“Yeah. I’m good actually. What we’ve learned so far is enough for Miah to take to Melissa’s uncle as proof, and Cleo is safe for now. She will wake up eventually, I know she will, so I won’t be proxy for much longer. Besides, we’re so getting married soon, and I can’t wait to tell all those bitches I used to hang with that I caught one of the elusive Lane brothers.”
Case grunts at that and I hear Jace wheeze out a breath at my spiteful glee.
“I’ll let Trace join you for that one, since she’s been dying to kick some socialite butt for years.”
“Nope, I’m taking Ellie with me for that, because Trace wouldn’t let me get a word in edgewise, if at all,” I joke, enjoying his rich laughter at the thought of the whirlwind that is Tracy Lane set loose on people she can’t stand.
“She’s a ball buster, my baby. Ain’t it great?” he coos, his eyes going distant and dreamy as he thinks of his woman.
Case’s eyes roll almost to the back of his head, and we’re so relaxed right now that I jump and screech when Jared’s phone beeps and he answers with a frown.
“We’re almost home…. No, it went okay…. Yeah, man, he was great…. No, Miah, I told you before we can’t just go barging in, not till I find Melissa…. Yes, I know that, bro, but Roman did me a big solid today and I will not repay his help by leaving his girl to hang in the wind. Calm the hell down.”
He frowns and I hear a lot of yelling and some curses that make my ears burn as Miah loses his cool and goes off on a tangent.
“No, you listen to me, Miah. Roman is one of us and I’d trust him with my life. Hell, I trusted him with my life today and he got her out of there in one piece. He’s your best friend, man, a little faith wouldn’t kill you…. I said fucking no and that’s all I’m saying to that. We’re going to find a way to wake Cleo. No, Paulie’s going to call her sister tomorrow and talk to her brother-in-law.”
They keep arguing and I finally hear Jared sigh.
“I’ll find Melissa and then we can go from there, bro.”
His words make me freeze and I bite my lip with a frown when the conversation continues, centered on Melissa Dobson and the danger she could be in.
It shocks me to learn that Chief Dobson passed away in an apparent suicide, and I feel the tension rolling off Jared as the minutes tick by and he and Miah keep arguing the subject to death.
“Uh. Jared?” I say quietly when he finally ends the call and lands a fist to the back of Case’s seat.
“Hey!”
“Sorry, bro,” he mumbles and I clear my throat again and call his name hesitantly.
“Yeah, baby?” he finally mutters, turning to face me with a frown.
“Uh, I think I can help with finding Mel Dobson,” I squeak, trembling nervously when all three men turn their gazes on me and focus so hard, I feel like a cow at market.
Jared’s eyes narrow and he leans in close, his breath warming my cheeks.
“You know where she is?”
“Uh, no. I don’t know, know, but…Ronny might, I think. She and Mel go way back, and if anyone knows where your cousin, sorry, brother stashed her it’s going to be Ronny,” I confess, biting my lips when his eyes narrow further.
“You didn’t tell me this because…”
The last eighteen months and the hell I’ve suffered have taught me a lot about not trusting too much, and while I trust the Lanes with my life, I’m not sure Roman would be too stoked at them going after the woman if he wanted her hidden and off the grid.
The only reason I’m even telling them any of this is because if something happens to me or Ronny, I wouldn’t like to think of Melissa being all alone and waiting on a man that might not return to get her.
“Because Roman and Melissa obviously do not want her found yet. Look, guys, I’m just a lowly woman with a heart full of romance, alright, so cut me some slack here. Melissa is probably fine and hiding out waiting on your brother to come for her when he can. I’m only saying something now because if something happens, she should be with us, not alone somewhere, clueless and still waiting.”
That mollifies them and we’re silent as we turn into the drive and wait for the gates to open. When we do finally get out of the car and I stretch my aching legs with a groan, it’s well past midnight.
Not too late for a welcome home committee, I see when the door bursts open and everyone besides Al comes piling out, still fully dressed.
Miah and Wyatt are on us all in a moment, and I accept their hugs before Mama falls on me with a cry and some kisses that should be illegal in this state.