Jett walked out of the clubhouse following Sydney. He ignored the glances she sent his way and lifted his chin at Shore, manning the gate. If Sydney wanted to leave, he'd show her exactly what would happen.

Shore pushed the gate open. He turned to Sydney. At her hesitation, he motioned for her to leave with a lift of his chin.

She hitched the straps of her bag higher up her shoulder and walked off Brikken property. He clenched his fists and put his hands in his vest pockets to hide his temper. Any woman he allowed to get involved with him would never walk away.

Except, she wasn't a woman. She was a child and needed to understand the decisions she made would have long-term effects.

Chief walked up and stood beside him. Jett ground his teeth together. He wasn't in the mood for advice or guidance.

"She doesn't want to go," said his father.

He didn't need Chief to tell him what he already knew. "I'm not letting her leave."

"Looks that way." Chief ran his hand down his beard. "I never allowed Johanna to pull away from me."

He stretched his lips over his teeth. "You also weren't there the nights she cried herself to sleep because you stayed away too long. Olin, Thorn, and I took turns entertaining her to distract her from you breaking her heart."

Only once had he gone toe to toe with his father. Johanna had been in high school and was spending more time in the clubhouse to be close with Chief. While with his dad, she'd been happy. But, when she was forced away, he'd been the shoulder she cried on when she had to stay at his mom's house. He'd seen the mind games Chief played with her, keeping her close, keeping her obsessed, and he'd disagreed with Chief waiting until Johanna was older to make their relationship permanent.

Confronting Chief had gotten no further than words exchanged. His father had done what he wanted in the end. Just like he would do when he had to deal with Sydney.

"Learn from my mistakes, son," said Chief quietly. "From Rollo's mistakes. Don't let the girl believe you've let her go. Females are different than us. Sydney will remember this day for the rest of her life, even if you're right beside her."

Jett refused to join in the conversation. He'd remembered the devastation that followed Rollo's murder.

Just because his father had become involved with a child and planned every step of his life while waiting for Johanna to grow up didn't mean Jett wanted to repeat the pattern. He'd be the first to admit that what Chief and Johanna had together went past understanding. It was a connection based on need, despite the age difference. They'd both recognized something in each other from the moment they met, and that was it for them. Nobody else existed.

Sydney was younger than him, and that's where the similarities with his father and Johanna's relationship ended. She'd been dropped on him without any thought. He could've walked away that night at the travel trailer. He hadn't needed to protect her and kill Victor Clark or get his MC brothers' money back.

He had no desire or inclination to wait until Sydney grew up and hope she turned into the perfect woman for him. Stripped of her makeup, her defense, he'd recognized her hitting her limit. A limit he'd never force her to exceed because there would be no way back.

There was a difference between teaching her and scarring her.

"She walks away with a club secret that holds your freedom." Chief stepped forward, stopped, and turned back to his son. "Don't sacrifice yourself for another."

He moved to the opening of the gate and looked down the road. Sydney, in typical rebel mode, walked down the center of the asphalt.

Taking his cell out of his pocket, he called his brother.

Thorn picked up on the third ring. "Yeah?"

"I need you," said Jett.

"Where are you?"

"I'm at the gate." He disconnected the call.

Keeping his gaze on Sydney, he went over his options. She wouldn't set foot close to town for at least forty-five minutes, but he didn't want her out of his sight. The way she threw away her safety in favor of doing what she wanted, when she wanted, made it necessary to hire a damn babysitter to follow her around.

Sydney veered off the dotted line running down the center of the road. He squinted, studying her, and caught her looking over her shoulder.

His father was right. Sydney wanted to stay at Brikken.

He'd dealt with smarter men who'd come after the club. Survived eighteen months in a state penitentiary. Participated and dealt out Brikken punishments and helped secure one of the biggest illegal chop chains.

Yet, he couldn't figure out what burden Sydney carried that she'd willingly go up against Brikken and throw away her life for a chance to walk away from him. From the club.

At sixteen years old.

Being a female.

Half child/half woman.

Danger lurked around every corner.

Shore greeted Thorn. Jett glanced at his brother's approach and directed all his attention to the lone figure walking away.

"What's up?" asked Thorn, stopping beside him.

"Sydney." He lifted his chin, directing his brother to look down the road.

"She's leaving?"

"She thinks so." He inhaled deeply. "I need you and D-Con to go after her and bring her back."

Thorn chuckled quietly. "You can't control her?"

If he controlled her, he'd lose control. He stared at the spot in the road getting smaller and smaller. If nothing else, he knew his limitations.

Cross that boundary, and he lost sight of what was in front of him. Since prison, his brain went into survival mode when he let his anger or fear escalate, and he'd take anyone down that tried to stop him.

Sydney brought something out in him that tempted him to step over the line. He knew it, and he owned it.

"I want her back." He looked at his younger brother. "Unharmed."

"Don't worry. I don't have a thing for children." Thorn took out his phone. "Unlike you and Chief. The genes stopped after inheriting our father's good looks."

"Fuck you," he muttered, being ignored as Thorn put in the call to D-Con.

He enjoyed women. When he wanted to have sex, he never searched out the twenty-something-year-olds to fulfill some kink. He took whoever was free and willing, whatever their age. Hell, he'd had women older, younger, and two at a time.

He never planned to need Sydney.

"We're taking off." Thorn slapped Jett's back and motioned to the road. "She's about three minutes from the corner. We'll catch her."

"Don't hurt her." He turned away from the road. "Bring her up to my room, and whatever you fucking do, don't believe a word she says or fall for her tears."

Thorn's mouth hardened. "She's going to cry?"

His throat tightened. He'd witnessed her falling apart. It hadn't been an act.

"Make sure she doesn't." He walked away before he went after Sydney himself.

Chief often ordered him to take care of problems with betrayers. Regardless if they were women or men, he had ways of dealing out punishments.

Yet, he found himself at a loss handling Sydney, and that was a weakness he couldn't afford.