Stompingmy snow-covered boots on the mat, I strode into the office of Wyatt’s shop with Wes close behind me.
“Why did he want me here?”
“I guess we’ll find out,” I said as we walked up to the counter.
When I hit the bell, it only took a minute before Wyatt appeared, followed by Bailey, who had a huge smile on her face. But when our eyes locked, a sadness crept into them that I knew all too well. I saw it every time I looked at Liam.
They were both devastated without one another, and I would give anything to help them out, but you couldn’t fix other people’s relationships. So, I directed my gaze back to Wyatt.
“You called?” I said with a hint of sarcasm in my voice.
“Yeah, Bailey’s working on Jeff’s truck.” His eyes moved to Wes. “You broke it, you fix it.”
“What?” Wes’s eyes were huge as they flicked between Wes and Bailey.
“I already arranged it with the old man. Until the truck is fixed, you’re working here.”
“Mr. Callahan is alright with that?” Wes asked warily.
“Said you needed to know how to properly fix a truck if you were gonna be of any use.” Wyatt shrugged. “Bailey will get you coveralls. Your time starts now.”
Wes glanced over his shoulder at me, then followed Bailey into the garage. For just a second, I was actually grateful to Wyatt.
“Thank you.”
“I didn’t do it for you,” he growled. “You said you could help me. Was that all bullshit?”
For just a moment, I basked in the glory of Wyatt needing my help. After all the shit his family had given mine, it was nice to have the upper hand for once. But then a pang hit me square in the chest—that agonizing feeling of not knowing if the love of your life was alright.
I’d already been through that several times with Blake, and I would give anything not to feel it again.
Wyatt had no clue what happened to his wife, according to local gossip. I always wondered if maybe he got rid of her. His whole family was fucking psychotic. It wouldn’t surprise me if he got annoyed with her and took her out.
But why would he accept my help if that were the case?
“It’s not bullshit,” I answered solemnly. “But if I’m going to help you, I need everything you have on her.”
His eyes narrowed on me. “What are you accusing me of?”
“I’m not?—”
“My wife is missing,” he bit out. “She’s been gone for five years. Do you really think I’d hold anything back from you?”
“Fair enough,” I answered, trying to keep things on an even keel. “All I meant was that I need all the information from her past. Anything that might seem insignificant could help me find her.”
That seemed to appease him, but he was still wary as fuck. “What makes you think you can find her when no one else could?”
“Because I have contacts.”
“Those friends of yours,” he sneered. “The ones who blew up your house. You want me to trust them?”
He had a point. “In all fairness, the robot blew up my house. Security is what they do, and they have some of the best researchers I’ve ever seen. Trust me, if anyone can find your wife, it’s them.”
Sighing, he slumped down in his chair. Scrubbing a hand over his face, this was the lowest I had ever seen Wyatt. He didn’t let anyone beyond that tough exterior. But right now, I was seeing a man who was utterly worn out.
“You have a place we can talk?”
Nodding, he stood and motioned for me to follow him. Heading into theback, he closed the door to his office and offered me a seat across from him. It was everything you’d expect from a mechanic. The desk was piled with paperwork and a thick coat of dust touched every surface. Heap on top of his business, his wife was missing, and you had a man who was hanging on by a thread.
