He’d been home for about an hour, having spent most of the evening at Brantley’s with Cyrus giving him the stink-eye for being there. It was the only reason he’d stayed for so long, trying to wait out the other man. Something inside him had hoped Cyrus would leave, but he didn’t know why he gave a fuck.
Except that darkly possessive need hadn’t abated, no matter how much time had passed. The more Cyrus seemed to be sticking around, the worse it got until finally Reese risked doing something that was absolutely, positively asinine. In an effort to save face, Reese had been the one to jet, instead telling Brantley he’d be in touch if he heard anything from Z.
He hadn’t. Heard anything, that was. Z had kindly checked in to let him know they were running that woman’s face through their software and reaching out to people they knew in the area to see if she was anyone they’d run across before. So far, nothing.
And Reese felt as helpless as everyone else.
So, plagued with thoughts of Kate, the little girl who affectionately referred to him as Uncle Reese although there was no relation, he’d been staring at his laptop wondering what else he could do. Where he could look, what earth he could plow up to find the little girl with the quick smile and a million questions. He couldn’t count how many events he’d spent with the Walkers, how many times he’d seen one or more of those little ones run by, giggling for one reason or another.
To think someone would want to harm a single hair on their heads…
Reese sighed, forcing his hands to relax from the fists they’d balled into.
Just another reason he would never be having children.
His thoughts drifted to his own parents. Thomas and Cindy had been phenomenal parents, giving their all to their three children. It still pained him to think his father had died without seeing them one last time. Back in 2011, Thomas had been in a car accident that had left him in a coma. For years, they’d prayed relentlessly that Thomas would open his eyes and come back to them.
He never had.
Years of waiting, watching over him, praying had turned into weeks of discussion, a final agreement to remove him from life support being the consensus. It had been a gut-wrenching decision for all of them, but in the end, Reese had known it was the right thing to do. The hope had shifted to grief as the four of them stood over Reese’s father while the doctor shut down the equipment. Not long after, Thomas had left them for good, taking his place among the angels.
And while he was gone, he was definitely not forgotten. Every now and then, Reese would talk to his dad as though he was still here. Probably had to do with the fact he’d sat at the man’s bedside for years doing exactly that.
“We could use your help now, Dad,” he said to the empty space. It was no longer the one he’d grown up in. After his father passed, it had been too difficult for Reese to remain there. His mother had sold the house and Reese had gotten an apartment in one of the two complexes in Coyote Ridge. It had been pure luck that it had come available when he’d needed it. Then again, he’d always wondered if Travis had had something to do with it.
For a few minutes, he shared the details, speaking them aloud as though Thomas Tavoularis could possibly hear and assist in some way.
“They’re my family, Dad,” he whispered. “They’ve become my family over the years.”
Like Z, who had the Kogans and Trexlers for his extended family, Reese had the Walkers. Although he hadn’t expected to get caught up in their world, he would admit he appreciated them. Their love and support helped him get through every cold, bleak day as well as the days filled with sunshine.
His cell phone chimed, the sound overly loud in the otherwise silent room. He lunged for it, praying it was a text from Travis to let him know Kate had been found safe and sound.
No such luck, he realized when he saw the message had come from Brantley.
You awake?
Reese debated on whether he should respond. It would be in his best interest to allow some distance to grow between them. After their encounter earlier, he knew he was getting dangerously close to altering what he’d been sure was a pretty straightforward existence.
Problem was, he didn’t want distance from Brantley. In fact, he’d go so far as to say he wanted more time with the man. If for no other reason than to figure out what the hell was going on.
Selfish? Yeah, probably.
With a resigned sigh, he typed in a response: Yeah. Any news?
