Page 49 of Pastel Kisses

Lennox cracks his beer open and kicks his feet up on the empty chair beside him. “Dan, you act like that was months ago. We were here just the other day.”

Dan’s laugh rumbles deep in his chest, a sound I’ve missed hearing. “That’s true. It’s nice of you boys to keep me company. Keeps me busy, stops my mind from festering too much.” He doesn’t let the conversation lull like we usually do when Avery comes up. “Kam, how’d your trip back home go? You take care of that chef issue?”

Kam huffs, tension settling into his shoulders. “Yeah, she stayed, but it cost me another twenty grand to keep her.”

Dan chuckles, shaking his head. “Sounds like a smart girl.”

Kam runs a hand down the back of his neck, something he only does when he’s stressed. “She’s one of the best in the business. Letting her go wasn’t an option.”

“What’d you do about the guy that was bothering her?” Lennox asks, tipping his beer back and draining the last of it.

“Fired his ass.” Kam’s voice turns sharp, filled with disgust. “I don’t tolerate sexual harassment in my kitchens.”

“Good,” Dan replies firmly, testing the meat before plating a couple of the smaller steaks, setting them on the table for us to pick at. “I know I’ve said this before, but I appreciate you guys being here. Keeping me in your lives. Keepingherin your lives.” His voice cracks just a little, but he pushes through it. “You boys have these big, important lives, and yet you dropped everything the second Avery was taken. That says a hell of a lot about the kind of men you are.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut.

I grip his arm, making sure he hears me—feels me. “Dan, you’re stuck with us for life now.” My voice is low, filled with a conviction I refuse to let waver. “I’m not going anywhere.We’renot going anywhere.”

Dan meets my eyes, and I hold his gaze, making sure he knows we mean every single word.

My brothers chime in with their own murmurs of agreement, each of us silently vowing that no matter how long it takes, we will never stop looking for her.

Dan grunts, a sound that’s more emotion than acknowledgment, as I press a beer into his hand. “Now, let’s try to relax. Take this, drink with us.”

He doesn’t argue. He takes a deep pull from the bottle, nodding once in thanks before turning his back to us and focusing on the grill.

My chest tightens. I see it—the way his shoulders shake slightly, the way he swipes at his face when he thinks we aren’t looking.

I can’t take it.

I push to my feet, standing beside him, letting my presence say what my words can’t.

The others carry on their conversation, giving us the illusion of normalcy, but Dan and I are frozen in place, bound by the same unbearable pain.

My arm drapes over his shoulders, feeling how much weight he’s lost in the past few months. “Dan, youknowI believe we’ll get her back.” I whisper it, low and sure.

Dan exhales shakily, struggling to get the words out. “Son… I don’t know how you keep your faith. I’m not gonna lie—I’ve had thoughts…” He chokes, his voice breaking.

“Hey,” Kamden appears on his other side, his arm sliding over mine, anchoring us together. “No matter what happens, we’ll be here for you.”

The glare I give Kam could set the world on fire.

How fuckingdarehe?

He backtracks, running a hand down his face. “I’m sorry, Jax. But we need to be prepared. It’s been months. No leads. Nothing.”

“Never.” The word cuts out of me like a blade.

Kam sighs, guilt flashing across his face. But then Dan speaks, and what he says nearly sends me to my knees.

“I know.”

Two words. Small. Defeated.

My breath hitches. I turn, facing him fully, my heart pounding like a drum of war.

“Dan…”

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