Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 24154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 24154 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 121(@200wpm)___ 97(@250wpm)___ 81(@300wpm)
“I’m fine, Bradley, I promise.”
I hugged the older man, and then he walked me to my office.
When I left work, I didn’t want to go straight home to an empty house.
I saw the two bikers waiting in the parking lot of the prison. I noticed the club name on their jackets, and I recognized it as the same one that Jack is a member of.
I was in the bookstore for over an hour, and now as I stand outside on the sidewalk, I see the same two guys parked just down the block.
I sit on a bench because it’s obvious these guys are following me, and I’m not sure I want them to follow me home. As I sit here and think, I can’t stop my thoughts from going to Jack.
Maybe he was right; maybe I’m not as safe at the prison as I thought I was, but I’m not going to quit. Nope, I’m going to stay because I know I can make a difference there. But I am going to make sure I make some changes so that I’m protected.
I pull my phone from my purse just as I hear another motorcycle come down the road. I don’t even have to see him to know it’s Jack. It’s like my body is on high alert; my nipples pebble and my breath hitches.
I sit up straighter and watch as he passes by me and parks his bike next to his friends. They talk for a second, and one of the men I don’t know points right at me. Jack looks at me, and I swear I can feel his gaze sweep down my body.
I’m holding my breath as he fist bumps the other two and then walks down the sidewalk toward me.
The other two start up their bikes and drive away as Jack comes to stand in front of me. “How you doing, honey?”
His voice is gruff, and he seems anxious as he waits for my response. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him about the guy at the prison, but I don’t say a word. Instead of answering him, I ask my own question. “Are your friends following me?”
He points at the empty seat next to me. “Can I sit down?”
I nod, and he sits next to me. He doesn’t sit close, and I’m not sure how I feel about that. I don’t want there to be distance between us, but I also don’t trust myself with him either.
He sits down and turns to the side so he’s facing me. I feel my body heat under his scrutiny, and I stutter out the words, “Are you going to answer me?”
He blows out a breath. “Yes, sorry about that. I was late getting off work.”
None of this makes sense. What does he mean, he was late getting off work? But before I can ask him, he starts talking. “I found out how I got out early.”
I perk up at that. There have been a few rumors going around the prison, but I’ve made a point to ignore all of it. “How?”
He seems surprised as he shakes his head. “You’re not going to believe this. Before I went in, I started a tattoo on someone, and I didn’t get it finished…”
My mouth drops open, and he nods his head. “Yeah, he wanted me out to get it finished. I’m the only one that has done his tattoos, and he refused to go to someone else.” Jack shrugs his shoulders. “Plus, he believes I didn’t deserve to be in there—”
I nod my head in agreement. “I agree.”
That seems to stun him. “You do?”
Working as a counselor at the prison, I come across all types of men. Some of them say they were innocent, some actually were innocent, and some are proud and show no remorse for what they did. Jack was never sorry for what he did, and most likely if in the same position, he would do it again. But to a lot of people, he was justified in his actions. “Yeah, Jack. You saved that kid’s life. Who knows what that man would have done to her?”
He scrunches up his nose like he doesn’t want to think about it. I hold my hands in my lap. “So talk to me. Why are your friends following me?”
He avoids my question again. “Did they scare you?”
I shake my head. “No, not when I knew they were from your club.”
He blows out a breath. “Good, good. They won’t bother you.”
I blurt out a laugh. “But why? Why are they following me, Jack?”
He searches my eyes. “Because I was late getting off work.”
I throw my hands up. “Are we going to talk in code all night or what? Why are you having them follow me?”
He runs his hand through his hair. “Because I need to know you’re okay, and I couldn’t be here, so I asked them to stay with you until I could get here.”