Cross, page 3
They had been friends for over a decade, so Cross shouldn’t be too surprised.
“I am,” Cross admitted. “Priest, she could’ve let me bleed out in the garage or called the cops or one of the Crows after me, but she didn’t.”
Priest nodded in agreement. “She’s something, no doubt about it. But a woman like that can take care of herself. It’s unlike you to worry about a stranger you just met.”
Cross clenched his jaw. “A stranger who saved my life,” he corrected.
Cross stared out the truck window at the passing landscape, his thoughts still circling back to the woman who had shown him unexpected kindness.
“Don’t tell me you want me to turn back,” Priest’s voice broke through Cross’s reverie, laced with a scoff. “In that state, you’re no good to anyone, least of all her.”
Frustration welled up inside Cross, but deep down, he couldn’t deny the truth in Priest’s words. He was in no condition to offer any help, and if the Crows were indeed watching, his presence could only make things worse.
“I’ll call her once we get home,” he finally conceded. Cross thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep, but he eventually dozed off.
****
Dana had been working on Mr. Graham’s green Chevrolet when her father, Jeremy, entered the shop with Rusty, a member of Panther’s crew. Dana pretended to look unconcerned and continued with her work but deep down, she was panicking. Why was Rusty here and what did he want? This wasn’t good.
When she got off the phone with Jeremy earlier that morning, he seemed suspicious when Dana insisted he could come in the shop later. Dana’s usual MO was to remind him to get his butt in and take some share of the work.
Dana focused on her task, wrench in hand, as she pretended not to notice Jeremy and Rusty enter the office. Her father shut the door behind him, so Dana couldn’t overhear their conversation.
She knew she had to keep her composure, but her heart raced in her chest, and her mind raced with questions. Why was Rusty here, and what did he want with her father? The situation didn’t feel right.
Jeremy and Rusty weren’t in the office long, but when they came out, Rusty flashed her a smirk that made her stomach overturn.
Jeremy walked Rusty out of the garage just as Dana finished working on Mr. Graham’s oil change. Her father walked up to her and grabbed her elbow.
“What kind of trouble did you get yourself in, girl?” he demanded.
Dana wrenched her elbow back. It was usually her who asked that question to him. Dana met her father’s gaze evenly. Did she have to remind him of the number of times she had to spring him from jail? Or when the local bar owner would call her in the dead of night, asking her to pick Jeremy up from the bar?
“I didn’t get into any trouble, Dad. But what’s going on with Rusty and why is he here?” Dana asked.
She crossed her arms and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Jeremy narrowed his eyes. Dana knew she’d always been a poor liar, unlike Jeremy. Lies were as natural to him as breathing.
“You have a honest face, just like your mother. Sometimes I wonder if that’s a good or bad thing,” he used to tell her.
“Dana,” Jeremy said in a low, measured tone. He took a step closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers. “You and I both know you’re not telling me everything. I can see it in your eyes. Mrs. Higgins across the road spotted you helping two bikers. One of them was injured. Both weren’t Crows.”
Dana’s heart sank as the pieces fell into place. So that was it. A nosy neighbor had witnessed her lending a hand to Cross, as they made it to Priest’s truck. Why should she be surprised? The Crows had a way of making everyone feel like they were being watched, and their grip on the community was tighter than anyone dared to admit. Dana’s annoyance was initially directed at Mrs. Higgins for being the meddling onlooker, but her anger quickly faded as she realized her fury was misdirected.
This was how the Crows operated. They didn’t just rule through fear, they also managed to turn every local against each other. It was how they kept everyone in line, so they wouldn’t form any alliances that could challenge the Crows’ authority.
“And what did you tell him?” Dana asked, remembering the smirk Rusty had given her. She knew her father owed Smoke a lot of money. To pay that debt off, they had agreed to service some of the Crows’ motorcycles for free.
It was a terrible business decision. Money kept bleeding out and nothing came in, despite their steady stream of regulars. Dana was pretty sure they would have to close up shop by the end of the year, but Jeremy never saw that far. Her father only operated in the present.
