“Someone killed her? I thought she had overdosed. I mean, it was only a matter of time.” Another big sigh leaves his mouth. “Diane would often rant about Harlow’s father and how he had just dumped her out of nowhere. I think she really loved the guy, and she had worked at staying sober while they were together, but she never could understand that her partying ways weren’t for everyone. Then she just got mean, nasty, and spiteful. I think she had a little bird whispering in her ear, and with the drugs, well, there was no coming back from that.”
“Bird?” I jump on that. “What bird? We haven't been able to find any definitive information about friends, and there was no family.”
“Ah yeah, there was. Diane had a sister. They were super close before Diane got pregnant with Harlow, but then something happened. She wouldn't say, but I think it had something to do with Brad. When she was high as a kite, she would ramble about her sister being to blame for Brad and everything that had gone wrong, but then she would usually pass out, and, to be honest, listening to her wasn’t high on my to-do list.”
Holy shit, a clue. How is it Harlow doesn't know she has or maybe had an aunt? “Does she live in the area? Did either of them know who my dad was? I don’t see Diane being the type to let sleeping dogs lie if she could get an easy paycheck. Harlow said as much. Her mom used to come and beg her for money.”
He shrugs. “No, she never put two and two together. The drugs really did fuck with her mind. I can’t say how surprised I was when there was that scandal with the billboard a month or so ago, and her relationship with your family came out. You’re right, though. Had Diane known, she would have milked it for all it was worth. As for the sister, I don't know. I never met her, and I banned Diane from the clubhouse after I saw her hit Harlow one afternoon when I was there. I had no clue she was physically abusive, and I won’t stand for child abuse of any kind.”
“Is there anyone here at the club who continued to see Diane once you kicked her out? Anyone who may know more about her sister?” I can see him thinking about it before he slowly nods.
“Yeah, there’s this one guy. He was a new pledge at the time, maybe just turned eighteen, and he was obsessed with her. Even once I made it known she wasn't welcome, he blew most of his weekly paycheck on her. He never ended up patching in because he was more about partying and drugs, and I was moving the direction of the MC away from that. I mean, we’re far from squeaky clean, but I stopped running girls. Last I heard, he got in with a drug cartel, Russian maybe? He was their go-to man on the East Coast. Not sure whatever happened to him. He had a weird Russian name—Pierre, or Pietro, or something. I can probably find out for you.”
“That would be great, thanks.” He gets up and heads back down the way he came while I finish off my beer and check on my brothers. Declan raises an eyebrow, looking for a nod that I’m okay. Once they’re reassured, they go back to playing pool.
When he returns, he hands me a piece of paper. “His name was Peitre Baciu; here’s his last known address.”
“Thanks, man, I appreciate it.”
“How is Harlow? I hope you guys are being good to her. She was always such a good girl. She had such a fascination with animals. She found a kitten under one of the trailers once. Diane wouldn't let her keep it; crazy bitch even tried to drown it. Harlow was beside herself, so I took it home. Monster lived to the ripe age of fourteen and was one of my stepson’s shadows when he arrived with his mother.” He smiles at the memory, and there’s a genuine affection there, which makes me happy.
“Well, Harlow became a vet and desperately wants to work with exotic animals. We’re going to make it happen for her.”
He looks at me like he’s trying to stare into my soul, then he smiles. “Good. Can you tell her that Bear says hello? And hey, if you ever need advice on living a polyamorous life, hit me up.” He’s chuckling as he walks away, which is totally not what I was expecting when we came here, but I’m happy. I’ve got new information, we’re making it out of the biker bar unscathed, and this could actually help Harlow for real. But then I think of something that dims a tiny bit of the light that started to fill me.
“Hey, man.” He stops and looks back. “Did you ever send Harlow flowers when her mom died?” His brow creases in a frown, and he shakes his head. “Okay, thanks,” I tell him again, and he continues on his way, stopping to talk to the bartender before disappearing out the back.
Standing up, I signal to my brothers. Instantly, they abandon their game, and we head out the door once I try to settle up the tab. Bear has already taken care of it, though, so we leave quietly.
A thrill of excitement runs through me as we step out into the cool afternoon breeze. Maybe, just maybe, we might get somewhere now. I’ll give Jake a call and get him to run this name through the system, see if he can come up with any information for me.
ChapterFour
Harlow
Lunch was fine until Mr. and Mrs. Boston showed up, proceeding to throw passive-aggressive comments in my direction while simultaneously fawning over the Summers like they were the latest reincarnation of Christ. Chuck’s cheeks were growing pink in embarrassment, and I could practically hear Melinda's teeth grinding together every time Mrs. Boston opened her mouth. Eventually, I asked to be excused. I hid outside on the patio, still in sight of Thomas but away from that awful couple. I donotknow how Chuck turned out to be so lovely, but apparently, his granny had quite a bit to do with raising him, so maybe she’s the reason why. It’s something Chuck, Melinda, and I have talked about many times over the years. Unfortunately, the elder Bostons never grew to like me much.
“Honey, we’re so sorry about them.” I look up from my phone to Melinda and Chuck’s apologetic faces, but all I can give them is a shrug.
“Nothing I’m not used to.”
Melinda grimaces. “No matter how many times we both tell them that you’re family, they just don't listen. They’re such assholes and always have been.” She passes me one of the mugs she’s carrying, and the smell of coffee hits my nose.
They both take a seat, and Chuck leans forward to pat me on the knee. “You’re a better person than most, and I’m thankful to see that there are at least some others who understand how special you are. Why, I thought Jacinta was going to implode. You could practically see the steam coming out of her ears!” He chuckles, bringing his mug up to his mouth.
“But Brad raised them better, so they kept their mouths shut.” Melinda growls, “I would have paid to see Jacinta put them in their place. God knows they think they’re better than they truly are. Ungrateful parasites.” I don’t think I’ve ever heard her speak this way about them before. Sure, she’s always made it clear that she hates their attitude toward me, but it’s like something in her has finally snapped just enough for some big cracks to be showing through.
“Look, we’ve never told you this, but when Chuck’s granny passed, she left everything to him. David had already received his trust fund from his father, and you cannot imagine their shock and Margaret's absolute horror when they discovered she had left them nothing. They had blown through most of his fund already and were counting on the top off from Granny,” Melinda explains before Chuck takes over.
“That’s why they live with us. They have enough money to keep up appearances for their friends but not to own the things that they want, and I didn’t want to be responsible for my parents being homeless.”
Melinda scoffs, “They wouldn't be homeless. They would just have to adjust to a considerably less extravagant lifestyle.” Although her point is completely true, Chuck is already squirming in his seat at just the thought. He’s always been too generous for his own good, completely undeserving of the kind of parents he’s stuck with.
“Chuck, you shouldn't have to apologize for their behavior. Neither of you should. I know an asshole when I see one. It’s nothing I haven't experienced before, and the world is certainly not short of them.”
“Listen, that’s not why we came out here. We wanted to talk to you about something.” She exchanges a glance with Chuck, and I feel myself starting to tense up. Is this where they give me the third degree about my relationship? Was everything they said about being okay with it a lie? Now that I’m here, they’re going to try to talk me out of it.
“We’re thinking about selling up and moving out to California.” I feel my mouth drop open, and the nerves I was feeling are taken over by shock. That wasnotwhat I thought they were going to say.
