Cody called Dakota a couple of days after she’d been to the house.
“Hey,” Dakota answered, seeing that it was Cody.
“Hey, Savanna wants you to come by the house,” Cody said without preamble.
“Why?” Dakota asked.
Cody chuckled, recognizing Dakota’s rolling-her-eyes tone. “Because she wants to make sure your arm is healing okay.”
“It’s fine,” Dakota said automatically.
“Yeah, and she wants to see it,” Cody said. “And don’t give me a ration of shit, Dak, I’m just the messenger.”
Dakota sighed. “Fine, I’ll stop by later.”
“Good,” Cody said, grinning.
Later that afternoon Dakota drove up to the Falco home. As she pulled up, a black Ferrari drove in behind her. Dakota parked on the street, and saw the Ferrari pull into the garage. She got out of her car and saw Lyric getting out of the other car. Lyric walked down the driveway whistling as she looked at the Bugatti.
“What is this?” Lyric asked, her eyes alight with interest.
Dakota grinned, leaning against the back of the car. “A Bugatti Veyron.”
“How many horses?” Lyric asked, her tone reflecting the excitement in her eyes.
“Twelve hundred,” Dakota said, sounding like a proud parent.
Lyric blew here breath out as she walked around the car.
“What’s it clock in at?” Lyric asked.
“It’s been clocked at 254. I’ve gotten up to close to that in the desert a couple of times.”
“Nice…” Lyric said, her voice enthusiastic. “What’s one of these run?”
“Three point four,” Dakota said, widening her eyes.
Lyric looked deadpan at her. “Thousand?”
“Million,” Dakota corrected.
“Holy Fuck…” Lyric said coughing slightly. “Guess I won’t be asking the wife for this one.” She winked at Dakota.
Dakota laughed then walked toward the garage, checking out Lyric’s Ferrari.
“What model this?” Dakota asked, recognizing the Stallion Ferrari logo.
“SI 250 GTO,” Lyric said, smiling proudly at her car.
“What year?” Dakota asked, running her hand reverently over the rear fender.
“Sixty-two,” Lyric said, enjoying that Dakota obviously knew cars too.
Dakota looked pensive for a minute. “There weren’t a lot of these made, were there?”
Lyric laughed, shaking her head. “Nope, only thirty-two.”
Dakota stepped back, looking at the car with a whole new appreciation. “That’s fuckin’ awesome…” she said, her eyes bright with admiration. “Cody drives a red Ferrari doesn’t she?”
“Yeah,” Lyric said, nodding, “we gave it to her for her sixteenth birthday. My family all has Ferrari’s, so it just seemed fitting.”
“Lucky little bitch,” Dakota said, grinning.
“Well, it didn’t look like it does now when she got it. It was a project car and we worked on it together. Just like I did with this one with my dad and brothers,” Lyric said, touching the hood of her car.
Dakota nodded, looking a little wistful. Lyric caught the look, and thought that Savanna was right about this girl. It was obvious she needed people who loved her.
“Come on in,” Lyric said, walking through the garage into the house.
Dakota looked around the garage as she followed Lyric into the house. She spotted the two motorcycles sitting on the other side and sighed. “Van?” Lyric called when they got into the dining room.
“Hey!” Savanna called. “Be right down.”
Lyric glanced over at Dakota. “Want a beer?”
“Sure,” Dakota said, nodding.
Lyric walked into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and pulled out two beers. She opened them up and handed one to Dakota. Savanna walked into the room then. She kissed Lyric, then looked over at Dakota.
“You made it,” she said, smiling. “Let’s see that arm.”
Dakota sighed, then took off her jacket and put her arm out to Savanna.
Savanna took a good long look, her fingers gently touching the edges of the cut, and turning the arm this way and that.
She nodded approvingly. “It’s healing really well, you heal fast,” she said, smiling at Dakota.
Dakota chuckled. “If you say so.”
“I do,” Savanna said, smiling again. “Hey, you should stay for dinner, we’re barbecuing. Cody and McKenna are coming over too.”
