“You forgot about getting shot off the road?” Max was incredulous. “Is that because you and Jack clearly made up and … took it to the next level? Because you didn’t tell me about that either.”
Jack made a face. “I’m really not comfortable with her telling you about that.”
“Shut up,” Max hissed. “Why didn’t anyone call me?”
“I think it’s because they were melting down and then making up,” Brian said, appearing in the still open doorway and pushing Max out of the way. He scanned Jack and Ivy for a moment and then shook his head. “Yup, pretty much how I pictured it.” He shut the door and fixed Max with a harsh look. “There’s someone out there trying to hurt your sister. Don’t just leave the door open, boy.”
Max scowled. “You knew about this? Why didn’t you call me?”
“I knew but figured your sister would want to tell you herself,” Brian replied calmly. “I didn’t realize they would be so caught up in each other they would forget how to use a phone.”
“I’m really sorry, Max,” Ivy offered lamely. “I honestly did forget.”
“That doesn’t make me feel any better,” Max complained. “I … stop pawing at each other.”
Ivy sighed. “Does anyone want breakfast?” She knew there was no way a return to bed with Jack could be negotiated while they had guests.
“Absolutely,” Brian said. “While you’re cooking, your boyfriend and I need to have a talk.”
Ivy blushed at the word “boyfriend,” shooting a curious look in Jack’s direction. He smiled and offered her a reassuring kiss on the cheek. “That sounds good, doesn’t it?”
“Oh, this is going to be an annoying breakfast,” Max muttered.
“THEY look happy,” Brian mused, sipping his coffee and watching Jack and Ivy whisper to each other next to the stove.
“They look like they’re basking in the afterglow,” Max muttered.
Brian shifted his eyes to the only annoyed person in the room. “What’s wrong with that?”
“My sister was shot off the road yesterday and today she looks like she doesn’t have a care in the world.”
“After all those two have been through, I would think you would be happy for them,” Brian said. “She’s your sister. Don’t you want her to be happy?”
“Of course I want her to be happy,” Max replied. “I just thought I would get a chance to beat up Jack before they made up.”
Brian chuckled. “You’re a great athlete, Max, but the only way you’d get the jump on Jack is if he let you.”
“Whatever.” Max turned his troubled gaze to Ivy, but after a few moments of watching Jack kiss her cheek and pet her head he was done. He couldn’t hide the smile. “I’m relieved.”
“I am, too,” Brian admitted. “I thought they were going to kill each other before they gave in and kissed each other. It will be better now that they’re not fighting it … or each other.”
“I have a feeling they’re always going to be fighting each other,” Max countered. “They get off on it.”
“That’s the stuff of true love,” Brian teased, clearing his throat to draw Jack and Ivy’s attention. “I hate to interrupt foreplay hour, but I do have some information.”
Jack pressed one more kiss to Ivy’s cheek and then took a step away from her. “Did the ballistics match the other shootings?”
“They did,” Brian answered. “We found the bullet lodged in the wrecked tire. It’s the same gun. I don’t think that’s a surprise to anyone.”
“I’m not very knowledgeable on guns, so forgive me, but wouldn’t it be hard to hit a moving tire with a handgun?” Max asked.
Brian shrugged. “Yes and no. Whoever it was probably hid close to the tree line. That’s not really very far away from the road. Ivy would’ve had to be specifically looking for someone to see them.”
“What about at the park?”
“That park is open for the most part, but there are still groupings of trees,” Brian said. “I’m guessing Ivy and Jack were so wrapped up in each other they didn’t pay attention to their surroundings. Once Ivy was shot … well … I think Jack had other things on his mind.
“We think we found where the shot was fired from, but there were no shoe prints or anything to help us because of the grass,” he continued. “Mark Dalton was shot up close on pavement. We literally don’t have anything but the ballistics.”
“So where does that leave us?” Ivy asked, doling scrambled eggs and hash browns onto plates and letting Jack deliver them to the table. “What about Marcus Simmons’ family? Has anyone been in touch with them?”
“I called his sister yesterday,” Jack volunteered. “It was an … uncomfortable … conversation, but she said she had no idea that Marcus’ gun was even missing. His body was cremated and placed in an urn which Laura says is sitting on her mother’s mantle.”
“And we’re sure that Marcus was the one who died in the accident, right?” Max pressed. “They didn’t make a mistake and bury someone else as him, right?”
“We’re sure,” Jack replied, pulling Ivy’s chair out so she could sit before settling next to her. “They ran dental records.”
“Did you see the body?”
“Max, I’m eating,” Ivy said, making a face.
“I was in the hospital during that time,” Jack replied, shifting. He hadn’t bothered to put a shirt on because Ivy didn’t seem to mind his scars. Now he felt exposed. “I was in and out of consciousness for days, but I have faith that everyone did due diligence on that one.”
“So, what are our options?” Max asked, forking a huge mound of hash browns into his mouth. “Did Marcus have a girlfriend?”
“He had about eight different girlfriends,” Jack replied. “He fancied himself quite the stud. He didn’t spend more than a night or two with any woman.”
“He sounds like a real prince,” Ivy muttered.
“Oh, don’t worry, honey,” Jack said, pinching her cheek. “I can’t get enough of you.”
“Ugh, I’m going to puke,” Max grumbled.
“It’s nice to see you two getting along,” Brian said. “This will
