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O dessa.

Everyone said that was her name.

Doctors, police officers, search and rescue, random people she came in contact with—and one very sexy park ranger.

There was something familiar about his intense, dark eyes and his kind, tender touch. Perhaps it was because he was the person who had found her and rode with her to the hospital. The one who held her hand when the nurse stuck her with needles and drew blood. The one who kept telling her that everything was going to be okay.

He’d also been the person to tell her she was alone in this world. That her parents had died a little over a year ago. Hearing those words tore open a hole in her heart. She was sure she had already felt that pain before, but now it engulfed her like the deep, dark forest filled with every scary monster that had ever lined the pages of a story.

Thane had been so kind, and she had to admit, there was something intimately recognizable about him. But the emotions he evoked confused her.

They were both warm and cold. Caring and distant.

But she didn’t know what feeling to trust.

Her mind was mostly dark space with the occasional flash of light. Behind those lightning bolts were pieces of images, but she couldn’t focus on them long enough to even know what they were.

Much less make sense of anything.

It was strange that she could function as a human. Knew about things. For example, she knew she absolutely hated pudding. The second the nurse had brought that vile stuff in, she pushed it away. However, she couldn’t explain how she knew her taste buds would revolt. Or that she preferred diet soda to coffee. Loved chocolate of any kind. And her favorite meal was grilled chicken Caesar salad. She could eat that all day long and never get bored.

How she knew any of this but didn’t know her own name or couldn’t recognize her friends made her want to climb under the sheets and cry like a baby.

She stared out the little window from her private room. Thane, Haven, and Doctor Anita Reynolds were huddled outside her door.

Talk about giving her something to make her jittery over.

She’d been poked and prodded a dozen times. It felt as though half her body had been drained of all her blood. The doctors took X-rays and scans. They had stitched her up and told her they'd be back as soon as they had the results from all the tests.

But now the good doctor spoke with the sexy park ranger and the sweet cop before coming in to talk to the patient.

Odessa sighed, dropping her head back. She squeezed her eyes shut and desperately tried to remember what happened.

Nothing but darkness with the occasional image of her running from something.

An animal?

A voice?

All she knew was it was dark except for the bright moon and stars that had guided her as she ran. But when she glanced over her shoulder in her mind, she thought she saw a flash searing through the trees.

And heard a familiar sound.

“Sorry to disturb your rest,” Dr. Reynolds said as she proudly strolled into the room. The woman carried herself with such confidence.

Odessa wondered if she ever had that kind of conviction. She blinked. The bright-white iridescent lights assaulted her vision like an out-of-control train. “It’s okay,” she said. “Have you gotten any of my test results back yet?”

“I have.” The doctor sat on the edge of the bed. “You definitely have a concussion, but there isn’t any swelling or brain bleed. So that’s good news.”

“So, why can’t I remember anything?”

“I suspect whatever trauma you experienced, your mind is protecting you from it.” The doctor patted her hand. “I’m recommending a specialist for you to speak with. A neurologist by the name of Jenna Chamber. She’s dealt with a few cases like yours.”

“I’m not sure what that means,” Odessa mumbled.

“You’ve been through something terrible and two people are dead,” Doctor Reynolds said. “Our mind is a complicated organ. Whatever happened, your brain is choosing to shut it out and the police need to chat with you.”

“That man out there—Thane—he says those two women were my friends.”

“They were.” The doctor nodded. “And I’d like you to call me Anita because we were also friendly.”

“We were?”

“You grew up in this town. You have deep ties to Fallport, bringing me to something else I need to discuss with you.” Anita jerked her thumb over her shoulder. “Thane would like to be present for this discussion, but I will only bring him in if you want me to.”

“He’s been very kind to me.”

“He’s a good man. But you and he have an interesting history.” Anita arched her brow. “What has he told you about that?”

“Nothing, really,” Odessa said. “He mentioned something about his mom and her bringing pictures that might spark my memories.”

“I only want you to do that under a session with the neurologist.” Anita glanced over her shoulder. “Doctor Jenna Chamber is on her way down. She should be here any second. How do you feel about Thane being present?”

“I’m okay with it.” Odessa nodded.

Anita pursed her lips and folded her arms.

“Is there something you’re not telling me?”

