Page 106 of Bourbon and Secrets

I started falling in love with Faye Calloway on the edge of a cornfield, on a stage, over a bottle of bourbon, and every time she’s been in my arms since.

Chapter 38

Faye

Grizand I follow the doctor until she stops us right outside of a closed door. A man stands just to the right of it, wearing plain clothes with a gun holstered to his belt on one side, and on the other, a silver U.S. Marshall badge. Griz holds my arm as he mumbles, “Goddamnit.”

But it’s not until the door opens and we’re escorted inside that I understand exactly what’s happening. My sister is sitting up, fully clothed in what looks like fresh clothes, hair wet and slicked back, and ice packs bandaged to her side.

My eyes water as I rush out, “Maggie, you’re okay.”

Her chin quivers as she nods and says, “I’m okay.”

And to her right, there’s a woman who looks familiar, but I can’t place. And Del.

“Bea.” Griz addresses the woman. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me right now.”

I try to figure out what the dynamic is here. It dawns on me that Del was married to Bea a long time ago and that she tradedup her Fiasco PD badge for the shiny star that sits on her right hip, reading: U.S. Marshall.

“Del, what are you doing here? What’s going on?” I ask, nerves taking over as I scan everyone’s face.

“Faye,” Bea says as she leans against the farthest wall. “I’ve heard a great deal about you over the years from Del. Your mom too.” She looks at me, then at Maggie when she says, “Listen, I’m going to make this short and sweet. I’m pissed off that I’m already back in Fiasco, folded into more drama with your damn family, Griz.”

He grits his teeth, his thick ‘stache barely moving when he says, “Stop grumbling and tell me exactly what’s going to happen here.”

But it’s Maggie who responds. “I’ve shared information with the FBI that might put me in danger. And because of that, until that information can be used properly?—”

Griz cuts her off and looks at Del, “You knew about this?”

“I knew Maggie was in over her head, but I didn’t realize how much. You know Bea’s the last person on earth I want to call for help.”

She pulls out a clove cigarette, whispering, “Fuck you, Delaney...”

Del gives her the side-eye. “So me calling in a favor with my ex-wife—again, I might add—should say a lot about the severity of this, Griz.”

Griz tips his chin towards Bea. “You seem to be collecting and owing a lot of those lately.” He settles his attention on me, asking, “Are you going with her?”

Brow furrowed, I glance at Maggie. I wasn’t planning on going anywhere.

“Before you answer that, Faye. The entire reason I’m even looping you both into this is because there’s some overlap here.And”—she tilts her head to the side—“I think you should all be aware of it beforehand.”

Griz exchanges a nod with Bea first before he says, “I vowed to never break this promise. Betray her trust. But you’ve both gone through enough of this life without knowing.”

Confused, I lean against the wall and listen, paying attention to the way Bea types away at her burner phone. She says, “Del, that’s your cue to leave.”

Del gives me a tight-lipped smile as he walks in front of me. “Whatever you decide here, I’m proud of you.”

I bite the corner of my lip, trying to keep from sobbing like a baby at hearing him say that. “Appreciate that, Del,” I choke out. After wrapping me up in a big hug, he waltzes out the side door without looking back. I blow out a shaky breath.

Griz looks at me and gives me a smile, but his hand runs along the back of his neck. It’s the most anxious I’ve seen him. Reaching into the inside pocket of his jacket, he pulls out a folded-up postcard and hands it to me.

I glance at Maggie before I take it from him. The softened paper is worn along the edges like it’s been open and folded far too many times. On its front are faded, blue-tinted mountains surrounded by wildflowers in the foreground. And in bold, block letters it reads:WELCOME TO HIDEAWAY, MONTANA. When I flip to the back, there’s a coffee ring stain in the upper left corner and is addressed to Griswald Foxx in a looping cursive handwriting that I’d recognize anywhere. It has my heart stuttering.

Mom.

In the note section, it reads:A lifetime wouldn’t have been enough.

“What is this, Griz?”

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