Dark Guardian (Black Hoods MC #3) - Avelyn Paige Page 0,14

unfurls inside of me.

It’s plausible she handed over custody to their uncle, but we should’ve been notified with the change of status in their prior cases. A search of the court case records should give me insight into if it was legally done, but the problem will be if there is even a record at all. So many custodial parents with a history of drug abuse or criminal activity dump their kids on a family member’s doorstep, never to be seen again. The key to all of this is finding out how they ended up with his man, and where their mother is.

“What’s your uncle’s name?”

“Jud—Uncle Eugene.”

“Do you like where you live?”

His body tenses. Too soon, Grace. Too soon. Get back on track.

“You don’t have to answer that if you don’t want to, Kevin.”

“Can we go back to class now? My sister and I have been sick. I don’t want to fall further behind in our schoolwork.”

The urgency to flee is obvious in his voice. He’s uncomfortable with my line of questions. Mrs. Parks shoots over a concerned glare. I’m losing him, and pressing more might shut him down completely. I’m at a proverbial dead end until I can verify all the information now in my possession and speak with their uncle. My time is up.

“Seriously, can we leave now?” he asks, this time with a little more attitude as he gets to his feet and reaches out for his sister.

“It’s okay, Kevin. You and Natalie can go back to class.”

Without another word, they leave the room like it’s been set on fire.

Mrs. Parks forces a smile. “I’m sorry. New schools can be overwhelming for older kids. I’m sure if you let him settle in, he’ll be more forthcoming next time.”

“Maybe,” I lie, knowing that children from their backgrounds never feel safe around people like me. They see us as the devil knocking at their door, trying to steal them away from their family. Kevin knew exactly who I was. He could read me like an open book. You only get that kind of spatial awareness when you’ve been on the other side of the social services’ coin.

With a polite “Thank you,” I take my leave with the request that if they’re absent within the next few days to call me. I’m lost in my own head when my body hits an immovable object when I step outside the main office.

“Miss Crabtree,” I blurt out. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you there.”

“It’s my fault. I’ve been waiting on you to leave the office so I could talk to you one-on-one.”

“Is there something you didn’t mention before?”

She blushes. “Yes. I was the one who made the call. I know I didn’t leave my name, but I didn’t want to risk my job, or my life.”

“Your life? How could a call such as yours put your life at risk?”

Her gaze shifts away from me as she nervously chews on her bottom lip. “He’s a biker. He had on this black leather vest with a logo on the back of it. You know, like the kind on television. It had the little patches on the front and everything. His said “Judge” on it.”

“Did his vest have anything else on it? Like an insignia?”

Motorcycles were popular in our state with the year-round riding weather, but her notice of the name on the front of his jacket will be helpful to identify his club affiliation. Not that there were many clubs around here that I knew about, but I have to explore all the possibilities.

“It did,” she whispers. “Black Hoods MC.”

The feeling that had been festering in the pit of my stomach explodes at the mention of that particular club’s name. The Black Hoods are notorious in Austin, and if they’re somehow involved with these kids, my case just became much more complicated than just two kids without paperwork.

I thank her for her information, and the second I’m out the door, I retrieve my cell phone from my bag and type in a number for someone who might be able to help me now that bikers may be involved. I notice my recorder on the top of my bag, still recording. Her additional information became even more important now that I have it on tape.

“How’s the prettiest girl in Texas?” his baritone voice almost coos into the receiver. “You ready to accept that offer of mine and go out on a date with me? My dancing boots have been itching for a night on