Dakota looked back at Savanna, seeing the kindness in the woman’s eyes, and thinking that being around these people was really dangerous. She knew she could get far too used to being around such nice people, and she knew that it could be snatched away just as easily. She glanced at Lyric then, and saw that Lyric’s blue eyes were narrowed slightly, like she was seeing what Dakota was thinking.
“Come on,” Savanna cajoled, “we don’t bite.”
“Much,” Lyric said, grinning.
“And you need to go get changed so you can start the barbecue, my love,” Savanna told Lyric.
“Yes ma’am,” Lyric said, grinning.
Lyric left the kitchen then, and Dakota could hear her boots on the floor upstairs.
“You are staying, right?” Savanna asked, her tone not really questioning.
Dakota opened her mouth to decline, but she saw the hopeful look in Savanna’s eyes, and just couldn’t bear to see that change.
“Sure,” Dakota said, smiling.
“Great!” Savanna said, her smile wide. “Come on, let’s go outside, that way you can smoke off that nervous edge you have,” Savanna said, winking at her.
Dakota laughed, wondering exactly how Savanna could tell that she was nervous and definitely on edge. She wasn’t used to people who could read her, or who cared enough to try and read her.
They stepped out into the backyard, and Savanna turned on the music. Dakota grinned.
“Lyric needs music, so does Cody,” Savanna said, grinning. “Those two are a lot alike.”
“I got that,” Dakota said, nodding as she sat down and pulled out a cigarette.
Savanna sat down across from her, giving her an assessing look.
“So how are you?” Savanna asked.
Dakota looked somewhat pensive. “I’m okay…” she said, her voice trailing off as she looked perplexed.
“It was just a question,” Savanna said, her tone mild.
Dakota nodded.
“Okay, you caught me, I’m being nosey,” Savanna said wrinkling up her nose as she smiled. “What I really want to ask is how things are with… the… um… rampaging piece of glass.”
Dakota rolled her tongue over her lips, grinning widely as she chuckled. “She’s well… fine.”
Savanna nodded, her look searching. “And you’re still with her?”
Dakota’s look flickered as she pursed her lips, but she nodded.
“And does that…” Savanna said, circling her hand in the direction of Dakota’s forearm, “kind of thing happen often?”
Dakota’s look was abashed as she rolled her eyes. “No, it doesn’t.”
Savanna looked relieved and visibly relaxed a little in her chair.
They were both silent for a few moments. Dakota smoked and looked pensive as she picked at the threads on her faded jeans. As usual, she looked like the consummate biker chick with her leather jacket and white tank top, faded jeans and biker boots.
“So Cody says you were her first friend in LA when she got here,” Savanna said.
Dakota chuckled. “Yeah, she was desperately in need of a friend in those days.”
“I imagine,” Savanna said.
“I don’t think she was in LA for a month and some guy already had his hooks in her, pimping her out…” Dakota said. She shook her head, her eyes narrowing at the memory. “I got her away from him, and I taught her how to be safer…” Her voice trailed off again as she grimaced, remembering that she was talking to Cody’s moth
er and not sure if she’d ever heard this.
“It’s okay,” Savanna said, her look gentle. “I know what Cody was doing before she came to the group home. I’m glad you at least kept her safe.”
Dakota blew her breath out, smiling fondly. “I loved that kid,” she said. “She was so damned scared, I just wanted to protect her as much as I could.” She looked at Savanna then. “Did she tell you I was her first?”
Savanna canted her head. “No, she didn’t,” she said, but then nodded. “It makes sense though, it sounds like you were the one person she could count on then.”
Dakota looked derisive then. “Yeah, except for that night she got clipped,” she said, referring to Cody previously being arrested for prostitution. “I was sick, I told her not to go out, but she did anyway…” She shook her head, her look unhappy.
“It worked out okay,” Savanna said. “It was after that that she came to stay in the group home I was running, and when she met Lyric.”
“How’d that happen anyway?” Dakota asked, having been curious how a street kid like Cody had met a cop in any positive way.
