Jian mumbled something that sounded like “syeh-syeh” and pulled Scott in for a hug.
“You know if you ever think about getting out of the business, I’ve got a place for you too. You’ve got great managerial skills that could beuseful to me.”
“Perhaps someday,” Jian said, smirking, then tilted his head at her. “This your lady? She’s fine.”
Her mouth wanted to scream “no” but the fear that filled her at the menacing men so close kept her silent. Pulling her to his side, his hand on her hip, Scott replied, “Yeah. And I’d be pissed off if anything happened to her.”
The wink from Jian unnerved her as he said, “You got it, man. Duly noted. We’ll be in touch.”
Scott nodded and they left as stealthily as they’d arrived. She waited a few moments then rounded on him, glaring.
“What?”
He damn well knew what. The grin on his handsome face was toolarge and smug.
“How the hell are you in that tight with the leader of the Northside Dragons?”
“I did him a favor a few years back,” he tossed over his shoulder as he walked to the other side of the room, where the lumber was stacked.
“That must have been some favor.” He didn’t turn around, forcing her to stare at his tight butt and long lean legs in those damn Carhartts again. Clenching her thighs, she tried to ignore his looks. Why did work clothes get her this turned on? Or was ithimin work clothes?
“His sister was in a jam. I helped her out.”
She narrowed her eyes. “Helped her,huh? I’ll bet.”
He did turn around now and his jaw clenched. “I found her hiding at one of my construction sites. She’d already been kicked out of a few other places she’d tried to hide in. She was being chased by some guys from a rival gang who were doing initiations by raping little girls. She was only thirteen at the time.”
“Oh, my God. Did you call the police?”
“They wouldn’t have done anything except turn her loose to be chased down again. I managed to get her in my truck without being seen and once we were in a safe location, she contacted her brother tocome get her.”
“Now you’re best buds?”
“We understand each other. We’re both businessmen.”
An unladylike snort escaped her. “And you also hire his gang members to work for you? Not here, I hope. I don’t want any troublein that form.”
“I only hire those who have quit and are looking to have a real life. Mostly the guys with families, a wife, kids, you know. My stipulations are strict. Jian knows that and he makes sure the guys he sends me know it too.”
“People can actually quit a gang?” Hadn’t she heard it was difficult to do that?
“Jian’s not a bad guy. He honestly wants to help his people, but he also knows that sometimes to keep them safe you have to bend a few rules and get alittle dirty.”
“And why did you say I was your lady? I’m not. If you think because we slept togetherthat one time—”
“It was to keep you safe.” His hands wrapped around her face as he stared into her eyes. “The word will be out within minutes that you are not to be touched by any of their gang members and they will keep you safe at all costs. From other gangs if need be.”
“Why?”
“It’s their code. I saved one of their members. Now they owe me allegiance and safety.”
“I mean, why do I need to be kept safe? I haven’t had any problems with gangs.”
“Maybe not, but it makes me feel better. And Jian said he’d keep an eye out around here too.”
The hands on her face felt good, but she shouldn’t enjoy them. It wasn’t how their partnership worked. For some reason she didn’t tellhim to let go.
“If you were friends with this gang for so long, why didn’t you ever ask them to kill Victor Cabrini? It would have solved all of Jack and Callie’s problems.”
