Page 7 of Outlaws' Single Mom
“Where did you hear that, Lo?” I ask.
“Auntie Georgia!”
The guys glance back and forth between themselves, probably confused about why my sister would know more about my son’s father than I do. They can keep wondering, because I don’t owe them our messy life story. I hug Logan tighter. It could be true. Georgia knows I don’t want to hear about Jay unless she’s telling me she kicked him out for good. I’ve never met him, but I’ve seen the results of his anger on my sister.
“So, Georgia and Dakota, huh? Were your parents geography buffs?” Lash asks, tactfully changing the subject.
I smile gratefully. “Kind of. Dad moved around for work when we were little and they thought it would be cute as little mementos to where we were born. I guess South Dakota was a little too wordy, and then when Georgia showed up they decided to stick with the pattern. Cheesy, right?”
“You’re asking Lash, Jackal and Stiff if your name is cheesy? You know what I’m named after?” Lash raises an eyebrow, daring me to ask.
Jackal snorts.
In spite of my better judgment, I’m curious. “What?”
Lash’s grin turns into something a lot less innocent and his tongue steals out quickly to tap the end of his nose before he wiggles it suggestively. “Some say it’s my best attribute, but I think it’s at best top two.”
But before I can respond, my phone rings, and this time I don't recognize the number. It'd better be Georgia with a damn good explanation. “Hello?”
“Dakota Vale?” The voice is very measured, veryprofessional, very much not my sister. A cold shiver slithers down my spine.
“Yes?”
“Is your sister Georgia Vale?”
“…yes.”
“I'm sorry, Ms. Vale, but I’m calling from Blackwell General. There’s been an accident.”
My knees go weak and it’s only through sheer will that I manage to let Logan slide down safely to the ground. “Is she okay?”
The voice hesitates, like it's delivered this message many times but it never gets any easier. “We need you to come verify her identity. I’m afraid there was nothing we could do, Ms. Vale. I'm so sorry.”
4
STIFF
Whatever she hearson the other end of the line tears through Dakota like acid. Watching it hit is like seeing the strings of a puppet go slack. It’s bad enough that all three of us tense up, preparing for whatever comes next. Her little boy is the only one who doesn’t immediately realize that something’s wrong. He frowns and lifts an arm, reaching for her to pick him up again.
“No, she wouldn’t’ve—I understand, but—” She listens, focused completely on the phone aside from grabbing Logan’s hand and holding it still. She nods before she remembers she has to speak. “Right. Of course. Do whatever you have to. I’ll get there as soon as I can.”
I catch Lash’s eye and tip my head in the direction of the kitchenette we use to make coffee and microwave shit while we’re working on the bikes. He nods.
Lash puts his hand on Logan’s shoulder. “Hey, buddy, how about we go see if there’s any more of that hot chocolate powder. If that’s okay with your mom.”
Logan looks up at Lash with a grin, but he’s a smart kid. He might not know what’s going on, but he’s figured out something’s off and he puts an arm around her thigh and hesitates.
Dakota gives him a little hug and puts on a fragile smile. “That sounds like a great idea. I just need a couple minutes and then I’ll come find you when I’m ready to go.”
Logan lets out a whoop and clings to the top of Lash’s head as he swings him up and settles him in place on his shoulders. On the way, they stop and look at a big ol’ chopper one of the guys is fixing up for a custom order. It’s real fucking weird to see a kid around. The club isn’t exactly family friendly, but fortunately it’s quiet today, and aside frompicking up some new vocabulary, Logan isn’t likely to see anything too shocking in here.
“What am I supposed to do?” Dakota whispers, watching them go, her knuckles white around the phone in her hand. “That was the hospital. There was an accident and they think my sister was the driver.”
“Bad?” I ask, knowing the answer but needing to make sure.
She nods. “I don’t… On the way over here, I was somadat her but I didn’t want her to get hurt. This doesn’t feel real. I don’t know if I can do this.”
“Of course you can. That kid needs you to, so you start at the beginning and ignore everything but the step right in front of you.” Jackal’s voice is firm, like when he’s guiding one of the new guys through a job when they get rattled.
