Page 45 of Hardy

He noticed both of her hands wereclenched together where they sat on the desk.

“You don’t need to besorry.Why are you afraid?”he asked, pointing at herhands.

She unclenched them, and even with thetable separating them he saw little half moons that were indentedfrom her clenching.“I’m not.”

“You’re terrified.Probablycrapping your pants,” Whizz said.

The fire in her eyes let him know shewasn’t broken, at least not yet.

“Whizz, stop it,” Laceysaid.

“I don’t get off on scarredmen trying to scare little girls.What’s your kink?You intoschoolgirls?Want to pass me around to men for money?”

He had his answer.

“I’m not into little girls, andneither is the club I ride with.I’m part of The Skulls.We’re awell-known MC.”

“I’ve heard ofyou.”

“A lot of people have heardof us.I take it you’ve been passed around foster homes,used.”

Sally broke eye contact.“No one wantsa teenage girl who fights back.”

Whizz saw a loose tear spill down hercheeks.“How often do you cry?”

She wiped it away, and glared.“Inever cry.”

“I don’t think this ishelping at all,” Lacey said.

“Would you like a chance tobe our daughter?”Whizz said, following his gut.

“What?”

“I can’t offer you somethinggreat, but Ican offer you a club, a family.None of us will prey on you.You’refifteen, and we can give you a place to stay to be part of ourfamily.”He pulled his cell phone out of his pocket and slid itacross to her.“Pick it up and look at the pictures.”

She took hold of the cell phone, andstarted scanning through them.

“May I come around, andtell you who they are?”Lacey asked.

Sally nodded, and he watched his womangaining Sally’s trust.This girl wasn’t what he expected.She’d notbeen given a real chance.Just from looking in her eyes, he sawthat she believed she was unlovable.

“You all look so happy,”she said.

The yearning in her voice tore atWhizz.“Have you ever been with a family?Been part ofone?”

“I’ve been in foster care since Iwas a baby.My mother was an addict, and I had too many problems.No one wanted a baby that required too much care,” Sally said.“I’ve not had the best of luck.”

“We’re offering you achance,” Lacey said.

“Why?You could have anyone.Whyme?”

“I saw your photo, and I wantedto give you a start.You reminded me of myself.”

He listened to Lacey, loving his womaneven more.She had a heart of gold, and she wanted to spread herlove to others.

“I don’t want to besomewhere I’m not wanted.In three years I’m out of foster care,and I can do whatever I want.”

“You can do that, or youcan come with us.We’re in the process of buying a house, andshould be moving in soon.We’ll give you a good life, send you tocollege.”

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