Page 62 of Nevada

This is the first time she’s shown any real emotion, and I don’t want to ruin the moment. But as much as it's obvious she’s strong, I also feel her vulnerability. Nobody can be this strong forever. It has to come out sometime.

“None of that is your fault,” I reiterate. My hands cup her shoulders. I like it when she lets me touch her and doesn’t push me away.

“That may be true, but I’ve tried and failed at finding her. This is my job. I find people. I find people who don’t want to be found.”

I shake my head. “This is organized crime. Even the feds can’t crack some of these syndicates. It can take time.”

“Time we don’t have.”

I like how she says we.

“You don’t need a pep talk from me, Mama. But if anyone can find her, it’s you.”

“You barely know me.”

I snort. “I know you have determination. Loyalty. And the smarts to see this through. You just needed a new lead, and now we have one.”

Her voice lowers. “I know she’s still alive.” Her fierce gaze penetrates mine. “I know. I’d feel it if she wasn’t here.”

I fucking hope that’s true. And it’s as if she wants me to tell her it’s true. She is alive. “I believe you.”

“She’s all I have.” Her eyes unfocus and her shoulders slump slightly.

I want to make all of this better somehow, but I know nothing I say can really do that. Still, I can’t lose anything from trying. Maybe a limb, or an eyeball, but I’ll take my chances. “I get it. I never had any siblings. I would’ve loved a little brother or sister, but it didn’t happen. So I was an only child. I had cousins, but I never liked them very much.”

Her lips twitch. “I bet you were a little shit of a child.”

I smirk. “What gives you that impression? I could’ve been a Boy Scout.”

“Nope. I bet you gave your mom hell.”

I want to take her mind off this awful situation so I pull my mouth into a smile. “Wanna hear somethin’ crazy?”

“I haven’t kicked your ass for what you just did to me?”

“Better. I had to give my mom datin’ advice this mornin’ and I’m pretty sure one of my club brother’s, Priest, his dad has the hots for her and is makin’ the moves. My mom’s petrified.”

She actually laughs. It’s such a beautiful sound that it blows me away momentarily. I try not to make a big deal out of it, but I’ll store it in my memory bank for later. “Has she just started dating again?”

“Nope.” I pop my mouth because this is an uncomfortable subject, but it’s not like I can talk about it with any of my club brothers. Especially not Priest. “She’s only a coupla years out from divorcin’ my dad. He lives in Florida, and she’s never been with anyone else. I’m tryin’ to tell her the world has changed since she was in the datin’ game.”

“That’s kinda sweet of you.”

I shrug. “It’s my mom. It’s my job to take care of her since I’m the man of the house now. That is, until she finds a place of her own. The settlement came through recently, but property is insane at the moment. I like her livin’ with me.”

“Tell me about it.”

“I have a fully renovated basement, so for now it suits the both of us.”

“You’re close with your mom.” It’s not a question.

I nod. “She’s amazin’. My dad was away a lot for work so him not bein’ around was normal. He never did quite get the gist of what I do within the MC, he also didn’t like the idea that his only son was a diesel mechanic, even when I won all that money in Las Vegas and bought my own shop.”

“There’s nothing wrong with being a diesel mechanic,” she says. I still can’t believe she’s letting me touch her, and for this long. “I always thought motorcycle clubs were criminals who dealt drugs and guns. I’ll be honest, I really didn’t understand how one percenter clubs work compared to legit clubs.”

“Cash stopped turnin’ tricks years ago. Never wanted to end up in a concrete cell, or a wooden box. It’s no life lookin’ over your shoulder, wonderin’ what shit storms gonna hit next,” I say. “Don’t get me wrong, we have our fair share of shit storms, but gettin’ involved in illegal shit ain’t what my club is about.”

She stares at me and I stare back.

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