“There’s a lot we’re not informing you of,” Anita said. “There is a fine line between easing your mind back to reality, and info-dumping things on you that might be benign, but in actuality could be triggering. We want to?—”

The door swung open and an unfamiliar—yet familiar—woman strolled in. Then again, nearly everyone gave off that vibe. “Good afternoon.” The woman wasn’t very tall. Maybe five-three. She wore her long dark hair in a bun at the nape of her neck. She had a stunning dark complexion with bright-blue eyes.

Odessa believed she had seen those eyes before, and a flare of jealousy filled her gut. She had no idea why, but it coated her belly and festered like a bad meal.

“I’m Doctor Chamber, but please, call me Jenna,” the woman said with a smile that seemed genuine, but how was Odessa supposed to know.

“Do we know each other too?” Odessa asked. “Because I get the feeling we might have met.”

“We have.” Jenna lifted the chart from the end of the bed. “But only a couple of times and it was in passing. However, I want you to run with those feelings. Anita tells me that every time you’ve had a reaction to someone or something, it’s been correct. That’s good. It means your mind and all its memories are churning in your brain, searching for the one thing to help you unlock all those mysteries.”

“If that’s true, then why aren’t I looking at someone I know and being flooded with my life?” Odessa asked with tears burning in her eyes.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer to that. And you’ll soon learn, I don’t have answers to a lot of questions you might have,” Jenna said, setting the chart by Odessa’s feet. “Why you’ve blocked out all your memories, we don’t know. But years of experience tell me you’re not ready to deal with whatever happened. My job is to get you there.” The two doctors stole a glance.

That meant something.

Odessa sucked in a deep breath and waited for whatever news they had to share. She adjusted her pillow and sat up a little taller.

“Before we bring in our resident local police officer and Thane, we want to go over a couple of the medical tests,” Anita said. “For the record, we have given them to Haven.”

“Am I in trouble?” Odessa swallowed.

Jenna sat on the other side of the bed and took her hand. “The police need to figure out what happened to your friends. Right now, you’re the only link. But since you have no recollection, and there were date rape drugs in your system, you’re being looked at as a person of interest, not a suspect.”

“I don’t know if that makes me feel better,” Odessa said softly. “Or worse.”

“My job is to help you explore your feelings and try to jog your memory in a way that doesn’t overstimulate you,” Jenna said. “I’ve told Officer Campbell that she can ask some probing questions, with the understanding that it might go absolutely nowhere.”

“And Odessa has asked that Thane Bishop, the park ranger, be present. They do have a history, and she feels comfortable with him,” Anita added.

“What about the?—”

“We haven’t had that conversation yet,” Anita interrupted Jenna. “I wanted you to be present and Thane wants to be in the room.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude, but can we please not talk about me like I’m not sitting right here?” Odessa rubbed her temples. Every muscle ached. Her bones hurt. Her brain filled with flashes of nothing, if that made any sense.

It was maddening.

It boggled the mind that she knew so much and yet couldn’t piece together a single thing about her past. Things and people either had a hint of recognition or they didn’t. Emotions, both good and bad, filled her gut. She had no idea how to sort any of it.

“Why don’t we bring Officer Campbell and the park ranger in.” Jenna turned and made her way to the door.

Wonderful. More bits and pieces of her life would be spoon-fed to her by strangers.

“I don’t care what he wants.” Thane widened his stance, folded his arms, and glared. He absolutely knew he was in the wrong. Thane had no claim to Odessa. They were barely even friends anymore. But that didn’t change the pit in his stomach.

The military had taught him to trust his instincts. He wanted to believe that his instincts were screaming at him that Grant was a piece of shit who couldn’t be trusted.

Well, the piece of shit part was spot-on.

Everyone knew there was no love lost between Grant and Thane. However, that didn’t mean that Grant was a criminal.

“I can’t keep Grant from seeing her,” Haven said. “Once Weston is done with his interview, there is no logical reason for anyone to keep Grant from marching himself into that room.”

“All I’m asking is for a little more time before we let him up here. Something doesn’t feel right and I want to see her reaction to learning she possibly has a fiancé.”

“Just because you didn’t notice a ring on her finger Thursday night doesn’t mean anything.” Haven shook her head. “I wish I hadn’t told you that we found her engagement ring at the lower ridge near the bodies. It doesn’t make Grant a suspect and until we know more, we can’t have you jumping to conclusions.”

