“What can we do?” Chase asks.
“Nothing. Not right now. Just be aware. Talk to Gabby and Gwen, make them aware. Hollis might tell them today at Mom and Dad’s. I’m not sure.”
“When you know, you let us know,” Harrison says. “We’ll do whatever we can to keep her safe.”
“Thank you. I just hate not really knowing what we’re dealing with. Her best friend, Tina, still lives there. I might have Hollis reach out to her, maybe have her visit the shelter, and see if anyone has been asking around about Hollis. I just don’t know where to start.”
“Has she received anymore messages?” Chase asks.
“No. Not in the last few days, which is a good thing. At least I hope it is.” I really don’t know what to think at this point. I feel like we’re going to be looking for a needle in a haystack unless this guy has found her and makes himself known, or if we put her in plain sight, making her easy to find. I’m not okay with either scenario. I just hope Sergeant Jones can give me some insight and guidance or a contact. Something.
My phone rings, and it’s Hollis. I hit Accept and place the phone to my ear. “Hollis,” I greet her. Chase and Harrison freeze to listen to my conversation.
“Hey, I just wanted to let you know we made it. Milo fell asleep on the way over. He’s sleeping in his room here at your mom’s place now.”
“Good.” I nod and give Chase and Harrison a thumbs up, letting them know everything is okay. “Have a good day.”
“You too. I’ll see you at home?”
“Yeah. Text me before you leave?”
“Oh, wait.” I hear her pull the phone away from her ear and talk, but I can’t make out what she’s saying or who she’s talking to. “Colt, your mom says that the three of you need to come here once you’re finished today. She’s going to have dinner ready.”
I chuckle. My mother is one of a kind. “Okay. I’ll let the guys know. I’ll call you when we’re on our way.”
“Sounds good.” The line goes dead.
“Well, it looks like we’ve all been summoned by Mom. Once we finish the staff education training today, she wants us all there. She told Hollis she would have dinner ready.”
“I’m in. My wife and daughter are there, and no way am I going to pass up your mother’s cooking,” Harrison says, rubbing his stomach.
“Let’s get this over with. I’m ready for some good eating.” Chase smacks his hand down on my shoulder and grins.
Together the three of us head toward the room where I hold my classes. Harrison thought it would be a good idea to have all the staff trained in the basics of self-defense. You can never be too careful. So, we chose today as a mandatory training day. Chase volunteered to help out, and since Harrison is following us to the room, it looks like he is going to help as well. Good. The sooner we finish this class, the sooner we can get home to our families.
Damn, do I love the sound of that.Chapter 14HollisThis is what I’ve been missing.
It was me, my mom, and sometimes my grandma for the longest time. Small gatherings, intimate meals, no big celebrations, even though we always celebrated our accomplishments. But I’ve never had this. I’ve missed the big, boisterous family that’s too loud and too nosey, but that’s what I’m dealing with as I sit around the Callahans’ dining room table and listen to them share stories of when Chase and Colton were younger.
“Of course it was about a girl!” Chase hollers. “He knew she liked me!”
“She thought you were cute, like a puppy. Ellie Jacobs was interested in a man, not a boy,” Colton boasts proudly, rubbing his chest.
“Man? You were sixteen. The other one hadn’t even dropped yet,” Chase argues, making everyone laugh.
Colton leans back, his arm extended over the backrest of my chair. His thumb lazily draws circles below my shoulder blade, spreading awareness through my blood. Although, I’m always aware of Colton. “But you were fourteen. What were you going to do, give her a ride on the handlebars of your bike?” he teases.
“You’re a dick,” Chase mumbles, taking a drink of his iced tea, and again, drawing laughter from everyone at the table.
“You boys were always fighting over girls back then,” Connie says, shaking her head.
“It’s not my fault they all wanted the younger Callahan,” Chase tells his mom.
“They wanted you like they wanted a rash,” Colton mumbles.
“Speaking of rashes,” Harrison says, glancing over at Colton with an evil gleam in his eyes.
“Uh, no. We’re not going there,” Colton states, drawing a line on the table.
Harrison and Chase burst out laughing. “How did you get the chickenpox again?” Harrison asks, ignoring that invisible line Colton just laid down.