“What do you do take me for? Of course I told Rusty you’d never do such a thing,” Jeremy blurted.
“Then why did he look smug as hell when he left the shop?” Dana demanded.
“Rusty did?” Jeremy asked, looking confused. “Rusty only told me to keep a lookout for these Death Seekers MC members and promised me a reward.”
“I get it. Thanks for telling me, Dad. Let’s just get back to work,” Dana said tiredly.
In the back of her mind, she wondered if the mention of a reward would tempt her father. She never fully trusted him, not after he made that awful deal with Smoke. Ever since her mother died, Jeremy had never been right. She thought of Cross and wondered how he was, and if he’d taken her advice to see a doctor.
Dana scoffed at herself. Here she and her father were in deep water, and she was thinking about the biker who had likely forgotten about her already.
No, if trouble finally did come knocking on her door, it was up to her to deal with it.
Chapter Five
Dana was working on a busted car engine and was thinking of closing for the day. It had been a week since she’d helped Cross, and surprisingly, he kept in touch. He told her he was doing a lot better and his injuries were healing. They texted about other things, too. Mundane matters, like what she liked to do to unwind after work. About the diner he frequented. Messaging Cross made Dana feel a little less alone. Dana spent all her time working. Not that she was complaining.
Dana loved being under the hood of a car, but she never really had time to develop friendships in Elmwood. Besides, she didn’t know who reported to the Crows or didn’t.
Her phone beeped, and Dana grinned as she read Cross’s latest message: Hey, Dana. I just finished my check-up. Doc said I could ride soon.
Cross kept hinting he wanted to see her again and to her surprise, Dana found herself looking forward to it. Maybe not in Elmwood but perhaps they could meet somewhere else.
While Dana was thinking of Cross, the creaking of the garage door made her snap to attention. To her unpleasant surprise, Panther sauntered into the store. His presence sent an immediate chill down her spine. Thankfully, he was alone, but Dana knew that didn’t guarantee her safety. Panther’s eyes locked onto her, and he leaned against the counter, smirking.
“Good evening, Dana,” Panther greeted cheerfully, as if they were the best of friends.
Dana wiped her greasy hands on a rag and met Panther’s gaze, her expression a mix of irritation and apprehension.
“What do you want, Panther? The two motorcycles Rusty brought in yesterday won’t be ready yet.”
She sighed, fully aware that her workload had just multiplied. Jeremy had chosen another Friday night to drink his sorrows away, leaving all the work to her, which was nothing new.
Panther’s sinister smile never wavered as he leaned in slightly. “I’m not here about the motorcycles. I’m here to see you.”
Dana’s eyebrows furrowed as she studied Panther.
“Well, now you’ve seen me. I have to close for the night,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound too impatient.
She had a gut feeling that Panther’s visit was far from friendly, and she wanted to get him out of her garage as quickly as possible.
“Smoke asked me to keep an eye on you. You’re not talking to your new friends behind our backs, right?” Panther asked, dropping his smile.
Smoke sent him? Dana couldn’t help but feel a bead of sweat trace a path down her back as she met Panther’s cold gaze evenly. Her heart raced in her chest as his words finally sunk in. The last thing she wanted was the big boss’s attention, especially not on her and her father. She knew that the Crows’ scrutiny could spell trouble, and she had always tried to avoid their radar.
Doubts swirled in Dana’s mind as she thought about the week that had passed. Did she regret helping Cross out? The answer was a resounding “no. “ Even if she could turn back time, she wouldn’t do anything differently. Her instinct to help someone in need was simply ingrained in her nature, and she couldn’t ignore it.
Swallowing her anxiety, Dana met Panther’s intense gaze squarely and replied, “No, I’ve been minding my own business.”
Panther’s gaze lingered on Dana for a few moments, his calculating eyes trying to gauge whether she was being truthful.
