“He and Biggs found pictures of Axel and his mother, and from what Biggs said, the dates on the back of them made Diesel think Axel might be his father.”

“Ohmygod.” Tracey grabbed Izzy’s wrist. “Where’s he going in Colorado?”

“What is going on?” Izzy asked frantically.

“My guess is Redemption Ranch to talk with Tiny,” Red said. “But Biggs talked to Tiny after Diesel left, and it didn’t sound like he had any answers. I was going to send Bullet after him, but Biggs told me not to. Tracey, this is bad. Diesel thinks his mother might have lied to him.”

“Oh, nononono.” Tears welled in her eyes, her heart breaking for him. “I have to get to him. He can’t do this alone. Red, can I have a few days off?”

“Of course. Go, honey. I’ll take your shifts and have Babs watch the grandbabies for me.” Babs was the wife of a Dark Knight, and she filled in as the kids’ babysitter when Red couldn’t do it. “Do you want me to get Dixie to go with you?”

“No, thank you. I have to go. I’m sorry.” She ended the call, and Izzy was all over her.

“What’s going on? Is Diesel okay?”

“I don’t know. Red said he found out his mom might have lied to him about his father. Izzy.” Tears spilled from her eyes. “If she did, he’ll be crushed. I have to get to him.”

“Okay. What can I do?”

“I have to pack. Can you get online and book me a flight to whatever airport is near Hope Valley, Colorado?”

“I’m on it.” She scrolled on her phone, following Tracey to her bedroom. “What about your mom?”

“Ohmygod.” Tracey spun around. “I have to call her.” Her stomach lurched. “How can I blow her off for Diesel? That’s what I did last time, and I lost her for years.”

“This is different,” Izzy insisted. “Call her. She’ll understand. She met him. She knows how serious you two are.”

“Right. Okay.” She paced, anxiety fracturing her thoughts as she called her mother.

“Hi, sweetheart.”

Her cheerful voice sent Tracey down to the edge of the bed. “Hi.” Too nervous to sit, she popped to her feet, her heart racing. “Mom, I have to leave town for a few days. Diesel got some potentially devastating news, and I really need to be with him.”

“Is he okay?”

“I don’t know. I doubt it. He took off for Colorado, and I need to find him.”

“You don’t know where he is?”

“No. Maybe. I think so.”

Her mother was quiet for a beat. “Trace,” she said carefully. “Are you sure he wants to be found? He seems to be an intentional man who thinks through his actions.”