Chapter Eighteen
The atmosphere wasn’t what she expected or was accustomed to.
Roxanne had been to plenty of dive bars, but this was different.
She and Emory had been dodging suspicious glances from the locals for the last hour since they arrived.
She’d tried her best to make small talk when they initially sat at the bar.
However, neither bartender seemed interested.
They retreated to a table in the corner and ordered dinner and a few beers.
Emory wiped her mouth and tossed the napkin into the empty basket of fried pickles.
“Well, that just destroyed my diet. Probably set me back five pounds.” Emory sipped her beer and placed the mug on the table. She parted her lips, but both of them jumped in their seats when a hand slapped down on the table.
The waitress darted her glare between them and stepped back, leaving the check on the table. “Cash only. Gratuity is not included in the total.”
That was an interesting way to say don’t forget to tip. Emory chuckled, which only earned them a stern scowl from the waitress before she walked away.
Emory rested her arms on the table, leaning in. “I think that’s our cue to leave. In fact, I think they’ve wanted us gone since we walked through the door.”
True. It was the same impression she’d gotten. The vibe was odd. Almost territorial. Everyone in the bar knew they weren’t locals, and therefore not welcome. So much for small-town hospitality.
“I’ve got to ask since you’ve dodged most of my questions, giving bullshit one-liners. Why are we here?”
Roxanne could only put off the questions for so long, and considering Emory wasn’t known for her patience, she’d have to clue her in at some point. For Jonah’s privacy, she wouldn’t expose everything, but she’d have to give Emory something.
“You suggested dinner and drinks.” Roxanne gestured to the table and glasses.
Emory squinted. “This wasn’t what I had in mind.”
Roxanne scanned the room. Aside from the three guys at the bar and the couple playing pool in the back, it was empty. Not exactly a hot spot, but that wasn’t the reason Roxanne wanted to go. This was the bar Reuben Pryor had left the night Jonah’s parents and brother were killed.
“Rox?” Emory tapped her knuckles on the table. “Hello?”
“Don’t you ever get tired of trendy, bougie bars?”
Emory scoffed. “No.”
“Broaden your horizons. Think of it as an adventure.”
“We’re in the middle of no-man’s land with people who clearly don’t want us here. This isn’t an adventure. This is the start of a dozen horror movies.” Emory sighed and grabbed her pocketbook. “How did you even find this bar?”
“I don’t remember.” Roxanne shrugged. “Somebody must’ve mentioned it to me.”
“Who? Jonah?”
What? Roxanne gasped, and her face heated.
Just hearing his name, especially in the bar, had a heavy guilt weighing on her.
He’d specifically asked her to let it go.
She should’ve respected his wishes. Instead, she was playing amateur investigator, unsure of what she was even looking for.
Before they arrived, she considered casually asking the staff a few questions, steering the conversation toward Rueben Pryor.
That plan was aborted after five minutes.
No one would be sharing any information.
“No, I don’t remember who told me.” Roxanne stood while Emory tossed three twenties on the table, covering the bill with a generous tip.
As they walked out, she glanced at the bartender, who was staring at them. Roxanne smiled, offering a small wave that wasn’t returned.
They walked through the parking lot, heading to her car.
“Next time, I pick the place.”
Roxanne didn’t bother answering. It’d be a forty-five minute drive.
Definitely too long in Emory’s eyes, but she wouldn’t notice an extra ten minutes if Roxanne took a different route.
She didn’t know the exact location of his family’s accident.
Even if there had been some type of address, it was a heavily wooded area with houses set acres from the road.
It was strange to drive on the dark, desolate road knowing this was where his parents and brother had died.
A heavy wave of guilt washed over her as if she were trespassing on sacred land.
It was a public road, and she had every right to be there.
But with Jonah in mind, and what he’d think of her out here, her stomach twisted.
Everything felt wrong, and regret hit her instantly.
If Jonah ever found out, he’d be upset with her.
“Rox!” Emory shouted, and Roxanne locked eyes with the animal in the middle of the road.
Instinctively, she jerked the wheel and at the last second, veered onto the shoulder, missing the deer by only a foot.
She slammed on the brakes, gripping tightly to the steering wheel and trying to regain control of her breathing.
Her heart was beating so hard, the pounding was blasting in her ears.
Holy shit!
Roxanne hadn’t even seen it until the very last second when Emory screamed. What if Emory hadn’t seen it? She would’ve plowed right into him. Roxanne had only gotten a quick look, but he appeared massive.
“Oh my God,” Emory twisted in her seat, looking out the back window. “Where the fuck did he come from?”
Roxanne sat frozen with her heart beating erratically. This was all hitting too close to home. Not hers but Jonah’s. It was as if she were getting a clue what might have initially caused his family’s accident.
“You okay? You look pale.” Emory grabbed her hands, forcing them off the wheel. “Rox?”
She shook her head, trying to rid her mind of his family.
“Talk to me before I freak out.”
That was the last thing she needed. She drew in a breath and rolled her shoulders, trying to ease the tension in her muscles.
“I’m okay. I just didn’t see him.”
“That was some Houdini shit.” Emory stretched her neck, peering out the window. “He didn’t even move, and now he’s gone. Too weird. Let’s get outta here.”
