Page 184 of Come Back to Me

“Fromus?”

“No. From Clyde.” He purses his lips. “Wouldn’t be surprised if that’s why Theo didn’t tell Colt. I know he did at the start, but her state is deteriorating faster than the doctors predicted.”

“Nothing’s stopped him from sharing it now that he’s in jail.”

Bast laughs. “You seriously think he’ll see the inside of a cell for long?Ha. Doubtful. Cells are for the poor, Cody. But you wouldn’t know anything about that.”

My brow lowers, but how can I defend my inheritance? I can’t.

He continues, “If Clydedidkill Clay, can you imagine what he’d think about Mom claiming to be Clay’s girlfriend? He mowed down Marcy Armstrong’s mother… What would he have done to Mom if it came out that she was accusing him of killing Clay? Even in death, Clay’s powerful enough to open a cold case investigation?—”

Because he’s right, I hold up a hand. “I get it.” It’s a dumb time to bring this up, but I can’t stop myself. “Colt’s nothing like Clyde. You’d think Theo would know that.”

“Theo’s scared. We all are. We’re already losing her. We don’t want to accelerate that with interrogations,” he mutters. “Plus, Theo’s… Theo. He’s close-mouthed on the best of days. What with Colt being in the honeymoon phase still, I don’t think Theo’s doing much more than telling him the bare bones.

“Then there’s the fact that he’s foreman for the Seven Csandthe Bar 9, which, to be frank, has been a godsend financially.”

“Bast—”

“No. You’ve done enough as it is. I figured you’d send in some help for a few hours a day—not have two nurses come and live in. You’ve… You’re a good friend, Cody. Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it. I mean it,” I grumble when his mouth opens to argue. “How’s Blanche coping having strangers around?”

“Grandma hates it, but I know she’s relieved. She can finally rest. Maybe she’ll start healing. She fucked up her leg when she had a fall earlier this year. It doesn’t help that she feels guilty about being relatively well while Mom… isn’t.”

I wince. “That must be hard for her. Look, I have a couple more nurses coming around?—”

“Two?”

“Yeah. They’ll work in shifts.”

“Good thing the house has plenty of bedrooms.” His tone’s dry, but how he sags against the wall says it all—they need the extra hands.

“Tell me if one of them doesn’t work out. There’s no harm in swapping. This is your house. Elena and Blanche’s comfort is what matters the most.”

He plucks at his bottom lip. “You’re making me feel like a real asshole for that situation with Samantha.”

“Youwerean asshole.” I smirk at him. “You can’t change your personality, Bast.”

“No, it’s too late for this old dog to learn new tricks.” He peers out onto the yard. “So, you and Christy MacFarlane, huh?”

“What about us?”

“I saw you squeeze her hand.”

“So?”

“Ahh, like that, is it?”

“Like what?” I grumble.

He taps his nose. “I’ll keep it on the DL if the next time you come over, it has nothing to do with a case, my mom, and everything to do with a six pack of beer.”

I hold out my fist for him to bump. “Sounds good to me.”

Twenty minutes later, the windows are down, Tee’s hair is blowing in the wind, my hat was almost lost to the same breeze, and Brogan’s stuck his head out of the back window for some fresh air.

“Feels a little Bonnie and Clyde, doesn’t it?” she whoops.

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