“I’m fine. How’re you?” She straightened out her legs on the mattress.
“Mom’s worried sick about you. She’s been trying to call you for over three fucking weeks, Dakota. Why in the hell haven’t you answered your phone?”
The truth was she didn’t want to deal with any of it. When she took off from Idaho Falls, Taylor had called and texted several times asking to see her. He’d found out she lived there from Luke. Dakota had decided to turn off her phone and forget about it for a while. When Cobra had given her the burner phone, she’d left a message for her mom telling her she was okay and she’d be in touch soon. Now that Cobra was in her life, Dakota had taken out her phone just that morning and turned it on.
“I had problems with it. I left a message for Mom saying I was all right.”
“That was a while back. Get real. You’re such a fuck up.”
Dakota winced at his words. “Nothing’s changed—I’m still all right.”
“Mom has been going crazy wondering why you left Idaho Falls. You owe her more than one damn message.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I’ll call her after we hang up. How are Mom and Dad?”
“Besides being worried about you, they’re okay. Where are you?”
“Montana. I just needed a change.”
“Where in Montana?”
Dakota bit the inside of her cheek then sucked in a sharp breath. “Billings.” She hated lying to her brother but she couldn’t take the chance that Luke would tell Taylor where she was if she told him the truth.
“Why are you there?”
“I found a better paying job and, like I said, I needed a change. What’ve you been up to?”
“The same—working. Taylor said he tried to get a hold of you in Idaho Falls but you never returned his calls.”
The room grew smaller and stuffier, and even with the AC at full blast, Dakota felt hot as hell. “Yeah, well, I was real busy.”
She wished she could tell him the truth, but Dakota knew Luke would never believe her. They used to be so close when they were kids, but after what Taylor did to her, they’d grown apart. Luke had often accused her of becoming sullen and withdrawn, and he’d been right, but he never asked her if anything was wrong, or why she’d changed.
“I think he was offended that you dissed him.”
“I’ve got to get to work. I’ll give Mom a call—promise.”
“When are you coming home for a visit?”
“I’m not sure. It’s a new job so I won’t get any time off for a while. I really have to go. Thanks for calling.”
“Just make sure you call Mom ASAP, got it?”
“I said I would.”
“All right then. Take care of yourself.”
“I will. Bye.”
Dakota stared at the black screen for several minutes.I should’ve told him about Taylor. No … you shouldn’t. I need to tell Mom.But what would that gain? Her mother was worried enough about her, and she still guilted Dakota about being the only one in the family to live away from Pocatello. No, her mother had enough on her plate with her full-time job, Dakota’s younger brothers, and trying to make ends meet most months. Nothing would be accomplished by adding Dakota’s past baggage onto her mother’s shoulders.
After a quick phone call assuring her mother that she was more than all right, Dakota turned off her phone then put her feet on the cheap carpet and stood up. She padded over to the two pillow cases stuffed with laundry and picked them up, balancing one of them on her hip. She slipped on a pair of flip flops, tucked her burner phone into the back pocket of her jean shorts, and headed out the door. When she turned to lock it, one of the pillow cases fell out of her hands and a pair of Cobra’s jeans landed on the pavement and something fell out of one of the pockets.
Dakota crouched down; a small business card with Satin Dolls printed at the top in hot pink script took up the majority of it. Not much to go off of, but it was a strip club, given the “Gentlemen’s Club” printed below the logo. Dakota flipped the card over and there were words scrawled on the back. “Can’t wait to see you, baby. Give me a call soon.”
There was a cell number and a name.
“Jenny,” Dakota muttered under her breath. She stepped back into the cool room, dropped the laundry on the floor then fished out her cell phone. She hesitated for several seconds.Whatever I find out, there’s no going back. Do I really want that?Her mind ping-ponged back and forth, wondering if she should put the card on the dresser and go about her business or call the number.