Page 9 of Marked by the Protective Biker

He blows out a breath. “Yes, sorry about that. I was late getting off work.”

None of this makes sense. What does he mean, he was late getting off work? But before I can ask him, he starts talking. “I found out how I got out early.”

I perk up at that. There have been a few rumors going around the prison, but I’ve made a point to ignore all of it. “How?”

He seems surprised as he shakes his head. “You’re not going to believe this. Before I went in, I started a tattoo on someone, and I didn’t get it finished…”

My mouth drops open, and he nods his head. “Yeah, he wanted me out to get it finished. I’m the only one that has done his tattoos, and he refused to go to someone else.” Jack shrugs his shoulders. “Plus, he believes I didn’t deserve to be in there?—”

I nod my head in agreement. “I agree.”

That seems to stun him. “You do?”

Working as a counselor at the prison, I come across all types of men. Some of them say they were innocent, some actually were innocent, and some are proud and show no remorse for what they did. Jack was never sorry for what he did, and most likely if in the same position, he would do it again. But to a lot of people, he was justified in his actions. “Yeah, Jack. You saved that kid’s life. Who knows what that man would have done to her?”

He scrunches up his nose like he doesn’t want to think about it. I hold my hands in my lap. “So talk to me. Why are your friends following me?”

He avoids my question again. “Did they scare you?”

I shake my head. “No, not when I knew they were from your club.”

He blows out a breath. “Good, good. They won’t bother you.”

I blurt out a laugh. “But why? Why are they following me, Jack?”

He searches my eyes. “Because I was late getting off work.”

I throw my hands up. “Are we going to talk in code all night or what? Why are you having them follow me?”

He runs his hand through his hair. “Because I need to know you’re okay, and I couldn’t be here, so I asked them to stay with you until I could get here.”

Suddenly, a thought comes back to me. “Wait. Have they been following me? This wasn’t the first time, was it?”

He leans back in his seat and stares at me. “No, from the first day I met you, I had someone following you outside of work.”

My mouth falls open. How did I not realize someone was following me all this time? But I know the answer. Jack made me feel safe. Even when he was in prison and I was in my home, I felt safe. Now that I thought he was out of my life, I finally started paying attention to my surroundings. “I need to learn self-defense,” I blurt out.

He sits up a little taller. “Why? Did something happen today?”

I look away from him because I don’t want to tell him about the guy after the counseling session. “Nothing I can’t handle, but I’m realizing that maybe I need to be more aware of my surroundings and I need to be able to take care of myself.”

Jack nods. “I’ll teach you.”

I point at him. “You’ll teach me?”

He nods assertively. “Who else would teach you?” He juts his thumb in his chest and claims, “I’ll do it so I’ll know you can protect yourself.”

I nod and look up and down the street. There are people passing by, and I see the looks from them. I know they’re curious, and I’m sure they’re wondering why Jack would be sitting with me. I still have my work clothes on, and I look even more prim and proper sitting next to him. I’m not sure what Jack sees in me, but he’s obviously attracted to me. Why else would he have me followed?

“So…” I start, unsure how to start. I hesitate and then pull my shoulders back. I might as well ask him or I might never know. “Why are you following me, Jack?”

He shrugs. “I told you I would see you soon.”

I nod. “Yeah, you did. But… what is happening? Between us, I mean?”

He blows out a breath and looks like he’s about to say something he doesn’t want to say. “Nothing can come of us, Emily.”

I turn in my seat and look at him pointedly. “Nothing?”

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