Page 78 of Mustang Summer

“Did she plan it?”

Jesse dropped his hand.“Josie?Wha—Is that why you’re here?You thinksheplanned to steal your car?”

“Yes.”

Jesse sat forward and out of the corner of his eye, Brock saw Farah shift into a less leisurely stance.Tension was thick in the room.

“My sister didn’t fucking steal your car, Walker.Once upon a time, I might’ve done something stupid like that.”Jesse’s gaze flicked to Farah, who cocked her eyebrow.“But Bill always made sure Mom and Josie stayed out of it.He’s an asshole, but that’s his one redeeming quality.”

“Then why isn’t she answering my calls?”

“You can’t get ahold of her?”Color leeched from Jesse’s complexion.“Farah, can I try calling her?”

Farah narrowed her eyes on both of them and pursed her lips.“You just had a visitation.You can’t have phone privileges on top of it.”

“For fuck’s sake, I’m worried about my sister.I left her at the mercy of a loser father and an ex who’ll do God knows what to get her back.Or just do it for himself because he’s a selfish bastard.”

Brock latched onto his statement.Rage bubbled.“What would her ex do?”

Jesse snorted.“Gage?Not keep his hands off another woman, that’s for sure.But he thinks so much of himself and her dumping him didn’t sit well.He’ll find a way to back her into a corner.”Jesse shoved his finger in Brock’s face and Farah drifted closer, her hand on her taser.“If he finds out she was with you, that’d be enough to put her back against a fucking wall.He’d use that information to get Bill to cut off her money and—”

“I’m sorry,” Farah interrupted, “but isn’t your sister an adult?”

Brock ruminated on the details while Jesse’s mouth twisted in a sneer.“Does your daddy pay your wage?”

Farah’s expression was frosty.“No.”

“Josie’s always worked for him.I’ve only ever worked for him.Everything was always about the business.It paid the bills.I was supposed to get the place, but he kicked me out when Gage wormed his way into Josie’s life.I think the old man secretly hated how Mom doted on me, probably knew she wished my dad never died.But Josie was his and he controlled her.Told her where she’d work, what she’d go to school for.She thinks she’s taking care of him, thinks he needs her around, when really, she can’t afford to strike out on her own.”Jesse shot Farah a pointed look.“Not everyone is born with money.”

Farah stiffened, but Brock wasn’t concerned about whatever drama was between them.

Brock made up his mind.He didn’t have a plan, just knew what he had to do.“What’s your address?”

“No, dude.Let me try calling first.”Jesse pushed back like he was going to run out to the phone.

Farah stopped him just by holding her hand up.“No calls, you’ve already gotten a visitation today, but—”

“Fuck privileges, it’s my sister!”

“But,” Farah talked over him, “Brock can call from our phone.If she answers, we know she’s avoiding him.If she doesn’t answer, then itmightindicate a reason to worry.”

Brock was up and squeezing out the door before Farah could open it all the way.

She trailed behind, keeping Jesse under guard, as Brock snatched the receiver of the hallway phone and dialed Josie.

It rang until her voicemail kicked in.

He slammed it down.“Dammit.”

“Try again,” Jesse and Farah said at the same time.

Brock did and got the same outcome.

Jesse rattled off her address.Brock didn’t need to write it down.He gave Jesse and Farah a nod and stalked out of the jail.

Blinking in the sun, he bee-lined for his truck.His tank was three-quarters full, making for at least one gas stop before he reached Waite Park.There was barely any cloud cover, so no storms between Moore and Josie’s hometown to delay him.

Josie bouncedher leg on the arm of the couch.She was going to scratch the paint off the walls if she had to wait much longer.What must Brock think of her?Did he assume she was in on it, that’d she’d stolen from him?

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