"You're good with kids."

The deep voice startled Sydney. She jerked her gaze to the side and found Chief standing next to her. Whipping her gaze forward again, she tried to ignore his looming presence.

"Sunday, Brikken is riding out. I'd like you to stay at the house with Johanna, help her with the kids," said Chief.

She picked at her thumbnail, shaking inside. Her plan to see Kylie depended on her staying at Jett's house when he went on a run. She only had two more days to wait, and Jett was beginning to trust her. He even allowed her to walk around his house by herself and down the driveway. She'd made sure to come back after a short while to prove he could trust her.

"Jett will bring you over before it's time to rally." Chief paused. "You'll be paid."

"I can't," she said.

"What?"

"I can't," she said louder. "I need to stay at Jett's."

"He's already told Johanna you would stay over and help."

Her spine weakened as she lost the independence she'd gained since moving in with Jett. "I wanted to stay and wait for Jett to come home," she said, half lying.

Her latest plan was to go see Kylie as soon as Jett rode away, spend a couple of hours with her during her normal visit time, and then come back to the house and wait for Jett. She wasn't running away.

She wanted to live with Jett. Since they'd moved to the house, he made her feel special as if it was her home, too. She liked his kisses and sleeping in the same bed. They were growing close, and she considered him a part of her life—except for when it came to Kylie.

Before being with Jett, she believed the only way she'd be happy was if she lived alone and controlled her own life.

Her opinion had changed. Jett...well, he controlled her life, and she liked how he took care of her. The only thing wrong with their relationship was her secret about Kylie.

"I really can't," she said, wishing she sounded more confident with Chief.

"Look at me, Sydney," said Chief, exactly like Jett talked to her.

Reluctantly, she turned toward Jett's father.

He lowered his brows and tilted his head. "I'm not asking. You'll be there Sunday and spend the night at the house."

She swallowed her need to lash out and cry. All hope to see Kylie died inside of her.

Chief walked away to join the men in the middle of the room. She slipped into the hallway and leaned against the wall, stifling the sobs beating her body.

She couldn't live without Kylie, and yet she wanted to stay with Jett. Whatever choice she made, she'd end up hurting one of them.

But, she'd made a promise to Kylie. They only had each other to depend on. She wouldn't let her sister down.

***

"JETT!"

He stopped halfway to the door of the clubhouse and turned. Johanna walked out from between the two buildings, holding her hand up for him to wait.

"Hey." She arrived out of breath, lugging the baby in her arms. "Do you have a few minutes to talk to me?"

"Yeah." He motioned her closer to the front of the building where the floodlight lit up the area. "What's up?"

She jiggled Stassi, swaying side to side. "Why do you want Sydney to stay with me while you guys are on the run?"

"Is there a problem with her staying?"

"No, she's more than welcome. Actually, she's a huge help to me." Johanna shrugged. "I'm just curious if you don't trust her or something. She's old enough to stay by herself, and despite Chief wanting to make my life easier, I'm fine by myself for twenty-four hours."

"I want her staying with you. She'll run if left alone. That way I can have the members who are staying here guard the gate and keep an eye out for her."

Sydney had done a complete turnaround compared to six weeks ago. Obedient, helpful, and while they hadn't had sex, Sydney looked for any opportunity to touch him.

"Jett..." Johanna frowned. "The girl is half in love with you. Do you not see that?"

"No."

Johanna's gaze softened. "She probably doesn't even know, but you stepped up and are taking care of her, and the life she was living was a far cry from perfect. At her age, that's huge. Gratitude can often be confused for affection."

"Are you saying because I took responsibility for her, she's going to love me like you did with Chief?"

Johanna laughed softly, cuddling the baby to her shoulder. "Nobody is like Chief and me. But, I do know what it feels like to be a sixteen-year-old girl attracted to an older man. A man who would do anything not to hurt me. There's not another feeling in the world to know that someone will take care of you when you haven't had that comfort before."

He exhaled a growl. He never wanted Sydney to feel obligated toward him. Hell, he thought she was older when they'd met, and now Johanna was making him feel like he needed to raise Sydney to adulthood without breaking her.

"You might think your situation is different, but you are a lot like your dad when it comes to taking care of people. That honor inside of you is strong and buried deep." She leaned forward. "I'm going to give you one more piece of advice."

"I don't need advice from you," he said.

He loved Johanna like a sister. While she'd moved into his mom's house when she was young, he'd moved into the clubhouse at the same time to make room for her. He'd witnessed the obsessive love his father had for her, and hers in return.

But, Johanna hadn't lived his life. He had five more years of living than her. He could handle Sydney on his own.

"Tough. I'm going to tell you anyway." She lifted her brows. "You know why it worked for Chief and me? He needed me. Maybe you should work on letting Sydney know that you need her, too. You'd give her some incentive to stay."

He glared, mulling the advice over.

"That's if you're interested," said Johanna softly.

He grunted.

Johanna rubbed his arm and walked toward the clubhouse. He rolled his head around on his shoulders, easing the tension.

A relationship with Sydney should be easy. She made it hard.

