by Debra Kayn
"One sign that you're hurting, I'm going to take you out of there." He stroked the back of her head. "I won't allow anyone to put more pain in your heart."
She nodded against him. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet." He put her in the truck.
Roar and Elling rode off toward Eastern Washington on their way to Coeur d'Alene. Using the map app on his phone, he found the directions to Ann Gardiner.
Chapter 37
Ann Gardiner lived in a single-story house squished between two neighboring homes. The brick exterior showed the age of the building and the lack of any type of landscaping in the front yard looked sad and lonely to Dinah.
Used to living in rundown rentals, any house could be a home. All a person needed was a roof that held out the rain and walls that kept out the cold. The rest was only cosmetics.
She couldn't tell if anyone was home because the curtains were shut and there were several cars parked along the street. Dinah reached for the door handle.
Brage grabbed her wrist, stopping her from leaving the truck. "I can go introduce myself first. Let her know why we're here."
"No, if I'm going to do this, I want to be the one to face her." She met his gaze. "I at least want to find out my name."
He mumbled something in Norwegian and nodded. She opened the door and stood in place to get her bearings. Since early that morning, she felt like her head was disconnected from her body. She hated the feeling.
She met Brage at the front of the truck and holding his hand walked on the broken concrete walkway to the door.
"Ready?" asked Brage.
"Yeah." She inhaled a deep breath. "Go ahead."
Brage rapped his knuckles against the door. She held her breath. It seemed unreal that she was standing here waiting to meet her mother. The sense of failing her parents by not remembering any of the information Jeremy had given her only exasperated the moment for her.
The click of a lock jolted her out of waiting. She stepped closer to Brage as the door opened.
A woman with long, dark hair peppered with gray faced her. Only a few inches shorter than Dinah, the woman's leery gaze traveled from her to Brage.
"Can I help you?" The woman's quiet voice, scratchy as if a smoker, lifted with curiosity.
"Are you Ann Gardiner?" asked Brage.
The woman lifted her chin and studied them closely. "Yes, and you are...?"
All Dinah heard was the woman admitting to being her mother. Not wanting to scare her, she said, "I'm sorry for showing up on your doorstep, but I've only recently received some information that I need to share with you."
Her mother's gaze wandered back to Brage's Slag vest, and she frowned. "About?"
Dinah moistened her lips. She thought it would be easier. She thought her mother might recognize her. She thought getting the truth would make her feel like she was doing the right thing.
She looked at Brage. Maybe coming here was a bad idea.
Brage cleared his throat. "You're familiar with Moroad Motorcycle Club?"
Her mother's gaze narrowed before she schooled her features. "You're not wearing their colors."
"No." Brage tilted his head and held out the top of his vest. "I'm the vice president of Slag Motorcycle Club."
"I think you should leave. I have no association with Moroad." Dinah's mother stepped back and reached for the door to close them out.
"Wait. Please." Dinah let go of Brage's hand. "I've been told my father's name was Tom Copelan and Ann Gardiner is my mother."
Her mother's gaze flickered over Dinah's face. Any reaction she expected failed to come. The declaration was met with stony disregard. "My daughter was killed twenty-one years ago."
"I-I believe I'm your daughter. I wasn't killed." Dinah's eyes burned, and her throat spasmed. "I'm sorry for showing up and telling you all this, but I only found out myself. I-I had to see you and find out if it's true."
Her mother shook her head. "No..."
Brage's arm supported Dinah at the rejection. She stared helplessly, not knowing what to say or do. Realizing she came unprepared with little information to give the woman to convince her that her reality was different than hers. That the life they both were given was taken by someone else.
"I-I'm sorry." She pushed against Brage, needing to go. "I can't do this."
Brage walked her toward the truck. The emptiness inside of her echoed, reminding her that she'd never felt as if she belonged. Not in school. Not at home.
The urge to run back to the clubhouse with Brage where it was safe to hide away from the world urged her to walk away. With him, she felt accepted.
"Wait," called her mother.
She stumbled to a stop, looked at Brage, and turned around slowly. Her mother pressed her hand to her stomach.
"M-my daughter...when she was three years old fell back and hit her..." Her mother stepped forward and stopped. "She hit the back of her head on the edge of the fireplace hearth. Right below her hairline. It was a significant injury. She had eighteen stitches."
Dinah looked at Brage, shaking her head. She couldn't remember.
His gaze softened. "Let me look," he whispered.
She turned around. His hands gathered her hair and lifted. She dipped her chin to her chest. What if she wasn't scarred? What if the woman wasn't her mother?
His fingers slid over her skin. A shiver rolled up her spine, settling around her neck. Unaware if she had ever injured herself, she could only stand still while he inspected the area.
Brage's hand skimmed the back of her neck, and he kissed the side of her head. "Babe, I think your mom would like to see."
She nodded, holding still.
Behind her, her mom whispered, "How can this be?"
"From what we know, Moroad faked her death at the time her father was murdered. Two members of Moroad, brothers named Brad and Tony Reed, raised her from that point." Brage let her hair fall around her shoulders and turned her around, keeping his hand on her back. "She doesn't remember anything before that point."
