“He’s more than good to me. I know he looks intimidating, but beneath all that armor is a heart of gold. He’s not just good to me, Mom. He’s good to everyone close to him. You should have seen him shopping for birthday presents for our friends’ kids. He spent more than an hour picking out dolls and GI Joes, because he wanted them to be just right. It’s a Western-themed birthday party, and the other night he surprised me with a cute pair of cowgirl boots and a hat.” She was so nervous she was rambling. She gazed out the window at Diesel and took a deep breath, feeling calmer already. “I wasn’t sure I’d ever want to be with another man after Dennis. But then we got together, and now I can’t imagine my life without him in it.”

“Oh, sweetheart. I’m so glad you’re happy.” Her mother glanced at Diesel. “He brought us together. I guess that should have told me everything I needed to know. But the things people say about bikers had me a little worried.”

Tracey tried to put her mind at ease, telling her about the Dark Knights and the good things they did for the community. She wasn’t sure where to start talking about her history with Dennis, so she went backward, telling her mother about how she and Diesel worked together and about the attack. Her mother reached across the table, holding her hands as she relayed the details of the aftermath, including how Diesel had cared for her. Her mother asked a dozen questions, and reliving that night was painful, but Tracey wanted her mother to know the truth, and she reassured her she was okay. She told her about learning self-defense with Diesel and Lior, and when she could put it off no longer, she told her about what had happened with Dennis.

They both cried, and her mother moved into the booth beside her to embrace her. She stayed there, the two of them sitting sideways, each with one knee bent on the bench between them, their arms draped over the back of the seat, holding each other’s shoulders. Tracey told her how she’d ended up at the shelter and about getting to know the Whiskeys and her other friends.

“Thank God you made it out alive. I want to meet all those wonderful people and thank them in person.” Her mother wiped her tears. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart. I never should have given you that ultimatum. I’ve regretted it every day since. I never stopped trying to call you. Even after your phone was disconnected.”