Wanted: County Knights MC (12 page)

              He had seemed bigger than life when I first met him. Now when I looked at him, I saw the wrinkles the years had given him, and the leather quality of his skin from riding his bike out in the sun for too many years.

              “Just stoppin’ in to say hi to old friend.” I grinned, coming around his desk with my hand out. He looked at it, then shook his head. Pushing off his chair he wrapped his arms around me, slapping my back hard. He may have beaten my ass when I took off the leather, but the man had never given up on the idea of me “coming home.”

              “Hmph.” He snorted and gave me a shove. “Sit. Sit.” He waved at the chair in front of him. 

              I took the seat, resting my foot on my knee. “How’s business?” I nodded to the computer.

              “Good. Would be better with you back on my side.” He didn’t beat around the bush when it came to the one thing he wanted from me that I couldn’t give to him.

              “You gonna guarantee every car I work on is legit?”  He could lie to me, but he wouldn’t. I knew that. No matter how much we pissed each other off, we had at least that much respect for each other.

              He laughed and looked away. His usual answer. “How’s the garage?”

              “Doing good.”

              “Some of my guys are working for you, I hear. Instead of my garage.” It wasn’t an accusation but I could see he didn’t like the idea.

              “One or two.”

              He sat back in his chair and folded his hands on his rounded belly. The wedding ring on his hand shined in the lighting.

              “You got married?” I hadn’t heard that piece of news. Sam wasn’t the marrying kind, he always said. Plenty of club girls hung on him, so he didn’t need to make a choice.

              “Mary got pregnant.” His voice was flat. “Said I had to make an honest woman of her if I wanted to keep fucking her, or see the kid.” I waited, there was more to the story. He wouldn’t be blackmailed into something like marriage. “I put up a fight of course.” He shrugged. “Then she lost the baby. Miscarried three months in. Damn near killed her.” His voice dropped, and he looked at the wall behind me. I was seeing another side of Sam I’d never seen before.

              “So you married her anyway?”

              “She wouldn’t have me at first. Said I was only feeling sorry for her. Took me six months to get that woman down the fucking aisle.” He brought his eyes back to mine. “I’m telling you, Jackson, if you find a woman worth giving up every piece of ass out there, you marry her, mark her, whatever you need to do to keep that woman chained to you.”

              For a moment I was taken aback. This man sitting in front of me did not resemble the man running shit when I walked out. “A woman is why I’m here.” Better to get to the point, no need to start thinking about possibilities with Anna that weren’t real.

              “Found yourself a woman?” He grinned.

              “Sort of. I came across a woman being held up last night, turned out to be Jonnie.” I paused to take in his reaction. Nothing.

              “Hmm. Was the girl hurt?”

              “No. I walked up on them after he finished his discussion with her. She was fine. But what I don’t understand is why he would be bothering some college kid about her career choices.” 

              His eyes shifted around the room and he adjusted his seat in the chair. “You know my opinion on talking about club business with non-members.”

              “How is this girl’s schooling club business?”

              Sam took a deep breath and let it out slow. “Fuck, Jax. I can’t go through this with you. If Jonnie delivered the message and she listens to him, there’s no issue.”

              “This girl is under my protection, Sam.” I dropped my foot and leaned forward. “What is your business with her internship?”

              “I couldn’t give two shits about that girl and her school shit. It’s a favor.” He scratched behind his ear. “How close are you to this girl?”

              “Close enough to take out anyone who touches her.”

              His eyebrows rose and he let out a loud sigh. Whatever was going on, my being involved was complicating things for him. And Sam hated complications.

              “Look, just get her to stop pursuing that internship.”

              “Why would I do that? What the hell does this club have to gain if that girl doesn’t finish school? It’s architecture for shit’s sake, Sam. Why would your club or any other…” I stopped mid-sentence when realization hit me. “Fuck. Your strings are being pulled by someone else, there’s no favor.”

              His eyes went hard on me. Jackpot. “Just keep that girl away from that internship; she can take any other one but not that one. Got me?”

              “Or what? You’ll send another car to plow into her?”

His brows furrowed. “What the fuck are you talking about? I told Jonnie to talk to her.”

I studied him for a minute. I knew when he was lying and it wasn’t then. “She’s not backing away from this. Not for you, or whatever puppeteer you’re working for now.” I pushed out of my chair, nearly knocking it over in my haste to get out of that place. For a sliver of a moment I thought he’d changed, but I should have known better.

              “I won’t make promises in regards to her safety, then.” His lips thinned, pulled tighter around his teeth. 

              “I can. You come near her, you send any other club member near her, and I won’t stop at a few punches to the face. No matter who it is.”

              “You’d kill your own brother?” he snarled at me. “Oh, wait. I forgot you already abandoned them when you took off your cut.”

              “Fuck that, Sam. You gave me no choice, and I won’t feel bad about it. I went to prison for you once, and it was enough.” The same old argument started to form on his lips but I cut him off. “Stay away from that girl.” With that I turned and high tailed it out of there before I did or said something that would set him completely off.