“Cody had disappeared, and I was worried about her. Like you said, she was always so scared, I couldn’t believe she’d just have run off. Lyric was the only police officer that would listen to me and was willing to look for Cody.”
Dakota nodded, looking happy about that. “Cody says you and Lyric saved her.”
“Well, Lyric did,” Savanna said. “She shot the gang member that was holding Cody against her will.”
Dakota looked surprised by that information. “Damn…” she muttered.
“Yeah, Lyric’s pretty amazing like that,” Savanna said, smiling as Lyric walked out wearing jeans and a DOJ t-shirt.
“What?” Lyric asked, having heard what Savanna had just said.
“I was telling Dakota about how you shot that guy to rescue Cody,” Savanna said.
Lyric rolled her eyes. “Did you tell her how Cody took a two-story dive to save McKenna?”
“What!” Dakota exclaimed, looking more stunned by the minute. “She did what?”
Lyric chuckled. “Yeah, a few months or so ago. The guy whose brother I shot rescuing Cody when she was fourteen decided to take me out and was trying for Cody too.”
“What happened?” Dakota asked.
“Lyric was shot three times,” Savanna said her look somber, “and was in a coma.”
“The guy took McKenna to lure Cody in, which worked,” Lyric said scowling.
“In the end, Cody went after the guy, charging at him and they both went off the second story balcony of a hotel,” Savanna said.
“Wow…” Dakota said, her eyes wide. “The girl has definitely grown some serious cahones.”
Lyric laughed, nodding. “That she has.”
“She takes after her mother,” Savanna said, winking at Lyric.
“Which one?” Dakota asked, smiling.
Lyric and Savanna exchanged a look, smiling at each other.
“Both,” Lyric said.
“What’s goin’ on out here?” Cody asked as she opened the door and held it open for McKenna.
“Oh the usual,” Lyric said, grinning. “Gossiping about our kid.”
“Great…” Cody said, her tone far from enthusiastic.
“They were just telling me about your swan dive,” Dakota said, her tone pointed.
Cody gave a short laugh. “Yeah that was… fun.”
“And if you do anything like it again, I’ll kick your ass…” McKenna put in, smiling sweetly.
“Love you too,” Cody said, winking at McKenna.
“So how’d the meet go with Raine?” Cody asked Dakota as she sat down and pulled out a cigarette.
Dakota shrugged. “I don’t have any new bruises,” she said, smirking as McKenna leaned down to hug her and kiss her on the cheek.
“Do you think she listened to any of it though?” Cody asked.
Dakota shrugged. “Got me.”
Cody nodded. “Well, you did what you could, that’s what counts.”
Dakota laughed sarcastically. “Yeah, after I fucked everything up in the first place,” she said, her tone self-effacing.
Cody gave her a narrowed look. “What counts is that you realize you fucked up and you did what you could to make it right. That’s all anyone can expect. You need to let yourself off the hook here.”
Dakota looked back at Cody for a long moment, narrowing her eyes.
“Is that what happens when you’re raised by a psychiatrist?” Dakota asked. “You psychoanalyze your friends?”
Cody laughed. “Or I use the Ph.D. I have in psychology.”
Dakota blinked slowly. “You said what?”
Cody laughed, nodding her head.
“Damn…” Dakota said. “I feel even more stupid now.”
“You’re far from stupid, Dakota,” Savanna said.
Dakota glanced over at Savanna, she wanted to ask how Savanna would know, but she saw the incredibly compassionate look in her eyes and once again just couldn’t stand the idea of changing that.
Cody caught the look and knew what Dakota wanted to say. The fact that she didn’t made Cody hope that Dakota was opening up to the possibility of letting people care about her. Cody was bound and determined to keep Dakota close and do everything she could to help her realize that there was more to life than loveless relationships based on sex and money. Lyric caught the exchange as well and gave Cody a sly wink. Leave it to Savanna to soften up the tough girl.
“Yeah,” Dakota said, smiling. “I’ve got a Ph.D. in women,” she said, putting her tongue between her teeth teasingly.