He already had a long list of people he was responsible for. It was his job to make sure those around him remained protected and secure.

He'd fight to live and take each day given to him because men depended on him, families needed support at home. Olin and Thorn needed settled with a family of their own — something neither one showed signs of doing. Olin with his fucked-up need to alienate himself at his house and taking risks as if he was untouchable since he'd danced with death. Thorn, more times than not, led other men into trouble.

He trusted no one because, in the end, he was alone.

Until Sydney. He wasn't alone with her.

His feelings had nothing to do with the age gape and taking care of her. Sydney wavered between independence and need. An adult need. Because of her young age, that personality clouded the relationship.

He stepped forward, planning to go into the clubhouse when D-Con limped through the door and gazed around.

D-Con spotted him and raised his chin. "I was looking for you."

"You and everyone else." He kept walking. "What's going on?"

"Sydney's in the kitchen. It looks like she's been bawling." D-Con held up his hands and backed away. "Before you ask, I had nothing to do with the tears. I thought you should know."

His chest seized. Sydney never cried, except when she had and that one time tore his heart in two.

He walked past D-Con into the clubhouse and headed toward the kitchen. All members of Brikken were held responsible for Sydney's safety while on the property. Regardless if he was around or not.

If one of them hurt her, he'd find the man responsible and take him down.

In the kitchen, he came to a slamming stop. Sydney stood at the sink with her back to him. Physically, she was good.

"Syd?"

She jerked around and set the water glass on the counter. He took her all in and returned his gaze to her wet, spiked eyelashes.

A heaviness settled on him. "Aw, Syd..."

She ran to him, lunging the last step, and wrapped her arms around his waist. He cupped the back of her head. Her heavy breathing filled the room though she'd already pulled herself together without him. Her weak moment over, only her strength remained. And, that strength held on to him tightly.

"Did someone do or say something?" he said, the question made harsher by his constricting throat muscles.

She shook her head against the front of him. "I just wanted you."

He closed his eyes an extra beat and inhaled deeply, calming down. "I'm here now."

"Can we go home?" She lifted her head. "Please."

He cupped her face and ran his thumbs over her lashes. How could a girl her age, alone without any family, friends, keep everything bottled up inside of her without breaking?

He knew the answer. She couldn't carry that level of pain forever by herself. He could make sure he was here and carry the load for her. "Yeah, let's go home."

Tucking her under his arm, he led her through the main room of the clubhouse and outside. Shouting came from the end of the line of motorcycles, and he stopped, straining to hear what was going on, and caught sight of two men throwing punches.

He put his hand flat on Sydney's stomach. "Stay back."

The yelling grew louder. He strode forward, ignoring the crowd egging the men on. Pushing his way through the bodies, he found Bantor defending himself against Olin's punches. Both men getting an equal number of hits in and going by their faces, the fight had been going on for long enough.

Jett strode forward and stepped between them, pulling back his arm, he let his fist fly, taking Bantor off his feet before he fell flat on his back. Leaving Bantor on the ground, he turned and put his hand in front of Olin.

"It's over. Go cool off." He stepped forward, pushing his brother away from the others.

D-Con limped over and stopped beside him. "Bantor was seen with Ashley."

Fuck. He should've known Olin was wrapped up in the drama that surrounded Ashley again.

"Scatter the men. I don't want any more fights breaking out tonight. We all need to be in shape to ride out early Sunday." He followed Olin when D-Con went back to the men. Grabbing his brother's arm, he ducked when Olin swung out. "Calm the fuck down."

Olin rounded on him, pointing his finger at Jett's chest. "He lays one hand on her, I'll kill him."

Ashley, Johanna's best friend, had set her sight on Olin years ago, back when the girls weren't even old enough to party. Olin had to have been twenty years old when the two hooked up, and their relationship mystified everyone. From the outside, he assumed they had a casual sexual relationship. But, he'd seen his brother go off the chain around Ashley and anyone who dared touch her.

"Go sleep it off." He hooked Olin's neck. "You can deal with everything tomorrow, brother."

"I need Ash," muttered Olin.

Jett pushed him toward the clubhouse. "Tomorrow."

"I need to find her." Olin swayed on his feet. "Teach her a lesson."

"You're not riding." He squeezed his fingers, ready to knock his brother out if needed. "I'll have Keeffe call Ashley for you, but if she doesn't want to come to you, you don't fucking move an inch. Hear me?"

"This is bullshit." Olin jerked away and stalked off.

He shook his head. At one time, Olin would've confided in him. He would've come over, shared a beer, and bitched about women trouble. That closeness from childhood was lost when Jett went off to prison. He'd returned to a different Olin. His brother had become obsessed with Ashley after being stabbed by an MC brother who'd turned traitor, and nobody understood what was going through Olin's head.

Half the time, Olin's actions toward Ashley verged on hate. The next, he was ready to kill someone for mentioning Ashley's name.

Walking to the front of the clubhouse, he spotted Sydney leaning against the building. He was all the way to her before he realized she could've used the fight as a means to run away.

The guards at the gate had been pulled away toward the chaos. He'd been distracted, taking care of the Brikken members, his brother.

She'd stayed.