"No, she wouldn't. How could she?" Her mom stared at her, taking in every detail. "She was only four years old when I lost her." The cords on her mother's neck spasmed. "Is it really you?"
"I believe so." Dinah blinked the tears out of her vision. "I don't know anything about me. I can't remember."
Her mother lifted her hand, hesitated, and then swept the strand of hair back from Dinah's face. "Your name is Dinah Ann Gardiner. You were the most beautiful baby. I used to hold you for hours and just look at you in awe. I couldn't believe that your dad and I could make someone so perfect. We'd done everything wrong up until the point I got pregnant and had you. You were the perfect baby."
"Dinah Ann?" Her voice broke. "I didn't know."
Her mom nodded, letting the tears flow down her face. "I can see your dad in your jaw, your mouth."
Brage held on to her. "How old am I?"
"You would've been..." Her mom shook her head, new tears flowing. "You're twenty-four years old. Your birthday is September tenth."
Unable to look away from the woman in front of her, she panicked. Her whole life had been a lie.
She was two years younger than she'd thought. All the struggles to keep up in school. Her maturity level. She always felt different until she became an adult when she stayed to herself.
"This would probably be a good time to take a break. You've been through a lot today with us showing up out of the blue and Dinah's had a rough day." Brage's hand came up and palmed her neck.
"I have a lot more questions." Her mom wiped her cheeks. "I want to...I would like to get to know you and learn about..."
Dinah nodded. "Me, too."
"The men...Moroad men raised you?" The lines on her mother's forehead deepened. "They threatened me, and I was forced to move. Oh, God. How could I have not known? My baby was alive?"
"It's okay." Dinah smothered her sob, nodding her head. "I didn't know either."
Her mother swayed on her feet, cove
ring her mouth. The pain in her eyes pierced Dinah. She had no answers to give her mother, and she had her own questions polluting her head.
Brage wrapped his arms around her. "Maybe we could exchange contacts, and Dinah can call you later. I know this has been a shock."
"Let me get a piece of paper and give you my phone number." Her mom stepped back and stopped. "Please don't leave until I—"
"We won't." Dinah leaned into Brage's embrace, elated that her mother wanted to see and talk to her again. "We'll stay right here."
Her mom nodded and hurried into the house. Lizzy pressed her face into Brage's chest, her whole body shook, full of every emotion possible. It was like a dream, an out of body experience. She couldn't be sure that today was even happening.
She had a mom. All her life she had someone else in the world, believing she was dead.
"Hold on tight, babe." His rubbed her back.
"I really found her." She inhaled the leather of his vest. "My name's Dinah Ann Gardiner."
"Ja." His body hardened.
She looked up at him and followed his gaze to the front of the house. She lifted her head. Her mother stood on the step holding a picture frame to her chest.
Gravitated toward her, Dinah left Brage's side and approached her mom. She'd never felt so fragile in her life.
"This was the last picture I had of you." Her mom turned the frame around. "I've kept it on my wall ever since..."
She recognized the small child as herself. The thin brown hair hit her shoulders, and brown eyes looked at the camera. But it was the child's hand tangled in her father's long hair as he held her that stood out. She must've loved him. Whether he was a good or bad person, he'd been her father, holding her, loving her.
Her gaze traveled to her mom in the photo. Her hair was darker back then, even more so than Dinah's was currently. It was the same shade as in her dreams.
The smile on her mom's face as she wrapped her small family in her arms showed a happy woman. One in love with the man in her life and the child they'd created. The leery older woman in front of her used to have everything she wanted. The hardships of losing her family had taken its toll on her.
Dinah patted her pockets, looking for her cell. "Brage? I need your phone."
He handed it to her. Without taking her gaze from the photo, she asked, "May I take a picture of the photo?"
"Yes." The joy in her mom's tone spoke to her heart.
She took several, afraid her hands shook too much for the picture to come out clearly. "This is all so overwhelming."
"I'm having a hard time believing it, too." Her mom handed her a piece of paper. "I would like to talk to you again once I have time to wrap my head around everything I've heard today."
"Same." The pressure in her chest eased, and she drew a deeper breath. "None of this seems real. I feel like I should know you, but..."
"I'm afraid to let you walk away in case I never see you again." Her mom hugged the photo to her chest.
"I'll call you." She held the paper in her hand. "I promise."
Her mom lowered the picture to her side. "Can I...hug you?"
Brage's hand landed on Dinah's lower back. With his support, she accepted the hug from her mom. Whatever she'd expected, dreamed about, wanted, was lacking. The woman with her arms around her could've been a stranger. She was a stranger.
But, she hoped to get to know her more. To feel something. To know what her life could've been like if the Reed brothers hadn't intervened.
"Thank you for talking with me." She stepped away. "I'll call."
"Please do." Her mom's worried eyes held her gaze. "Be careful."
"Careful?"
Her mom's face hardened. "Moroad Motorcycle Club is not an organization you should take lightly."
Dinah reached for Brage, warmth filling her chilled body. "I'm in a good place now. I'll never have contact with Moroad again."
She walked to the truck holding Brage's hand. Shut inside the vehicle, she looked at him, and her heart overflowed with love. Her life centered around him.
