The woman gave her a worried look. “I’m just telling you what the system says. It’s fully paid for.”
“Does it say who paid it?” She didn’t know why she asked. There could only be one person who had paid for it.
Well, two people.
“I can’t tell you that. Sorry. Is there an issue?”
“No issue. I just need to talk to someone about this. I won’t be using the room, are you able to refund his card?”
“I’m sorry we can’t do that.”
With a sigh, she left. Well, she guessed if he wanted to waste his money it shouldn’t affect her.
But she would be paying him back.
If she ever saw him again.
8
“Idon’t think this is a good idea,” Shaw said, eyeing the diner with some trepidation.
Shit.
Eli watched him closely. He’d lost a lot weight and there was a sunken look to his face. As well as dark marks under his eyes. He looked like he’d been through hell and back.
Which is exactly what happened.
And now he had the nightmares to accompany the terror he’d gone through.
Who could blame him for trying to find a way to numb his feelings and memories? Eli sure didn’t. But some people would.
Shaw had disappeared for some time after his discharge from the Navy. He’d stopped answering their messages and calls, forcing Eli and Kellan to go looking for him.
When they’d finally found him, he’d been a mess. Eli had been scared that he wouldn’t make it.
But some time spent with Duncan’s calm demeanor and Laken’s sweet caretaking was definitely helping.
Well, they’d thought it had been. Until the other night when they’d gotten a call in the early hours of the morning that Shawhad tried to harm himself. They’d rushed to be with him. And they’d stayed with him for the past two days, requesting more leave so they could take care of him.
Duncan, Laken, and Remington couldn’t do it all. Hopefully, their other brothers would turn up soon to help.
Their youngest brother, Joe, was still at college studying to be a doctor. Wyatt and Carson were both working on oil rigs. They were the oldest two of the Jones brothers. Followed by Kellan, Eli, and Duncan. Then Remington, Shaw and Tucker. No one had been able to get hold of Tucker. The last time Eli heard from him he was in Costa Rica taking photos of the wildlife.
Fuck.
Kellan would have to try to track him down. Last, was Pierce and Joe. Joe was in college while Pierce was part of a band that was touring the UK currently. He’d be home as soon as he could too.
They weren’t always that close. There were over eighteen years between Wyatt and Joe. But in the house they’d grown up in, they’d had to stick together to survive.
Their father had been a complete asshole and it was only because of the oldest ones taking care of the youngest that they’d all survived.
Survive, yes. But thrive?
No.
Kellan had had the worst relationship with their father who hadn’t liked anyone who seemed different. Kellan hadn’t been into sports like Duncan, Wyatt, and Carson. And he’d been smaller back then. Weaker.
Of course that had all changed. Kellan hit a growth spurt at eighteen and he’d also hit the gym.
