Until Amy - Jessica Ames Page 0,29
scares me.
“I’m sorry, Amy,” Harmony says.
“Don’t be. I need to know the truth about what I’m getting into.”
“What are you going to do?”
I’m not going to the party for starters. I shrug. “I’m not sure.”
Harmony leaves a little while later and I’m left to my thoughts. I spend all my time protecting women from being victimized. I can’t be with a man who knowingly allows it to happen in his club.
I don’t get ready and I sit in my pajamas watching crappy movies. About an hour before I’m supposed to be there, I fire off a text message.
ME: I can’t make it tonight. Sorry.
About thirty seconds later a message comes through.
SHANE: Why not?
My fingers hover over the screen before I type out.
ME: It’s not a good idea.
SHANE: Why?
I don’t respond, not sure what to say to him. I slip my cell onto silent and snuggle against the cushions of the couch.
Twenty minutes later there’s a knock on my front door. Blanket wrapped around my shoulders, I make my way to it and pull it open.
Shane is leaning against the door jamb, his arm over his head. He peers down at me and his gaze crawls over my body.
“Nice jammies.”
I scowl. They’re my cutest pair. They have little cupcakes on them.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, pulling the blanket around me to hide the offending pajamas.
“Want to know why you’re standing me up.”
I sigh and step back into the house, letting him inside. I don’t really want to have this argument on the stoop, not with my nosy neighbors.
“I’m not standing you up. I sent you a message.”
He eyes me. “What’s going on?”
“Is your club dangerous?” I blurt.
His gaze doesn’t leave my face. “Yes,” he admits.
“Are… are you dangerous?”
“Yes.”
His candid response has my heart racing. “Do you make women work in your clubhouse, servicing the brothers?”
This makes him snort. “Babe, what the fuck?”
“Do you have women there who exchange sex to stay?”
He heaves a breath and I can see the truth in his face before he speaks. “There are women who stay and do fuck the brothers.”
My stomach rebels at his words.
“Ain’t forced. They chose to do it.”
“Why?”
“Ain’t no one comes to our club who’s had a good life, Amy. Usually, they’re escaping shit, looking for something they can’t find in their real life. Sometimes, they just want a walk on the wild side, but most of those women are lost. We give them a home, a purpose. No one is held hostage. They’re grown up women, making their own choices. Anyone of them can leave any time they choose and they ain’t forced to do shit. We ain’t rapists.”
There’s anger in his voice, which I ignore. “They service the brothers… They ever serviced you?”
I hold my breath as I wait for his answer, my stomach churning.
“Ain’t a monk, Amy. I’ve been with my share of women. Ain’t apologizing for that, but it doesn’t change how I feel about you either.”
“You’re a criminal,” I accuse.
He doesn’t deny it. “The club doesn’t always operate within the law, no, but it stands for something. Everyone in the Sons has the right to be who they want to, to live a life they choose. We’re all brothers, even if that’s not by blood, and that’s what I love about it. I need that feeling of belonging, babe. I was adrift after I left the army. Didn’t have a fucking clue who I was, what I needed. I was lost. Ravage found me and gave me what I needed. He gave me a home. I don’t have any other family outside of those men and I’m fucking proud to be a part of it.”
“And where do I fit into that?”
“At my side, babe. I want you at my side.”
He dips his head and kisses me. I can’t stop from melting against him. He makes my stomach somersault, makes all my fears disappear. I should run far and fast from this man. He’s a dangerous criminal, but I can’t. Because deep down, I know without Shane I’m lost. He makes me feel complete in a way I’ve never experienced.
Shane is the one for me, and nothing is going to keep us apart.
16
Whizz
It’s a few days after Amy stood me up. We’re running another fake shipment drop tonight. Omen wants to find out for sure who is playing with us, so we’ve set up a sting. He’s told a handful of brothers a different location and ordered them to keep it secret. Whichever drop is attacked