Torch (Great Wolves MC) - Jayne Blue Page 0,45

dragged into something that has nothing to do with you. Probably. But someone is out to hurt my family. Torch is part of that family, and he cares about you. So, I’m going to do everything that I can to make sure none of this lands on you. That’s my job. And it’s also my job, while the guys are in custody, to make sure you’re taken care of.”

“We’re good to go,” Nicole said as she walked back into the house. “Shannon’s on board.”

“Shannon?” I asked.

“You’ll stay with her,” Amy said. “I’ll drive you over there now. I need you to lay low. Use that phone and call one of the lawyers Nicole’s going to give you. If you are contacted by the cops, let me know. Don’t talk to anyone but me, Nicole, Mallory, or Tara. Shannon’s in the loop, but the less she knows from you, the better. I’ll let Sticks take care of her.”

“What’s she got to do with Sticks?” Nicole asked.

Amy smiled. “It’s about the worst-kept secret in the club,” she said. “The two of them have been hooking up since Christmas.”

“Wow,” Nicole said. “Where the hell have I been? Did you know anything about it?” She turned to me.

“No,” I said. “But I’ve been …” I felt the blush creep into my face.

“She’s been too busy with Torch,” Amy said, though her tone was light. She put a hand on my knee.

I felt the air suck right out of my lungs, and panic seep in. I’d just found him. Was I now about to lose him?

“I want to thank you,” Amy said. “I don’t know how rough a patch we’re in for. Hopefully, your Uncle George will earn his very obscene, very fat retainer and get our men home to us by morning. If he can’t, we’re all going to have to rely on Torch a whole lot more. If you asked me six months ago whether I thought he’d be up to it, I’m not sure what I would have said. But he’s different now since you came into his life. We’ve all seen it. Colt especially.”

“Why haven’t they arrested him?” I asked.

“I don’t know,” she said.

“I need to see him,” I said.

“You need to cool your heels at Shannon’s,” Nicole said. “She’s freaking out on me. They arrested Sticks in the sweep too.”

“Is she going to be okay?” Amy asked. “Because I cannot have anyone losing it on me right now.”

“I’ll make sure she’s okay,” I said.

“Good,” Amy said. “We’ll get you over there right now.”

I pulled out the burner phone Amy gave me. I punched in Torch’s number. It went straight to voicemail.

“Is it safe for me to leave him a message?” I asked.

“Better wait,” Amy said. “He’s probably going to switch phones too. He’ll reach out to you when he’s ready. Hang in there. He needs you. He may not want to admit it to himself, but he does.”

I smiled. Torch’s words echoed through my heart. I was his.

“Let’s get going,” Nicole said. “I’ll get you to Shannon’s. I’ll get word to Torch that’s where you are. You coming?”

Amy waved her off. “I’m going to stay here for a little while. I just want a minute of quiet all to myself. I’ll be all right.”

“Shannon’s place is five minutes away,” Nicole said. “I’ll drop Sydney off and come back for you.”

Amy nodded. When I rose, I did the thing that seemed so natural. I went to Amy and hugged her. She hugged me back. She was small but felt so strong. As I pulled away, I realized she had the weight of the club resting on her shoulders. Everyone looked to her to hold it all together. Now more than ever. Torch once told me she was like the den mother. I couldn’t even imagine how hard this was for her. And I knew I might have to rely on her just as much.

“Amy,” I said. “I need you to know that I’ll do whatever I can to help the club. I don’t know what that is. Maybe it’s just being there for Torch. But you can count on me.”

She touched my arm and smiled. “I knew I could. The minute Torch started paying attention to you. Which, in all truth, was pretty much that first night you showed up at the club. It was my idea to have you come work for us.”

My heart warmed. “Uncle George said it was because he wanted me to learn how the club operates