The baby’s cries hit a higher pitch.Jade flinched this time.It didn’t escape him.He kept going anyway.
“You’re tied to him,” Wolf said.“His problem becomes your problem until it’s resolved.”
“That’s not fair.”The words came out before she could stop them.Wolf’s mouth curved slightly, not quite a smile.
“Fair?”he repeated.“This isn’t about fair.”
Jade’s breath came faster now.He could see it, the way her chest rose and fell, the way her control was starting to fray at the edges.Behind her, the baby cried harder.Jade turned her head halfway this time, torn.
Wolf spoke before she could.“There’s another option.”
That got her attention.Her gaze snapped back to him, wary now.
“What?”Jade demanded.
Wolf let the silence stretch for just a second, then simply told her.“You work it off.”
Jade blinked.“What?”
“At the clubhouse,” he said.“We need staff.Waitressing, mostly.It pays better than whatever you’re making now.”
Her expression shifted from confusion to disbelief.Then to something sharper.
“No.”The word came out instantly.“I’m not doing that.”
Wolf didn’t react.“Think about it,” he said.“It’s honest work.”
“I don’t need to,” she shot back.“I’ve seen the girls there.”
Her voice dropped, edged with something between disgust and fear.“I’m not one of them.I’m not going to be one of them.”
Wolf stilled.Something cold flickered through him at that.
“You think that’s what I’m offering?”he asked.
Jade’s jaw tightened.
“I think I know what goes on in your clubhouse,” she said.“I’m not stupid.”
“No,” Wolf said quietly.“I didn’t say you were, but you’re wrong.”
Jade didn’t look convinced.Why would she?
“We’re not talking about that,” Wolf continued.“We’re talking about a job.”
Her laugh came again, sharper this time.“A job.”
“Yes.”
“Right,” Jade said with a roll of her eyes.
She shook her head, already pulling back, already trying to close the door again.
“I’m not working for a biker gang,” she said.“Find someone else.”
Wolf stopped the door again before it could move more than an inch.
Jade’s eyes flashed.“I said no.”
