Page 161 of On The Rocks

“Well, let’s see if anyone is at the taproom at least. If not, then we can go hunt down Beckett or Justin. They’re supposed to be working on the new cabin today.”

“Not sure anyone will be working today.”

He slung his arm around my shoulders. “I don’t mind playing hooky today.”

I pinched his side. “You never do.”

We locked up, and the drive to the taproom was quick. Elmer had his big goofy head out the window with his ears flapping.

There were a lot of cars in the parking lot. My Jeep, for one, and Kain’s truck.

“Oh, shit. We didn’t call Kain last night.” Griffin turned off his truck. “Shit.”

“A lot was going on last night. I’m sure someone called him. Helena would have contacted Bells.”

“Yeah. I hope he’s not pissed.” He got out and came around to my side to open my door and lift Elmer out and set him on the ground.

He did circles around us before taking off up the walkway only to return to make sure we were following.

We went around the back since there was yellow tape around the front doors and railings. I could here banging the closer we got to the patio.

“My freaking kitchen is toast.”

“Hell,” Griffin muttered.

Beckett was talking to someone in a suit. Maybe the arson guy.

I followed Griffin up the stairs to the dining room and my heart sank. There was water damage everywhere. “My bar.” I rushed forward and gasped at the buckling along the bottom of the walnut bar. Most of the floor was water damaged—all the new flooring that had been put in when it opened.

Smoke and wetness warred for the smells of the room. Something metal on metal hit with a crash. Griffin rushed forward. The door to the kitchen hung half off its hinges. Probably from when the firefighters were spraying down the room.

Inside was awful.

My eyes pricked at the ashes and wet drywall that was cut out in massive sections. The fire had climbed up behind the grill, nearly to the ceiling.

Thank God, it hadn’t gotten bigger, but the whole kitchen still was wet and caked in soot.

Kain threw a sheet pan from the hallway.“It’s all fucked!”

“Kain, enough! That’s not helping.” Griffin stood in the middle of the chaos. The large square prep table had warped from the heat and a scorch mark marred the center.

Kain’s hair was down and wild. I was pretty sure ashes were in his beard too. He thundered toward Griffin, and I rushed forward. Kain had one hell of a temper.

But instead of screaming at him, he wrapped his massive arms around Griffin. “Thank God, you weren’t hurt last night,bruh.” He lifted him off the floor and shook him before he let him down and came at me.

“Len.” His voice was rough with emotion.

I hugged him, letting him envelope me in his warmth for a moment. “I’m sorry about the kitchen.”

“I just got everything how I like it.” He grunted, then he let me go. “The arson guy made a bunch of notes, but he wouldn’t say a fucking word.”

“He’s out with Beckett now, I think.”

“Suit guy with a shitty mall haircut?”

I laughed. “That’s him.”

“Bah.” He went back down the hall and I heard more crashing.

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