“Hey, Joe.” Sam stood at my side with his lovely wife, Fiona. “Do you need any help with that?” He pointed toward the grill as I turned the hot dogs.

“You think you’re man enough?”

He turned to face me and I could feel his glare. “Ever going to stop being a prick?”

I shrugged and turned over the last one. “Probably not.”

“You’re an asshole.”

“I know, but so are you. Embrace it.”

“Come on, Fi, let’s go where we are wanted.”

“Sam,” I grunted because suddenly I grew a conscience. “Stay. We gotta talk.”

“I think I’ll just go talk to Izzy for a bit,” Fiona told him and gave me a shitty look.

“No, stay, Fiona. Please.” I glanced at her and gave her an I’ve been an asshole smile. “I’m sorry, Sam. I know you’re not the same person you were before.”

He crossed his arms in front of his chest and widened his stance. “I’m not, but clearly you’re just as big of a dickhead as you’ve always been.”

“I’m trying to apologize. You’ve been good to my family. Hell, you’ve been around long enough you’re like an adopted member. I promise to be nicer and treat you as an equal. You just have to understand, we all give each other shit. I can’t be too nice or it wouldn’t be right. Ya know what I mean?”

His eyes flickered to the ground and then to Fiona before returning to me. “So you want to put everything in the past?” He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes.

I nodded and held my hand out to him. “Can we start over?”

His hand slid into mine. “It’s water under the bridge, City. I let it go long ago. You were the one still with the problem.”

“It wasn’t fair of me. I’m sorry to you, Fiona. Sam’s a good man. I couldn’t be happier that you two found each other.” I didn’t add the bit that I was happy he wasn’t banging my sister anymore.

Her arm snaked around his back before resting her head against his arm. “Sam really looks up to you like a big brother, Joe. He thinks of you as family.”

I grimaced. “I’m sorry to both of you for always being an asshole. Sam and I have a past. We’ve been through a lot of shit together, but when push comes to shove, he’s always been there for me. It’s about time I step up to the plate and do the same.”

“That means a lot, man.”

“Joe!” Suzy yelled from the patio and waved her arms frantically.

“I gotta run. Here—” I handed the tongs to him. “You’re on dog duty now. Welcome to the family.”

I jogged toward her, worried that something was wrong. “What’s up, sugar?”

“There’s a phone call for you.”

“Who is it?” I asked, taking the phone from her hand.

“I don’t know. They wouldn’t give a name.”

My muscles tensed. “Hello,” I said through clenched teeth.

“We’re watching,” the raspy voice on the other end said before hanging up.

Suzy grabbed my arm. “What did they say?”

“Nothing. Wrong number.” I lied through my teeth and scanned the yard for Thomas. “Is the food almost done?” I asked and changed the subject.

She kept trying to make eye contact, but I couldn’t look her in the eyes. “Yeah. Just have to take the last few things out of the fridge. How about the stuff on the grill?”

“It’s ready when you are. Take everything out, and I’ll get everyone to start making their way toward the house.”

“Are you sure everything is okay?”

“I’m sure.” I kissed her on the forehead and quickly headed toward James and Thomas, who were huddled near the pool, discussing something.

“What’s wrong?” James asked, seeing me approaching with clenched fists.

“Someone just called. Said they were watching and hung up.”

Thomas’s eyes darted toward the woods. “I’ll let the guys know. We all need to be on high alert.”

“Should we move the party inside?” I asked, glancing around the yard.

“No. I don’t want to freak everyone out. Just watch your back and keep your eyes open for anything weird.”

“I don’t know about this, man,” James said and rubbed the back of his neck. “I have a bad feeling about this.”

“That makes two of us,” I mumbled, rocking back on my heels.

“Dinner!” Izzy shouted from the patio and banged a giant spoon against an empty metal pot. “Come and get it!”

“We got this.” Thomas slapped me on the back, trying to play it cool, but I knew he was just as freaked out by this as I was, plus he had the biggest bull’s-eye on his back.

Not me.

“Son, everything okay?” my father asked me before my feet touched the patio, stopping me in my tracks.

“I don’t know, Pop.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and stared at the ground. “Only time will tell.”

“I brought my gun.” He patted his shirt, the bulge clearly visible underneath.

“Let the guys handle it,” I told him and moved his hand away from the piece.

“Joe, I may be old, but I can still kick your ass and shoot a straight shot.”

“No doubt,” I laughed.