Page 10 of Bourbon and Proof

“Are you up for a tasting tonight, Governor?” the mayor asks.

I turn my head slowly, watching the mayor offer something too comfortably that isn’t his to offer.

“The distillery is closed for the evening,” I cut in. “My brother, Lincoln, is getting married tomorrow.” Looking at my watch, I rub along the leather band. “I’m hosting an evening tonight for him at my home.”

The governor sits back in his chair and nods. “That’s right. Griz mentioned when I saw him, asked if I’d like to stay for it.”

Fucking Griz.It’s a constant point of contention. It has been for more than two decades now. My grandfather refuses to take his foot off the pedal and allow me to drive. I stifle the twinge of disappointment I always feel when he steps in and on my toes. I’m long past being a kid or finding my footing.

I hum in response and allow my annoyance to play out as information I already know. “If I show up at the distillery with guests tonight, my sister-in-law, Laney, will tear off my head.”

That makes them chuckle, and the discussion turns to the sheriff who just got married this past spring. It gives me a reprieve to fish out my phone.

ACE

Is the private room open right now?

LUCIFER

It can be . . . what are you giving me for it?

ACE

Business. Is there any entertainment?

LUCIFER

I’m always entertaining, you should know that by now.

I mask the small smile that comment just pulled from me. Above all else, Hadley is certainly entertaining. There aren’tmany people that can change my mood as quickly as she’s mastered.

LUCIFER

And I’m closing at 9 for your brother’s bachelor thing that you’re hosting, remember?

“What about you, Ace?” the governor asks, bringing his attention back to me. “Ever planning on getting married?”

It isn’t a question many people outside of my family ever have the balls to ask me to my face. The answer is simple. But it’s the reasons behind it that are multiple levels of complicated.

I keep my answer truthful and to the point, as usual. “No plans.” I smile, even though the idea of being married isn’t something I want—at all. My brothers felt that need, and when they met their people, they were eager to fulfill it. I don’t feel the same. There isn’t some mystery around it; I don’t let much linger with women I fuck. It’s better for everyone that way.

My pocket buzzes again, only this time when my eyes catch who it’s from, I’m more than acutely aware that there are eyes on me beyond the men at the table.

The mayor holds up his hand like it’s respectable to beckon someone over that way. Marla’s going to get violent. But instead of a coffee carafe-wielding woman approaching, it’s my brother’s former partner at the police department, Delaney.

“Detective, how are you?” the mayor asks.

He nods, looking at each person at the table as his hand falls to my shoulder. “Very well. How are y'all doing this evening?”

Del and I have danced in plenty of the same circles over the years. Aside from being my brother’s old partner and friend, he has a connection to many U.S. government agencies who have, in some way or another, passed through Fiasco. Often, Del keeps me in the loop with what’s happening below the line here. Amutual respect for each other and the town we proudly call home.

“Del, I was just reading all about the new mess that Fiasco found itself tangled up in.” The mayor looks at the governor, making sure he hears whatever the knucklehead is planning to say next. “It's been about ten years since a missing persons case was connected to Fiasco.”

That particular missing person wasnotmissing. “Ah,” Governor Hawkins says over a mouthful of ground beef. “Hard to forget a big name like that just disappearing.”

I try not to tense or react, knowing exactly what happened to James Switcher.

Del glances at me briefly before he says, “There are always missing persons cases that come across our desk. That particular one wasn’t connected to anything here in Fiasco.”

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