“Does he have a rock-solid alibi for the night?”

“Do you?” Haven asked with a little too much sarcasm. “Because both you and your mama were sound asleep isn’t rock solid.” She raised her hand. “What motive does he have in killing Chrissy and Sylvia?”

“They were in his way and Odessa was his real target.”

“I’m seriously not having this conversation with you.” Haven heaved in a deep breath, glancing over her shoulder. “I understand your concern. This will be a tough case, especially with Odessa not remembering anything.” She shifted her gaze. “Don’t get your panties in a wad, but she’s our best witness and our best?—”

“Don’t even fucking say it.” Thane shook his head. “You can’t for one second consider Odessa a suspect. What would she have to gain by killing her friends?”

“I’m a cop. I have to consider every possibility, whether I want to believe it or not. Right now, she’s still a person of interest. I have more than one witness who says the girls were fighting. I want to rule her out, but we have to spend some time listening to all the players. That includes Grant.” She jerked her chin toward the door. “However, it’s made harder when she claims she doesn’t remember anything.”

“Claims? Are you kidding me right now? I know you read the toxicology report. She was fucking given a date rape drug.”

“Thane. I am well aware of what was found in her system. That means we also have to think this could have been random and that’s scary for different reasons. But if you keep tossing everything back in my face, I will stop allowing you access to intel.” Haven curled her fingers around his biceps. “I’m only doing my job. Put yourself in my shoes for five seconds.”

“No, thank you.” He lifted his cap and raked his fingers through his hair. He absolutely understood the process. He simply didn’t like it. “I’m sorry. I’m frustrated and I’m worried what Grant will do. Sadly, even more worried if he’s not our guy.”

“I am too, but I can’t stop him from seeing her without a valid reason.”

“Well, let’s find one.”

The door to Odessa’s room opened and Jenna Chamber stuck her head out.

Thane groaned. When he’d learned Jenna would be the neurologist treating Odessa, he wanted to crawl under a rock. What were the odds that the one woman he’d had any kind of relationship with since moving back to Fallport would be Odessa’s doctor.

Though calling what they had a relationship was a real stretch.

Jenna stuck her hands in her pockets and made her way into the hallway. She was a petite woman with striking blue eyes, dark hair, and a way too serious attitude. Not even a dry sense of humor. However, she was brilliant, and they did have instant chemistry.

Only, that spark fizzled out quickly because they had absolutely nothing in common. Of course, Jenna had other reasons for ending their ridiculously short-lived affair.

That reason was now her patient.

“Hello, Thane.” Jenna nodded. “Haven, always good to see you.” She glanced over her shoulder. “Let’s get right to it with some ground rules.” She held up her hand when Thane opened his mouth. “Thane, you’re only here because my patient has agreed. Although, I’m worried you might have manipulated that situation.” She arched her perfect brow. One thing Thane had to admit—besides Jenna’s intelligence—was her sheer natural beauty.

“I did nothing of the sort. I’m the one who found her, and we do have a history. I only want what’s best for her.”

“Because I know you genuinely care about Odessa and you might be able to help her regain memories, I’m going to allow it. But you have to follow my suggestions or we’ll have a problem.” She blew out a puff of air. “While she has no concrete memories, her brain is registering some recognition of people through emotions. That’s promising. I want to keep working with that, through spoon-feeding her concepts and ideas about who she is. However, I don’t want to frustrate her, so we need to do it so that she’s not being quizzed or bombarded with your recollections of the past.”

“I’m not sure I’m understanding what you mean,” Thane said. Sometimes he felt like the dumbest person in the room when Jenna spoke. Part of her charm, which often made him chuckle.

But not today.

“Her memories are there, much like a word or name you can’t recall, but it’s on the tip of your tongue,” Jenna said. “Trying too hard often makes it feel like that word or name slips deeper into obscurity. But if we leave it alone, it pops into our consciousness when we least expect it. Only, that’s not really what’s happening. Things in our mind are working to find it, like a computer working a software program in the background. We need to be that program, but I want it to be subtle.”

“Okay. That makes sense.” Thane appreciated the way Jenna described the situation. There were times she used words and phrases he couldn’t understand. It drove him crazy.

