Hawk, with both palms planted on the bar, leaned towards Zak. “You comin’ to work for me?”

Zak studied the tall, massively muscular man before him. He reminded himself to never be on the man’s bad side. Or Hawk’s brother’s bad side, either, since Diesel was just as big, though much badder. They were built similarly like their father Ace, but they both outweighed their old man and all that weight was solid don’t-fuck-with-me badassery.

At six feet, Zak was no small man, and he’d had plenty time in prison to work on his body, building up muscle he never had before. But no matter how often or how much weight he pumped, he would never be Hawk or Diesel big. That shit was in their genes.

Grizz grumbled on the stool next to him, nursing a beer. “Man don’t wanna work in a fuckin’ bar. He can’t work behind the bar, ‘cause you need women who look good back there to attract customers. Like Bella does. An’ he ain’t gonna be no damn line cook in the kitchen. Or a dishwasher.”

“Did plenty of that stuff in prison. Not lookin’ to continue that career path,” Zak muttered.

“Right,” Grizz continued. “Plus, Mama helps cook for the parties anyhow. With the line cooks you already got, Hawk, you’re set in the kitchen.”

Mama Bear’s gray-haired head popped out of the swinging doors from the shared commercial kitchen that separated the club’s private bar and The Iron Horse. “You need me, old man?” she asked her husband.

His wrinkled face frowned, deepening those crevices, and he swatted a hand in the direction of his wife. “No. Did I call you, woman? Get back in the kitchen.”

Zak bit back his smile. Grizzly was one of the first patched members of the club after its inception. He and Mama Bear were like grandparents to Zak. Hell, like grandparents to everyone. The older man hardly rode his Harley anymore due to his arthritis, his bursitis, and every other “itis” he had. Even so, he was still an entrenched member of the club and would be until the day he died. Then they’d fill his Harley’s gas tank with his ashes so they could display them on the mantel behind the bar, right next to Bear’s.

“Crotchety old fuck,” Mama griped loud enough to make sure they all heard her and ducked back into the kitchen. She was busy cooking and directing the line cooks to make the food for tonight’s party.

No matter how much they grumbled and bitched at each other, everyone knew the couple loved each other to death. No one questioned that. Seemed like they’d been married since the beginning of time. And Zak knew that when one finally succumbed to the motorcycle club in the sky, the other would shortly follow. They were never far apart in life, he doubted they would be in death.

That was true love. True companionship. True loyalty.

Something he envied and hoped to find for himself one day.

Throughout the club’s history, some of the brothers cheated on their ol’ ladies. If another brother caught them, they kept it to themselves. Didn’t mean they approved, but the brotherhood was strong enough not to rat each other out. Eventually, most of them got caught and life became a living hell for them. Rule was, don’t piss in your ol’ lady’s Cheerios unless you wanted to turn into a dead man walking. Life became so miserable until she either left your cheating ass or she forgave you. The first was quicker than the second.

“All right, brother,” Hawk continued. “Then what’re you goin’ to do?”

A sweet bakery with a woman that tasted honey sweet popped into his mind. But he wasn’t going to share that with his brothers just yet. A bakery might not be a typical club business, but it was a solid business nonetheless.

“I might have something in mind that I’m keeping on the DL.”

Hawk cocked a brow. “You got somethin’ on the down low? You talkin’ a new venture?”

“Yeah, maybe. If it don’t pan out, then I’ll find something. Run a wrecker for Rig. Or help D out with the security biz. Speaking of, need to talk to him about cameras, lighting, and a security system.”

“For?”

Zak cocked a brow his direction.

“Never mind. Gotcha, brother. It’s on the DL.” Hawk’s eyes lifted and he frowned over Zak’s shoulder. “Ah, shit. Here comes trouble.”

Zak turned to follow Hawk’s gaze at the same time a few groans and soft whistles rose up from some of the hang-arounds and prospects who were playing pool and getting an early start on their partying.

Zak blinked to clear his vision, then his eyes narrowed as he watched the gorgeous woman—clearly no longer a girl—sashay her way across the clubhouse. No question on a direct path to where he and Hawk were.

Holy fuck.

Next to him, Grizz grumbled, “Goddamn it,” and slammed his pint glass down on the wooden bar top.

She tossed her long dark brown hair as if she knew she was being watched—because she certainly was—but ignored everyone else, only having eyes for Zak as she approached. Her baby blues flashed, and a smile crossed her face.

Jayde was a woman on a mission. A determined woman could be a dangerous one.

Though, when she got to him, he couldn’t miss the shine of tears in her eyes. His nostrils flared as he fought his own. He cleared his throat, then echoed Grizz. “Goddamn it.”

