"Are you sure it was Dylan?" Emmett asked, folding his hands up on his desk. A frown formed across his pasty face as his brows creased slightly.

"Absolutely. I couldn't forget that creep's face." I shivered just remembering him.

"He just walked around the building? Didn't try to break in or confront Alfie?"

I shook my head. "Nope. He just looked around like he was lost. It was weird."

"That is weird. It makes me wonder if he was scouting the place out in hopes of breaking in tonight. I'll be sure to get Alfie to keep watch with Charlie tonight. We'll move the supply too, just in case," Emmett said.

"Sounds good." I messed with a glass figurine on his desk; a gift from Kaz on his birthday. "You don't think Dylan could be the one who shot me, do you? It's quite a coincidence that he suddenly shows up again."

"Yeah, I know. It is." Emmett stood from his desk. "That's why I was thinking about going on a little drive. Just to check out the neighborhoods and see what some people might've heard lately. Wanna come with me?"

I shrugged. "It's not like I've got anywhere else to be."

"Adam's working today, right?" Emmett donned his black overcoat and leather gloves.

"Yeah, he is. We were gonna eat lunch together this afternoon but Archie showed up and ruined that. He kept going on about a dealer he got involved with. The White Dragon."

"Archie mentioned that to me too. Dumbass asked me to lend him some of our drug clients." Emmett shook his head. "That guy's got a few screws loose. I told him he could come join us and we'd help his sorry ass, but he wanted nothing to do with the Voiceless Rebels. Dunno what his plans are now. Fleeing the country's probably his best bet at keeping all his fingers and toes."

"Archie thinks that dealer might've come after me as revenge," I told him. "Maybe the gunshot was even meant for Adam."

Emmett paused midway to the door. "That's very possible. Now that you mention it, I've actually heard rumors that the White Dragon is a woman. Maybe all this time we've been looking at it from the wrong angle. This person doesn't hold a vendetta against you or Adam. It might be Archie's fault."

"I mean, I wouldn't say it's all his fault. He didn't know that his dealer might come after us," I replied. "Besides, we don't know that for sure. It's just a theory. It could be Dylan or someone else."

"Do you really think Dylan's been the one coming to your house dressed like a witch in a long black wig?" Emmett asked. "Maybe he could be involved somehow, but I don't think he's the mastermind behind everything."

"You never know. People are crazy," I pointed out.

"True." Emmett shrugged.

"I really don't think it's Dylan either," I admitted. "But I can't rule him out completely yet."

Chilly wind nipped at my cheeks as I followed Emmett outside to his blue caddie. It was his most prized possession but the heater was crap. I swore I'd freeze to death as went entered Viper Valley. Emmett cruised down the street until he reached Flora's Flower shop and parked near the curb.

Flora's flower shop had the sign turned around to Closed. It was dark behind the glass too. The buildings next door to it were a bank and an old cafe that went out of business a few years ago.

A couple walked down the sidewalk with their huge poodle. I was surprised the dog didn't pull it's petite owner away.

"What are we doing here?" I asked.

"Look across the street." Emmett pointed to the grocery store where an elderly old man crawled into his tent. "Homeless people always see shit they're not suppose to. They make the best witnesses. I'm sure he'd remember Dylan around here. He must be hanging out here if he's on foot. You saw him about twenty or so minutes ago, right?"

"Yeah, but he might not have seen Dylan," I replied.

"Ever since he threatened you, I had my people keep a close eye on him," Emmett admitted. "Dylan's homeless now. He couldn't afford his rent at Sundown Apartments. You know how that asshole landlord is about his precious payments. Remember, Kaz lived there before. I heard he got into a fight at the homeless shelter in Hell's Hollow, so they kicked his ass out. He's been living around here."

I clenched my fists at my sides. "For real? Why the hell didn't you tell me? Dylan's been this close the whole time? I thought he fucking fled town!"

"I did too for awhile. But he came back. Dunno where he was for a few weeks. Maybe he overdosed? I didn't bother checking the hospital," Emmett replied. "With my people keeping a close eye on him, I didn't see a problem. Today's the first time he showed up at the hair salon in forever."

"You have to tell me shit like that," I snapped.

"I'm sorry. I didn't want to worry you." Emmett sighed. "You've been too busy with Adam lately anyway. I barely get to see you anymore."

I rolled my eyes. "Don't pull that pitying crap."

"I'm not. I'm being serious, Everly. You only come by to deal for us." Emmett propped his squeaky door open. "Just look at that old man's tent and belongings. He's made that sidewalk his turf. I doubt he's left it much. He probably watches everyone that comes and goes. It won't hurt to check it out."

The flagpole mounted in front of the post office shook violently like it wanted to escape. Brushing my hair out of my face, I followed Emmett across the street. Nobody wanted to be out in such cold weather, and I didn't blame them. I shouldn't have been there either.

Licking my chapped lips, I folded my arms across my chest. All I could think about was snuggling back under the covers at home where it was warm and safe. I pitied the poor man who had to sleep on the cold concrete ground. He probably had nowhere else to go. The shelters got packed quick during the winter everywhere.

Emmett got down on his knees and unzipped the flap of the homeless man's tent. "Anyone home?"