“Odessa had a visceral response to me. While I wouldn’t say she recoiled, I could see she questioned whether or not she could trust me. It was the same look she gave me the second time we met all those months ago.” Jenna stuffed her hands in her pockets. “She suspected we might have had a connection; she just had no idea the circumstances or the history. What concerns me for Odessa is if her memory comes back rapidly, she might not have the coping skills to deal with it, which is why I want to ease her into all this with a few well-placed hints, a couple of really positive pictures of her past, and I need to watch her reaction to everyone who could be involved in what happened on that mountain.”

“You’re the doctor.” Thane nodded. While he and Jenna had become oil and water in the bedroom and could barely be friends, she was an excellent neurologist. The best. He’d trust her with his life. “I can have my mom bring over some pictures from high school. Things like prom or even graduation. She was really happy then.”

“Those will work.” Jenna nodded.

“You know, I’ve seen similar situations in the military. I’ve known men who couldn’t remember being tortured or the event that put them in the hospital. However, they never lost their entire identity. Why can’t she remember anything?”

“The brain is a complicated organ and we don’t know very much about it,” Jenna said. “If she remembers one thing, it could trigger a flood of memories, including that night. But we also have to consider that the head trauma could have affected her short-term memory. It’s possible she never had the chance to process what she saw or did.”

Thane held his breath and clenched his fists, keeping his words to himself. While Haven, Weston, and the rest of the police force had to look at all possibilities, Thane could only focus on one.

Grant.

He was the only one who made sense to Thane.

“I do have a few questions I need to ask her.” Haven pointed to the room. “I won’t be long and because I know Thane is going to ask, it’s fine with me if he’s there.”

“All right. But please don’t get her too worked up.” Jenna turned on her heel and opened the door, waving her hand.

Thane made a beeline for Odessa’s bedside. “How are you holding up?”

“I have no idea,” Odessa said. “Everything is so foreign to me, and yet so familiar. I don’t understand.”

“Do you remember me?” Haven asked.

“Only from earlier when Thane found me.” Odessa dropped her head back on the pillow and immediately regretted it. The dull throb turned to a sharp pain and it went straight from her head right down to her toes.

“I need to ask you a few things.” Haven pulled out a pad and pen. “What were you, Chrissy, and Sylvia fighting about?”

“I don’t remember. I don’t even remember going camping,” Odessa said with a quivering lower lip. “Everything is so weird. Like the Twilight Zone . And how do I even know that’s a television show, but not know a single thing about my life?”

Thane hated seeing her like this. The Odessa he used to know, the one he’d fallen in love with, was strong. Outspoken. She was the kind of woman who forged through doors. She made things happen, even when she was afraid.

Until fucking Grant happened. That man was a wrecking ball. He destroyed everything—and everyone—in his path.

“I can imagine that would be insanely frustrating,” Haven said.

“You have no idea. I don’t know any of these people. Nor do I remember anything about Fallport. But when we walked down the trail, I knew my way. As if I’d done it before.”

“Because you have,” Thane said.

Odessa rubbed her temples. “That makes no sense.”

“It’s not uncommon for people with amnesia to know some things and not others,” Jenna said. “What I’d like you to do is focus on the reactions your body and mind have to the questions Haven’s about to ask. Take your time and let the questions settle with those emotions and that might trigger a physical memory. If it doesn’t, try to hold on to those feelings. File them somewhere so you can pull them all together and possibly piece events back in place when you're faced with another one.”

Thane patted her leg and smiled.

“I’ll try, but it’s all so confusing.” Odessa nodded.

“I’d like to show you some pictures and I want you to tell me what you know or remember about them.” Haven pulled out her cell and tapped the screen, staring at it momentarily. Her eyes widened and she pursed her lips.

Thane didn’t like that expression. He wanted to ask what brought the contemplative expression but now wasn’t the time.

Haven swiped, then turned the phone, holding it up to Odessa.

At least it was an image Odessa should recognize.

Odessa squinted as she took the cell into her shaky hand. “It’s the same thing. I feel like I should know these people. There is a hint of recognition, but I can’t form names or memories.”

“What kind of emotions do they give you?” Jenna asked.

“Warm. Friendly,” Odessa said softly. “But I can’t recall anything.” She blinked, sucking in a deep breath. “Are these… are these… my friends who died?”

“When do you remember last seeing them?” Haven asked.

Thane shifted his stare and shot daggers at Haven. Dumbass fucking trick.

