Cain's Darkness by Jenika Snow

to find a safe haven. Her son was with Bobbie for the night because she was staying late to clean up, and because the club had an especially hardcore party going on here. Although she hated having him here at the clubhouse to sleep, there wasn’t any other option at the moment. Her life had gone downhill, fast, and she didn’t know if she was going forward or backward, if she was up or down, most of the time. Right now she was just taking one day at a time, hoping that she could get on her feet and not have to rely on anyone but herself. Her son needed that … she needed that.
    She brought the rest of the empty bottles to the trash, wiped down the bar counter and tables, and made sure all the shit was cleaned off before she turned off the main lights and headed toward the stairs that led to the rooms above. There was a massive loft that overlooked the lower level, and as far as she knew she was the only female that slept here that wasn’t putting out like a common prostitute. She saw a lot of shit while being here for four weeks, things that would get all these men locked up. Drug use, lewd conduct, and straight-up sex right in front of everyone like it wasn’t a big deal were normal occurrences. But she made sure to keep her son away from all of that, made sure that he was gone when the parties were happening and the debauchery was in full force.
    She climbed the stairs, and when she got to the top she glanced down at her hands. They were dry, cracked, and red because of the amount of dishes she cleaned, the manual labor that she did to make sure she covered her and her son’s stay, and she was just thankful she was still able to keep afloat. She moved forward, her gaze still on her hands, and the sound of a door opening coming through dimly. She slammed right into a hard body before she could look up. Nearly stumbling back, Jana looked up and saw the biker named Tuck standing in front of her. He reached out, grabbed her arms to steady her, and yanked with enough force she fell forward, and right into him once more.
    “Whoa there,” he said in a deep, slurred voice. The scar on his neck stood out in stark contrast to his tanned flesh. Tattoos peeked out from under the hem of his motor oil stained shirt, and the leather cut he wore was faded and worn, but he clearly wore it with pride. The patches said he was a member of The Brothers of Menace, and she knew he wore that little piece of fabric with hardcore love—what love a biker that lived an outlaw and illegal existence could give.
    “I’m sorry.” Oh, she knew who he was, had seen him getting a blowjob from one of the skanky girls that hung around as soon as she’d walked in the front doors of this clubhouse all those weeks ago. Although Bobbie didn’t deny the club members sex when they asked, her friend hadn’t been with Tuck. Jana had asked Bobbie shortly after her arrival, but felt foolish for even asking her friend because why should she care? But there had been this weird relief that filled Jana after she heard that.
    “No need to apologize. In fact, I’m in need of some company tonight.” The sound of Tuck’s voice, of the clear arousal laced in his drunken, slurred tone, had Jana tingling in every erogenous zone in her body.
    A part of her wanted to just melt into this man and say yes. But the other part of her, the stronger one, told her this was a man that was used to getting his way, slept with any and all women, and didn’t care about her or what she stood for, only wanted between her thighs. Jana pulled out of his loose hold, shook her head, and knew that temptation was a thick enticement. It wasn’t something she couldn’t play with, couldn’t be something she risked because she had to look out for her little man, and the future that wasn’t looking too bright right now.
    “Shit, I’m sorry.” He scrubbed a hand over his face, his gaze locked on hers. “I’m drunk, and that was a cock thing for me to say.”
    She shook her head,