She swiped at the tears streaming down her cheeks. “Like I told you then. You’re dick wasn’t fake.”

Her attention went to getting the key in the lock. She got the door open and was inside before I could even think of anything more. I watched as she backed out of the spot and gunned it out of the parking lot.

14

THATCHER

“Need a ride?” I hadn’t realized I’d been staring at the main road until Nix spoke.

I turned, ran a hand over my head. “Yeah, thanks. Looks like I’m stuck in Cutthroat.”

“Think she’ll come back for you when she’s feeling better?”

I laughed. “I don’t think she’s coming back. Ever.”

Kit joined us. She offered me a sad smile. “That was… interesting.”

“Wedding still on?” I asked.

She rolled her eyes. “As an event planner, it sounds pretty sad, but if I got paid by a marriage’s success, I’d be out of business.”

Nix wrapped an arm around her waist, kissed the top of her head.

“I’m going to give Thatcher a ride back to The Bend.”

She nodded. “I’ll tell Donovan, but I’ll be at the rehearsal dinner tonight.”

Twenty minutes later, we’d picked up our things from Astrid’s bedroom in her parents’ house—let in by a housekeeper—and on the road toward The Bend in Nix’s police SUV. It was pretty much identical to Huck’s so I was familiar with all the buttons and gadgets.

“That is one fucked up family,” Nix finally said. “And I’ve seen some shit.”

“Yeah.”

“I’m guessing you learned about Edward and Amy right before you punched him in the nose.”

I looked out the window at the passing prairie. “I punched Eddie because he deserved it. The fucker,” I grumbled. “I didn’t know it was Amy he’d cheated with until she fucked up and let her paranoia get the best of her. I guess Astrid leaving town all those years ago made it easy to keep the secret.”

“I can’t believe Michael’s cool with that shit and made Edward the best man.”

I shrugged. “I missed the after-hours bachelor party, but based on what Astrid’s dad told me about hookers, Michael probably isn’t all that concerned about fidelity.”

“Yeah, I heard about the hookers.” I glanced at him, but he didn’t take his eyes off the road. “Comes with the job.”

“I don’t think any of them give a shit about monogamy, for that matter. I know for a fact that Bunky’s a fucking cheater.”

He glanced my way, arched a dark brow. “Bunky?”

“Thomas Bunker.”

“Ah. The slimy guy on our team?”

“That doesn’t narrow it down much, but yeah. He’s from The Bend. Sadly, my brothers and I grew up with him.”