The Vow (Black Arrowhead #1) - Dannika Dark Page 0,27

I have no doubt. They couldn’t legally adopt, and yeah, some frown upon what they did, but black marketeers sell to high-paying criminals, and nothing can stop them. There are men out there who want kids they can groom as killers or brainwashed lackeys. I can’t judge my parents for the love they gave me, even if it came at a price. I grew up in a stable home with different Breeds. I grew up with love and acceptance.” Lakota folded his arms on the table. “No, I wasn’t born and bred in a pack, but I have a better perspective on the world than most people.”

I stared at my empty plate. I’d never asked Lakota why his birth mother had given him away. Since even Hope hadn’t brought it up with me, I knew it was none of my business. In fact, I never really questioned why Hope had a brother who lived in another state. It was so normal that it wasn’t until I was older that I began to look at their family structure and realize there was more to the story. My pack seemed to know the history, but it wasn’t a detail they ever shared with me.

“Your mother put you on the black market?”

His lip curled. “She would have never done that. It wasn’t her choice.”

Sensing his agitation, I decided his past was too heavy a subject to discuss over a sandwich. “I bet your parents miss you.”

Lakota smiled, tilting his head to the side. “Which ones?”

“All.”

He leaned back in his chair, arms hooked over the back corners. “And what about yours? I thought your father would have hired bodyguards by now for his little girl.”

I snorted. “Don’t put the idea in his head. Did Hope ever tell you that the first week we moved out, he was sleeping in the alley across the street from our apartment? He lied to my mother and said he was out of town, recording an album with his band. True story.”

Lakota threw back his head and laughed, and it was warm and full-bodied. “How did you find out?”

“One night I ran out to pick up Mexican food and took a shortcut. Tripped right over him.” I started laughing on the last word, and Lakota joined in.

It felt good to fall back into our old relationship.

Familiar.

Easy.

He leaned forward and threaded his fingers through his hair. “Mind if I call my sis?”

“Just don’t tell her you’re with me. That’ll raise all kinds of questions.”

When Lakota reached for his phone, his finger brushed against mine. After a few swipes on the screen, he held the phone to his ear and turned away. “How’s my baby sister?” Then he laughed. “I miss you too. Everything’s fine. Where are you?”

I touched the spot where his finger had grazed, curious about my reaction. I subtly searched his body for tattoos or scars, but unless his hair was covering one or he liked tramp stamps, his torso wasn’t marked with ink. Perhaps that was a smart move for a bounty hunter since a tattoo would make him easy to identify.

“Of course I am,” he said, his voice sweeter than before. “Now tell me why you’re in Waco.”

When his eyes slanted toward mine, I quickly studied a crack in the ceiling.

“You haven’t told Father?” he chided.

Poor Hope. I had my hands full with twin brothers, but they were younger than I was. Only in recent years had they finally grown into men, so I couldn’t imagine having grown up with an older brother who constantly stuck his nose in my business. Lakota had always been her protector, even from miles away. It made me wonder if Shikoba had it all wrong about how a man treats a stranger. Lakota had always looked out for Hope, and he wasn’t doing it to impress anyone. No one had ever expected him to be so involved in her life since he lived across the country and didn’t share the same father with her, but he was. I couldn’t even recall a single instance when she needed him and he wasn’t there. Not when he was ten and especially not now that he was thirty.

While they caught up, I bent over and peered into the paper bag to see if there was another drink.

“What the heck?” I hooked my finger on the edge and dragged the sack toward me. Magazines, a toothbrush, toothpaste, antacids, a giant bottle of water…

Lakota reached out and snatched the bag away, the phone still to