Page 97 of Chasing Callie

“You’re such a cunt.” The word tears from my throat as I grab my fork, ready to plant it somewhere painful. Brax’s hand shoots out and snatches the utensil away before I can follow through. I’m not sure if I should be happy or annoyed that he knows me so well.

“By the way.” Theo’s smile turns razor-sharp. “Did you boys find what you were looking for at the town hall?”

The threat hangs in the air, a grenade falling in slow motion. All three guys push back from the table simultaneously, their chairs scraping against the floor with an ominous screech. Some tourists around us gasp, realizing that there’s about to be a fight, but before anyone can throw the first punch, the manager hustles over with panic written all over his face.

Theo flashes his most charming smile. “Don’t worry, slick, we were just leaving.”

“But Theo—” Penelope starts to protest.

“Shut up.” He gives her a vicious look. For a moment, I feel a flicker of pity for her. But it’s there and gone in a millisecond. She doesn’t need my pity. She needs a new personality.

They head for the exit, and two massive dudes exit too, blocking my view of them, but that’s probably for the best. Neither of them deserve another second of my attention.

I roll my eyes and turn back to the table. “Can we all agree that those two were made for each other?” We all share a laugh that breaks the tension that’s been building around us.

I can’t wait for this lawsuit bullshit to be over.

I nurse my second mug of coffee, watching the guys move around each other like a well-choreographed dance. Brax flips pancakes while Jax butters toast, and Knox leans against the counter with his arms crossed as he waits for the bacon to finish. Three mountain men cooking for me? It’s a fucking dream.

“Planning on staring at us all morning?” Knox’s voice cuts through my thoughts.

Heat creeps up my neck. “Just enjoying the show.”

Jax snorts. “Knox trying not to burn the bacon is always entertaining.”

“I’m not burning the bacon,” Knox grumbles then curses. He turns off his burner and grabs the tongs to rescue the bacon before it’s very well done.

Jax and Brax trade looks with one another then glance at me. I smirk. We all know Knox struggles with bacon. It’s his kryptonite, though he hasn’t stopped trying to perfect cooking it.

The normalcy of the moment hits me square in the chest. This banter, this easy rhythm. I’m part of their unit again. Another piece of the puzzle. I’ve missed them so much. There’s so much time to make up for, but every day we spend together fills my heart.

A rough knock rattles the front door, startling us all out of the moment. My eyebrows shoot up as Knox frowns.

“Expecting company?” I ask. Please don’t let it be Theo. That asshole has already ruined enough small moments.

Knox shakes his head and sets his mug down with a sharp clink. His work boots thud against the hardwood as he stalks toward the front of the house. Jax and Brax watch him, and the concern lining their faces makes my skin prickle.

“Knox.” A male voice carries from the porch. “Are your brothers home?”

Officer Martinez? He used to catch us causing trouble all around town, but he always let us off with warnings.

“Everything all right?” Knox’s tone sharpens.

Jax and Brax abandon the food they’re monitoring, faces grim as they follow Knox to the porch. I turn off the griddle so the pancakes don’t burn and creep closer to the doorway, my heart slamming against my ribs.

“What’s going on?” Jax’s voice carries an edge I’ve never heard before.

“I’m really sorry about this, boys.” Antonio’s exhale sounds heavy, weighted with something awful. “I need you all to come down to the station for questioning.”

I rear back. What the fuck is going on? Does he know that Jax and I spray painted that hunting blind?

“Questioning for what?” Knox demands.

“For the murder of Theo Martin and Penelope Hartley.”

The words almost bowl me over and my hand flies to my mouth, stifling the gasp that tries to escape. Penelope is dead?

How?