Feeling more whole than she'd ever felt after meeting her mother, her future was in front of her, and she knew without a doubt that it was with him.
Chapter 38
Roar rode through the gate into the alley. Brage parked in his usual spot. Tired and satisfied, they'd made the drop off to the Seattle Chapter, including the dismantled weapons they'd gained from Moroad Motorcycle Club.
Near the door of the clubhouse, the women belonging to Slag members gathered in a group, waiting for the moment they could welcome the men home. He spotted Dinah at the edge of the ladies and got off his motorcycle. The twenty-four hours away from her seemed like a lifetime.
"Round up," shouted Roar, gathering all the members in front of him.
Standing beside his president, he looked out at the men proudly. In two days, the load to their Mother Chapter would be put on the cargo ship destined for Norway. Their success at getting all the attention focused on the Portland Chapter made it possible to keep the eyes off Slag in Seattle, making for a successful run.
But, things were heating up.
They'd need to keep the fire burning as the other motorcycle clubs in the Pacific Northwest retaliated.
"Good job." Roar strode into the middle of the members congregated in the alley. "Tomorrow, we start again."
Having already been briefed, Brage knew the plans. Bantorus Motorcycle Club had a belly full of money. They only needed to find a way to reach their cash flow.
They'd failed the last time. Next time, they'd succeed, even if Slag had to reduce the number of Bantorus members.
Tomorrow, at the meeting, Roar would also inform the Slag members that there had been three sightings of a Federal agent staking out The Fire Ring. From here on out, they'd need to be careful, stay more aware.
With the other MCs out for blood, the Feds ready to make an example of them with hard time, Brage would need to keep a tighter hold on the members to make sure none of them cracked.
"Officers meet at eleven o'clock in the morning." Roar walked toward Brage. "For tonight, we celebrate."
"Slag," yelled Brage.
The men chanted, "Slag. Slag. Slag."
He walked to the other side of the alley, out of the path of the men, and joined Roar by the back door of the bar.
"Take the night off. I'll keep an eye on the Fed." Roar clamped his hand on Brage's shoulder. "I've spoken with Elling, Viktor, Marcus, and Peer. They're going to come in a half hour before the meeting, and we can discuss the rotation. I only want officers handling the contact between the agent and Slag."
"I'll be there early," he said.
Roar checked his phone. "I'm going to check on Lizzy and let Coco know she can leave."
"Mhm." He watched Roar walk toward the gate.
Last week, Peer told him Coco planned to move in with him on a roommate basis in his new rental house. He needed help with Tyr and Coco had offered to stay in the spare bedroom. It shifted the dynamics. Both Lizzy and Coco would need to be protected away from the clubhouse.
In his pocket, his fingers curled around a pack of gum. He looked across the alley, finding Dinah. She would probably never realize how proud he was of her.
He couldn't imagine what she'd gone through discovering her past, getting to know her mother and finding out the dreams someone else had had for her. It was heartbreaking and mournful. Rightly so, Dinah's anger toward the Reed brothers grew the more she talked to her mom.
True to Aldridge's word, Brage had received a call last week informing him that Tony was no longer in the picture. He had yet to tell Dinah and wasn't sure he would unless she asked. He wanted her to move forward and knowing how responsible she felt toward everyone else, she'd have conflicting feelings if she knew.
Dinah waited until he was within feet of her and launched herself into his arms. He captured her offered lips. The road weariness wore off him. Arousal energized him.
She twined her arms aroun
d his neck. He palmed her ass, pulling her against him. It'd been a long trip.
Her softness rubbed him in all the right places. He dipped his tongue in her and moaned, pulling away when all he wanted was more. "I want you upstairs."
She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the door of the clubhouse. He had no worries about getting through the crowd inside. Dinah cut a path, beelining it to the stairs. She let no one get in her way.
Since discovering who she was meant to be, she rediscovered the person she was all along. And, he loved the confident woman who decided sex felt good any time of the day or night.
Inside the bedroom, she slid her hands underneath his vest and swept the leather off his shoulders. He reached behind his neck and pulled his T-shirt over his head, flinging it toward the dresser. The best part of his day came when he could feel her skin against his.
Removing his pistol, he undid his belt. "Clothes, babe."
She unbuttoned her shirt. He took in each inch of skin she bared for him as he sat down and removed his boots.
"You're a beautiful woman," he said, huskily.
Her young body—younger than they'd originally believed, had smooth curves of perfection that when she moved, it was like music flowing through him.
She owned her sexuality, her confidence, and walked toward him naked as the day she was born.
He stood and dropped his jeans, stepping out of the denim. Hooking her neck, he brought her against him. His cock pulsed to hardness at the warmth of her body. He trailed his hands from her waist, over her hips, and squeezed her ass. She was the best thing he'd ever seen or touched in his life, and he was an idiot to believe that first night that he could walk away after one time with her.
"I'm never going to let you go." He walked her to the bed. "You can run. You can hide. And I'll find you and bring you back. Every. Fucking. Time."
He lowered her to the bed and situated himself between her legs. She stroked his face. The love in her eyes settled in him, making his cock bigger.
