Torch (Great Wolves MC) - Jayne Blue Page 0,6

assumptions about me. And there’s nothing wrong with having a little compassion for people less fortunate than you.”

“Yeah?” I said. “Tell that to the last girl he cornered in a dark alley.”

She searched my face, trying to figure out if I was bullshitting her. I wasn’t.

“Then what is he doing out here?” she asked. “Why isn’t he in jail?”

She had me thunderstruck. Was she really asking? I took a step back. “Things aren’t always black and white, sweetie. Let’s just say Chuckie has nine lives. He’s also got friends. I don’t want to see you rolling up in that car alone in this part of town again. You got something to do on behalf of your uncle or the club, then you have him call the club.”

Her mouth formed that sexy little ‘o.’ But she was speechless. I waited a beat, then opened the door to the bank. As I did, a young couple came out. They gave me a wide berth, the woman looked scared. She saw my cut. She was from here and knew what it meant.

“Why don’t you head on inside,” I told Sydney as the couple edged around us and continued down the street.

“I’ll do just that,” she said. “Thank you for your ... um ... services. You can go now.”

“No,” I said. “I don’t think I will. Just in case Chuckie comes back.”

“Would he do that?” she asked, her hand flying to her throat.

“He might if he sees me take off,” I said. It was a lie. Chuckie was every bit the dangerous dirtbag I’d told her, but he wasn’t dumb. No doubt he got the message this girl was under my protection. Damn, I found myself wanting her to be under more than that.

“I’ll wait here,” I said. “And I’ll follow you back to George’s office.”

She hesitated. “I really don’t want to cause any trouble.”

“You aren’t,” I said. “I’m heading that way anyhow. When you go in there, ask for Dale. He’s a friend.”

Sydney had one hand on the door. She gave me a smile. “Um, thank you,” she said, then turned and went inside.

I could see her from the window. She didn’t have to ask for Dale. Either he or someone else had seen me standing outside talking to Sydney. They fell over themselves to take care of her after that.

Good. My cut came with certain perks. Maybe things I didn’t deserve. But today, I’d use it to keep some darkness away from Sydney Bailey. The thought of letting it touch her heated my blood in a way I hadn’t felt in years. The last time ... I’d nearly let it burn my world to the ground.

Chapter Four

When Sydney came out, she slid behind the wheel of George’s Mercedes and waited for me. She was nervous, her eyes flitting back and forth to her rearview mirror. I stayed back but hugged the road behind her. More dark thoughts crept into my brain. I wanted to feel her behind me, her arms wrapped around my waist, her thighs pressed against my ass as my Harley’s powerful engine roared between her legs.

She’d have to hike that tight skirt up. There’d be nothing between her and my leather seat but her thin cotton panties. Dammit. I wanted to taste her. I wanted to ruin that perfect makeup.

But I had no right. I shouldn’t even be thinking about her like that. I already knew what Colt and Kellan would say if they saw me looking at her. Sydney Bailey was off limits. George was too crucial to the club. We’d had some drama last year and relied on George to navigate the legal end of everything. Messing around with his tight-assed, hot little niece would be bad for business.

Except I couldn’t keep that tight little ass of hers out of my mind.

Sydney pulled into the lot behind George’s office building. George liked to pretend he was just some country lawyer out here on the edge of Lincolnshire, where it turned rural. Hell, he had dense woods behind the parking lot and an old run-down barn hidden in the brush. Rumor was that place was haunted. When we were kids, before George converted the farmhouse to his own purposes, kids in town used to run back there and touch the barn on a dare. It was a rite of passage for a bunch of hick kids.

I parked beside Sydney but kept my engine running. She stepped out of the car and shielded her eyes from the sun.

“Thanks again,