Jesus, Cassie’s news had completely scrambled her brain. How could she have forgotten about her friends?
“So, Zach caught up with them?”
Screw’s face clouded. “You didn’t hear?”
Her heart started to pound out a nervous rhythm. “Hear what? No, I haven’t heard anything since Tex talked to Zach. He’s out in the parking lot.”
“Shit.” Screw ran a hand down his face. “It was a trap. A set-up by Crank.”
Sagging against the wall, Jazz gasped. “No. Please tell me they’re okay.”
“They will be. Z called in for help.”
Shit! And here she was taking Screw’s time and thinking about how much she wanted to lick his neck. “Oh, my God, am I holding you up? Go! Go!”
If he wasn’t going to rush off, he needed to move back. The feel of his rock-hard body pressed against hers had quickly reached the point of too good. Bad-decisions good.
“I was actually heading out to the diner to pick you up and bring you either here or to the clubhouse.”
“What? Why? Shouldn’t you be helping Zach? Isn’t that what you do?”
Screw shrugged. “He’s covered. Cop wants eyes on all the ol’ ladies so I took over for Tex. That boy is in some hot water.”
“But I’m, not—”
With a roll of his eyes, Screw chuckled. “Fine. Cop wants eyes on all family. That better?”
No, but it killed her argument. She saw the Handlers’ men and women as family, so it shouldn’t be surprising they felt the same.
“Is this going to get ugly?” She tried to sidestep, but he placed his palms on the wall next to her shoulders.
Boxed in.
But instead of the cocky grin and swinging-dick attitude Screw usually portrayed, he stared at her with an expression so serious, Jazz’s blood ran cold. “Yes. I think it’s gonna get pretty fucking ugly around here pretty fucking fast. In fact, I’d say it’s already ugly.”
Jazz swallowed as she nodded. He was right. Today crossed a line the club couldn’t come back from. Now they had to retaliate. Had to show they were a force to be reckoned with. Had to let the Chrome Disciples know they couldn’t fuck around in Townsend.
“You worried?”
“About Shell and Toni? Yes, very.” About herself? Maybe a little. She came to Townsend for a fresh start, never anticipating she’d hook up with an MC. She’d worked as the receptionist in a garage where she came from. The place was owned and operated by the members of an MC. The No Prisoners had been much like the Handlers. Maybe that’s why she’d gravitated toward the club here, the familiarity. The feeling of belonging. Of being home. That being said, she knew what could happen when clubs went to war.
Ugly wasn’t a strong enough word.
Screw leaned in again. “We’ll keep you safe, Jazzy. I’ll keep you safe.”
She watched his face for the telltale signs this was another come on. Just one more invitation to his bed for a night of screwing Screw. But once again, only sincerity registered on his face. “You smell good,” he whispered.
Not as good as you.
“Screw…” She tried for a warning tone but feared it came out needy instead.
“Yeah, baby?” He shifted so his lips were a breath away from hers.
“Don’t.”
His lips twitched as though he was fighting back a grin. “I have to.”
Before she had a chance to process his words, his large hands cupped the sides of her face, holding her exactly where he wanted her as he kissed her.
And holy shit, it was a kiss like no other. Sweet and gentle. So unlike what she’d have expected from the cocky biker who talked about sex like it was nothing more intimate than shaking hands. Her head swirled as he sampled her mouth with small flicks of his tongue and light pressure.
She went soft and gooey all over as though she could just melt into Screw. The longer his tongue teased hers, the more heat flared throughout her until she was the one who tried to deepen the kiss. But he didn’t let her, maintaining a grip on her face and keeping the kiss feather-light.
She’d never been kissed this way before, as though she was a treasure to be savored and worshiped. And it was exactly what she needed at that moment when the world as she knew it was spiraling out of control…again.
Exactly what she needed…
The thought hit her like a bucket of ice water, cooling her insane lust in an instant. She didn’t need any man. Couldn’t allow herself to. She shoved Screw away with both hands. He stumbled back, not expecting her violent outburst. “Get the fuck off me.”
How could she have been so stupid? Of course, he was giving her exactly what she needed. It was all part of the game. He was a master at getting people out of their clothes, and she knew it. After resisting for the better part of a year, she’d almost succumbed in a moment of weakness and mental anguish.