Within ten minutes, Hank was making his way to me, sympathy in his eyes. “Jorie just left. She told me about Thomas. I’m sorry, sweets.”
I shrugged to stave off the tears. I’d been obsessing about how I felt since Jorie had walked away, and Hank talking to me nearly sent me over the edge. For some reason, when men showed me sympathy, it made me feel things more intensely. I wasn’t sure if it was because my father showed a little compassion, or it was just a universal thing that women felt when men allowed themselves to be vulnerable for half a second. Men holding and cooing to babies, men crying, men admitting they were afraid or just showing sensitivity, in general, had always made me overly emotional. It just seemed like such a beautiful moment of vulnerability and bravery to me.
Hank took me into his arms, and the tears flowed. He held me tighter. “You should go home. You can’t work like this.”
I pulled away, and I could see that in his eyes he didn’t mean it. He knew better. I needed to stay busy to cope. “No, thank you.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
I was glad when the doors opened, and I could put on my game face. It was coin beer night, and the east bar was surrounded six lines deep. I took an order, made the drink, jabbed the buttons of the register, took the money, watched the tip go into the jar, and started all over. After just half an hour, I pulled the horn for more beer. After three hours, I pulled the horn for more of everything. The dance floor was full, the patrons were happy, and Drew didn’t have to break up one fight. It was a good night, and after everyone had cleared out and housekeeping was sweeping up the mess left behind, I grabbed my middle to hug myself, and I bawled.
So many memories stood behind the bar with me. Feeling giddy when Thomas walked in and proceeded to flirt with me, and then feeling empowered when he came back and asked me out. Seeing Travis and Abby sit on the stools in front of me for the first time. Watching the Maddox brothers fight at the drop of a hat. The time Trenton leaned over the bar and kissed me on New Year’s Eve. Working with my best friend and roommate, Raegan, and watching her fall in love with Kody. Crying when they moved away, and celebrating when Jorie and Hank learned they were finally pregnant. The Red Door was a part of me and being there was an escape right up until the doors closed. I didn’t want it to be over. Not even just for the night.
After I’d dried the last glass and put it away, Drew smiled. “Ready?” he asked. He walked all the females to their cars at the end of every night. Drew was a good kid.
“Ready. Trenton should be right outside.”
Drew’s eyebrows pulled together. He looked confused. “No, ma’am. At least, he wasn’t when I checked a few minutes ago.”
“Maybe he’s late,” I said, grabbing my purse and slinging it over my shoulder. But as I said the words, a bad feeling came over me.
Drew opened the side door, and after I had noticed Trenton wasn’t where he said he’d be parked and waiting for me, I scanned the dark lot.
“It’s not like him to be late, is it?” Drew asked.
“No, it’s not.” I typed out a text to him and waited. After a few minutes and no reply, my body began to shake. Adrenaline was surging through my veins as my mind went over the worst scenarios.
A black car slowed to a spot where Trenton was supposed to be, and instinctively, I stretched my arm across Drew, moving him backward. “Go inside,” I hissed.
“Who is that?” Drew asked, moving to stand in front of me.
The window rolled down, revealing one of the agents from Jim’s. “We’re here to pick you up, Mrs. Maddox.”
I relaxed but hesitated. “Where’s Trenton? Why hasn’t he texted me back?”
“I’ll explain when you get in,” he said.
Drew held me back just as I stepped forward. “Do you know this guy?” he asked.
“Yes. It’s a long story.” I reached for the door handle, but Drew stopped me.
“She’s not going anywhere with you until she’s heard from her husband.”
“That will be difficult,” the agent said.
My stomach sank. “Why?”
“You need to get in the car, Mrs. Maddox. I can’t explain further in the presence of your current company.”
I grabbed Drew’s arm, and he looked down at me, pleading me with his eyes not to go. “He’s okay,” I said simply. “He’s a friend of Jim’s.”
“Trenton’s dad?” Drew asked, suspicious. When I nodded, Drew didn’t seem convinced. “I have a bad feeling, Cami. I think you should stay here until Trenton calls you.”
My gaze fell back to the agent. “I don’t think he’s going to.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
ABBY
TRAVIS SQUEEZED MY HAND, and I squeezed back, letting him know I understood how hard this was for him. Everyone was upset and exhausted, speculating what had happened to Thomas while also expressing anger at the agents for withholding information—which forced them to speculate. Now, he lay flat on his back in the center of the sunken-in, full-size mattress he’d had since the eighth grade, a hand-me-down from Thomas. Our twins were on pallets on the floor, both snoring softly.
We’d talked Shepley and America into coming over and even Jack and Deana. Even though it only raised more questions, it was safer to have everyone under one roof until Travis and the agents had more backup. For all we knew, the entire Carlisi crime family could be in Eakins at any moment.
Travis turned over on his side, burying his face in my neck. He’d just come to bed after doing a second sweep of the house for bugs. We couldn’t be too careful. “This fucking sucks. This makes me wish I still smoked.”
“Your emergency pack is at home, and you’re not leaving us, so forget it,” I said.
“I know, but this feels like an emergency.”
I turned over to meet his gaze and hooked my leg over his hip. It was the closest we could get with my belly between us. “The Maddox family is capable of almost anything. Actors they are not.”
“Maybe they could. We don’t know that.”
“They’re not trained like you are, Trav. Someone will make a mistake. You wouldn’t have agreed to this unless you knew for a fact this was the only way to keep everyone safe.”
He nodded, touching his forehead to mine. “You’re my favorite wife.”