“That’s a good girl. We don’t want people thinking you’re helping the enemy, do we?” Panther asked.
Dana held her tongue. Her father had staunchly denied her involvement in last week’s events, though she suspected Panther was aware of the truth. Keeping her silence felt like the safest course of action.
“What do you say we get out of here and have a good time?” he asked, swiftly changing the topic. “You’re always in here, working hard.”
Dana weighed her options carefully. She understood that refusing Panther’s invitation could further provoke him, but the thought of spending an entire night with this slime repulsed her completely.
“No, thank you. I have to wake up early and open the garage again tomorrow,” Dana said briskly.
Panther’s expression hardened, and Dana wondered how many times she could reject his advances before he turned violent.
“Dana, I’m getting sick of you playing hard to get,” he said.
His eyes remained fixed on her, a predatory glint in his gaze, and she couldn’t help but notice his hand resting ominously on the butt of the gun tucked into his belt. As her heart raced and the options for escape dwindled, Dana’s eyes darted around the garage, searching for anything that could be used as a makeshift weapon. Her gaze fell on a nearby wrench, but she knew it was a poor choice against a loaded gun.
Just as the tension in the room seemed unbearable, the garage door swung open once more.
“Dana, I’m glad you’re still open,” came the voice of Sheriff Taylor, one of her dad’s oldest friends and one of his drinking buddies.
The sheriff spotted Panther and gave him a cautious look. Panther, thankfully, removed his hand from the gun.
“Sheriff,” Panther greeted, his tone casual and accompanied by a lazy smile.
He appeared to be playing it cool, but the exchange between the two men held an undercurrent of tension.
Dana let out a sigh of relief but she knew she wasn’t out of hot water yet. The Crows may have had their hooks in some local law enforcement, but not all the cops were corrupt.
“Dana, sorry to ruin your evening, but it’s your dad. He’s causing trouble at the Old Mill,” the sheriff said.
The Old Mill was the local watering hole her dad loved to frequent. It was where he met Dana’s mom.
“We’ll finish this conversation another day, Dana. But word of advice, I’m not the most patient man in the world,” Panther warned, before leaving the shop.
“Dana,” Sheriff Taylor said with a shake of his head. “Panther’s trouble.”
“I know, but I can’t seem to shake that one off,” she said. “Is my dad really in trouble?”
“No, but he’s in my cruiser, drunk as hell,” the sheriff said. “I can give you both a drive back home.”
“Thank you, Sheriff. I think I’ll take you up on your offer,” Dana said. After her recent conversation with Panther, Dana no longer felt safe in her own town.
****
Dana woke up that morning, a grin tugging at the corners of her lips. She’d been up way past her bedtime, talking with Cross on the phone. God, just hearing his voice was enough to forget all about Panther’s late-night visit.
When Cross asked her how things were going with the Crows, she had lied and told him everything was fine. The last thing Dana wanted was to drag Cross and his MC into this.
Dana finally fell asleep around 2:00 AM. Getting out of bed was a bit of a struggle right now. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, let out a yawn, and begrudgingly reached over to switch off her annoying alarm. Work was calling, and it didn’t care that she needed more sleep.
With a sigh and a stretch, Dana got her act together, though her body protested every step of the way. She dragged herself into the bathroom for a much-needed shower, and the hot water was a wake-up call. Afterward, she got dressed in a hurry.
Just as she was about to head downstairs, a delicious smell hit her nose. It was the mouthwatering aroma of bacon sizzling in the pan and pancakes cooking on the griddle. Dana widened her eyes, her morning daze immediately replaced by curiosity. She lived alone with her dad. Jeremy hadn’t made breakfast since … well, since her mom passed away.
She quickened her footsteps, made her way to the kitchen, her mind swarmed with disbelief. She had to be imagining things, right? Jeremy was standing in the kitchen and looking not just awake but sober, busily flipping pancakes in the skillet. The sight was enough to make her question reality.
“Dad?” Dana couldn’t help but ask. She took a step closer, as if to confirm he was real.
