Prologue
LOCKE
One Week Earlier
“Babe, you’re playing a dangerous game.” Fuck, we both are. She’s my best friend’s little sister, ten years younger than me, and Jace would castrate me if he knew the thoughts I have running through my head.
“What’s life without a little risk?” I take my eyes off the parking lot at Barlow Auto Repair for the slightest of moments to look at Jade. There’s a playful look on her face.
“I tend to like my family jewels exactly where they belong.” Between my legs, not sucked up into my stomach after her brother rightfully kicks me square in the nuts.
“That would be a problem, especially since I’m particularly fond of them.” Jade and I, well, this is new, though notnew-new. Still, it’s long enough to know she’s it for me. I’m gone for her, and she’s damn sure gone for me. Nobody knows, and considering the pact I made with Jade, it’ll be a while before they do.
“Fuck.” I bite down on my lower lip, giving her the same look she likes a little too much, even when we’re somewhere I can’t make good on it—a damn issue considering what went down not even twenty minutes ago.
The minute Jade called me, everything stopped. She’d sounded upset, and I didn’t know what the hell was happening.
Did Jace figure shit out?
Did some dickhead touch her at the bar she works at?
I didn’t fucking know, and as much as I wanted her to spew it out as fast as she could, I didn’t push for answers. I grabbed my keys, dropped the invoice I’d been working on for Locke & Key Towing, and started making my way outside. As I was trying to figure out which vehicle to take, she finally got to the part of being broken down on the side of the road.
Fifteen minutes later, I’d reached her, on a deserted back road, clearly on her way home from working at the bar, judging by the black top, jean skirt, and canvas sneakers on her feet. I pulled in front of her car and prepared to hook her up in case I couldn’t figure out the problem.
She greeted me with a hesitant smile, told me she couldn’t get her car to shift into second gear without slamming down on the pedal and was pretty sure the transmission is shot to shit. Instead of commenting, I wrapped her up in my arms, kissed the crown of her head, and told her she could take one of the spares I keep at the yard until she got a new set of wheels sorted out.
That led to her kissing me, me lifting her by the back of her legs, and us going at each other like we weren’t wrapped up in one another last night.
“Yes, please.” I shake my head, she lets out a giggle, and I get back to what I was doing, offloading her car at Barlow’s.
“Sit tight. Once I have it offloaded, I’ll walk in with you to see what Colt has to say.” She’s known Colt for years. Hell, everyone has. She can also take care of this without me running interference. Except she doesn’t have to, and I don’t want her to feel like she’s ever alone.
I hop out of the driver’s side, leaving the door open, knowing I’ll be back in it after I make sure my rig is lined up with the parking spot.
“You’re playing with fire, sugar,” I say as Jade slides down the driver’s side of my tow truck behind me. If it weren’t for me standing there, she’d show the world exactly how soft, firm, and bare she is beneath her jean skirt. I’d know because in my pocket is the pair of her panties I managed to snag from the ground before she could locate them. I’ll keep them at my place for safekeeping, and when neither of us can sneak the other in, they’ll be wrapped around my length as I take care of business.
“Who, me?” I can hear the sound of a motorcycle off in the distance, which can only mean one thing: Jace is on his way. How he knows where Jade is, is anyone’s guess, and I can tell you one thing: I’m not looking forward to starting a fight out here in public.
“Jade, you’re the fuel to the fire, and I’m the wood soaking it the hell up.” She tosses her head back, laughing freely, and only stops when she hears the same distinct sound I do.
“I’m going to snap his phone in two. I gave him access to my location for emergencies only. This isn’t one of those times.” Technically, it kind of is, if she’s broken down without a vehicle, but I’m not touching that subject with a ten-foot pole.
“You’d better grab your things from the front seat.” Instead of going around the tow truck, she climbs back inside, bending over, and I have to crowd her in again. I swear to Christ, she’s trying to kill me, showing way more than I’d like the world to see.
She’s mine.
“Be right back. I’ve got to talk to brother dear. Will you let Colt know I’ll be inside in a moment?” She’s back on her feet and facing me, then reaches up to peck a kiss on my cheek.
“Will do. You sure you don’t want help with Jace?” I offer, even though I already know what the answer will be.
“Not a chance. Thank you, though, and thanks for picking me up.” Her emerald eyes sparkle with mischief. She’s gonna get it later tonight.
“Get outta here.” I pat her ass as she walks away. Jace pulls in at the same time, and instead of moving to her car to offload it, I head inside to talk to Colt and Kara.
I put one booted foot in front of the other. Jade can handle her brother; she has all her life. Even with the ten-year age difference, she’s always been able to hold her own and, in rare occurrences, outmaneuver him.
“I didn’t see anything, I didn’t hear anything, and I don’t know anything,” Colt says by way of greeting.
