Page 111 of Wildest Forever

The drive into town was short and not enough time to let me decompress half the shit that was in my brain. But I knew my first stop had to be Sunny's.

Pulling into the parking spot outside, I lift my hat from the passenger side and place it on my head before I step out of my truck, closing the door behind me.

My chest aches and I find myself dragging in a deep breath as I walk towards the building.

It's quiet, which I was grateful for.

Pushing on the door, the small bell rings above my head and my heart constricts in my chest, a tightness spreading and I have to really try and focus on my breathing as I step closer.

Her eyes brighten when she sees me, her lips pressing into a smile but that soon fades when my lips turn down and I lift my hat from my head.

“Can we have a chat?”

She doesn't answer for a moment, her eyes just bounce between mine and finally, after what feels like a lifetime, she nods, ushering me out the back.

“What's wrong?”

I sigh.

“And don't tell me it's nothing to worry about because you wouldn't be here, like this... waiting to implode my whole day.”

I swallow.

“What is it?” she whispers, and I can't look at her. Her eyes are glassy.

“It's Conrad.” and that's all I can squeeze out without the burning lump lodging itself there, making it near impossible for me to continue.

“No,” she shakes her head, fresh tears roll down her cheeks as her hands cover her mouth.

“I'm so sorry Sunny,” and I pull her into my chest as she silently weeps in my arms. “So, so, sorry.”

I leaveSunny's and decide to walk down to my office. My heart feels heavy in my chest, and with each step I take, it grows heavier.

This is not what I thought the end of my week would look like.

Another dead body on our land.

Another heart broken.

And there is nothing I can do to take the pain away because I have my own pain lodged in my chest.

Climbing the stairs to my office, I unlock the door and sit at my desk. Fingers curl around the drawer as I tug it open and pull out the manilla folder. I unhook the clasp and pull the paperwork out.

My finger and thumb brush down my moustache as I look at the paperwork and seeing Conrad's face there in color haunts me a little.

He was beaten black and blue.

I just hope that he didn't suffer.

A shiver breaks over my skin and I give myself a moment before I continue looking at the file.

We were sure it was him.

But this was just another dead end.

I don't see how we got it so fucking wrong.

All roads led to him.

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