              The story didn’t end with him doing a favor for a friend. There was more, and I had a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach it was bigger than him or the club. 

CHAPTER TWELVE
ANNA

              The big goon Jackson sent to take me to my office cleaning sat outside in his car. A run down Pontiac that squealed when he turned right. For a mechanic, I would have thought he’d drive something a little better than that. 

              Jackson sent me a text an hour before my shift at the shelter ended telling me that Jerry would be taking me to the office. He’d pick me up though to take me home. His home. Because apparently I had managed to get myself under house arrest for being involved in a hit and run where I was the victim.

              I finished tying up the last trash bag and brought it to the front door when it flung open and Jackson stormed in. He nearly knocked me down with the force of his entrance. He didn’t look happy, but he wasn’t pissed either. Whatever it was had nothing to do with me.

              He saw me then, his eyes wandered over my t-shirt and jeans before landing on the large garbage bag in my hand. The picture seemed to piss him off even more, his eyes narrowed and he pressed his lips together hard.

              “What?” I took a step back and looked down at myself.

              “I don’t like this job.” His eyes swept the office of the small welding company.

              “Good thing it’s not yours, then.” I tried to smile, but his fierce gaze stopped me.

              “Are you done? Jerry can finish for you if you need.” He jerked his head to the door.

              “That guy has been stuck babysitting me all day, I’m not asking him to do my work for me.” Whatever his problem was, I didn’t want it on my doorstep. “Besides, it may be menial work to you, but it’s decent pay.” I shifted the weight of the garbage bag and tried to step around him. 

              He wouldn’t be dismissed so easily. Moving in front of me, he blocked my exit. His hands landed on my shoulder, stopping me from trying walk around him. He waited until I looked up at him before he continued. “I don’t like this job because it sends you to some shitty parts of town alone. Anyone could walk in here on you. You should have locked the door. And those guys out in the plant, can they get in here from a connecting door?”

              I tried not to roll my eyes, but the man could be impossible. “Jackson, I’ve been cleaning this office for over a year. I know most of the guys out there, nothing is going to happen here.”

              His sigh could have parted my hair if I hadn’t had it pulled back in a ponytail. “You don’t understand. That car didn’t hit you by accident. That guy last night didn’t just want to pick pocket you. They are connected by some very bad people.”

              “I’m not listening to this again. I talked with the police today. Called me between classes, asking me a bunch of questions about the car accident. He didn’t seem to be worried like you are. He just wanted to fill out some stupid accident report. I need to stop by to sign.”

              His eyes darkened. “What cop called you? Belby?”

              “No, Shandling, Chandling, I don’t know, something like that. He said he’d meet me between classes tomorrow for me to sign the report. I thought that was a little odd, but he said he had to drop of something for his kid at the admissions office.”

              “Shit.” He let go of my shoulders and dragged a hand through his hair. “You aren’t going to school tomorrow. You aren’t going anywhere tomorrow.” He ripped the garbage bag from my hand and wrapped a hand around my bicep pulling me toward the door. “If you’re not done here tell Jerry.”             

              “I’m done. I just need to toss that. Jackson, let me go. What’s wrong?” The humidity of the summer air hit me as he pulled me out into the side parking lot. My babysitter stood in the same place I’d left him, leaning against his car with his arms crossed over his chest.

              “Do you need to lock up?” He stopped dragging me long enough to ask.

              “Yeah.”

              “Give me the keys.” He held out his hand.

I wanted to argue, to pull away and tell him to shove off, but then I looked him in the eye. It wasn’t just anger lurking there, but worry. Jackson wasn’t just being a jerk, he was actually concerned. I’d argue with him later.

              I yanked the keys from the pocket of my jeans and handed them to him. He promptly turned and tossed them to Jerry.

“Stay right here.” He released my arm and jogged back to the front door. I looked over at Jerry, who seemed to be entertained at the sight of his boss dragging me around and playing babysitter. 

              “I could have done that, Jackson,” I grumbled when he handed me back the keys and motioned toward his truck.

              “You could do a lot of things. Doesn’t mean I’ll let you.” He walked ahead of me, around to the passenger’s side of the truck and yanked the door open.

              I wanted to say something, anything to wipe away the arrogant look on his face when he continued to stand by the door staring at me. Jerry was watching, I could feel it, and if I pushed Jackson too hard he’d probably just toss me in the truck like the Neanderthal he was behaving like. 

              Turning toward Jerry, I walked over to him, ignoring the glare Jackson gave me. “Thanks for the ride today, and the company. I’m sure you had better things to do.” He pushed off the car and stood straight, looking over my head toward Jackson. Sometimes poking the wolf couldn’t be resisted. I leaned up on my tip toes and planted a soft kiss to Jerry’s bearded cheek. “Thanks again.” I turned on my heel and walked over to Jackson, feeling his gaze burning me with each step. I didn’t say a word to him, or look at him as I climbed up into his truck. 

              He grumbled something under his breath that I didn’t understand as the door slammed. I did hear Jerry’s rumble of laughter as Jackson walked around to the driver’s side. He remained silent as he fired up his truck and pulled out of the lot and headed down the street.