“Good morning, Dana,” Jeremy replied with a smile, a hint of weariness in his eyes. “Have a seat at the counter. Breakfast will be ready soon.”
It was definitely him, his usually scruffy appearance even more pronounced today. But he seemed different somehow—more present and engaged. Dana couldn’t contain her surprise as she grabbed a coffeepot and brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Pouring it into two cups, she set them on the counter, one for her dad and one for herself.
Finally, they both sat down to eat, the pancakes crispy around the edges, and the coffee a comforting companion to their meal. It was an odd experience.
Most mornings, Dana was in a rush, trying to get to work after her fruitless attempts to wake her hungover father.
Jeremy broke the silence first. “Toby swung by earlier this morning,” he began. “He and I had a long talk.”
Dana furrowed her brow, her curiosity piqued. “The sheriff?” she asked. “What did you two talk about?”
A hint of apprehension flickered in her eyes as she considered the possibility that the sheriff might have told her dad about the events of the previous night.
“Dana,” Jeremy said, his voice serious. “Why didn’t you tell me that things have gotten worse between you and Panther?”
Dana felt a surge of anger bubble up within her. He dared to ask her that? She hadn’t complained when he asked her to quit school and help him with the garage. Dana remained patient and supportive each time he told her he would stop drinking. After her mother died, he just stopped being her father.
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but he must’ve read her expression.
Jeremy looked down at his breakfast, his gaze avoiding her own, as if he already knew he might not like her response.
“I know I haven’t been much of a parent lately,” he said.
“Lately?” Dana couldn’t help but ask. She practically raised herself and took care of him after her mother died.
Jeremy fell silent. “I can’t change the past and telling you how sorry I am won’t do you any good.” Jeremy paused, then continued, “Toby gave me a wake-up call. He told me I might lose you to the Crows if I don’t start paying attention. Is he right?”
“I don’t know, Dad,”she said.
“Are you … communicating with that other biker friend of yours?”
It felt like a loaded question. She remembered Jeremy’s conversation with Rusty and how the idea of a reward cheered him up.
“He’s no friend of mine, Dad,” she lied. “He was in trouble. I helped him once. That’s all there is to it. He probably forgot all about me.”
“I see.” Jeremy rubbed his temples. He looked like he was nursing a headache. “Toby suggested if things get too bad, you and I should leave town for a while.”
“And go where? Dad, we aren’t exactly swimming in money,” she reminded him.
“Toby said he’d loan me some cash,” Jeremy said rather defensively.
The sheriff, she thought, was a good man. Bless his soul. “It’s an option, but for now, things are still manageable.”
“You sure about that?” he asked.
“I’ll tell you if things change,” she promised him.
After breakfast, for once, they both decided to head to the garage together. It was a bit unusual, but Dana welcomed the change. Maybe things were starting to look up.
As Dana stepped out of her car and her dad followed suit, she abruptly came to a halt. Her father mirrored her reaction. The sight in front of them hit like a punch to the gut.
The garage doors had been vandalized. Two of the shop’s windows lay shattered, glass fragments scattered across the ground. Crimson paint was haphazardly splashed across them. A large crow was spray-painted across the entrance.
Dana’s breath caught in her throat. Maybe it was time to call Cross for help.
Chapter Six
In the middle of the MC meeting, Cross felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He glanced at the screen and saw Dana’s name flashing. Without thinking twice, he got up from his seat, throwing a nod to his MC buddies, and made his way outside to take the call. Breaker, the MC president, shot him an annoyed look as he left. He wasn’t one to tolerate interruptions during meetings, and Cross knew it. But right now, Dana’s call took precedence.
Seven days had passed since they parted ways. Since then, Cross had hunted down and executed Jimmy himself. Dana and him had kept in touch. Cross couldn’t help but wonder if Panther and his gang had finally made their move. The thought sent a chill down his spine.
