Page 28 of Guardian

I didn’t want to argue. I understood her animosity. Because of me Sweet hadn’t been around to deal with the troubles the club had been having. Flame was upset over the destruction of Colt’s gym as well. She was entitled to her feelings, but hopefully I could change her mind eventually. Sweet deserved to keep his friends. I didn’t want him to ever have to choose between them and me. I was sure I’d come out the loser anyway.

“Is Sweet in the front?” I asked rather than continue the confrontation and make things worse.

“Si, he’s busy. Go on in, but don’t be a distraction. We’ve got to stay alert for trouble. I assume he told you that, since he’s so wrapped up in your fucking life these days.”

“I’m not here to be a problem. I didn’t even ask for this protection. Sweet and Prime, your Pres, made it a command performance. If you don’t like it, then take it up with them,” I retorted. I’d had more than enough of her attitude.

“Well hell! You do have a spark of temper inside that prissy assed body. You might be okay after all,” Flame declared before turning her back on me.

I didn’t understand how a couple of doors and a wall could hold back all the noise. Stepping into the bar my head almost burst open from the loud music, the clinking of glassware, and the voices that tried to rise above the music by several decibels. It seemed as if everyone was shouting, but their words were indistinguishable.

I was intimidated by all the men who surrounded me. They were big, tough, rowdy, and showed none of the gentlemanly manners Sweet seemed to possess. They brushed past me, not caring if they knocked me down or not.

The women were almost as bad, pushing me aside to get to the bar for another drink. Short skirts and tops that hid nothing, even emphasized the naked breasts beneath them, were standard apparel except for the few who wore tight leather. My attire was somewhere in between. I stood out despite my efforts.

I searched for Sweet and almost missed him. He looked so different from the man I knew. He was dressed in leather from head to toe. The shirt he wore beneath the leather vest was sleeveless, clearly showing off his large muscles. The vest had a large snake on the back. It was intertwined with words I couldn’t read, and there were patches in other spots that must havemeaning of some kind. He’d worn it once before, but it looked different in this setting, more menacing. The cut was proof that he was a Serpent Sinner.

The leather pants clung to his muscular thighs, emphasizing his size. Even from a distance I could see that he had weapons. I spied knives and at least one gun that was tucked into the back of his pants.

He was frowning. There was a darkness in his blue eyes that I didn’t recognize. All the softness and kindness he’d showed to Jackson and me had disappeared. This wasn’t the man I knew. This version of him was frightening. I could easily see him slicing a man’s throat or beating information out of someone. Which man was the real Sweet? I wasn’t sure I wanted the answer.

I shivered when he looked my way, but there was an instant change in him. He smiled and his eyes lit up. I wasn’t afraid of the man who strolled toward me. He was my protector, and since last night my lover as well.

“You came. I wondered if you’d back out. Is Jackson with Flame?” he asked.

“I’m here as you wanted, though I’m a little uncomfortable. I don’t fit in,” I answered.

“You look hot, babe. Don’t ever doubt it. You’ll feel better after a drink or two. Nobody cares what you wear anyway. I’ll get you a table or a place at the bar. You’ll relax and start to enjoy watching people, and I’ll join you when I can. If you feel too weird then maybe you should stay in the back with Flame. I’d miss you, but I want you to feel comfortable,” he replied.

I laughed. “Sweet, Flame would make me more uncomfortable than all these men put together. She’s not exactly happy with me in your life. I’ve made you miss a lot of drama here, and she resents it. She’s out to judge me, and so far I’m not doing too well, though she did like my spark of temper once I’d had enough of her attitude.”

“Flame’s protective of us. She always has been. Her loyalty to this club is unsurpassed. We don’t question her vow at all. In fact, she’s allowed at our meetings and even given a voice, which is rare in an MC. She’s tough, but she has a good heart. She’s defended my right to be a mentor to Jackson when everyone else gave me a hard time. She’ll like you once she gets to know you, and she’ll defend you to the death even before that simply because you’re with me.”

I wasn’t as sure about it as Sweet, so I told him, “I’ll take my chances out here with you. I’ll sit at the bar and have a beer.”

“Good choice. Have EZ put you on a tab. I’ll settle up with him later,” Sweet stated as he pushed his way to the bar and glared at a man until he moved so I could take his barstool.

“I can pay my way,” I said, slightly offended that he seemed to think otherwise.

“Not here. Not now,” he growled before walking away.

Before I could order a beer was slammed onto the counter in front of me. I was about to protest when I looked up and saw that it was Flame, not EZ, who’d served me.

“Why aren’t you with my son?” I demanded.

“Calm the fuck down. Jackson is covered. Doc’s with him. They’re playing a game. I came to get the kid a pop. Believe or not we keep a few out here. If we drank whiskey all damn night we wouldn’t be fit to handle the assholes who start fights.”

“Is he doing okay? He’s not scared is he?” I asked.

“The kid’s great. It’s you I’m wondering about. Did ya get hit on yet?” Flame asked, popping the top off a root beer. “Did you get your ass pinched yet, or your boobs manhandled?”

“I’ve only been out here for a couple of minutes, most of which were with Sweet. Give me some time to wiggle my ass and shake my tits for bait,” I retorted.

“Good one, chica. You’re getting the hang of it. I bet you can be a bitch if you set your mind to it. I like your kid. The jury is stillout on you, but the fact that Sweet is hot for you weighs on your side,” Flame answered.

Chapter 16

Jemma

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