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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.
