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“I thought she couldn’t search and find,” he said when Zach and Denala got close enough.
“Worried?” Zach snapped and immediately felt like shit. Connor trusted Wayne. He trusted Connor.
“Yes,” Wayne answered softly, causing Zach’s eyes to snap up and meet his gaze. “I’m worried you’re only hurting yourself more, Zach. Denala isn’t trained for this. Don’t get mad at her when she can’t work the miracle you need so badly right now.”
Denala tugged furiously on the leash. “Yeah, let’s see what she can do before we throw all hope out the window.” Zach’s lifted spirits were short-lived. With her nose to the ground, Denala traced the exact path they’d taken to get to the park. She went straight for the apartment complex entrance, sat down, and barked at Zach.
“Why is she doing that?” Wayne asked.
“Because she thinks he’s coming back home,” Zach answered. “She doesn’t want to leave the apartment building because she knows that’s where Noah is supposed to be.” He tucked the shirt back into his pocket and prayed he wouldn’t break down and cry in front of Wayne. He wasn’t a weak man, but he also wasn’t accustomed to feeling and being so helpless. If his worthless father had taught him anything, it’d been to take care of business yourself. Never rely on anybody else. For the first time in his life, he couldn’t take care of business. Sure, he wouldn’t hesitate to go straight to Dante Moretti right now and beat the truth out of him, but nobody, including the FBI, seemed to be able to find him. There were even whispers he’d been taken out as well. Zach hoped he had. His deceit had led Noah down this path.
“Sorry, Zach,” Wayne whispered. “You know we’re trying to find him, right? Connor and me? We’re doing everything we can to find Noah or Dante Moretti. One way or another, you’ll get your answers before this is over.”
They stepped inside the building, and Zach gripped the leash tightly, knowing there would be a royal battle to get Denala back on the elevator again. She didn’t disappoint. By the time the three of them were back on the elevator, Zach had worked up a sweat and Denala had spit and foam leaking out of her mouth.
“Is she always like that?” Wayne asked once the doors slid shut and the elevator started moving.
“No,” Zach answered shortly. “What do you mean everything you can do, Wayne? Explain it to me because I’m having a hell of a time understanding your role in this entire shit show. Sure, Connor trusts you, and I’m trying my best to give you the benefit of the doubt, but what the fuck? Are you here because you have the hots for my friend? Are you here because you’re some kind of superhero insisting on doing the right thing every time? Or, are you here for reasons that will eventually lead to me killing you?”
Wayne kept his face straight ahead, not even attempting to look in Zach’s direction. “I’m here for Connor because I’m falling for him and I’m here for you. That’s all I’m saying about it, Zachary. I know asking you to trust me is asking too much, but you’ll eventually see I’m not the bad guy.”
The doors slid open and Denala dragged him off the elevator, ending their conversation. Once inside the apartment, Connor gave him a disappointed look but didn’t say anything. A knowing glance passed between Connor and Wayne, so Zach excused himself to go check on the puppies. He was tired of trying to figure out what was going on.
He was just so fuckingtired.
Seventy-two hours. Three days. Would he spend the rest of his life like this? Counting the days without Noah? He rolled over and looked at the clock. It was after nine in the morning. Denala and the puppies needed to be taken care of. After that, he’d sit around and mope all day, imagining horrible things happening to Noah.
When he walked into the living room, Connor was on his cell and Wayne was nowhere to be seen. Neither was Denala. Perfect. Now the man he didn’t trust was taking his dog for a poop break. Just as Connor disconnected and slid his cell into his pocket, the door to the apartment opened. Wayne and Denala came in. Denala growling and Wayne frowning.
“That fucking dog nearly pulled my arm out of its socket,” he grumbled. “She’s strong.”
Connor frowned and looked at Zach. “Did you give him her commands?”
“No,” Zach answered. “I didn’t know he was hired for dog walking too. I thought he was only on Zach babysitting duty.” Looking at Wayne, he said, “I’ll take my dog out from now on.”
“No problem,” Wayne answered shortly.
About then Connor would usually step in and try to get them to play nice. This time, he didn’t say a word, just looked at Zach with the same sad expression apparently frozen on his face. Feeling like shit, Zach said, “Sorry, Wayne. I didn’t mean to be a prick.” Turning to Connor, he asked, “Satisfied?”
Connor opened his mouth and then shut it. Opened. Shut.
“What’s happened?” Wayne asked as he crossed the space between them and wrapped an arm around Connor’s waist. “Something’s wrong.”
Connor’s eyes went straight to Zach. “That was the FBI on the phone. They’ll be here in thirty minutes.” Before Zach could say anything, he said, “No, they didn’t say what it was about. Go clean up. You look like shit.”
“It’s going to be bad, isn’t it?” Zach said. “If it’s bad, Connor, somebody’s going to die.”
“Whatever it is, we’ll deal with it. Together. Grab a shower.” Turning to Wayne, he said, “You should probably go.”
Wayne’s eyes went to Connor, to Zach, and then back to Connor. “Yeah, I need to meet with some people anyway. I got a call when I was out with Denala. There’s been some information on that project I was working on. You guys take care of Noah’s stuff, and I’ll take care of my problem.”
Nope, Zach didn’t trust him.