"What time do you plan on heading back to Portland tomorrow?" asked Roar.
He reached over and put his hand on Dinah's thigh under the table. "It'll take us about two and a half hours to get to her apartment in Coeur d'Alene. I should have everything in the truck and secured later tonight. Once we get some sleep, we'll be back on the road, probably late tomorrow morning. If everything goes okay, we'll be back around ten at night."
Roar lifted his coffee mug. "I still think it would be a good idea if Elling and I stay with you. We can help you pack everything up, get back on the road and ride through the night. Dinah can sleep in the truck."
He'd rather have the company. While Moroad had kept to their word, he wouldn't deny that Slag had taken advantage of them over the past year. He wouldn't be surprised if they attacked. He had Dinah to think about. It would be safer for three men to watch over her rather than one.
"Ja. I agree." He went with his gut feeling. "With three of us getting her apartment packed up, it'll go faster."
Dinah raised her gaze and blurted, "I want to see my mother."
Surprised by the conviction in her voice, he leaned forward and lowered his voice. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"It might be better to write her a letter. She doesn't know what went down today and has believed for many years that her daughter was killed."
Dinah shook her head. "If I had a daughter, I would want to know. Not tomorrow, not in a letter, but immediately...no matter how painful or shocking."
"Babe," he whispered. "You don't know what you're stepping into. You don't know what kind of life she's lived. Let Elling check things out when we get back to the club and find out what kind of woman she is first before you bring more into your life."
"I can't wait." She grabbed his hand. "Please."
Brage exhaled and looked at Roar, who shrugged. All he wanted to do was protect her. She could be walking into a situation that was no better than living with the Reed brothers.
"I'll take you." He hoped he wouldn't regret his decision.
Dinah passed the address to her apartment on to Roar, handed him the key for the door, and then walked out to the truck with Brage. At the door, he wrapped her in his arms and held her.
She stiffened before she relaxed against him. His woman was wound up tighter than a top braid.
He worried today had been too much for her, and she ran off pure emotion on wanting to find her mother. Not knowing what they'd walk into making contact with the woman who believed her daughter was dead or what kind of reception Dinah would receive, it could all turn out to be too much for her to handle.
"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