When she was within arm’s reach, he wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and hauled her close, shoving his nose into her hair and inhaling her scent. Jayde’s arms circled his waist and squeezed him tight. Her body hiccupped against him.

He released her, shoved her back slightly, then cupped her cheeks, staring down into her tear-streaked face. He wiped at her cheeks with his thumbs, whispered, “Fuckin’ Jayde,” then placed a kiss on her forehead.

Her lips trembled, but the first thing tumbling out of her mouth was, “Dad and Axel don’t know I’m here.”

Zak shook his head. “Can’t imagine they do.”

“I’m supposed to stay away from the club.”

Yeah, their father and brother didn’t want his little sister anywhere near the club, involved in its business or its brothers. Or anywhere near him.

Bad influence.

“Mom know?”

Jayde blinked clear a few more tears as she said, “Yeah. She misses you, Z.”

Zak flattened his lips and steeled himself. He missed his mother, too. Both Jayde and his mother. But his mother wasn’t going to go against the word of his father. She couldn’t do that and keep peace in their family, or their marriage.

Zak understood. He didn’t like it. It pained him. But he understood.

“You shouldn’t be here, girly,” Grizz barked. Pushing himself off the stool, looking grumpy as all fuck, he came over to push Zak out of the way so he could envelope Jayde in his arms and kiss her on the top of her head.

“Hey, Grizz.” Her voice was muffled in his barrel-like chest.

“Hey, yourself. You been good?” He held her an arm’s length away to take a long look at her. “You look good. All grown up.” He glanced toward Hawk. “See? This is what you need behind the bar, not an ugly puss like Zak.”

“Right,” Hawk scoffed. “Just what I need, two fucking pissed-off cops huntin’ me down. Then havin’ the PD targetin’ the bar. Just what we all need.”

“My sister will never work behind the bar,” Zak assured Hawk. “Even if she was part of the club.”

“You got that right,” Hawk grumbled. “Wanna pop?” he asked her.

Jayde smiled at him, “You know I’m more than old enough to drink now, Hawk.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, I’m twenty-four, now. Not a little girl.”

“You’ll always be a little girl to us,” Grizz grumbled. His eyes slid to the right and Zak followed the old man’s gaze to Squirrel. The younger prospect had his eyes locked on Jayde and was heading their direction.

“Go sit your ass down somewhere else, Squirrel,” Grizz shouted his warning. “Don’t embarrass yourself by havin’ this old man kick your ass in front of everyone. None of you wet-behind-the-ears assholes better come anywhere near this girl.”

Squirrel slid to a stop with his eyes wide at Grizz’s words before spinning on his heel, then heading back the direction he came.

“Smart move, squirrel dick,” Hawk yelled out.

Laughter rose from the group of younger guys hanging around one of the pool tables and when Squirrel rejoined them, they took turns shoving him in jest.

“Those shitters better be sparkling clean for the party tonight. Y’all hear me?” Hawk warned them.

“They’re good, Hawk,” one voice reassured him.

“Better be. Or else you’ll all be outside lookin’ in with your dicks in your hands.”

The voices in the room dropped to a low murmur, and the group went back to playing pool to stay off Hawk’s radar.

Zak didn’t miss Jayde’s gaze lingering on Abe, one of the newer prospects. Zak didn’t know much about him, since today was the first time he met the younger guy, but from what he saw, he seemed decent, put together. But that didn’t matter.

“Don’t even think about it,” Zak said.

Jayde turned to face him, color in her cheeks. “What? I would be skinned alive. You know that.”

“Yeah, I do. So, when you’re in this club, put your blinders on. You hear?”

“You having a party tonight?”

“Yeah, and you won’t be here.”

Grizz and Hawk both nodded in agreement.

Jayde looked up at him and said, “You don’t have to be here, either. You can walk away. Come home.”

Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Hawk straighten and stiffen, while Grizz shook his head and sat back on his bar stool to stare down at his beer, wearing a frown.

Zak wrapped his fingers around Jayde’s bicep, pulled her around the bar and into the meeting room next to it, shutting the door behind him.

“Repeat what you just said,” Zak growled. He loved his sister. Hell, he missed his sister. Hadn’t seen her since she was fourteen and was just a gangly teen. But she knew how important this club was to him. So, it surprised him when she said what she did.

Jayde spread her booted feet, crossed her arms over her chest, and looked him directly in the eye. “I said you can walk away. Come home.”

Yeah, she was a fucking Jamison all right. Stubborn, proud, and not afraid of shit. And this club was just as much in her blood as it was his. Only their parents wanted her to have a blood transfusion and rid her of any desire to be a part of the life.

He leaned back against the heavy wood meeting table that practically filled the room. He crossed his arms and ankles, and studied the girl-turned-woman before him.

