I nodded, unable to verbally reply with the massive lump in my throat. The sincerity in Storm’s eyes was like nothing I’d ever seen from him.
One after one, my brothers said: “Sorry, brother.”
Track put his arm around me and muttered, “We got your back, cuz. Sorry it took so long to get our heads out of our asses.”
I was done.
I blinked away tears. After everything I’d felt last weekend at the party, the hate and rage that had been smoldering in my belly, this meant the world to me.
“Okay, now that we made Dodge cry,” Storm said, chuckling, “Grizz, you’re up.”
The flat-screen on the wall turned on.
Track leaned toward me. “Prepare yourself, man.”
I whipped my head toward him. “Why?”
Grizzly cleared his throat. “This is where Justin and Emilee live.”
I turned back toward the television. A small house appeared. I drew in a pained breath as I stared at the structure. It was old. Nothing special. But I didn’t care what the place looked like. It was where Emilee had been living. For months, I’d tried to picture her at home, in her bed, reading on her phone. She’d have her legs curled under. A favorite drink by her side.
Many similar houses were around hers. Their backyards lined a large grassy area, almost like a park with a small play area and woods on the opposite side.
“I couldn’t find any financial information on Justin,” Grizzly said. “I’d say he’s broke. Or he’s only spending cash.”
“That’s weird, isn’t it?” I directed my question at Storm and my uncle. “Like why wouldn’t he have bank accounts?”
“That is a concern we have.” Storm clasped his hands on the table. He leveled his gaze at me, then flicked his eyes toward the screen.
Grizzly cleared his throat again. “Dodge, this is your son.”
An image appeared, of a baby wearing a blue-and-pink-striped hat and wrapped in a blanket. His little face was round and a little red, his eyes were closed, and his lips were pursed together. I couldn’t breathe as I stared at him. He was perfect.
“This is a thing hospitals do. We have one of Birdie that was taken the day after her birth,” Storm said, pride in his voice. “He’s a good-looking kid.”
Track patted my back. “Congrats, cuz.”
“I hacked into the hospital to get it,” Grizzly said.
“Do you know his name?” My son’s name was all I had thought about since his birth.
“Yeah.” Grizzly brought a paper to me. “It’s all there.”
Right at the top, it stated Dante Daniel Montez. He weighed seven pounds and nine ounces and was nineteen and a half inches long. I had no idea if any of that was good or not.
I fisted my hands under the table to steel myself. “What next? I need my woman and son home yesterday.”
Storm glanced at my uncle. “Raul and I are going to Fargo Tuesday. We can’t take you with us.”
My automatic response was to throw a fit, but I held it together. “I understand.” I didn’t, but I needed to be a team player. “What do you plan to do there?” Now that I’d seen Dante, it was like he was real. I knew he was before, but I hadn’t had a face or a name to connect to him. More than ever, I needed to bring him and his momma home.
Storm’s phone rang. “I gotta take this.” He lifted out of his chair and left the room.
“Dante,” I said his name. I needed to hear it in my own voice… feel the emotion it brought me as it rolled off my tongue. “Dante Montez.”
“It’s a solid name, cuz.” Track nudged my shoulder with his. “Are you feeling better?”
“Yeah. A lot better.”