Page 29 of Outlaws' Single Mom
Right. Got it. My bad. Both Stiff and Jackal glance my way, smirking. Assholes.
“Peaches. Yeah.” Hector looks up, nodding. He taps the screen. “If she went by Georgia, too, I dunno. When I knew her she was Peaches. Five years ago, probably? She needed work. Sweet but not very reliable. I let her pick up shifts when she was around and I was shorthanded. The boys loved her and she was good behind the bar when she was sober, but easily distracted. The picture makes sense ‘cause I think she and Ice had a thing for a while.”
“Know what happened to her?” Jackal asks.
“Nah. Like I said, she only worked when it was convenient for both of us, and at some point I figured she moved on because she stopped coming in.”
“Ice didn’t say anything?”
If I paid attention every time a girl showed up or vanished, I’d go fucking crazy. Maybe she got tired of the life and went back to suburbia, maybe she got arrested, maybe she just found a better job.” Hector fixes me with a look that’s hard to take seriously with the glasses making him look like Professor Mr. Clean. “We didn’t exactly have deep conversations about his love life, and if you remember, that was back when the Vipers were starting to get their fangs in you. Ice had other things to worry about.” Someone calls him from down the bar, and he walks off to help them.
Stiff leans on the bar. “What do you guys think?”
“Georgia peach.” I examine the photo. She looks a lot like Dakota. The same eyes, slightly lighter hair but that could be dye. “Wonder what happened.”
“She got pregnant,” Jackal says. “She let Dakota think Jay was the daddy, and maybe he is. Just because he denied it doesn’t mean it’s the truth, but if she was tight with Ice around that time, maybe Jay’s right.”
Stiff nods. “If you ask me, there’s a reason she gave Logan a picture of her and Ice, not her and Jay.” He signals to Hector with three fingers.
Hector comes over with our beer. He pauses. “You should talk to Priest.”
“Would he know anything?” I ask.
“Dunno, but he was tight with Ice back then. If anyone knew what went on with him and Peaches, it would be him. Why are you asking, anyway?”
“She died last week. Her sister found the photo and asked us to look into it.”
Hector’s expression is grim. “Shit, that sucks.”
“Cheers to that,” Jackal says, raising his glass. “And thanks for the tip. We’ll look into it.”
Stiff stares into his beer, swirling it slowly. “I fucking hate that we don’t have more to give Dakota.”
“You like her that much?” Jackal asks.
“What the fuck kind of question is that? You don’t?” Stiff snaps, pissed.
“Chill. I’m just asking. It would be a good thing. About time you let yourself actually fucking want something for a change.”
Stiff flips him off. “She’s not like us, alright? I know that. She’s pretty and normal and has Logan to thinkabout. Once this is over, she’s going to go back to her life.”
I take a swig and lean back. “Maybe, but she’s going to Eric’s wedding with me, so we at least get to keep her until April.”
That seems to shut both of them up, for a minute anyway.
“Good.” Jackal says eventually. “If we find out Logan is definitely Ice’s kid, he’s family. That won’t change even when this is over. But for now, remember that our priority is to make sure she’s safe, and that whatever’s going down isn’t a threat to the club. Until we see what’s on that police report, and Poe gets to Georgia’s phone, we don’t know if this is all going to blow over or if there’s fire under all the smoke.”
“So fucking responsible. You’re not thinking about her at all? Cause personally, if Dakota wants to have a little fun, I’m game.” I grin at the thought. “Pretty sure Stiff has already cast his vote, and I don’t mind sharing.”
“Yeah, I’m in.” Stiff clinks his glass against mine. “Life is too fucking short not to give it a shot.”
“Hear hear. What about you, grandpa? Yea or nay?”
Jackal glares at me. “I’m three fucking months older than you.”
“Is that a yes or a no?”
“Yes, it’s a yes.” Jackal pushes off his stool and puts down his empty glass. “I’m done for the night. Got patrol in the morning.”
