Page 98 of Bourbon and Lies

He leans back and squeezes my shoulder. “You’re family. Which means we’ve got you now. No matter what.”

Maybe it’s the way he says it, like that’s already a foregone conclusion. Or that he says it with that damn shoulder grip the Foxx men do, but it makes my chest feel heavy and my eyes water. If he says anything else sentimental, I just might burst into tears.

“Alright, I need to get Twerk back to the stables.”

“Twerk?”

“I’ll give you one guess at who’s thoroughbred he might be,” he deadpans.

“I’m not even a little bit surprised.” I smile.

“Sir Twerks-a-Lot. That’s what she named a horse that was bred to win a triple crown.”

I laugh at how easily he’s riled by her. “Brilliant marketer. I’d bet on a horse with a name like that.”

“Brilliant people are always slightly unhinged, so I suppose it tracks.” He knocks on the door before he tips his chin. “Close up behind you?”

I nod, pulling together the last of the packaging that the string lights had come in. “Oh, and Laney, for what it’s worth. I know that what brought you here was ugly, but I’m still happy you found your way to us.”

Fucking Ace. My eyes blur, and I tuck my lips behind my teeth. I wait until he’s out of sight before I let myself fall apart. Puffing out my cheeks, I let out an exhale slow enough to calm my shit down. Then I chuckle to myself as I hear his horse whinny. They might not be cowboys, but Grant was right when he said horsemen and bourbon boys.

I turn toward the open double doors when I hear Julep barking. Walking a little closer, I can’t see much other than the lights from the main house in the distance.

“I’m here, Jules,” I call out and purse my lips to whistle. It's not as loud and polished as Grant’s, but it does the trick because she comes barreling into the rickhouse almost straight past me. She must be coming to see what’s taking me so long. When she barks this time, it’s loud, like she’s talking to me, but more aggressive than her usual greeting.

“What’s wrong, girl?” I look out into the dark from where she just came, and I can’t see anything. “Where’s your dad? Is he back yet?”

But she stands in the same spot, no butt wiggling or rolling to her back for a belly rub, which is odd. Instead, she sits tall in place, just barking at me, loudly and with conviction.

“Alright. Let's go,” I say to her just as I flip off the lights.

The loud pop of a firecracker has me stopping. My body tenses as my heart pounds. I look out again at the dark, open space, and the other rickhouses in the distance are closed up, no lights on. The main house is lit, but far enough away that if Griz was lighting off fireworks, I’d see it in the sky. I glance at the workbench where I left my water bottle, but no phone.Shit. I left it on the counter at Grant’s.

Julep sits next to where I stand, waiting for me to make a decision. Follow the sound or wait and listen. Another one goes off. When I reach to flip the lights back on, her low growl nudges at the nerves stirring in the pit of my gut.That wasn’t a firecracker. Firecrackers pop off more than once, in succession, and it would have lit up the sky. Even if it was small.

Goosebumps rise along my skin before I even feel the chill that caused it.Something isn’t right.I look toward the stables, and I can’t see anything more than the lights outlining the stalls. I swallow down the nerves as an old pickup truck pulls up slowly,with only its yellow parking lights on. It comes to a stop at the edge of the driveway.

Julep growls by my side as the person hops out of the driver's seat. “Dave? Is that you?”

But it’s not Dave, Tim, or any other of the rickhouse guys who answer. Instead, what rings out is a voice I didn’t want to remember. One I’ve only heard once and only a few words at that. But those few words have haunted me. “Been looking for you, my little thief.”

My stomach sinks, and I’m instantly lightheaded. But I don’t wait to see if I’m going to wake up. I hit the lights, making it dark as night, and hustle back inside the rickhouse, whisper-shouting, “Julep, come.” She follows me down the main aisle to the farthest rack aisle from the door. Even if he flips the lights back on, this is still the darkest spot here.

Julep growls another low hum, her snout pulled back.

I pet her head and slowly wrap my hand around her snout. She needs to keep quiet. I softly say, “Quiet, Jules.” She listens. And we wait.

The silence as we crouch low evolves into a loud static. I struggle to listen.Please go away.

Mere moments tick by before the lights flip on. “You hiding like this isn’t exactly what I expectin’. Hunting is my favorite part, little thief.” He sounds too calm when he says, “This is going to be more fun than I hoped.” He shuffles his feet. “I’m going to find you. And it’s going to besofulfillin’ when I do.” His voice echoes in the large space. “Woowee! I plan on playing with you for a good, long while too.”

I shuffle back, my hand still around Julep’s mouth, trying to keep her as quiet as possible.

“Come out, come out wherever you are, pretty little thief.”

My hands and arms shake as the nerves and adrenaline mingle. If he walks down the other side of the building, awayfrom where we are, we’ll be able to get out through the side exit. Julep rumbles a low growl, my hand muffling it, but she still hums. She knows there is danger.

“You took my last little plaything. And all my favorite parts of the others.” The echo of his voice gets louder as he moves down the main aisle. “I had a very special piece of flesh filleted and brining for a while. It would have been real nice with the little bits of you I plan on sampling.”

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