Jonah nods in agreement. I lock eyes with him and then Mike.
“I’m not gonna sugarcoat it,” I say. “There’s a more than fair chance that one of us will catch a bullet, or we’ll all get caught. I’d understand if some of y’all want to sit this one out.”
The three of them exchange cautious glances. Finally, Jonah shakes his head.
“Nah, brother,” he says. “We’re with you.”
“A hundred percent,” Austin says.
“I appreciate everyone coming to bat for this one.” I relax against the couch, oddly relieved considering the mission we’ve all just agreed to move forward with. “Jonah, you’re my muscle. Austin, you’re my recon man. Mikey, I’m gonna need you at your B-and-E best for this.”
Mike grins. “Whatever you need, detective.”
“All right, boys.” I lift my can of cola in thanks. “Let’s throw a private party at this fucker’s house he won’t forget.”
Chapter Twenty-one
Holly
Teagan and I return to the house just before sundown, spent and dejected. At least, I’m dejected. Since Mike and Austin are still there, Teagan picks up her phone and orders enough pizzas and wings for everyone.
It’s clear from the conversation while we wait for the food that Cal and his friends have come up with a plan, though they seem reluctant to discuss the details in front of me. I catch snippets of the discussion while lounging on the floor with Teagan, Joey, and Burger. The big furry guy has taken to pressing his massive noggin to my stomach so I can I scratch him behind the ears.
When Cal makes a move to go upstairs after wolfing down a couple of slices, I follow him, using the excuse of the day’s insanities. He closes the guestroom door behind us and immediately draws me in close.
“I’m sorry we haven’t had a chance to be alone since you got back,” Cal says. “So much has happened in a day. How’re you holding up?”
“I’m okay,” I tell him. “Tired, but okay.”
Teagan drove us to West Knoxville where we checked out places Kenzie and I had frequented before we moved into the motel. I was feeling anxious about having to approach people, so Teagan let me hold Burger’s leash while she pulled up Kenzie’s Instagram profile on her phone. Most people were willing to talk to us. However, no one claimed to have seen Kenzie.
“You and Jonah both said something at dinner about having to wake up early tomorrow,” I say. “Are you guys going somewhere?”
“We might be.” He slips off his button-down and then grabs the hem of his tee shirt. “It’s better if you don’t know the details.”
“Why’s that?”
I sit on the bed. Cal hangs his shirts in the closet, then unbuckles his belt.
“Because one day you may be asked to testify in a court of law about your knowledge of certain events, and I’d rather you didn’t feel the need to perjure yourself on my account.”
“I guess that means I’m not coming with you.”
Cal steps out of his pants. Just the sight of him standing there in nothing but his boxers makes my pulse flutter.
“I’m afraid this is one mission you can’t tag along on, sweetheart.”
“Is it dangerous?” I reach for his hand. “Should I be worried?”
He shakes his head, though I sense tension in his body. “You and Teagan just concentrate on holding down the fort while we’re gone.”
“That’ll be tough. We still have a lot of places to check out tomorrow. Thankfully Jonah’s sister, Mary, offered to babysit Joey in the afternoon.”
I can tell he wants to object to this plan, but he knows there’s no use in fighting me. Especially now that I know he’s about to run off and do something very illegal and possibly very dangerous.
He tucks a lock of hair behind my ear. “You were all right out there today?”
“I was. I mean, it sucks that we didn’t find Kenzie, but it felt good to be out there doing something.”
It’s kind of amazing, actually. I didn’t think I’d ever be strong enough to function without Kenzie. Yet here I am, pushing myself to do things that terrify me.
“You and Teagan seem to have hit it off,” he says.
“She’s like, unbelievably nice, and so...cool. I desperately want her to let me do her makeup. She told me she’s apprenticing with a tattoo artist and plans to open her own studio someday.”
“I’ve seen the work she’s done on Jonah’s back,” he says. “She’s definitely got talent.”
“Jonah’s really nice, too. And Austin and Mike. All your friends have been so welcoming.” I nibble my bottom lip, debating whether or not to bring up something we both heard today. “Did you hear Teagan call Jonah, Daddy, earlier today?”
He chuckles. “I sure did.”
“Do you think she said it because of Joey, or do you think she calls him that in private?”
“I don’t know. But I know it’s been too damn long since I heard you say the same.” He strokes the side of my face. “I’m glad you had a productive day, sweetheart. But I’m sure meeting all those new people still felt pretty overwhelming.”