“I am,” Cross admitted. “Priest, she could’ve let me bleed out in the garage or called the cops or one of the Crows after me, but she didn’t.”
Priest nodded in agreement. “She’s something, no doubt about it. But a woman like that can take care of herself. It’s unlike you to worry about a stranger you just met.”
Cross clenched his jaw. “A stranger who saved my life,” he corrected.
Cross stared out the truck window at the passing landscape, his thoughts still circling back to the woman who had shown him unexpected kindness.
“Don’t tell me you want me to turn back,” Priest’s voice broke through Cross’s reverie, laced with a scoff. “In that state, you’re no good to anyone, least of all her.”
Frustration welled up inside Cross, but deep down, he couldn’t deny the truth in Priest’s words. He was in no condition to offer any help, and if the Crows were indeed watching, his presence could only make things worse.
“I’ll call her once we get home,” he finally conceded. Cross thought he wouldn’t be able to sleep, but he eventually dozed off.
****
Dana had been working on Mr. Graham’s green Chevrolet when her father, Jeremy, entered the shop with Rusty, a member of Panther’s crew. Dana pretended to look unconcerned and continued with her work but deep down, she was panicking. Why was Rusty here and what did he want? This wasn’t good.
When she got off the phone with Jeremy earlier that morning, he seemed suspicious when Dana insisted he could come in the shop later. Dana’s usual MO was to remind him to get his butt in and take some share of the work.
Dana focused on her task, wrench in hand, as she pretended not to notice Jeremy and Rusty enter the office. Her father shut the door behind him, so Dana couldn’t overhear their conversation.
She knew she had to keep her composure, but her heart raced in her chest, and her mind raced with questions. Why was Rusty here, and what did he want with her father? The situation didn’t feel right.
Jeremy and Rusty weren’t in the office long, but when they came out, Rusty flashed her a smirk that made her stomach overturn.
Jeremy walked Rusty out of the garage just as Dana finished working on Mr. Graham’s oil change. Her father walked up to her and grabbed her elbow.
“What kind of trouble did you get yourself in, girl?” he demanded.
Dana wrenched her elbow back. It was usually her who asked that question to him. Dana met her father’s gaze evenly. Did she have to remind him of the number of times she had to spring him from jail? Or when the local bar owner would call her in the dead of night, asking her to pick Jeremy up from the bar?
“I didn’t get into any trouble, Dad. But what’s going on with Rusty and why is he here?” Dana asked.
She crossed her arms and shifted her weight from one foot to the other. Jeremy narrowed his eyes. Dana knew she’d always been a poor liar, unlike Jeremy. Lies were as natural to him as breathing.
“You have a honest face, just like your mother. Sometimes I wonder if that’s a good or bad thing,” he used to tell her.
“Dana,” Jeremy said in a low, measured tone. He took a step closer to her, his eyes never leaving hers. “You and I both know you’re not telling me everything. I can see it in your eyes. Mrs. Higgins across the road spotted you helping two bikers. One of them was injured. Both weren’t Crows.”
Dana’s heart sank as the pieces fell into place. So that was it. A nosy neighbor had witnessed her lending a hand to Cross, as they made it to Priest’s truck. Why should she be surprised? The Crows had a way of making everyone feel like they were being watched, and their grip on the community was tighter than anyone dared to admit. Dana’s annoyance was initially directed at Mrs. Higgins for being the meddling onlooker, but her anger quickly faded as she realized her fury was misdirected.
This was how the Crows operated. They didn’t just rule through fear, they also managed to turn every local against each other. It was how they kept everyone in line, so they wouldn’t form any alliances that could challenge the Crows’ authority.
“And what did you tell him?” Dana asked, remembering the smirk Rusty had given her. She knew her father owed Smoke a lot of money. To pay that debt off, they had agreed to service some of the Crows’ motorcycles for free.
It was a terrible business decision. Money kept bleeding out and nothing came in, despite their steady stream of regulars. Dana was pretty sure they would have to close up shop by the end of the year, but Jeremy never saw that far. Her father only operated in the present.