It was the best advice she’d gotten in a long time. Roxanne checked her mirrors and pulled onto the road, eager to get on the highway and forget all about this foolish adventure.
****
“Thanks for coming here rather than the office,” Ethan said, offering him a beer.
They were originally scheduled to meet at his complex, which was closer to his house and job site. Jonah rarely ventured into the city unless necessary. For Ethan? He always made concessions. He expected it to be just the two of them and was surprised to see T, Stone, and Bogs when he arrived.
After they’d gone over a few plans with Jonah giving his input on the construction, he intended to leave. The brothers had other plans. Jonah suspected it was a well thought out, planned ambush.
“So, you and Rox?” Bogs sipped his beer. “How’s that going?”
When Jonah didn’t answer immediately, Stone snorted, gaining his attention.
“We’re her brothers, man. You had to know this was coming?”
It was fair. Since their last conversation, he suspected it had more to do with him sharing his past than her brothers not approving.
“It’s good.”
“She gets along with the boys?” Bogs asked.
Jonah smirked. “She gets along with everybody.”
Jonah noticed Ethan smile and turn his head.
There was a long stretch of silence.
“Give any more thought to telling her about the past?” T had been fairly quiet until now. Jonah knew his thoughts on that topic.
For his part, Jonah had thought about it but hadn’t changed his mind. Divulging everything to Roxanne would mean letting his guard down completely and showing his darkest side.
“It’s not an option.” Jonah took a long swig and circled the couch but didn’t take a seat.
T stared back at him, making his disapproval known.
“You all made me a promise twelve years ago.” Jonah said.
“And we’ll keep it.” Ethan glanced over at T, who kept his gaze locked on Jonah. “No one will ever hear it from us, I can assure you. We all can.”
T slowly dipped his chin.
The implications of that night would have them all under police suspicion. No one’s hands were clean.
Bogs stood, passing him. “Want another beer?”
He was about to decline when the door to the apartment swung open and heels clicked on the marble floor. Everyone looked over at the entrance as Emory rounded the wall. Her steps faltered, and a smile slowly emerged.
“Boys’ night? That’s so cute.” She chuckled, greeting the brothers and making a beeline for Ethan. She looped her arm around his waist, kissing him.
They were an odd match. Ethan was always so reserved compared to Emory’s outgoing and sometimes outrageous demeanor. Yet, they seemed to be perfect for each other. Emory turned in his arms, tossed her bag on the couch, and widened her eyes when she noticed Jonah.
“Oh, hi, Jonah.”
“Hey, Emory.”
“Where have you been?” Ethan asked, and Emory narrowed her gaze.
“What do you mean, where have I been? I told you about my plans last week, three days ago and this morning.” She raised her brows.
Ethan grasped the back of his neck. “It must’ve slipped my mind. I’m sorry.”
“Hmmm,” she cocked her head and looked over at Jonah. Shit. The last thing he wanted was to get involved, but it seemed Emory was going to drag him into it anyway. “Jonah, do you know what my plans were tonight?”
Ethan jerked his gaze. It only took a moment for him to realize who she’d been with.
“Jonah?”
He sighed. “Out to dinner with Roxanne.”
She smiled and hooked her arm through Ethan’s, staring back at Jonah. “Aw, remember when you knew my whereabouts, and you were utterly obsessed with me, E?”
“I’m still obsessed.”
It was a smart and smooth move, even in front of an audience.
“Good answer.” She kissed him and turned toward the hallway. “Now, excuse me while I go to the bathroom. I’ve been holding it for two hours, and my bladder is about to burst.”
Bogs snorted. “You know, they've got these things at restaurants now? What do they call them? Oh yeah, bathrooms.”
Jonah was thinking the same thing. He knew some people were particular about using public restrooms, but Emory didn’t come across as one of them.
“It was daring enough I ate there. I wasn’t using the bathroom.”
“Where did you go?” Ethan asked.
Roxanne hadn’t mentioned their destination, and he hadn’t thought to ask.
She narrowed her gaze and pointed at Jonah. “His girlfriend thought it’d be fun to drive an hour to hit a dive bar in the middle of nowhere. I love her, but she’s got some crazy ideas about new adventures.”
Considering the options they had readily available in the city, driving an hour away for a night out seemed absurd. Especially for a dive bar. Jonah’s curiosity was officially piqued.
“That’s where you had dinner?” Ethan asked.
“Well, I don’t know if you can call stale beer and greasy fried pickles a meal.
It was this little dive bar about thirty miles away.
A pit, but it was Rox’s idea.” Emory shook her head and headed toward the hallway off the living room.
“And considering how gross the floors were, I refused to use the bathroom, so now I have to go to the point of pain.”
“Em,” Bogs shouted. “You remember the name of the bar?”
“Thatcher’s. I memorized it so I’d remember to never go there again.”
Fuck. Jonah froze, and the room drowned in silence. It was clear everyone remembered the name of the bar Pryor left before the incident.
“Looks like someone’s been doing their homework.” T’s deep tone echoed through the room.
“You gotta tell her before she puts it all together, Jonah. And she fucking will, if she’s already gone this far.”
Roxanne was forcing his hand, leaving him backed in a corner with only two options.
Neither of them good.