Odessa brought the cell closer, as if to study it. She bit down on her lower lip. Once again, it quivered. Her hand trembled. “I’m sorry. I wish I knew. I want to help. I want to know what happened. My memories seem to start when I woke up in the woods in the dark.” She glanced up. “I’m sorry. I really am.”

At least Thane knew she wasn’t lying.

“What about this man?” Haven leaned over, wiggled her finger at her screen, and swiped. “Do you recognize him?”

Odessa’s eyes narrowed. Her breath hitched. She pressed her head farther back on the pillow. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t know,” she whispered.

He knew Odessa. He understood her facial expressions and that furrowed brow could only mean one thing.

Fear.

But did she know why she was afraid of Grant? That was the million-dollar question.

“What are you feeling right now?” Jenna inched closer. She glanced at the machine checking Odessa’s vitals. Her pulse had increased ever so slightly.

“Same familiar emotions. As if I know him, but I can’t place him. It’s like he has a face I might have seen before, but I just don’t remember,” Odessa said. “Who is he? Why should I know him? Please just tell me. I can’t stand all this a second longer.”

“His name is Grant Mercer.” Haven tucked her pad and paper into her pocket and took her cell. “Name jog your memory at all?”

“No more than when Thane or you told me your names. But I’m starting to think everyone in this town has some tie to me.” Odessa hugged her middle. “I’m tired of riddles. Can someone just tell me who he is?”

When frustration settled into her bones, at least the Odessa he dated, she tended to get a little snippy. Sometimes downright angry or mean. Or both.

Thane absolutely believed she had no idea who or what Grant was to her and that posed so many different problems.

But why wasn’t she expressing the alarm he’d triggered? That didn’t settle well with Thane.

“He’s your fiancé,” Jenna said. “And he’s downstairs waiting to see you.”

Just hearing the word fiancé made Thane’s stomach churn.

Odessa’s jaw flopped open. She grabbed her left hand and thumbed her ring finger. She glanced between him, the doctor, Haven, and back to him. “Why didn’t anyone tell me this sooner?” She drew her lips into a tight line, holding Thane’s gaze for a good ten seconds. “Why didn’t you tell me this when you told me about my parents? Why would you keep it from me? That’s not fair. Obviously, something bad happened to me and you all are treating me like I did something.” She glanced down. “And why aren’t I wearing an engagement ring?”

“All we’re doing is trying to protect you,” Thane said. “And find answers.”

“Maybe my memories will come back if I’m with my family,” she said with a fair amount of disdain and disgust, which sounded more like the Odessa he knew a week ago. “With the man whom I chose to be with.”

Her words cut Thane to the bone. “Don’t you need to interview him?” He cocked his head, staring at Haven, knowing full well that Weston was already doing the honors.

She nodded. “I’ll go down and chat with him now and then send him up.”

“Please do that,” Odessa said. “I want to see him. Maybe he’s exactly what I need to remember, and can someone please tell me where my ring is?”

“We don’t know,” Haven said. “You weren’t wearing one.”

Thane was thrilled that Haven tackled that one. Odessa might not remember anything, but her personality was coming out in spades. At least the old Odessa was and she was like a dog with a bone when it came to stuff like that.

“In the meantime, I’d like you to rest.” Jenna patted her leg. “I’m going to be keeping you overnight for observation. Thane, why don’t you walk me out.”

The last thing Thane wanted to do was leave Odessa, but what choice did he have? Her doctor demanded she rest and he had no right to keep fucking Grant from seeing her, no matter what he thought.

He took Odessa’s hand and kissed it. “I’ll leave my number with the nurse. You can call me anytime. Later, I’ll bring a new phone for you.”

“I’m sure that won’t be necessary.”

“It’s not a big deal.” He smiled. “Get some rest. I’ll see you later.” He followed Jenna and Haven out the door and back into the hallway before Odessa could protest further.

Jenna stuffed her hands in her pockets. “I’m sure I’m not the only one who noticed Odessa having a mild negative reaction to Grant’s image. Does someone want to tell me why that might be?”

“I believe she might have broken off the engagement, but I can’t be sure,” Thane said. He left out the part about Haven finding the ring by the dead bodies. That wasn’t his place, but it wasn’t lost on him that she was keeping her trap shut. “And then there’s what I think about the relationship, but you already know my thoughts on that.”

