It’s not a question, but I didn’t leave that impression on my voicemail.
I nod once. “Name’s Trenton.”
His brow quirks, immediately putting two and two together. “How old?”
“I think fourteen, based on when Miranda last came around.”
Ghost whistles quietly. “Fourteen years is a hell of a long time to not know your old man.”
“Fourteen years without her actually doing something motherly and telling me.”
His eyes sharpen slightly at that. “And you’re certain he’s yours?”
The question doesn’t piss me off the way it might from anyone else, another reason I haven’t brought it up to even Silas. Though with Josie running off to Lexi’s and Harlow no doubt looped in, I wouldn’t be surprised if he and Pierce know something’s going on. But Ghost isn’t asking to start shit. He’s asking because it matters legally, and that’s why I’m here.
“Yeah,” I say. “I’m certain. It’s like looking in the mirror. You’ll see when he comes around the club eventually.”
Ghost leans back in his chair again, fingers tapping lightly against the armrest. “Legally speaking,” he says slowly, “certainty and proof are two very different animals.”
I figured he’d say that. Who knows, maybe Miranda had a type. Then again, Stitch and I were night and day when it came to looks.
“Walk me through it?” I ask him.
Ghost nods once, slipping into lawyer mode. “First thing we do is establish paternity. That means a test conducted by a court-recognized lab with a documented chain of custody. Closest one’s probably in Longview.”
I cross my arms. “You saying they won’t just believe me? Who’s trying to claim a kid that’s not theirs when nothing is in it for them?”
“I’m saying if we skip that step, anyone who feels like causing problems later could contest custody. You mentioned something about a grandmother. Doesn’t sound like she’ll be a problem, but why leave the door open?” He tilts his head slightly. “And I don’t know about you, but I’d rather make sure nobody can walk in two years from now claiming that kid belongs somewhere else.”
He’s right, it’ll be a pain running out that far from town, but the sooner we get this taken care of, the better. I don’t need it hanging over my head when my focus should be on the upcoming swap with Steel and mending my fragile marriage.
“What about his mom?” he asks.
“He said she’s dead. That’s why he’s out here.”
“Dead simplifies things,” Ghost says bluntly. “Legally, anyway. Did you confirm? Look for her death certificate online?”
Fuck, I didn’t even think to do that. What if he’s been lying this entire time, and he’s just run away because they got into a fight? My stomach bottoms out at the thought of her showing up looking for him. I think that’d be the last straw for Josie. A kid is one thing, a scorned ex-lover and co-parent is likely to make her murderous, and I’m not sure which of us she’d set in her sights.
I shake my head, realizing what an idiot I’ve been in all this.
“That’s okay.” He swivels in his desk chair, typing and scrolling away on his computer.
The silence is deafening as I wait for the other shoe to drop.I came in here looking for solutions, not more ammunition for the fight.
“You said he came from Austin?”
“Yeah, that’s where he said they were last.”
It’s another couple of minutes before Ghost stabs a key and the printer behind him whirs to life. He spins triumphantly and slaps the still-warm paper on the desk between us.
“Miranda Cotts. Died October fifteenth in Austin, Texas. Cause of death, OD.”
“Fuck.” I whisper. “He told me she had a drinking problem, but didn’t mention drugs.”
Every new piece of information that lands in my lap about Miranda makes me want to throttle the dead woman.
“And you’re sure there’s no other family besides the grandmother?” he asks.