Buck kept one eye out, hoping to spot a flash of strawberry-blond hair. He ached to look into Sterling’s light green eyes again. Maybe Buck would never get to touch Sterling again, but the thought of not getting to see him was a weight sitting on his chest. A movement at the edge of his vision had Buck’s head whipping toward the barn door. Tip strolled inside with his forehead furrowed. Buck couldn’t decide if the guy was angry or worried. Either way, Buck had a bad feeling he should make himself scarce. Tip was Sterling’s big brother. MaybeSterling had finally taken their issues to him. That was his right. Unfortunately, this was Buck’s job and home.
Buck almost took a step back when Tip’s long stride brought him Buck’s way. “Have you seen Sterling?”
Oh, no. Buck swiped his sweaty palms on his thighs. “No. Why?”
Tip shook his head. “He was supposed to meet me for breakfast over an hour ago. I’ve tried calling and texting, but he’s ignoring me.”
Fuck. Without a single thought or care for how he looked, Buck darted from the barn.
Tip was right on his heels. “What the fuck, Buck?”
Buck motioned toward the closest farm truck. “Get in.”
His mind raced as Tip barely made it inside the vehicle before Buck was off.
“Seriously, Buck. What’s wrong?”
Buck tried to explain through the panic that choked him. “He hasn’t been right since he came home. I thought it was maybe just me. Last night, I overheard him saying he might not return to Miami. He refused to give a reason. But there was something in his voice.” Buck shook his head. “I don’t know. He’s just… notwho he used to be,” Buck finished lamely. He was too panicked to think clearly enough to explain.
“He doesn’t plan to return to—”
Tip’s words died an abrupt death and Buck’s heart dropped to his shoes when Sterling’s front door came into view. The screen door stood wide open, blowing slightly back and forth with the wind. The front door stood just as wide.
Buck barely had the truck in park before he leaped from the vehicle. He hit the ground running at full speed. His feet froze so abruptly when he reached the door, he almost fell on his face. The place looked like a tornado had ripped through. A baseball bat sat in the center of the destruction. It might not have stood out if it wasn’t covered in blood.
“Holy shit.”
Since Buck’s throat was nearly swollen shut, he let Tip’s outburst speak for him as well.
Tip rushed through the house and darted from room to room before returning to the living room. “He’s not here, but every single room is trashed. There’s more blood in the bedroom.”
They met and held each other’s stare. Buck knew they were on the same page. Sterling had finally let the demons win.
Tip broke first. He whipped out his phone. “Call everyone. Let’s spread out and search the property.”
Buck nodded along. “You call the police. I’ll try his phone and pray he’ll answer me.”
They gave each other a sharp nod.
Tip stepped outside while Buck dug out his phone. He paced while he pulled up Sterling’s number. “Please don’t be dead. Please fucking answer.” Buck repeated the chant as he hit the call icon.
A ringing sounded in the distance. Buck followed the sound to Sterling’s bedroom. There was a hell of a lot more blood than Tip had let on. In the middle of Sterling’s obliterated trophies, Sterling’s phone rang and vibrated across the floor. Buck went down on his haunches and scooped it from the mess. The screen was heavily shattered, and Buck’s name flashed through the cracks. Actually, it said,My Love. Buck disconnected the call. Sterling’s phone stopped ringing. He sniffed. The shock slowly melted, and reality struck. Sterling had really done it. He had gone to the only place Buck couldn’t follow. Maybe Buck wouldn’t last much longer either.
Chapter Five
Quietpressedsohardon Buck's eardrums, he thought he might go deaf. He continued sweeping Sterling’s house long past clearing up the mess. Buck didn’t want Sterling to find a single sliver with his bare feet when he came home. He had to believe Sterling would be back. The alternative was unthinkable.
Buck had offered to stay behind and clean. Also, in case Sterling came home while everyone else searched the property. If they found Sterling dead, Buck couldn’t be there for that. He had already run through every scenario in his head. Now he was just exhausted. Buck’s chest hurt like never before. This was his fault. Buck had to own that. Sterling had always been a ray of sunshine, acting goofy and making everyone laugh. He was irresistible. Buck didn’t think he could be blamed for falling inlove. Everything that happened afterward, that was him. He had broken Sterling down and demolished everything good inside of him. The worst part was Buck was the adult. Buck had raised a son to adulthood. He knew better. In his eyes, Sterling had always been grown. Despite him bringing everyone else happiness, when no one watched, he turned serious, and his eyes changed. Buck had seen the unhappiness and never stopped to think maybe he was the one causing it. The least he could do was clean. He had nothing else to offer.
The front door opened.
Buck nearly hit his knees in relief until he realized it was Tip. Something died inside him at Tip’s expression. He looked tired, stressed, and heartbroken. Buck couldn’t move. He couldn’t speak. Everything inside him was poised on the edge of a knife.
Tip moved to the couch and sat. He met Buck’s stare. Buck swore the man saw him all the way to his soul. “The police found him.”
That one line had Buck ready to step into traffic.
Thankfully, Tip kept talking without making Buck ask. “He was walking aimlessly down Old Country Road. They say he was nude and covered in blood. They said he was practically nonverbal. Once they determined the blood was his, they called for an ambulance.”
