“That the stepdad did this. That they’re out looking for his mom, who as of right now, is still MIA.” She leans a little closer. “That he called you mom tonight, and he meant it. Those were Mac’s words. Kids like us don’t trust easily. It’s not in our nature. But he clearly trusts you.”
“Us?”
“Huh?”
“You said ‘kids like us.’”
“Oh, yeah. I was a foster kid. I saw the good, the bad, and the downright ugly. I swear nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the depravity humans are capable of.”
“Tell me about it,” I mutter, thinking about Theo’s stepdad, before my thoughts drift to Lee.
“I’ve seen the good in people, too. People who step up when they have nothing to gain. People who stand in front of the danger because they know how important it is to the person they’re protecting to have a shield.”
I look at Theo and swallow. “He’s just a boy. Someone has to look out for him. How the hell can he grow up to be a good man, one who breaks the cycle, if nobody is willing to show him a different way?”
“And this is why I think you’ll be a great foster parent.”
That stops me in my tracks. “Wait, really?”
“Yes, really. Mac mentioned viewing your house, which I’ll need to do as a formality before I sign off on this. I also need to give a reasonable amount of time for Mom to appear. You have the paperwork showing you’ve done the necessary courses and have had the checks needed?”
“Yes, I can have them sent over.”
“Excellent. Now, tell me a bit more about yourself and Kruger.”
And so I do. She’s surprisingly easy to talk to. So much so, I find myself spilling shit I really shouldn’t have.
I grimace. “Nothing I’ve said will?—”
She shakes her head. “We’re on the same side. I want what’s best for Theo, and so do you, so we have a common goal. From what I can tell, you’ve had your own traumas to deal with, and you haven’t let them fill you with resentment or turn you bitter. That makes you not just a great role model, but a relatable one.”
“That might just be the nicest thing anyone has said to me.”
She grins as there is a knock at the door. Havoc sticks his head around. His eyes find mine, and I can read the question in them.
I nod that I’m okay before he looks at Greer.
“We found Diane, Theo’s birth mom.”
I bite my lip when he says this, knowing he said it for a reason. Who would have thought the beast of a man would worm his way under my skin?
“Oh, good. Where can I find her?” Greer asks.
“She’s on her way in, but I’m not sure you’ll be able to talk to her. My tech guy tracked her to a local dealer’s place. I sent a couple of prospects to pick her up, but they found her passed out and foaming at the mouth, so they called an ambulance. I’d have let you know sooner, but the cops are trying to haul my guys in for being there, even though they might have just saved that woman’s life.”
“I’ll talk to them, explain you were helping me track her down. Sorry, I’m Greer Sanders.” She gets to her feet and walks over to Havoc, offering her hand without flinching. And let me tell you, the man can be intimidating at the best of times.
“Havoc. President of the Raven Souls MC.”
“I know. You guys did a fun run last year. Some of the kids I look after use the center that you donated to, so thank you for that. It means a lot.”
He grunts and nods his head. “Welcome. Everything going okay in here? I mean, you can’t tell me you’re going to send Theo with an addict, right?”
“I’ll be placing Theo into Delphi and Kruger’s care, for now, until everything is dealt with. I have to warn you, though, fostering can be hard. You say goodbye to every kid you fall in love with, and it will break your heart over and over again,” she tells me softly, the warning clear in her voice.
“Then what’s the point in doing it?” Havoc snaps.
She looks at him calmly before smiling. “Because while they’re breaking your heart, you’re healing theirs.”
