Page 86 of Shifters Unifying

Vixen’s

Fuckity, fuck, fuck.

Sophia Carter.

I froze, unable to get my mouth to form words. This wasn’t the way I’d wanted to meet Emma’s mother. I didn’t know what she knew, what she didn’t know, and the woman was more than a little intimidating. Probably because I’d never met a girlfriend’s mother in my whole fucking life. Relationships weren’t my forte.

“Mr. Blackwood, my Emma won’t answer her phone, and Riley and Shannon can’t—orwon’t—tell me anything. I believe you must know where she is,” Sophia continued. With each word, the volume of her voice increased until she was practically yelling in my face. Her eyes flashed, and her bottom lip quivered as though she was on the verge of tears.

Other lunch patrons turned to watch, unabashed in their curiosity.

Oh, hell and double hell.

Olivia jumped to her feet and put her arm around the older woman. “Now, Ms. Carter, it’s great to meet you. Why don’t you take a seat, so we can talk this thing through?”

Sophia slammed her hand on the surface of the table, rattling the silverware. “No, I will not sit down. I need my daughter.” Her voice broke. “She’s all I have left.”

“Logan, say something,” Olivia hissed at me. “Or we’re going to wind up on the front page of the newspaper.”

Her furious words dislodged my tongue, and I decided honesty was the best way out of the mess we were now in. I couldn’t tell her much, but I could tell her how much Emma meant to me.

Gingerly, I placed my hand on the older woman’s hand. “Ms. Carter, your daughter is more important to me than anything else in the world. Please sit, and I’ll tell you what I can.”

Sophia collapsed in the chair, her shoulders hunched. “Where is she?”

Settling in my own chair, I pulled it closer. “She’s safe.”

She studied me through her tear-laden lashes. “But she’s not with you.”

I winced as though she’d struck me. “No, not today. We’re building the new apartment complex over on Belvedere, and I had some business to take care of.”

“Then how do you know she’s safe?”

I touched the center of my chest. “We have a connection, and… I’d… just… know.”

Sophia nodded as though that made all the sense in the world. “I had the same kind of soul connection with her father. I knew when he… when he… passed.”

Sheila approached, carrying three Phillies. “Okay to set these down?”

“Fine by me,” I said.

“What do you think, Ms. Carter?” Olivia asked.

“Call me Sophia. Yes, that’s fine.” The older woman glanced at the sandwiches and then at Sheila’s arm as she placed the plates, one in front of each of us. “Oh, Callie’s your daughter. I recognize your tattoos. Emma told me about the aurora on your arms and stars on your cheeks. She’s always wanted to see the aurora in Alaska.”

Sheila beamed at the older woman. “We’re all pretty fond of Emma. She’s saved our Sully-Boy so many times I’ve lost count.” She grinned. “If Logan says she’s safe, then she is. Can I bring you something to drink?”

“Just water, please. No ice.”

“Sparkling or still?”

Sophia sniffed. “Still. Thank you.”

“I’ll be back.” Sheila hurried away.

Sophia frowned at the food on the table. “Three sandwiches? So, you knew I was coming?”

I didn’t know how to explain, so I said nothing.