Page 26 of Single Mom for the Bikers

It’s a measure of how out of it I am that I don’t even notice my phone is ringing until Phoenix pulls it out of my purse. “Unknown caller,” he reads from the lock screen.

“Spam,” I say without thinking, but I glance at the screen when he holds it up, unlocking it.

“Yeah?” he snaps. Everyone goes quiet. “Who the fuck are you?”

16

PHOENIX

“Who the fuck are you?”

“M—Maggie. Maggie Peterson.” The terrified woman on the other end of the line stammers. “I swear I don't know anything. I'm just a waitress at The Silver Dollar. A woman came in with a little girl about twenty minutes ago. She ordered pancakes for the kid and then she vanished. I thought maybe she was in the bathroom or something, but then the little girl started crying and?—”

“Mia, her name is Mia.” I put the phone on speaker so everyone can hear.

“Right, Mia. God, I'm sorry, if I'd realized sooner?—”

Shelby jumps to her feet. “This is her mother. Can I talk to her?”

“Of course, of course.” There's a click followed by the buzz of a busy diner. “I put it on speaker, honey. Your mama wants to talk to you.”

“Mia! Are you okay, sweetie?” Shelby pulls the phone from my hand so she can speak directly into it.

“Mommy! Are you coming to get me?”

“Of course I am. We're coming right now. Are you okay?” I can see Shelby’s fear start to ease as her shoulder sag and she clothes her eyes in relief.

“The lady bought me pancakes, but they're really tiny! I told her your number just like we practiced.” At least it doesn't sound like Mia was hurt. Just went on an adventure, but fuck. If I find the person who did this…

Maggie comes back on the line. “Don’t worry. I’ll keep an eye on her until you get here.”

“Yeah, you fucking do that. Corner of Elm and Jefferson, right? We’ll be there in ten.”

“Bye, baby girl. We'll be there soon.” As soon as we hang up, Shelby lets out a deep sob of relief. “God, I thought I'd lost her.”

I put my arm around her because it feels like the thing to do. I don’t have much experience in comforting anyone, let alone someone like Shelby, but this feels right. I don’t remember a time when Mom cared where I was. She must’ve at some point because I lived long enough to take care of myself, but I mostly remember her getting high and partying with Dad. Razor told me they weren’t always like that, but I don’t know if I believe the old geezer.

Havoc takes her purse. “I’m driving. She shouldn’t be on the road right now. I’ll grab my bike later.” He gives Anna a hard look. “Keep a better eye on it than you did Mia.”

Tears streaming down her face, she nods.

Sledge and I ride honor guard to Shelby’s car. The diner's a popular one. 24-hour breakfast, on the corner of two busy roads,and customers in and out all day. This whole situation feels off. This wasn’t random. They knew her name and where to find her. Someone targeted Mia.

Some of us signed up for a certain amount of risk, living the lives we do, and sometimes, no matter how hard we try, it splashes out onto people it shouldn’t. But you don’t fucking target innocents.

Shelby is out of the car before the engine stops, running for the doors.

“Jesus, Shelby! Wait!” Sledge yells. “It could be a trap!”

She completely ignores him, charging in with the three of us on her heels. My gut tells me the waitress was telling the truth, and whoever did this is probably long gone, but I’m not betting our lives on it. I notice that I’m not the only one adjusting my cut to make sure there’s nothing getting in the way if I need to draw.

Mia's in a booth off to the side, coloring on a kids' menu with a glass of milk in front of her. A woman in a diner uniform is sitting across from her, pointing at something on the paper. When she hears us bust in, she looks up in surprise. Her name tag reads Maggie.

“Mia!”

“Mommy!”

We couldn't separate them with a crowbar.

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