Cody gripped his shoulder. “But you didn’t. She’s here. Alive. Safe.”
“Yeah. That’s what I need to keep reminding myself.”
Jace frowned. “So the asshole you found in the mountains, Morris, is he…”
“Alive. But the second he’s out of the hospital, he’s going to be dragged into prison for the rest of his life.” He didn’t stand a chance of avoiding his fate.
Charles and Lenard had also been arrested for taking bribes to keep their mouths shut about Jarrad’s little operation. They’d pled innocence and were awaiting trial, but they both knew what was coming.
The coroner had also been arrested.
“What about Jamie?” Kayden asked.
Eastern frowned. “She’s still not doing too well. Her eyesight in particular isn’t great. They’re not sure if it will ever go back to what it was. I did go visit her a few days ago, and she was pretty quiet. Just told me again that she’d made a lot of mistakes.”
“She did,” Kayden agreed. “Avery deserves more. I’m glad she has Sadie.”
Eastern nodded. “Me too. She also has you guys and Harper and Tilly.”
Jace cleared his throat. “And now that I’m back, I can take my rightful place as favorite uncle.”
Cody shoved his shoulder. “Get off it. I’m the favorite and we all know it. That kid loves my bar pretzels.”
Kayden frowned. “Hey! I’m the uncle who takes her for cookies at Sugar and Spice. She tells me I’m the favorite every time.”
Eastern chuckled as he shook his head. “She loves all of you. Wealldo.”
Kayden looked at Jace. “So, now that you’re back, you and Elle gonna be as close as you used to be?”
There was a flicker of emotion on Jace’s face. It came and went so quickly, Eastern couldn’t quite name it.
“I actually haven’t seen her yet. I need to visit her at the café.”
Once upon a time, the two had been inseparable. “When was the last time you saw her?”
“Dad’s funeral. We didn’t get much of a chance to talk though. I pretty much came and went.”
Eastern remembered. They’d each handled the passing of their father very differently. Kayden had been angry. Cody and Eastern were the stoic funeral organizers. Nylah was emotional. Lock had been nearly silent, while Jace had arrived then left so quickly, barelyanyonehad talked to him.
“The friend she worked with, Macy…she was killed not too long ago, right?” Jace asked, brows tugged together.
Eastern’s features hardened, but it was Kayden who answered. “Yeah. Stabbed to death in the mountains. Thank God the case got solved and the murderer was identified, but it doesn’t bring her back.”
Jace’s frown deepened. “Elle doing okay since?”
“She seems to be,” Kayden said. “But I think she’s good at keeping her feelings to herself.”
Jace nodded. “She was always like that.”
“You all moved into Mom and Dad’s old place?” Eastern asked.
Jace nodded. “Sure am. It’s like I’m sixteen again, only stronger and better looking.”
Cody scoffed. “You wish.”
Across the yard, Sadie and Avery rose from the seat, and while Avery sat back down, Sadie made her way into the house.
Eastern set his beer beside the grill. “I’m just gonna head inside.” He turned back to look at Jace. “It’s good to have you home, brother.”
