"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