He couldn’t say he disagreed with them. His sister was a college graduate. She was smart. She could make something of herself and go far in life. Hell, leave Shadow Valley in her rearview mirror. She didn’t need to get bogged down with bikers and the club life. Though, certain women were respected and revered, they didn’t hold any power in this game. She deserved better than that.

He dragged a hand through his too-long hair. “Can’t. You know that. They’re family.”

It wasn’t that he couldn’t. He wouldn’t.

“No, Zak. We’re family. And I need my big brother.”

It pained Zak to swallow down the lump in his throat.

While he was down, she went for the jugular. “You want to end up back behind bars?”

His heart skipped a beat. “Not gonna happen.”

“It might. This club may be your downfall. You know the motto... Down and dirty ‘til dead.”

Was she mocking their motto?

“No, things are different. Gonna do my best to make it better.”

“It’s a fucking motorcycle club, Z. Full of badass bikers, not that I need to tell you that. No matter how much you clean up this club, it’s going to have a stink. That’s why Dad didn’t want a part of it. Nor did Axel.”

Zak studied his sister, wiser than her years. “You shouldn’t be here,” he finally said.

“I’m not here,” she stated with a poker face.

“Let’s keep it that way. Go home, Jayde.” If word got back to Mitch or Axel that Jayde had been here, it could bring a world of shit down on them. They didn’t need it.

He didn’t need it.

“Mom wants to see you.”

Zak’s eyebrows shot up his forehead and he shifted his feet. “Yeah?”

“Yeah, but in secret.”

His excitement quickly turned to disappointment. “Right.” He pushed off the table to his feet, then headed toward the door.

“She wants me to set something up.”

Zak hesitated. “When?”

Jayde came up next to him and shrugged before yanking open the door. “Give me your cell and I’ll make sure she gets it.”

“Give me your phone.” When she did, Zak plugged his number into her contacts. “Make sure Dad doesn’t go through your phone.”

“Oh hell no. You forget I’m twenty-four not fourteen. I keep it locked at all times unless it’s in my hand.”

Zak eyeballed his sister. He wasn’t sure if her hiding stuff from their father was good or bad. Made him worry a bit that she may be doing things she shouldn’t be.

She walked out of the meeting room and he trailed behind her to make sure she left and left without any of the horny younger guys bothering her.

“Sure I can’t come to the party tonight?” she tossed over her shoulder.

“Fuck no. And don’t even try to sneak in.”

When she said, “Okay,” too quickly, Zak’s eyes narrowed.

“That flip answer just got me puttin’ the word out to keep an eye peeled for you. Anyone spots you they’ll come to me. Don’t let that happen.”

“Whatever.”

Zak gritted his teeth as he pushed the back door open and guided her out. “I’m serious, Jayde.”

“I hear you,” she answered, a smile pulling at her lips.

“Fuck,” he muttered then scanned the parking lot. “Which one‘s yours?”

Jayde shot a hand toward a newer yellow Chevy Camaro SS. It was a beautiful piece of machinery, even if it wasn’t a bike, and he wondered how she could afford it.

“How’d you get that?”

“Dad.”

Well, there it was. She couldn’t. “Really?”

“Yeah. Graduation present.”

Zak shook his head. “Damn.”

“Sweet, right?”

It sure fucking was. He glanced at the old junker Crash lent him. It wasn’t parked far from her car. He couldn’t pick Sophie up in that piece of shit. She already didn’t think he was good enough for her.

And he probably wasn’t.

Fucking damn.

He needed to do something about his ride. At least until the weather was a little warmer and he could get his bike out of storage and back in tip-top condition. Then her ass will be on the back with that thick hair of hers blowing in the wind.

“Jealous?” his sister asked with a smile.

“Hell yes.” No point in lying.

“Come home. Maybe Dad will buy you a car.”

He snorted. “Jayde. I’m not comin’ home. I’m fuckin’ thirty-two years old.”

“Yeah, well, sucks to be you then.”

Zak laughed and shook his head. “Now, get gone.” He leaned over and planted a kiss on her cheek, then gave her a gentle shove towards her sweet ride. “Love ya, Jayde.”

“Love you, too, Z.”

“Don’t wanna see your ass here again,” he called as she swung open her car door.

“Okay,” she called back as she ducked into the driver’s seat.

That “okay” also worried him.

He waited until she drove out of the lot before heading back inside. He stopped inside the door, stuck two fingers in his mouth and whistled loudly. All heads turned his way. “No one touches that. Hear me? No. One. You see her ‘round this club, you find me immediately. Got me?”

A few “Got you’s” answered him. His eyes found Abe and the other man gave him a chin lift. Zak frowned.

Fuck.