We just haven’t heard from DB for awhile, and he’s not answering the Batphone.” He nodded at Nick’s amulet, which he was holding in his ghostly hand, rubbing his thumb over the engraving. “Nick is checking to see when was the last time we saw him.” He turned to Nick. “Have you been down to the house yet?”

Nick shook his head.

“Let’s go.”

As they walked down, Brock thumbed a message into the group chat on his cellphone, asking if anyone had seen DB since the night of the battle at the cabin.

He knew some of the crew were out working—Kitty at the garage where she rebuilt vintage cars, some of the others doing legwork on PI jobs for Brandon’s firm, Colt working on a construction job with Titan helping him.

But they’d all get the message. Replies started to ping in as they walked.

All of them came in with a negative.

Again, not cause for undue alarm. But… it really wasn’t like DB, not to be where he said he was going to be, and just let them worry. He liked feeling like an honorary part of the crew.

Desi was reading the messages over his shoulder, biting her lips. She said to Nick, “Is there any way you can check up on him? Where he lives, I mean?”

Nick shook his head and gestured to Brock, since Desi couldn’t hear him talk without some kind of help. Brock took her hand—as long as she was touching him, she should be able to hear Nick too.