Chapter 12

CHAPTER TWELVE

SHEP

I returned to the house later than I'd hoped. I was able to get two of the five applicants to come in for an interview, and Lizzy had liked one of them instantly, so I'd hired the young guy. He'd worked at a bakery for three years prior so he had experience, he was polite, and Lizzy thought he'd be a quick study. She'd start training him tomorrow, but that meant I still needed to be there.

I crept into the bedroom, careful not to wake JJ, but as soon as I was halfway across the room, I realized he wasn't even in there.

I made my way up the hallway to Mason's room, but he wasn't there. Gabe must be back at the hospital, because Mason was snoring lightly in the center of the bed.

"Looking for JJ?"

I spun, and there was Angel resting against his bedroom door.

"Yeah."

He jerked his head up, his eyes going skyward. "He's been in Four's room."

"Alone?" Were they insane?

"Relax." Angel took a few steps forward. "Four was mostly out of it all day after the procedure. He's extremely sensitive to sedatives. Which, if I'd known better, I wouldn't have dosed him so much. I wanted to tie his arm to the bedpost in case Four woke up and tried to scratch the incision or freaked out over the tracker being gone."

"Seems sensible."

Angel snorted. "JJ called me a war criminal to strap down a victim, so I dunno…"

"And let me guess, JJ offered to watch over him all night?"

Angel winked. "Bingo."

"But you've been watching over him watching over Four?"

"Got it in one." He shrugged. "I heard you come in and figured you'd panic when you didn't see your rabid little squirrel in bed."

"He's not rabid…" I furrowed my brows. "I don't think."

"Go shower and get to bed. You have to get to the shop again in the morning?"

I nodded. "I do. We got a new guy, nice kid, Lizzy-approved. She's going to train him, but I still have to be there, and I'm interviewing three more tomorrow to get her even more hands."

"That'll be good. I'll watch over your guy. Sleep."

"I want to say good night; then I'll pass out."

Angel hummed and walked away while I took the stairs two at a time. The door to Four's room was open, so I watched as JJ held Four's hand but was fast asleep.

Four, on the other hand, was staring at the ceiling. I took a few steps in, and Four's eyes darted my way.

"I'm just checking in on you two."

Four's gaze went to JJ, followed by me. He was oddly more responsive than I'd seen him without a cookie or something sweet in his hand.

"He's been worried about you."

Four didn't speak.

"I don't know if you understand what happened today?" I kept my voice low so as not to wake JJ. Four looked at me, not speaking.

"Angel removed the tracker, the A…that was in your arm. No one can get you now."

Still nothing. My eyes flickered to where Four was gripping JJ's hand tightly.

"JJ cares a lot about you; we all do. I know you probably can't understand what's going on, but know that we have your back and we'll get you help."

Clearly Four had decided he'd had enough of my shit, because he returned to staring at the ceiling.

"Good night, Four…oh, and one more thing." He didn't glance at me but I guaranteed he could hear me. "Don't hurt JJ. He's my whole world, and I'd tear everything and anyone apart who did anything to harm him." With that I left the bedroom, exhaustion weighing heavy on me. I trusted Angel would keep an eye on JJ.

Saintly Sweets was busy and Lizzy and Wesley, the new kid, were working the counter. Lizzy was right; he was a quick study and while he wasn't one hundred percent on what all the goods were, he was a whiz at the register and fixing coffees.

I'd already interviewed two of the last three applicants, and as they left Lizzy shook her head. I trusted her judgment. She'd chosen the ones she liked but after she listened in on the interviews, she'd see if her gut was right or not.

The bell over the door chimed at the end of the rush. I looked up from where I was finishing inventory while Lizzy and Wesley took their break.

"Can I help you?"

She glanced around, a small smile playing on her face. She had light blond hair done up in a ponytail, cornflower-blue eyes, and was wearing a pink dress with little white flowers on it.

"Good afternoon. Are you Shepard Saint?"

"I am, who's asking?"

She giggled. "I'm so sorry. I'm Darby Daniels. I have an interview with you today." She checked her watch. "Did I mess up?"

"Oh, no, sorry." She was a bit dressed up for the job, but I wouldn't hold that against her. "My other employees are on break, so I'm out front. Mind if we do the interview here?"

She shrugged. "Makes no difference to me. You're the boss."

"Right. So…" I reached under the counter and pulled out her résumé. "Says here you were a barista for two years, and then you worked at Fiona's Chocolates until about a month ago?"

She beamed. "All true." She chuckled. "I love coffee and sweets, but Fiona is selling her business in a couple of months and cut some of the staff."

I was aware the business was being sold. "Have you ever worked in a bakery or a shop like this that wasn't just coffee?"

"Well, I mean, Fiona's was sweets and then the coffee shop was coffee, put them together and yes, I'd say I have."

She was quite charming, and there was a spark of confidence about her. "Good point. Let me just run in the back to grab Lizzy. She's the supervisor who's doing all the training. She may have some questions."

"Sounds good."

Wes and Lizzy were sitting and eating muffins as I approached.

"Hey, Boss."

"Got a sec, Lizzy. Darby Daniels is here. I'd like your take on her."

She jumped up and made her way out to where Darby was checking one of the carousels of books we had throughout the shop. It was sort of like a little library: Got a book, leave a book; need a book, take a book. It was JJ's idea.

Lizzy walked to Darby, and the two began talking. Lizzy nodded a lot and Darby smiled the whole time. When Darby was gesturing to something in the corner, Lizzy peeked over her shoulder and winked. She was sold on Darby.

Once they were done, Lizzy returned to Wesley and I held out a hand to Darby. "Looks like you passed the Lizzy test. The job's yours if you want it."

"Oh wow, thank you."

"Can you come by tomorrow morning at nine? We can get the paperwork done, and you'll be good to go."

"Perfect."

I took a deep breath once Darby left. At least this place was shaping up. As soon as Lizzy had Darby and Wesley under her wing, I'd be able to focus on things at home.

Speaking of, I hoped today was a success. Angel's doctor friend, Aziza, was coming there to see Four. Maybe she'd be able to start breaking down his walls.

I just really wondered what horrors she'd find, because there was no doubt in my mind that Four was in a never-ending nightmare.