“Yup. I sure do.” Jenna sighed. “Her reactions could simply be that they had a fight the last time they spoke or that she was caught off guard since we kept that from her for a few hours.” She held up her hand. “Her pulse didn’t go wild, nor did her blood pressure. It was a slight increase. Nothing I would consider cause for alarm. But there was also an interesting shift in her personality. This reunion could tell us something.”

“Maybe I should stay,” Thane said.

“I don’t think that would be helpful for a number of reasons,” Jenna said, turning her attention to Haven. “Is Grant a suspect in the murder of her friends?”

“No.” Haven lowered her gaze. “Weston finished with the interview.” She pulled out her cell and waved. “I got word while interviewing Odessa that he has an airtight alibi.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Thane mumbled.

“I’m not,” Haven said. “He was at car show about an hour away. He’d checked into his hotel Friday at four. Locals there did a solid and spoke to three witnesses. He drove back the second he heard the news.”

“That’s convenient.” Thane lifted off his cap, folded it, and tucked it in his back pocket.

“Since we’re on the subject.” Haven tapped her cell. “Weston also mentioned that Grant stated on Thursday evening that he called off his engagement to Odessa. According to him, she wasn’t happy and threw a bottle of wine at him. My husband says he’s got a black eye.”

“I don’t believe that for one second.” Thane raked his fingers through his unruly hair. “While Grant often treated her like she was beneath him, I don’t see him letting her go and I sure as shit don’t believe she’d hurl a bottle at him. If he’s got a black eye, it didn’t happen then.”

“That picture I showed her, Weston just took.” Haven arched a brow. “It shows the damage to his face. Weston’s going to poke around and see if anyone saw him with that mark on his face Friday. Grant also says there is a big stain on his living room carpet. He’s painting a picture that lately Odessa has had some anger issues, which is one of the reasons he decided it was time to call it quits.”

“That’s bullshit,” Thane said behind a tight jaw.

Haven raised her hand. “I’m just repeating what I know. Regardless, Grant has an alibi.”

“He could have driven back in the middle of the night,” Thane said.

“That crossed Weston’s mind.” Haven nodded. “But Grant had an answer for that.” She arched a brow. “And her name is Leslie Anne Seymore.”

“He was fucking his IT manager?” Thane folded his arms across his chest and swallowed the bile that slammed the back of his throat. Leslie Anne had been looking for her sugar daddy for as long as Thane could remember. It was pathetic, but only because the woman had so much going for her. She was intelligent, beautiful, and she commanded a room.

But for whatever reason, she wanted a man to take care of her every need. A year ago, she had her sights set on old man Crenshaw. When that didn’t work out, she went after his son, Todd. But that didn’t last very long when she realized being the wife of a rancher was hard work, no matter how rich they were.

“According to this very long text from Weston, nothing happened between Grant and Leslie Anne until after he called it quits with Odessa.” Haven stuffed her cell back in her pocket. “Weston is on his way up with Grant and suggested that Thane disappear.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Jenna actually took her hand out of her lab coat and curled her fingers around Thane’s biceps, giving it a little squeeze. “When she found out about Grant, she directed all that anger of not knowing at you. She senses all that history. Thing is, I know that story, and not just through your eyes.”

“What are you saying?” Thane asked. In the past, Jenna always thought that Thane had been obsessed with Odessa. That he’d still been in love with her and had never let her go. That until he either admitted that or walked away, he’d never be able to move on with his life.

He laughed at the concept.

Only, Jenna was right.

“I’ve seen them out a few times having dinner with various people. I saw how controlling he can be. As her doctor, I promise I’ll keep an eye on that and help guide her through this without his manipulations.” Jenna smiled. It wasn’t something she did often, but it was sweet and genuine when she did.

“I appreciate that, but let me ask you this,” Thane said. “What’s going to happen when you release her tomorrow? Technically, she lives with that asshole.”

“We’ll cross that bridge tomorrow.” Jenna pointed toward the elevator. “Go grab some food. I’ll text you when he’s gone.”

Thane did need to check in with his mother. His buddies busted his balls all the time about being a mama’s boy at nearly forty. He didn’t give a shit. His mother was his world, especially after losing his dad. He’d do anything for his mom and right now, she was worried sick about Odessa. “All right. But just remember, my patience runs thin real quick.”