Page 102 of Bourbon and Proof

My phone buzzing incessantly wakes me from the most uncomfortable sleep of my life. With a stiff neck, I swipe on my phone to find a wall of texts from my brothers.

LINCOLN

Going to need an update about what’s going on, Ace.

GRANT

I’m on my way down to the hospital now. Laney is going to head over to your house, Linc.

LINCOLN

Sounds good. Faye had to tap in and help Del with something. Any word on Griz?

ACE

Nothing yet.

LINCOLN

Alright I’ll be down there soon. How’s Hadley?

“Tell him I’m good but could use a little best friend time,” she says, reading over my shoulder.

I pocket my phone after firing off one last text and hold her hand as we make our way toward the nurses’ station. “I’d like to see Griswald Foxx,” I say as the nurse types away on her computer.

She gives me a tight-lipped smile. “Sure thing, I’ll be right back.”

Never underestimate the power of a well-placed pawn,Griz said once when I was young. It seemed like there were millions of ways to play the game, but the smartest moves happened when you were thinking at an average of six steps ahead. He’s always been the best at that part—seeing what might happen and a dozen different alternatives. He’d never do anything that would sacrifice his queen. On the board and in life.

Hadley tilts her neck as we wait, working out the kinks from being knocked around last night and sleeping in waiting room chairs. “Can I ask you something?”

I kiss her fingers that are clasped with mine. “Anything.”

“Before we got separated, you wanted to talk to me. Was it about finding a way to”—she clears her throat, lowering her voice—“make sure my father was out of the picture for good?”

Just then, the nurse returns to the station desk with Del on her heels. I know exactly what’s transpiring behind the double doors. It has my chest tightening all over again. “Del.” I nod, holding my hand out to shake his.

Hadley tenses up, brow furrowing. “Del, is everything okay?”

He glances at me, and then tilts his head to follow him back. “I swear, you and your brothers are really going to force me to retire. C’mon, Faye’s already here. She said you two were out cold in those chairs when she arrived.”

I clasp his shoulder. “You’re a good man, Del. Thank you.”

As we reach a room at the end of the hall, I lean closer to Hadley to answer her question. “Making sure your father was out of the picture was to protect you...and to help him.” I nod at Griz as we walk into his hospital room.

I cross my arms over my chest as Hadley rushes to his side.

“Griz,” she says on a clipped cry, wrapping her arms around his neck. “You scared the shit out of me.”

I can tell by his widened eyes and the quick glance at Del that he wasn’t expecting to see us. He was planning to use this unfortunate situation to his advantage if he could. It would make a planned exit a little easier on him.

He’s bandaged up, arm in a sling, but he’s dressed, no oxygen or wires anywhere. He looks fine, minus the bandage and splint covering up the stitches from a bullet hole in his knee.

“A bit surprised to see us?” I ask him, and then mumble, “Pain in my ass, Griz. If you’d just waited or talked to me.” I glance at Del. “Is she here yet?”

He shakes his head, then checks his phone.

Griz tilts his head at me, probably assuming I’m referring to Agent Bea Harper. A U.S. Marshall, who’s shown up countless times at our front door for some reason or another. The last time led to Laney finding a life here after she was deposited on our doorstep. I know Bea’s found her way back to Fiasco a couple of times since, but I was still looking to cash in a favor the U.S. Marshall owed me. I’m done losing people.

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