Page 74 of Unruly

“Bro,” I say, not even trying to hide how over this I am. “You’ve called him like five times. Cell service probably sucks. Leave the man alone before he blocks your number.”

“He’s staying at the same hotel as Maggie,” Makai says, like that’s supposed to explain everything. “If anyone can check on her, it’s him.”

I throw another dart, harder than I need to. It sticks just left of center. “Or you could just … not. Let her breathe. Jesus Christ, you’re acting like she got kidnapped or something. She’s probably just busy or doesn’t feel like being attached to her phone every second of the day. Not everything is a fucking crisis.”

Makai finally looks at me, and for a second I think he might actually throw a dart at my head. “You don’t get it.”

“You’re right,” I say, grabbing my beer again. “I don’t. Because I’m not the one losing my goddamn mind over a girl who probably just has bad reception. This is exactly why I’m done with all that shit.”

I drop into one of the old leather chairs and prop my boots up on the coffee table.

“Relationships are a fucking headache,” I continue, waving my beer toward him. “You spend all your time worrying about what they’re doing, who they’re with, if they’re gonna text back fast enough—it’s exhausting. I’d rather just … not. Single. Simple. No one to answer to; no one to stress over. I go out, I have fun, I go home. End of story.”

I finish my beer and set the bottle down harder than I mean to. The sound echoes through the barn.

My phone starts vibrating in my pocket, and I pull it out to see Miranda’s name lighting up the screen.

I answer on the second ring. “Yeah?”

“Cash,” Miranda says, and the tone of her voice makes me sit up straighter. She doesn’t bullshit around. “I got the background check back on Zachariah Mercer.”

My stomach tightens. “And?”

There’s a short pause on her end. “Where’s Halle right now?”

I check the time on my phone.

One fifteen.

“Closing The Bar by herself tonight.”

Miranda doesn’t waste time. “Has her ex ever threatened her?”

I don’t even hesitate. “Yeah. He has.”

Another pause, then her voice comes back sharper. “His car ran a red light in a city about thirty minutes outside Cedarbrook around forty-five minutes ago—heading in that direction.”

My grip tightens around the phone.

Miranda keeps going. “I don’t like the timing of this, Cash. You need to get to The Bar. Now.”

I’m already standing up. “I’m heading there,” I say, already moving toward the door. “Send me the background check.”

“It’s sending now,” she says. “Be careful.”

I hang up and shove the phone in my pocket, my heart beating faster than it should. Something feels off. Really fucking off.

Makai finally looks up from his phone, eyebrows raised. “Everything good?”

“No,” I say, already grabbing my keys off the table. “I gotta go.”

He sits up straighter. “What’s going on?”

I don’t have time to explain everything. “Halle might be in trouble. If you get a hold of Dawson, tell him to call me as soon as he can. Tell him it’s important.”

Makai’s expression shifts, the usual easygoing look gone. “You want me to come with you?”

“No. Stay here in case Dawson calls.” I’m already heading for the door. “Just pass the message on.”