Burn (Steel Brothers Saga 5)

I opened my mouth to respond when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll see who that is,” Talon said. “I don’t want you answering the door after what you’ve been through.”

“I’m fine—”

He gestured for me to stop. “Nope. I’m getting it.”

I followed him out anyway. He opened the door to a young man dressed in jeans and a button-down shirt. “I’m looking for Melanie Carmichael.”

“I’m Melanie Carmichael.” I walked to the door.

He handed me an envelope. “This is for you. You’ve been served.”

Chapter Thirty–Seven

Jonah

I didn’t like doing it, but I dropped a few Franklins to a guard, asking that Larry be roughed up a bit in the next week. I had no idea whether it would get done or not. I didn’t rightly care. Maybe I was just padding the guards’ pockets, and I was okay with that too. They were more than likely underpaid for their thankless work.

I probably didn’t need to go to the trouble. Some of the inmates had obviously been taking care of Larry. Child molesters didn’t usually do too well in prison.

I was pretty okay with that, too.

I let out a sigh. I had a job to do, one I’d put off for too damned long. I was going to drive back to Snow Creek and stop in town to see Bryce. Our talk was long overdue.

* * *

Although Bryce had rented an apartment on the outskirts of town, he was still staying at his parents’ house since his father had gone missing.

Evelyn Simpson answered the door. She looked pale. “Hello, Joe. What can we do for you?”

“I’m looking for Bryce. Is he here?”

She nodded, holding the door open for me. “Come on in.”

“How are you holding up?” I asked her.

“All right, for the most part. I just don’t understand what could have happened to Tom. It’s not like him to up and disappear.” She grabbed a tissue out of her pocket and wiped at her eyes.

Rage seethed inside of me. Evelyn Simpson was a nice woman. She’d fed me many times as a kid, and she continued to do a lot for her family and the community. She didn’t deserve what was about to go down in her life.

She didn’t deserve it at all, and neither did Bryce.

“How’s the baby doing?” I asked.

That got sort of a smile out of her. “He’s good. He’s the only sunshine in my life these days.”

Hell of a lot of pressure to put on an innocent baby, especially with what was coming. I wasn’t sure what to say to her comment, so I changed the subject. “Is Bryce back in the nursery?”

“No, he’s out back. Henry’s napping.”

“Okay. Thanks.” I walked through the house and out to the deck.

Bryce was sitting at the table, reading. I never knew Bryce to be much of a reader.

“Hey,” I said.

He looked up. “Oh, hey, Joe.”