“What do you do take me for? Of course I told Rusty you’d never do such a thing,” Jeremy blurted.
“Then why did he look smug as hell when he left the shop?” Dana demanded.
“Rusty did?” Jeremy asked, looking confused. “Rusty only told me to keep a lookout for these Death Seekers MC members and promised me a reward.”
“I get it. Thanks for telling me, Dad. Let’s just get back to work,” Dana said tiredly.
In the back of her mind, she wondered if the mention of a reward would tempt her father. She never fully trusted him, not after he made that awful deal with Smoke. Ever since her mother died, Jeremy had never been right. She thought of Cross and wondered how he was, and if he’d taken her advice to see a doctor.
Dana scoffed at herself. Here she and her father were in deep water, and she was thinking about the biker who had likely forgotten about her already.
No, if trouble finally did come knocking on her door, it was up to her to deal with it.
Chapter Five
Dana was working on a busted car engine and was thinking of closing for the day. It had been a week since she’d helped Cross, and surprisingly, he kept in touch. He told her he was doing a lot better and his injuries were healing. They texted about other things, too. Mundane matters, like what she liked to do to unwind after work. About the diner he frequented. Messaging Cross made Dana feel a little less alone. Dana spent all her time working. Not that she was complaining.
Dana loved being under the hood of a car, but she never really had time to develop friendships in Elmwood. Besides, she didn’t know who reported to the Crows or didn’t.
Her phone beeped, and Dana grinned as she read Cross’s latest message: Hey, Dana. I just finished my check-up. Doc said I could ride soon.
Cross kept hinting he wanted to see her again and to her surprise, Dana found herself looking forward to it. Maybe not in Elmwood but perhaps they could meet somewhere else.
While Dana was thinking of Cross, the creaking of the garage door made her snap to attention. To her unpleasant surprise, Panther sauntered into the store. His presence sent an immediate chill down her spine. Thankfully, he was alone, but Dana knew that didn’t guarantee her safety. Panther’s eyes locked onto her, and he leaned against the counter, smirking.
“Good evening, Dana,” Panther greeted cheerfully, as if they were the best of friends.
Dana wiped her greasy hands on a rag and met Panther’s gaze, her expression a mix of irritation and apprehension.
“What do you want, Panther? The two motorcycles Rusty brought in yesterday won’t be ready yet.”
She sighed, fully aware that her workload had just multiplied. Jeremy had chosen another Friday night to drink his sorrows away, leaving all the work to her, which was nothing new.
Panther’s sinister smile never wavered as he leaned in slightly. “I’m not here about the motorcycles. I’m here to see you.”
Dana’s eyebrows furrowed as she studied Panther.
“Well, now you’ve seen me. I have to close for the night,” she said, hoping she didn’t sound too impatient.
She had a gut feeling that Panther’s visit was far from friendly, and she wanted to get him out of her garage as quickly as possible.
“Smoke asked me to keep an eye on you. You’re not talking to your new friends behind our backs, right?” Panther asked, dropping his smile.
Smoke sent him? Dana couldn’t help but feel a bead of sweat trace a path down her back as she met Panther’s cold gaze evenly. Her heart raced in her chest as his words finally sunk in. The last thing she wanted was the big boss’s attention, especially not on her and her father. She knew that the Crows’ scrutiny could spell trouble, and she had always tried to avoid their radar.
Doubts swirled in Dana’s mind as she thought about the week that had passed. Did she regret helping Cross out? The answer was a resounding “no. “ Even if she could turn back time, she wouldn’t do anything differently. Her instinct to help someone in need was simply ingrained in her nature, and she couldn’t ignore it.
Swallowing her anxiety, Dana met Panther’s intense gaze squarely and replied, “No, I’ve been minding my own business.”
Panther’s gaze lingered on Dana for a few moments, his calculating eyes trying to gauge whether she was being truthful.
“That’s a good girl. We don’t want people thinking you’re helping the enemy, do we?” Panther asked.
