Breathless (Steel Brothers Saga #10)(72)

“And we believed him,” I said. “Why did we believe him?”

“Because we were nine.” Joe took another sip of his drink. “We were nine fucking years old, Bryce.”

“Why is it all so fuzzy? It doesn’t make sense.” I shoved my hand through my hair. “My father killed him. My father killed Justin.” After doing God only knew what else to him, though I couldn’t say the words aloud.

“And then threw him into the river, no doubt.”

I took another sip of my bourbon and let it burn a new trail down my throat. “Surely the police were called, right?”

“I don’t know, man. This is your father we’re talking about.”

How well I knew. “But Justin’s parents…”

“These men got away with everything,” Joe said. “None of this should surprise us.”

My best friend was right.

“I haven’t given him a thought in all this time,” I said. “Even now the memories are like a faded dream. But what else could Morse have on us?”

“I have no idea.”

“We were nine. We’re innocent. I don’t know what he thinks he’s going to accomplish. He says he doesn’t want money, but what else could he be after?”

“He’ll get none from me,” Joe said. “Not a fucking penny, not after he tried to blame me when I rescued his son.”

“Do you remember Justin’s last name?” I asked. “I know it’s in my head somewhere, but I can’t bring it to the surface.”

Joe shook his head. “We should be able to find it, though. He attended school in Snow Creek. There’d be records.”

“How do we get them?”

“Jade is the city attorney. She has access.”

“To school records? Minors?”

“I assume so, and if she doesn’t, Mills and Johnson can find it.”

“That means we have to tell either Jade or Mills and Johnson why we want the information,” I said.

“No fucking way.” Joe let out a huff. “I’m worried they’ll find it anyway. I guess it’s up to us, then.”

I downed the last of the brown swill in my glass. “I guess so.”

If we could find Justin’s last name, we might be able to locate his family and discover whether Ted Morse or anyone else had contacted them recently.

Or…

We could be walking into a giant trap.





Chapter Forty–Seven





Marjorie





I eyed Colin, anger rising. “Say what?”

Jade fidgeted, twirling her thumbs together. “For what’s to come? What does that mean, Colin?”

“That’s all I can say.”

“You absolutely do not waltz into our home, drop a bomb like that, and then leave us hanging,” I said, my cheeks warming with rage. “Not fair, Colin. Not fair at all.”

Jade stood, her face paler than it had been seconds ago. “I’m not feeling very well. Oh, shit!” She ran out of the living room.

“Now look what you did.” I balled my hands into fists. “Talon’s going to come in here, really pissed, and once I tell him what you just said, you’d better watch out.”

Colin stood. “I need to leave.”

I rose, blocking his exit. “Think again. My brothers are just down the hallway. All three of them. They’ll hear me if I scream.”

“You have no idea what I’ve been through,” Colin said.

“Maybe I don’t. We’re all truly sorry about what Tom Simpson did to you. But that doesn’t give you the right—”

He held up his hand. “I can’t say any more. My father will…”

“Will what? What will your father do?”

“Let’s just say he’ll make everything worse if I do.”

“You said you didn’t know what he was up to.”

“I don’t. But I suspect he’s up to something. I honestly don’t know what, Marj. You’ve got to believe me.”

“Then why did you come here?”

“I already told you. To tell Jade I’m sorry. For…everything.”

I finally let him pass. “Go. Get the hell out of here. And thanks for nothing.”

After Colin left, I checked on Jade in the powder room. She had her heaving under control and assured me she was fine, so I trekked to Talon’s office. The door was open, and Talon and Ryan were talking.

“Where’s Joe?” I asked.

“He got a text from Bryce about an hour ago and took off,” Ryan said.

The mention of Bryce’s name sent a quick shudder through me. “Is everything okay?”

“He didn’t say otherwise,” Ryan said. “How’d it go with Colin?”

I filled them in. “Jade got so upset she had to leave. She’s in the bathroom.”

Talon stood quickly. “I’ll take care of her.”

“She’s okay. I just checked on her.”

He left anyway.

Ryan stood then. “I should go. It’s late.”

“Ruby’s still in the family room with Mel.”