I stared at the text for half a second, then pushed away from the wall, snagging a hoodie off the back of my chair. The simple act of dragging it over my head sent a spike of heat across my ribs, but fuckit. Better to rip the stitches than let Rusty’s kid stew long enough to lose his nerve.
I found Mason and Maddox in the home gym, half-assing some weights while a game blared on the mounted TV. Raine lounged on the bench, scrolling his phone like he had nothing better to do than heckle them.
“Field trip,” I said, jerking my chin toward the door.
Maddox grunted, dropping his barbell with a clank. “That sounds promising.”
“Or suicidal,” Mason added, mopping sweat off his face with the hem of his shirt. “I’m in either way.”
Raine pocketed his phone and pushed to his feet. “We taking the fun car or the subtle one?”
“Subtle,” I said. “We’re meeting Jesse.”
That wiped the amusement off all three of their faces.
“Are we bringing the little monster?” Raine asked, meaning Kaylor.
I shook my head. “Evan is staying to make sure she doesn’t leave the house.”
Mason snorted. “Poor Evan.”
Ten minutes later, we were in the SUV heading toward town. I texted Jesse a location, an empty lot two blocks from his dad’s shop. Neutral enough.
He was already there when we pulled in, leaning against his truck, baseball hat pulled down low over his eyes, shielding part of his face, hands shoved into his pockets like he was trying to disappear into himself. His shoulders went rigid when he spotted our car.
Raine stayed in the driver’s seat, engine idling. Mason and Maddox flanked me as I stepped out, Jesse’s eyes flicking to my side, to the way I subconsciously guarded it with my arm. “What do you have?” I asked, no small talk.
Jesse’s eyes flashed between us, landing briefly on the SUV’s tinted windows. “He’s making his move tonight.”
Ice trickled into my veins. “And that would be what?”
“I don’t know.” He pushed the words out. “He doesn’t tell me the details. But he mentioned a cabin.”
Something scratched at my brain, but I couldn’t figure it out.
Beside me, Maddox shifted, crossing his arms. “You sure about this? If you’re wrong, let’s just say it would be very bad for you.”
“You wanted to know the next time he reached out,” Jesse snapped, cutting him off. “This is all I have. If I start asking too many questions, he’ll get suspicious, and how would that be any help to you? I’m all you got.”
Fuck. He was right, and I hated that Jesse knew how much we needed him. I liked to be the one calling the shots, the one with the advantage. “We need to know where this cabin is,” I insisted.
He swallowed. “I’ve never been.”
Eyeing him, I tilted my head. “Why do I sense a but?”
His throat bobbed once. “Kaylor has.”
My brows hiked up.
Jesse took off his hat, running a hand through his mop of dirty blond hair, revealing the bruising mottled along his cheekbone. “He took her up there to hide out from you and your family.”
“Think he’s telling the truth?” Mason asked.
I didn’t take my eyes off Jesse. “He’d be dead already if I thought he wasn’t,” I said. “Get in.” When Jesse didn’t budge, I threw a look over my shoulder. “I’m not giving you a choice. You’re coming with us.”
“Shit,” he mumbled under his breath, glancing between my brothers and me. “Fuck.” He limped to my SUV, favoring one leg, and climbed into the back seat, sandwiched between the twins.
Mason grinned, stretching an arm across the back seat like they were on a damn road trip. “Well, this is cozy.”