Dana held her tongue. Her father had staunchly denied her involvement in last week’s events, though she suspected Panther was aware of the truth. Keeping her silence felt like the safest course of action.
“What do you say we get out of here and have a good time?” he asked, swiftly changing the topic. “You’re always in here, working hard.”
Dana weighed her options carefully. She understood that refusing Panther’s invitation could further provoke him, but the thought of spending an entire night with this slime repulsed her completely.
“No, thank you. I have to wake up early and open the garage again tomorrow,” Dana said briskly.
Panther’s expression hardened, and Dana wondered how many times she could reject his advances before he turned violent.
“Dana, I’m getting sick of you playing hard to get,” he said.
His eyes remained fixed on her, a predatory glint in his gaze, and she couldn’t help but notice his hand resting ominously on the butt of the gun tucked into his belt. As her heart raced and the options for escape dwindled, Dana’s eyes darted around the garage, searching for anything that could be used as a makeshift weapon. Her gaze fell on a nearby wrench, but she knew it was a poor choice against a loaded gun.
Just as the tension in the room seemed unbearable, the garage door swung open once more.
“Dana, I’m glad you’re still open,” came the voice of Sheriff Taylor, one of her dad’s oldest friends and one of his drinking buddies.
The sheriff spotted Panther and gave him a cautious look. Panther, thankfully, removed his hand from the gun.
“Sheriff,” Panther greeted, his tone casual and accompanied by a lazy smile.
He appeared to be playing it cool, but the exchange between the two men held an undercurrent of tension.
Dana let out a sigh of relief but she knew she wasn’t out of hot water yet. The Crows may have had their hooks in some local law enforcement, but not all the cops were corrupt.
“Dana, sorry to ruin your evening, but it’s your dad. He’s causing trouble at the Old Mill,” the sheriff said.
The Old Mill was the local watering hole her dad loved to frequent. It was where he met Dana’s mom.
“We’ll finish this conversation another day, Dana. But word of advice, I’m not the most patient man in the world,” Panther warned, before leaving the shop.
“Dana,” Sheriff Taylor said with a shake of his head. “Panther’s trouble.”
“I know, but I can’t seem to shake that one off,” she said. “Is my dad really in trouble?”
“No, but he’s in my cruiser, drunk as hell,” the sheriff said. “I can give you both a drive back home.”
“Thank you, Sheriff. I think I’ll take you up on your offer,” Dana said. After her recent conversation with Panther, Dana no longer felt safe in her own town.
****
Dana woke up that morning, a grin tugging at the corners of her lips. She’d been up way past her bedtime, talking with Cross on the phone. God, just hearing his voice was enough to forget all about Panther’s late-night visit.
When Cross asked her how things were going with the Crows, she had lied and told him everything was fine. The last thing Dana wanted was to drag Cross and his MC into this.
Dana finally fell asleep around 2:00 AM. Getting out of bed was a bit of a struggle right now. She rubbed her sleepy eyes, let out a yawn, and begrudgingly reached over to switch off her annoying alarm. Work was calling, and it didn’t care that she needed more sleep.
With a sigh and a stretch, Dana got her act together, though her body protested every step of the way. She dragged herself into the bathroom for a much-needed shower, and the hot water was a wake-up call. Afterward, she got dressed in a hurry.
Just as she was about to head downstairs, a delicious smell hit her nose. It was the mouthwatering aroma of bacon sizzling in the pan and pancakes cooking on the griddle. Dana widened her eyes, her morning daze immediately replaced by curiosity. She lived alone with her dad. Jeremy hadn’t made breakfast since … well, since her mom passed away.
She quickened her footsteps, made her way to the kitchen, her mind swarmed with disbelief. She had to be imagining things, right? Jeremy was standing in the kitchen and looking not just awake but sober, busily flipping pancakes in the skillet. The sight was enough to make her question reality.
“Dad?” Dana couldn’t help but ask. She took a step closer, as if to confirm he was real.
