Chapter 2
Chapter Two
Max
Today is supposed to be my day off, but are there really any days off when you own the business?
The answer to that is a big, fat no. I may not be in the shop today, but there’s still inventory to approve and a purchase order to make.
Not to mention, I have a meeting with a client at some cafe on the beach later for a consultation.
My days are so packed lately that I feel like I’m always on the go.
Ry keeps telling me I need to hire an assistant and a vice-manager-something-or-other, to take over all this mental crap.
He’s been on my case about focusing my time on things I enjoy outside of my work, or at least focusing a little bit more on our search.
It’s been twelve years since the day that plunged us into the darkest depths of hell.
The day that is the sole reason for every nightmare, bad mood, and lonely night.
Kade, Ry, Zane, and myself all became a lot closer after that.
Not that we weren’t close before, but there’s something to be said when you’re bearing the same emotional wounds.
The years dragged on in that small town. Especially seeing her house sit there day after day, abandoned and quiet. The first chance that we came across, we got the hell out of Texas and moved to Miami. We needed a fresh start, a new place, but we never stopped looking for her.
Our Bear.
I remember everything about her as clear as a summer day.
The brightness her eyes carried and the soft pink glow her cheeks took on whenever we teased her.
How her laugh radiated out of her like a beacon of light, or how she still smiled while telling us our jokes weren’t funny.
Even years later, I still think about the last day we all got to spend together, how much fun we had at the lake and how we were all still innocent back then.
My mind still refuses to wrap around the idea that someone could cause harm to that family.
A family who had it in their kind hearts to openly accept both my father and myself.
People who made sure we were welcomed, taken care of, and fed.
Mr. anything he can get into to help locate her.
Zane and Ryder both took up fighting professionally.
Using the physical pain of their fists hitting someone else to replace the anguish in their souls.
The anger being used to punish the enemy within the ring, since they can’t get to the real thing.
Zane’s emotions bleed into his bouts, pouring out and fueling him to push farther, hit harder.
Ry is more reserved, keeping his true feelings close to his chest, and leaving the bleeding to his opponents.
Personally, I find my solace in the quiet.
Where I can think and reminisce, letting my memories and thoughts wash over me in a way that calms the conflicting emotions.
Feeling the sand between my toes, and the waves crashing along the beach like a melody of peace.
Remembering the tiny details about Addison, not that I’d ever be able to forget.
I’ve admired Addy ever since a young age.
There’s never been a single thing about that girl that didn’t make me want her, dream of her.
She was—and still is—the first thing I wanted to see when I got up, and the last thing I thought about before going to bed.
Her disappearance only fueled those thoughts, and I became consumed with the need to find her, to bring her home.
I’d give my left foot if I could hold her in my arms again and never let her go.
I loved Addy. I still love her, and my heart cracks with tiny fissures knowing we weren’t able to help her.
Making my way from my room to the main floor, I glance at the guys’ doors.
Kade and Ry seem to be up as their doors sit ajar, but Zane, you can still hear snoring even through the thick wood and drywall.
He had a match last night, so no doubt he’ll be out for a good portion of the day.
Only surfacing for dinner when the allure of food is too strong to ignore any longer.
He says it’s his body's way of recuperating after being so physical, but I think he just enjoys another day passing without feeling the pain of loss.
As I hit the kitchen and head for the coffee, Ry gives me a brief nod from the island counter.
None of us are morning people, and with what we all chose to do for work, it’s nice that we can get away with sleeping in all the time.
Which begs the question as to why the fuck he’s awake right now—and looking hella good in that suit.
“Morning,” I mumble.
“Mmmm,” he responds, spooning another bite of cereal into his mouth.
“The fuck you doin’ up at this time?”
“Meeting with a new agent, you?” His brow raises, causing little creases in his forehead that my eyes instantly fixate on.
“Work orders and a client meeting,” I start as I sip from my coffee and lean against the counter's edge. “I think I’m gonna hit the beach after, clear my head a little.”
Ry nods still holding my gaze, knowing exactly what I’m talking about without me actually saying the painful phrase aloud.
Throughout the years all of us have learned each other's tells and coping methods. Which ways work and what triggers the influx of negative thoughts surrounding our missing girl. We may not outwardly talk to each other about, like… feelings and shit, but sometimes no words are needed. We already know if it’s a bad mood, it’s usually in regards to her.
”Me too, brother. It’s getting close.” His eyes move down, staring at the countertop like it personally offended him. Clenched jaw and tight knuckles, his hands aimlessly move his spoon around the bowl of remaining milk.
Rounding the island, I sidle up beside him, wrapping my arms around his shoulders and leaning my head against his.
He visibly relaxes, slumping slightly on the stool as his head slowly leans into me more.
The spoon stills, clanging against the side of the bowl as Ry’s hands move to hold onto my forearm.
The anniversary of her disappearance is coming up in just a few short days.
A time which hits us all extra hard. Our minds get taken over with the images of her house, the police, the crime scene people, and of course, the terror and anguish splayed across all of our faces.
We never got to say goodbye. We don’t know what happened to her or if she’s even alive after all this time.
What happened to her parents? These thoughts lurk in our heads, hanging around like party guests who never got the hint it was time to leave.
Looking at the watch on my wrist, I realize I’m running behind, and as much as I would rather stay here and comfort Ry, I’ve got a business to run.
Giving him a soft tap on his shoulder, I lift my head as he nods his own.
His hand moves to lay over mine, squeezing gently as a goodbye, before I’m walking away.
My hand grabs for the keys hanging by the front door, and as I head for our oversized garage, I shoot one last lingering look to the kitchen.
Watching as one of my best friends sinks back into his head, staring yet again at the counter.
The day Texas sat in our rear-view mirrors, we knew we wanted to stay together as a unit. Our bond had grown exponentially after losing Addy and it has only gotten stronger throughout our search for her. There has never been a moment where we didn’t want to stick together.
We bought some land and constructed our own place for years before moving in.
It sits just on the outskirts of the city, nestled nicely into a grove of trees for privacy.
Six bedrooms and seven and a half baths, it’s not a small place by any means of the word, but with the income we all bring in it was easy enough to afford.
Hell, just from what Zane and Ry make per fight, they could’ve bought it all on their own.
We’ve been living here for eight years now and it’s a decent life.
We want for nothing and still have funds left over to donate to the local charities and the city itself.
We built this house from the ground up so that we could customize it to our own specifications.
Which also means it has absolutely everything we could ever need.
There’s a large gym that takes up most of the basement, for Z and Ry.
A soundproofed computer room, loaded with top of the line electronics, for Kade to work out of.
As well as an over-sized garage and single work bay for me.
All of our bedrooms are huge, able to fit a California king mattress and multiple couches, and each have an attached bath.
The kitchen is high end, the living room cozy but spacious.
From the outside, we’re doing well. Money, fame, prestige.
Things that some strive for all their lives and can never find, but none of it matters.
Not to us. We would gladly give it all up in exchange for her. To have her here, safe.