Page 22 of Obsessed Fox

"I didn't like how sad you looked yesterday and I thought maybe if you had some help, it would make you feel better. Obviously, I didn't think my plan fully through."

No, he didn't, but the thought behind it was sweet. I looked over to where he stood with one leg crossed over the other and his biceps bulging from his one arm being tucked over the other. Hendrix was a walking contradiction to the rest of his co-workers. Leather bands covered his wrists in an intricate design. A big skull ring adorned his finger, and sure, he wore cargo pants and boots like his friends, but somehow they looked different on him. His co-workers reminded me of protectors but Hendrix was the dark angel.

"It's the thought that counts." I gave him a lopsided smile before going back to mixing. I should've stopped a good minute ago, but I was enjoying the rhythmic familiarity.

"Maybe, but you had to come rescue me. That's not help, it's a hinderance. And the opposite of making you feel better."

I put the spoon down and looked up at Hendrix. "Why do you think I bake?"

Hendrix lifted the shoulder closest to me in a shrug. "Because you're good at it and you like to keep busy."

I snickered. "Not completely wrong but certainly not the main reasons. I started baking because it allowed me to get lost in something and forget about what was going on around me. Ineeded that more than anything today, so really, when you think about it, you did make me feel better."

Hendrix gave me his signature half smile and my belly flip-flopped. This was as close to personal as we ever got, besides my crying fit yesterday, and I wasn't sure what to make of it. So I used what I knew best to distract him.

"Let's finish this recipe so I can check on Janie."

Hendrix looked over my shoulder and listened intently as I explained each step.

I’d just put the second batch of dough in the fridge when Nolen busted through the back door and put me on high alert.

"I've been looking for you two. I need you to come to the office so we can discuss a few things."

So much for relaxing.

CHAPTER TEN

Hendrix

I wanted to kill Nolen for destroying Maisie's good mood. She was really getting into the groove at the bakery when Nolen burst in.

Now the three of us were sitting at one of the tables inside Willow Creek Security. Nolen was typing away on the computer, Maisie couldn't stop looking back and forth between me and my friend, and the energy pouring through me had my knee bouncing because punching my friend and co-worker was highly frowned upon.

I was pretty sure Mav would understand if I explained the situation. He liked Maisie, and everyone in the office loved her food, so really, they would back me up.

A throat clearing pulled me out of my murderous thoughts. "Did you hear what I said?" At some point in the last few seconds, my friend stopped typing.

I shook my head. "Nope, I was too busy deciding if knocking you out was worth the hassle."

"Me?" Nolen pointed both hands at himself. "What the hell did I do?"

I, in turn, pointed at Maisie. "You upset her. I just got her in a better mood and you ruined it."

"You're the one who told me to come find you if I had anything," Nolen griped. "I just did as you demanded. How the hell was I supposed to know Maisie would be in the bakery today? Last time I checked, you said she was taking the day off."

I didn't want to admit he was right about everything he’d just said. I had come into work this morning and told him where I would be and to come get me when he had information. That was when I assumed Maisie would stay at my house and relax.

"Just tell us what you found," I snapped instead.

"Alright, alright." Nolen shook his head. "After our discussion, I looked more into Matthew O'Brien and his involvement with The New Beginning. He did, in fact, take over after Atlas went missing but that's not the only restructuring that's occurred in the organization."

"What do you mean?" It was the first words Maisie had spoken since Nolen barged in nearly ten minutes ago.

"Do the names Samuel Hurst, Isaiah Barkley, and Gabriel Frost ring any bells?"

Maisie bobbed her head fast. "Yeah, they followed Atlas around like lost puppies. Anywhere Atlas was, the three of them weren't far behind. They did everything Atlas told them no matter how illegal it was. Matty and I used to joke that the three of them shared one brain."

"Well, all three of them are serving time in prison for different offenses. Now, guys like this, I wouldn't think much about it, but before Atlas disappeared, they didn't have a rap sheet, and I mean nothing. Not even a parking ticket. Then all of a sudden it was like they went on a crime spree. Aggravated assault, armed robbery, break and entering. The crimes over thelast ten years are all over the map, and let me tell you, they weren't smart criminals because they got caught pretty quickly."

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