“Good morning, Dana,” Jeremy replied with a smile, a hint of weariness in his eyes. “Have a seat at the counter. Breakfast will be ready soon.”
It was definitely him, his usually scruffy appearance even more pronounced today. But he seemed different somehow—more present and engaged. Dana couldn’t contain her surprise as she grabbed a coffeepot and brewed a fresh pot of coffee. Pouring it into two cups, she set them on the counter, one for her dad and one for herself.
Finally, they both sat down to eat, the pancakes crispy around the edges, and the coffee a comforting companion to their meal. It was an odd experience.
Most mornings, Dana was in a rush, trying to get to work after her fruitless attempts to wake her hungover father.
Jeremy broke the silence first. “Toby swung by earlier this morning,” he began. “He and I had a long talk.”
Dana furrowed her brow, her curiosity piqued. “The sheriff?” she asked. “What did you two talk about?”
A hint of apprehension flickered in her eyes as she considered the possibility that the sheriff might have told her dad about the events of the previous night.
“Dana,” Jeremy said, his voice serious. “Why didn’t you tell me that things have gotten worse between you and Panther?”
Dana felt a surge of anger bubble up within her. He dared to ask her that? She hadn’t complained when he asked her to quit school and help him with the garage. Dana remained patient and supportive each time he told her he would stop drinking. After her mother died, he just stopped being her father.
The words were on the tip of her tongue, but he must’ve read her expression.
Jeremy looked down at his breakfast, his gaze avoiding her own, as if he already knew he might not like her response.
“I know I haven’t been much of a parent lately,” he said.
“Lately?” Dana couldn’t help but ask. She practically raised herself and took care of him after her mother died.
Jeremy fell silent. “I can’t change the past and telling you how sorry I am won’t do you any good.” Jeremy paused, then continued, “Toby gave me a wake-up call. He told me I might lose you to the Crows if I don’t start paying attention. Is he right?”
“I don’t know, Dad,”she said.
“Are you … communicating with that other biker friend of yours?”
It felt like a loaded question. She remembered Jeremy’s conversation with Rusty and how the idea of a reward cheered him up.
“He’s no friend of mine, Dad,” she lied. “He was in trouble. I helped him once. That’s all there is to it. He probably forgot all about me.”
“I see.” Jeremy rubbed his temples. He looked like he was nursing a headache. “Toby suggested if things get too bad, you and I should leave town for a while.”
“And go where? Dad, we aren’t exactly swimming in money,” she reminded him.
“Toby said he’d loan me some cash,” Jeremy said rather defensively.
The sheriff, she thought, was a good man. Bless his soul. “It’s an option, but for now, things are still manageable.”
“You sure about that?” he asked.
“I’ll tell you if things change,” she promised him.
After breakfast, for once, they both decided to head to the garage together. It was a bit unusual, but Dana welcomed the change. Maybe things were starting to look up.
As Dana stepped out of her car and her dad followed suit, she abruptly came to a halt. Her father mirrored her reaction. The sight in front of them hit like a punch to the gut.
The garage doors had been vandalized. Two of the shop’s windows lay shattered, glass fragments scattered across the ground. Crimson paint was haphazardly splashed across them. A large crow was spray-painted across the entrance.
Dana’s breath caught in her throat. Maybe it was time to call Cross for help.
Chapter Six
In the middle of the MC meeting, Cross felt his phone buzz in his pocket. He glanced at the screen and saw Dana’s name flashing. Without thinking twice, he got up from his seat, throwing a nod to his MC buddies, and made his way outside to take the call. Breaker, the MC president, shot him an annoyed look as he left. He wasn’t one to tolerate interruptions during meetings, and Cross knew it. But right now, Dana’s call took precedence.
Seven days had passed since they parted ways. Since then, Cross had hunted down and executed Jimmy himself. Dana and him had kept in touch. Cross couldn’t help but wonder if Panther and his gang had finally made their move. The thought sent a chill down his spine.
