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“What’s going on?” I ask, feeling a hint of trepidation. Things have been so good lately, it’s easy to forget the world exists outside my little bubble.
“It’s nothing bad,” Sariah says. “I think I’ve found my birth father.”
“That’s amazing news,” Bailey says.
“It is and it isn’t.” Luke frowns. “He started off as a low-level gang member, made a name for himself and moved up the ranks...”
Sariah glances down at her hands. “He was handler for Declan for a long time. I think that’s when he and my mother got involved together. The affair seems to have lasted a few years, from what I’ve found out from people around them at the time.”
Luke squeezes her hand, which makes her smile. “He left before Alice got pregnant,” he says. “From what I can gather, she lost track of where he went.”
“We managed to find out he moved out of London and went to Birmingham.”
“He’s older than my mother. He’d be in his sixties now, but at the time he would have been in his forties. I can see how my mother would have been taken in by an older man—one she thought was strong and able to take her away from the hell she was living in. I don’t believe he ever intended to do that. He was married at the time, as was my mother, but he has remained with his wife since.”
“Who is he?”
“His name is Desmond Richardson. His family runs the—”
“Dudley Pioneers,” Kane interrupts. “Are you sure that’s who your father is?”
“Yes.”
I have no idea the significance of this, so I glance between them. “What does that mean? What are the Dudley Pioneers?”
Kane meets my gaze. “One of the most dangerous gangs in England. We deal with them from time to time, but generally avoid them because they’re a bunch of maniacs.”
Coming from Kane, that’s saying a lot.
“What are you going to do?” Zeke asks. “Do you want to see him?”
“I don’t know,” she admits.
“If you want to go, we can all go,” I suggest.
“No one’s going,” Kane says. “The man is a lunatic.”
“He’s also her father,” Luke snaps. “You don’t get to make this decision. It’s Sariah’s.”
“The Pioneers have butted heads with the Sons’ Birmingham chapter in the past,” Bailey says. “London had to help them out. They’re trouble. I’m with Kane. You should avoid at all costs. I know you want to meet your father, honey, but this man isn’t going to be the kind of dad to send birthday cards.”
“I know. But at least I know now.” Her smile is sad. “Declan or Desmond… it’s like bad to worse.”
“He might surprise you,” I say, not liking the look on her face.
“Men like Desmond only speak one language and that’s violence,” Kane counters. “Do we really want to risk things when we’ve just settled it all back down?”
“Yeah, you’re right,” Sariah says. “Knowing he’s out there and who he is… that’s enough.”
We talk for a while longer, then we head back to Luke and Sariah’s place with them. Sariah is quiet on the ride home, and when Luke cuts the engine, she stirs.
We head up to the penthouse. I can’t wait for us to get the keys to our new place, but for now, having somewhere to call home is the most important thing.
“Are you all right?” I ask Sariah, following her into the kitchen.
“Yes. I’m glad I know. Does it change anything? I’m not sure yet. He and my mother had an affair while they were both married, and he left her behind. Would that have been different if he’d known she was pregnant?”
“If you want to meet him, screw what everyone else says. This is your life, and you only get one shot at it. Do what you want.”