The old man with a grayish beard let out a surprised gruff when he saw us. Poor guy looked scared out of his mind. He almost dropped his hamburger.

"I-I don't want no trouble."

"That's fantastic. We don't either." Emmett grinned. "I just have some simple questions for you."

"You can't have anything here." The old man gruffed, holding onto his dirty pillow protectively.

"Oh, all I want is information. It might even be worth something." Emmett winked. "I'm gonna show you a photo of someone and I want you to tell me if you know him."

The old man frowned, but didn't argue. Emmett retrieved his phone and showed him a photo I hadn't known he'd had of Dylan. It looked like he pulled it from the guy's social media page.

The old man poked his head out a little, squinting his eyes at the picture on my brother's phone. "You ain't cops?"

"Hell no," Emmett replied. "This asshole just owes me money."

"I seen him here. He's a piece of shit. Stole cigarettes from me tent once," the old man replied. "He meets with a pretty lady a lot. She comes in a black Honda Civic that looked a lot like me old one. It always parks right here by my curb. I remember it cuz I kept smelling gasoline. It was leaking that shit like crazy and woke me. Had half a mind to tell them to fuck off. There was a dent in the back door too, like someone had hit her. She also had a taillight out."

"You happen to get a good look at the driver?" I asked him.

The old man shook his head. "Not really. She's just a pretty lady."

"That doesn't narrow things down much. There's tons of pretty chicks in New Syracuse. But the description of the car is very useful. I'll tell Alfie and the others to be on the lookout for it. Can't be too hard to find." Emmett got back up on his feet, looking down on the old man. "What's your name?"

"Abe."

"Well come on, Abe. Get your ass up. We're going shopping."

The old man hesitantly rose to his feet, staring at my brother skeptically. I never could predict what Emmett would do. Generosity wasn't something he commonly expressed unless he wanted something. I had a bad feeling that homeless man would be digging his own grave by accepting his offer.

"God bless you, sir."

Emmett beamed proudly as we walked into the grocery store. He let the man fill a shopping cart with whatever items he needed. When we ended up near the infant section, I couldn't help but stroll down the aisle. How ridiculous of me to almost burst into tears over a pack of diapers.

"You okay?"

I jolted at Emmett's hand against my back. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking."

"Don't tell me you're imagining a bunch of little Adam babies crawling all over the place."

"Maybe I am," I murmured.

"You know he'd leave you in a heartbeat," Emmett said. "Don't bring an unwanted baby into this world. I know it's painful to think about what happened, but there will be a better time to have kids. You don't deserve to be a single mom struggling to get by. With the money you've made helping me, you should almost have enough to get into a good vet school. I know being a vet is what you always dreamed of as a kid. Don't give up your dream for that pighead cop."

Dreams changed. While I would love to be a vet someday, I couldn't fight my stubborn heart and what it wanted more than anything in the world. Emmett was wrong about Adam. He would have been a great father. I wasn't so sure I would have been a great mother. Maybe that's why I lost our baby.

"Maybe someday. Let's just go." I led him away from that aisle.

By the time we reached the checkout line with a shopping cart full for Abe, it felt like someone started stabbing me in the stomach. I clenched my jaw, trying not to let anyone notice how much it hurt. I figured it would fade away soon, but it didn't.

"I'm gonna wait in the car," I said. "Can I have the keys?"

Emmett handed them over, frowning. "You feeling okay?"

"Never better." I lied.

Awful pain pulsed in the pit of my stomach. I swore I was going to puke once I reached my brother's car. I got the heater on, thankfully, and gently peeled my hoodie up to check on the bandage. I thought I might've ruptured a stitch, but that didn't seem to be the case. I knew exactly where the pain was coming from.

The squeaky driver side door opened and Emmett plopped down on the leather seat. He pulled out two peanut butter bars from his hoodie pocket and handed me one.

"You're as pale as a ghost, Everly. You sure you're alright?"

"I will be when we catch the asshole who tried to kill me." Peeling open the wrapper, I took a few bites of the peanut butter bar he gave me.

"I'm gonna take you home. You need to rest," Emmett replied, munching on his own peanut butter bar. "If I find out anything else, I'll let you know."

"I'm fine," I told him. "I don't need to rest. If you'd like, I can even go back to the hair salon and help y'all deal."

"Nah, I've got Alfie and Kaz taking care of that. You need to quit being so damn stubborn." Emmett gripped the steering wheel. "You've always been this way. You care about everyone else more than yourself. Just do something to help unwind. Don't worry about anyone else for the rest of the day."

"Whatever."

Rundown houses passed by my window. Some more worse than others. It was hard to imagine someone living in them probably without electricity and cable. It was even more heartbreaking when it was families with kids.

He came to a stop behind a school bus that let a couple of Elementary school kids off. They hurried across the streets happily, their little backpacks bouncing behind them as they rushed to their waiting parents bundled in layers of coats. I'd make sure to always pick my kids up so they didn't ever have to ride the horrible school bus.

I blinked a few times to keep the tears at bay. It was hard not to imagine what could have been and what never would be. Our baby was robbed of his chance at life. It wasn't my fault I miscarried, nor was it Adam's. We didn't know what would happen that night. We didn't know someone wanted me dead.