              “My apartment is the other way,” I pointed out as he made a left.

              “I know.”

              “You’re going the wrong way.”

              He let out an exaggerated sigh. “You’re staying at my place tonight.” He flipped on the radio, the country station filled the cabin, and he growled. “Fucking Jerry playing with the radio again.” I caught his side glance as he pushed a few buttons and switched the station to something with more metal and less country. Jackson always grumbled when I turned his radio to country when we were younger, and when he was hiding out with me in my room he’d tease me about my CD collection. But once in a while, his radio already had the country station playing when I jumped on his bike or in his car.

              I grinned and looked out the window. “I can’t move in with you, Jackson.”

              “I said for tonight,” was his only reply.

              “Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on, or are you just going to keep acting like the big ape of the group?”

              He shot me a glare that suggested I not keep poking. I let him drive in peace, needing some time to relax before we got to his place. When he pulled into the alley behind a row of townhouses, I gathered my things.

              “Are you hungry?” he asked after he pulled into the garage. I saw his motorcycle parked in the next stall over, and a vivid memory of clinging to him as he drove down I-90 in the summers came back to me. “Anna. Are you hungry?”

              “A little.” I nodded and pulled the handle of the door to open it. 

              “I’ll order a pizza. I haven’t gone shopping in a while.” He pulled out his phone and as he ushered me through the small backyard to the back door of his house, he ordered a large half cheese and half mushroom pizza. Just like when we were kids. He hated mushrooms, but always let me put them on half the pizza. 

              While he was busy digging out his key and opening up the door, I looked up at the house. Nice. Not run down with loose shingles and faded paneling like I imagined, but new. Brick exterior, solid black shingles beside each set of windows, and there were two floors, not counting the basement. Even the back porch looked modern with the wrought iron banister and concrete steps.

              “You coming?” he asked from inside, and I realized I had been staring at the house. Feeling my cheeks heat up, I walked past him inside. The kitchen blew me away. Stainless steel appliances, marble countertops, and ceramic flooring. “What? Think I’d still live in a dump like my old man?” He half laughed when he shut the back door.

              “No. Of course not.” I shook my head and slid my backpack onto the kitchen island. “I just didn’t expect you to have such modern tastes.” I pointed to the crown molding.

              “Well, don’t be too impressed. When I bought the place it was a shit hole. I let the chick I was banging—I mean, the girl I was seeing—do the decorating when I remodeled it all. She didn’t have horrible taste.”

              It hadn’t occurred to me he might have a girlfriend. “Oh. Are you seeing someone?” Would he have had sex with me while he was involved with someone else? Maybe he just saw me as an easy lay.

              “What? No.” He moved toward me, closing the space between us until his boots touched my gym shoes. “I’m not really the ‘seeing someone’ type.” His hand ran up my arm before tucking a willful strand of hair behind my ear.

              “So last night. That was just you banging another chick?” The words tasted sour as I said them, and from the change in his demeanor, he didn’t like them anymore than I did. His shoulders tensed and his jaw firmed. “No. Don’t answer that.” I stepped back, turning and moving around the island. Space. I needed space, and some sort of barrier between us, otherwise I’d let him get to me. I’d let those damn eyes of his soothe the anger building inside of me. I had no right to be angry. We weren’t a thing. We weren’t even friends anymore.

              “Anna—”

I cut him off with a shake of my head.

“Listen to me.”

              “Not really interested. What I am interested in is finding out why you’ve brought me here and why you got so pissed when I told you I was going to meet that cop.” I swallowed, my throat suddenly dry. I could have let him tell me that the night we spent together meant something, I could have listened to him spout all sorts of lies. I’m sure by now he’d gotten really good at them. I wouldn’t doubt he had a new woman in his bed every night. I mean, look at him! All muscles, inked, and the way his touch could set a woman on fire, yeah, definitely a new woman each night. I just happened to be there, my luck.

              He didn’t move toward me again, but if his eyes indicated anything it was his desire to jump over the island at me. Dark eyes glared at me as he calmly pressed his palms into the countertop and leaned over toward me. I could feel the warmth of his breath on my face, he leaned so closed to me.

              “You will listen to me, Anna. You weren’t just some notch on my belt. That’s not what last night was, not to me.”

              “I’m new to the casual sex thing,” I shot at him. As much as his expression warned me to back down, it was Jackson, he wouldn’t hurt me. Not physically.

              “I just said that’s not what last night was. You don’t listen so well anymore, huh?” The snarl was back in his voice, another indicator to take a breather.

              “Whatever, Jackson. Tell me what’s going on that you’re keeping me here instead of letting me go home to my apartment.”

              He eyed me with thinned lips and narrowed eyes. “You’ve gotten mouthy over the years.”

              “I’m not a little girl anymore, Jackson. I keep telling you that. I keep telling you I can take care of myself now.” I did my best to keep my voice from wavering. He didn’t frighten me, but the intensity of his stare on me, the closeness of his body to me, made my skin tingle, made my mind race toward thoughts that would only get one of us hurt.