Page 27 of Guardian

“I get that. We’ll be fine.” Her face showed determination, yet I saw the fear she was trying to hide.

“Prime says you and Jackson are welcome at the bar every night. I can watch over you there. There are others who can watch, too,” I explained.

“I can’t take a twelve-year-old to a bar,” she argued.

“He wouldn’t be in the actual bar. We have a lounge in the back where only our MC is allowed. There’s a television, video games, and a pool table. He can hang out there. Flame, our best bartender, has the night off. She likes kids and gets along with them. I can ask her to stay with him. They can play cards and video games. It’ll be fine,” I promised.

“I’m not as opposed to that deal as I’d thought I’d be. It might be fun to watch you work, and Jackson has definitely been exposed to things far worse than the game room at the back of a bar. But I see more concern in your face than what you should have over giving me this choice. The trouble must be worse than your usual. You can talk to me, Sweet.”

“I know you don’t understand how an MC works, or what we do every day. Someday I may explain it all, but right now I like your ignorance over it. I can tell you that we control a certain amount of territory, which I’m sure doesn’t exactly make sense to you. It’s kind of like each cop precinct has a certain allotted area to take care of, and they don’t cross over the line unless there’s a chase or something. The thing is we’re way more pissed when someone pisses across our line. Anyway, our territory isbeing challenged. Last night they broke into Colt’s gym and destroyed a lot of expensive shit just to make us mad.”

“Oh no! Is Colt all right? Was he there?” she frantically asked.

“No one was there. Colt’s fine. He’s probably pissed and ready to kick some ass, and I don’t blame him. He’s insured so it’ll all be fixed or replaced, but that’s not the point. It’s more personal than that. For now, it’s a disaster, so your lessons will have to be put on hold. I’m sorry about that. Maybe we can find somewhere else to practice.”

“Don’t worry about it. Jackson and I can wait. You’re needed elsewhere right now. Can I help clean up the gym? I wouldn’t mind,” Jemma stated.

I rubbed the back of my neck to ease the ache there. Jemma was too good for a man like me, and her offer just made me more aware of it. I was sucking her into a world that was wrong for her, dangerous and illegal, but I couldn’t seem to stop. I needed her to balance out my life. She gave me a way to stay focused on the fact that there were people outside of the club worth fighting for. We all needed that to keep us from going too deep into the darkness like Aguilar was doing.

“It’s blocked off by police tape at the moment. They’ll remove it later today. Colt will probably hire a crew to clear out the junk while he orders replacements. Thanks for the offer, though. I’ll let Colt know about it just in case. Are you going to take me up on the offer and come to the club tonight, so I don’t have to worry about you and Jackson?”

“What if the ones who tore up Colt’s become braver and attack the bar?” she asked.

“They won’t. There’s no way they’d win a fight in a place full of MC members, ours and others. If they dared to be that stupid I’d never let anything happen to you or Jackson. I’d protect you both with my life as would the rest of the Serpent Sinners. You’re under our protection when you’re in our place.”

I reassured Jemma though her question got me to thinking. What if the cartel decided to set a bomb at the bar or our headquarters? Aguilar wasn’t above killing innocents just to get the territory he craved. I’d have to mention the idea to Prime. Searching for bombs was going to add another stressful issue to his already sleep deprived day.

Chapter 15

Jackson was jumping upand down with excitement at the idea of going to a bar. Even though he knew there was no way in hell I’d let him step one foot into the actual bar, I knew he’d be bragging to his friends that he’d been there.

Unlike Jackson, I wasn’t quite so enthusiastic about spending the evening in such a place. It wasn’t fear of being harmed that had me worried. It was more like I had no clue how to fit in. What was someone like me supposed to wear? When I thought of biker babes I saw heavily made-up women, covered in tattoos, and wearing scanty outfits. Or maybe they wore a whole lot of leather, which I didn’t own. I simply didn’t want to stand out as someone who didn’t belong. I also didn’t want Sweet to be embarrassed by me.

I’d considered going shopping, but shiny and new didn’t seem right either. I dug through my closet and rejected most of what I owned. I laughed when I discovered a leftover maternity dress. Itwas as ugly as it had been when I bought it at the thrift store. I’d been broke and desperate at the time.

Deep in the back of the closet I found a pair of jeans that were torn in strategic places. They were considered stylish and had cost me far too much, yet I’d never worn them. They hadn’t seemed right for a mother. Today was the day I’d wear them. They showed a hint of skin and I figured that would be enough to make me appear less of a rookie.

A red, sleeveless t-shirt that knotted at the waist would have to be good enough. Along with the jeans I’d discovered an old jacket from before I was pregnant. It wasn’t really leather, but it would pass for it in a dark bar. I added more make-up than usual, accenting my eyes and coloring my lips red. I looked in the mirror and decided I’d do okay for one night. I wasn’t planning on making this a habit. I’d find another way to feel safe.

“Wow! Mom you look awesome!” Jackson squealed. “You don’t look like a mom at all.”

“I don’t know if that’s a compliment or a diss. Whatever it is, do you think Sweet will consider this outfit passable for a bar?” I asked my child who knew even less about bars than I did. That just showed how nervous I was.

“I don’t think Sweet cares what you wear, Mom. I get the feeling he likes you no matter what. Is it okay if I take along my phone in case the games they have aren’t ones I like? I promise to share with this Flame lady. I’ll behave,” he swore, more interested in how he’d be spending the evening than his mother’s concern over clothes, which was exactly as it should be.

Jackson had brought me back to reality. This was a one-night thing, not a change in lifestyle. If I wasn’t dressed correctly, or didn’t fit in who the hell cared? I was me, and that had to be good enough for Sweet. He’d certainly considered me good enough while he’d screwed me blind.

I parked my car at the back of the bar as Sweet had instructed. We knocked and a curvaceous woman with black hair tipped in bright red answered the door. She grinned at Jackson but gave me a once over and found me not fit to shine Sweet’s boots. It was obvious in her eyes that she had already decided I’d have to prove myself before she accepted me as his equal. I’d kept him from his duty, and she resented it.

“You’re Jackson. I’m Flame,” she said, completely ignoring my presence. “I’ve been waiting for you. I hope you’re up for some fun because I’m planning on having a shit load of it. Sweet talks about you all the time. He says you’ll beat my ass off at video games, but I’ll take the challenge.”

I winced at her language, but realized she’d actually carefully cut back on the expletives she’d automatically wanted to say. She’d stammered over some of her words. She was trying, and I had to give her credit for that, so I didn’t mention it. Instead, I politely thanked her for watching over my son and entertaining him.

“Sweet’s my friend,” she declared. “We do what we can for each other. I’ve got his back, so be careful how you treat him. I don’t play nice when my friends are hurt.”

“I don’t plan on hurting him,” I replied.

She gave a huff and answered, “Plans have a way of getting screwed. You’ve already been trouble for him. We’ll see what happens.”

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