“Hi, how are you?”
“Doing alright. What about you?”
“I’m fine.”
“Uh-oh. Fine means you’re not fine. What’s going on? Is Maddox being a cocky jerk? I told him to be nice to you, or I’d come home and put laxatives in his food.”
I snorted. “You and your brother’s antics brighten my day. I miss you so much, Markey, but under no circumstances may you turn your brother into a shitting machine.” I laughed when an image of Maddox running to the toilet holding his ass flashed in my head. “He’s being a good boy.”
“He better be.”
“He is. So what’s the latest on Jax? Justin said you might have a lead.” Any information he could give would be helpful. Justin wouldn’t get the paternity results back for a couple of weeks. The waiting had me on edge.
“He’d been spotted in Sedona. Mickey and I are heading up there as soon as she gets home.”
“That’s wonderful.”
“Maybe. The dude is heavily into drugs. We’ll have to help him detox.”
“Yeesh. Be careful.”
“Yeah. Mom?”
“Hmm?”
“I know. Mickey told me Jax could be my cousin.”
Fucking Mickey.“Markey, she shouldn’t have told you that until we knew for sure.”
“Don’t be angry with her. She was distraught when a lead fell through. She’s having a rough time, as I’m sure you would too if it were Maddox or me missing.”
“Son, it’s nice that you’re defending her, but—”
“Mom, I won’t tell anyone. I can keep a secret.”
There were so many secrets, I couldn’t take another one. “Just please don’t tell Grandpa anything.”
“I promise to keep this to myself.”
“Thank you. So you like Arizona?” I could wring Mickey’s neck. She had always had loose lips. It wasn’t her place to tell my son Jax could be our family, that he could be my dead brother’s son.
“Yeah, it’s cool. But I do miss you.”
“I miss you too, baby. I can’t wait until you come home.” My poor sons had no idea how much I needed them. They were all I had left of Matt. I needed to do everything possible to preserve my relationship with them, even if that meant being alone for the rest of my life.
I just hoped Art would accept my decision and not make matters worse.
12
Art
The meeting was held on neutral ground at Hyland Lake. Deek had only a few Vipers with him. My guess was, they were all he had left in the club. I hadn’t seen the VP before now. He appeared older, early-sixties possibly.
“Storm, I want to get right to it.” Deek fished out a cigarette from the inside of his cut. “Are you gonna help me or what?”
Prez’s steely eyes scanned the surroundings. His crew had him covered, so he didn’t need to worry with dozens of people and kids around in broad daylight. But one could never be too sure with their enemy sitting across from them.
“I’d rather find a different solution than sending my guys to your club,” Storm said.