Tears gathered again, but she blinked them back hard.Her chin lifted a fraction, stubbornness showing through fear.She looked like she hated needing anyone.So did I.
I called Atilla.
Two rings.He answered, voice rough, awake.“Talk.”
“She’s inside my house now.The gate opened on your order.Roth broke into her apartment earlier.Grabbed her hair, threw furniture around.His phone rang, pulled him away.Before he left, he promised to return.She fled straight to our compound, terrified and alone.”
Silence sat heavy on the line for a beat.“What else?”Atilla asked.
“Brother went to prison.Debt started there.They called her collateral.She tried cops.No help.”I kept it tight.“She came because she trusted me.”
“Bring her to Church,” he said.“Now.”
Relief hit hard, then tension followed.Church meant judgment.Church meant the whole table watching.Jade had enough fear already.Still, the club needed facts, and Atilla wouldn’t make decisions without looking the problem in the face.“I’m on my way,” I said.
Atilla ended the call.I lowered my phone and met Jade’s gaze.She looked like she’d already guessed what the next step would be.“He wants to see you,” I said.“In Church.”
Her shoulders stiffened.“He thinks I’m lying.”
“He thinks careful keeps people alive.”I moved toward the hook by the door, grabbed my spare helmet.“He’ll want the truth.You give it.You don’t hide anything because shame never saved anyone.”
Her throat bobbed.“If he says no?”
“Then I argue.”I kept my voice steady.“You’re not alone.”
Doubt shadowed her expression.Still, she nodded.
We stepped outside.Cold bit hard.Security lights cast long shadows across gravel.The compound stayed quiet, but cameras watched everything.Somewhere in the distance, a door closed.A dog barked once, then stopped.Jade flinched at the bark.
I kept my hands at my sides, not reaching for her, giving her space to breathe.Still, I stayed close enough to block her from the open walkway.If anyone did something stupid, they’d go through me first.
My bike waited where I’d left it earlier, black and familiar under the lights.I held the helmet out.“Ever worn one of these?”
Head shook slowly.
“This goes over your head.”I tapped the inside padding.“Chin strap snaps under here.Might feel boxed in.Better than eating pavement.”
She swallowed hard.“Okay.”
I held it steady while she slid it on.Hair snagged.I freed it, adjusted the strap, and made sure nothing pinched.“Tight?”I asked.
“Tight.”
“Good.”I nodded.“It stays put.”I swung onto the bike and started it.The rumble cut through the quiet and settled something in my chest.Machines made sense.Men like Roth didn’t.I held my hand out.“Climb on.Right leg over.”
She hesitated, then took my hand.Her movements stayed careful, controlled.Hands landed at my sides first, tentative.
“Closer,” I said.“Wrap your arms around me.If you get scared, lean into me.”
Her arms slid around my waist.She pressed in, trembling.A beat passed.I let her find her balance, then eased the throttle and rolled toward the clubhouse.We passed the guard shack.Tinker stood outside, watching, gaze tracking us until we turned away.The gate stayed shut behind him.Beyond the fence, the road lay dark.No headlights crept along the fence line.Still, I didn’t relax.
The ride to the clubhouse passed fast.The main building sat at the center of the compound, solid and familiar, lights glowing in several windows.Bar area stayed dark this late, yet the back sections never slept.Club business didn’t care about hours.
I pulled into a spot near the front door and killed the engine.Jade clung to me like her hands had fused to my jacket.“We stopped,” I said softly.“You can let go.”
Her arms loosened in stages.She slid off the seat, boots hitting ground and wobbling.One hand grabbed the bike for balance.I swung off and steadied her by the elbow.“First ride is strange,” I said.“You did fine.”
A shaky laugh slipped out.“Felt like flying and falling.”
