Blood & Bones - Dodge (Blood Fury MC 10)

Air hissed out of her. “What was the rest?”

“You’re bein’ difficult again ‘cause you know the fuckin’ reasons. Shouldn’t have to spell it out for you.”

“Because you want to fuck me again.”

He wasn’t going to deny that. “And what’s the other?”

“You really want us to play at Pete’s again?” That question came out more softly. “I figured that was just an excuse.”

“Yeah, Syn, I do. I think it would be good for The Synners and also for the bar.”

When she blew out a breath, it filled his ear, taking him back for a second to last Friday night and early Saturday morning.

His dick twitched as he remembered how hot and tight and how into it she’d been. He wished she was back in his bed right now. His fist was a poor substitution. Once he got off the phone with her, he might have to dig his jelly sleeve back out.

He cleared his throat. “Want you to come back.” It wasn’t a suggestion but it wasn’t quite a demand. Not yet, anyway.

“What did my brother say?”

Fuck, he said a lot of shit. “He was pissed I didn’t get your number.”

“He wants to reconnect?”

He could hear the hope clinging to her words. “Yeah, Syn, he wants to reconnect. Said he lost track of you one of the times he went inside and his phone got lost. He didn’t have your number memorized.”

A weird but muffled sound came through the phone.

“I’m sure he kicked his own ass a few times for losin’ your number. More importantly, for losin’ track of you. He said he went back to your family’s house to find you but you were gone.”

“I told you we moved. We moved…” Her voice had become strained and thick.

Dodge squeezed both his eyes shut and the phone tighter within his fingers when he heard it.

A muffled hiccup-sob.

For fuck’s sake, was she going to lose it?

“You should be happy, not cryin’, baby,” he said more softly, hoping she’d pull herself together. “This is a good thing, I thought. Yeah?”

She cleared her throat and he heard a sniffle. “I don’t know what I’m feeling. I… I’m sort of relieved but I’m…”

He waited. When she hesitated too long, he prodded, “You’re?”

“Scared.”

Scared? His brow dropped low. “Why the fuck would you be scared?”

“Because I…” After another frustrating hesitation, all the words began to tumble out. “I need his help and I’m afraid he won’t help me. Or that he won’t be able to help me.”

Dodge sat straight up in bed. “What the fuck do you need help with?” And why didn’t she ask him when she was in his fucking bed? When she didn’t answer, he shouted, “Help for what, Syn?”

“It’s… It’s a family matter.”

Dodge raked his fingers through his messy hair. “You don’t trust me,” he said flatly.

“It’s not that. I… don’t know you well enough to burden you with this shit.”

“You don’t know him, either, Syn,” he reminded her. “You said he dropped you off with what I assume were strangers as a baby and you only talked on the phone and saw each other a few times when you were younger.”

“I know…”

“That doesn’t mean you’re close. Would you even recognize him if you saw him?”

“I don’t know.”

“Would he recognize you?”

“I don’t know.”

“If you needed help you could’ve come to me.”

“Why?”

Dodge closed his eyes and slowly drew air in through his nose. That was a valid question. Why?

Why the fuck would he put himself out for a woman he hardly knew?

Why would she even think he’d help her. She was right, she didn’t know him. Spending what amounted to a few hours together didn’t make someone an ally. Someone she could go to for help.

She had three men living in that tin can with her. Why didn’t she get them to help her with whatever problem she had?

Or had she and they hadn’t been able to do shit?

If not, what the fuck was this “problem.” Was it so big that Sig wouldn’t be able to do shit, either?

“Tell me what this problem is.”

“I… can’t.” Her broken whisper made his heart thump in his throat.

“Why?” When she didn’t answer, he said, “You could. You just don’t wanna.” He did not hide his disappointment in his tone. “Why, Syn?” he demanded more firmly.

“Because I can’t,” she screamed into the phone, making him pull his away from his ear slightly.

“But you’ll tell Sig.”

“Yes.”

“A man you know about as much as you do me.”

“He’s my brother. We’re family.”

“Just ‘cause someone is blood doesn’t mean they’ll feel obligated to help. Look at your mother. Look at mine. Blood don’t mean shit, Syn. You know that.”

“I have to go.”

“Syn…”

“We’ll head north right after our gig. We need the money to fill up the tank and for food.”

“I can send you money.”

“You don’t have to do that.”

“You’re right. I don’t. But I want to.”