“Oh Lord,” McKenna said, shaking her head, but smiling too.
“You’re a doctor, too right?” Dakota asked McKenna.
“Almost,” McKenna said, nodding.
Dakota looked over at Lyric. “How’s that feel? Surrounded by three doctors?”
Lyric laughed. “I’m very careful with what I say.”
“Hey!” Savanna said, laughing.
It turned out to be a nice evening, and Dakota left feeling a different kind of ache in her heart. However, she did her best to ignore it. Once back at Cassandra’s house, she went to her room and shut the door. Lying on the bed and smoking, she did something she knew she’d needed to do. She sent Jazmine a message.
***
Jazmine was cooking dinner for Rayden when the text message came in. She wiped her hands and picked up her phone. It was from Dakota.
“Hey, heard about Natalia pulling out of the studio deal… I guess I really fucked that up for you too, huh? I’m really sorry, would like to apologize in person if you’re willing.”
“I’m willing and besides you owe me a ride,” Jazmine wrote back, adding a winking emoticon on the end.
“So tempting…” came the reply, which had Jazmine laughing and shaking her head.
“I meant the car Dakota!”
“Damnit!”
“LOL! When?”
“Tomorrow too soon, say 10?” Dakota replied.
“Tomorrow at 10 works,” Jazmine replied.
“C U then,” Dakota replied.
“Yes you will…”
“Ohhhh…”
Jazmine put her phone down with a grin. She had to admit, even to herself, that it was nice to have someone flirt with her. She knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that Rayden was nowhere near ready to love anyone again, and even if she had been, Jazmine wasn’t convinced that Rayden would ever love her. Rayden was very sweet and considerate, but Jazmine always felt her holding back. No one was going to replace Grayson Black Wolf any time soon. Jazmine wasn’t sure how much her heart could take with Rayden. Of course, she also knew that someone like Dakota Blair was far from a relationship, but at least it was fun to flirt with the other woman.
The next day, Jazmine was surprised when Dakota showed up right at ten o’clock in the morning. She even got out of the car and opened the door for her. Jazmine admired the car a
s she got in. The interior was a rich brown and gray, with luxurious leather seats and a wide flat center console. It was a surprisingly simplified dashboard, not overly cluttered with gauges and buttons. She inhaled the rich scent of the leather as she leaned back in the seat comfortably.
“This is one seriously beautiful car,” she told Dakota when she got in on the other side.
Dakota smiled fondly. “Yes, yes it is,” she said, nodding, her eyes alight with excitement.
As she started the car with a throaty rumble and put it into gear, Jazmine could hear the engine purr like the deep throaty purr of a big panther.
Jazmine nodded. “Okay, I can see why you love this car.”
Dakota grinned. “You ain’t seen nothing yet, but we gotta get out of the city. How much time do you have?”
“All day,” Jazmine said smiling.
Dakota smiled. “Cool.”
With that she took off. A few minutes later, they were driving down the 210 freeway, flying down it really.
Dakota reached over and touched Jazmine’s hand, glancing over at her as she did.
“I really am sorry if I screwed up your deal with Natalia,” she said her tone earnest.
Jazmine could see she was being completely honest, it was written all over face.
“Why did you do it?” she asked softly.
Dakota grimaced. “I don’t even know,” she said, shaking her head. “Raine thinks I was trying to prove something.”
“You talked to Raine?” Jazmine asked surprised.
“Yeah, I apologized to her too,” Dakota said, grinning. “It’s like some kind of twelve step program to growing a fuckin’ conscience or something.”
Jazmine laughed at what she said. “Okay. So what did Raine think you were trying to prove?”
“That I could take what she had.”
“Is that what you were doing?”
Dakota looked pensive, then shrugged. “I don’t know, maybe,” she said her tone open.
Jazmine nodded, looking thoughtful.
“Suddenly I’m around all these people who are major in love and… I guess it just… drags at me,” Dakota said.
“Drags at you?” Jazmine asked.
“Yeah, like nagging me that I’m stupid for missing the boat or something.”
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