Bonnie lifted a shoulder. “I always preferred the dough.”
Noah laughed with her and, after a moment, Indie joined in.
Over the next hour, they baked cookies and ate ridiculous amounts of raw dough and M&M’s. Technically, the town was in lockdown, but house-to-house visits were still happening so that everyone could check in on each other and stay sane.
It was nice. Throughout the years, Bonnie had convinced herself that she’d never gotten along with her siblings. But now, standing here, she wasn’t sure that was true. Before they’d hit their teenage years, theyhadgotten along. And the three of them had done everything together. Noah was the oldest, so he was usually the leader. Indie was the pragmatic one and the most safety conscious. While Bonnie, as the youngest, was up for anything and just happy to be included.
How had she forgotten?
Or maybe shehadn’tforgotten. Maybe it was just too hard to think about while there was so much separation between them.
Indie checked her phone. “Colt will be here to pick me up in a few minutes. I’m just going to pee for the fiftieth time today, because baby likes doing gymnastics on my bladder.”
When Indie left, Bonnie turned back to Noah. “Where’s Addie?”
“She’s with Jules. I’m going to pick her up later. She’s under strict instructions to keep the house locked and remain inside until I get there.”
The light feeling of a few moments ago faded, and she was thrown back into reality.
She pulled an M&M off the cookie in her hand. “Any more progress finding and detaining those felons?”
“Actually, yeah. Someone held up the grocery store today. Holden was there. He took the guy down. Apparently, it was quite the heroic act.”
“The grocery store.” Bonnie swallowed. “Some of them aren’t even trying to hide.”
“Well, when they’ve been threatened to stay in town, they already know they’re going to get caught.”
It was unbelievable that Monty had done that. But it also wasn’t. Zane had told her the lengths Monty would go to hurt him. He wasn’t wrong.
She glanced down at her cell. Still no response from Zane.
She lowered the cookie to her plate, appetite suddenly nonexistent. “So that leaves…five, right? There were nine—three have been arrested and one dead.”
“Yeah. Five to go.”
Her phone suddenly vibrated, and a rush of air slipped from her lungs when she saw who it was.
Zane: I’ve done nothing but think of you, Bonnie. Are you safe?
Zane’s words made butterflies flutter in her belly.
Bonnie: I am. Are you?
Zane: Yeah. No sign of Monty, which is both a relief and annoying as hell. How’s your arm?
Bonnie: I barely feel the wound.
“That Zane?”
She glanced at her brother. “Yeah. I hate being away from him.”
“It’s not forever.”
“That’s what he said.” And yet, it didn’t make it any easier.
Noah cleared his throat. “I’m glad you have him.”
“Really?”
