Hearts of Winter (Bleeding Angels MC Book 2) by Olivia Stephens Read Free Book Online

could have done more,” George muses, shaking his head. I’m surprised to see that he looks like he’s frustrated with himself.
     
    “G,” I insist, refusing to let him blame himself for anything that has happened. “You have done so much already.  You couldn’t have done any more. I wish I hadn’t thrown away what you gave me. I wish that I could pay you back.” Being in debt is something that I’ve never been very good at.
     
    “You didn’t throw it away if you got something in return,” George points out, waiting for my response.  It’s clear that he doesn’t know the ins and outs of what happened that night—I suppose it’s not something that the Angels want word to get around about. That they can be bought off.
     
    “I got Jake,” I say, finding it hard to keep the smile off of my face as I say his name. “At least for a little while.”
     
    “Then I’m glad I gave the money to you—it was supposed to be helpful, and I’m glad it was,” George says simply.  The sweet sentiment makes me want to hug the big man.  I manage to restrain myself, knowing that it would probably just embarrass the hell out of him.
     
    Instead, I decide to try my luck and appeal George’s soft side.  Although he’s a big guy, I’m one of the few people that know he’s really just a big teddy bear. 
     
    “So, if you still wanted to help,” I start, knowing how far I’m pushing my luck, “Letting me become part of the gainfully employed workforce would be seriously helpful.”  I give George my best winning smile, hoping that it’s enough to overcome any misgivings he may have about taking me back and having problems with the Angels as a result.
     
    George looks at me for a few seconds and, slowly, I see the smile start to play over his face.  “I’ll tell you what. You do the graveyard shift tonight, you get your job back.” He says it musingly, as if he’s mulling it over.
     
    “Seriously?” I ask, shocked.  “Really?” My voice is a squeak, and I have to resist the urge to jump up and down like a schoolgirl.  “George, you’re amazing. I love you.” I’m so happy I can’t keep still, so I reach up and give him a kiss on his cheek. 
     
    Big George goes from his naturally tanned complexion to being red as a beetroot.  “That’s enough of that.” He waves me away as he turns back to the grill.  “Your stuff is still in your drawer. Crystal is off in an hour. You know the drill,” he fires off, and the deal is done, just like that.
     
    “Thanks George. You won’t regret it, I promise,” I tell him, only wondering a split-second later how I’m going to deliver on that. 
     
    I have to trust that the Angels aren’t going to make any more trouble for me than they already have.  There wouldn’t be any reason for them to cause problems before our month was up.  I try to ignore the fact that not having a reason isn’t something that’s ever stopped the Angels from doing exactly what they wanted in the past.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    I would be lying if I said that I hadn’t enjoyed working at the diner, at least a little bit.  Before everything, it had been a period of time that got me out of the sad house I was living in. Besides, it was a way to earn money to get out of this town.  I liked chatting with the regulars, overhearing snippets of conversation that would make me laugh.  The diner and its regulars were a little community. It had seemed like a safe haven, set apart from the stark realities of Painted Rock
     
    That had changed since the fire.  Word had clearly spread through the town that I was on the Angel’s list, and no one wanted to run the risk of being tarnished by association.  The friendly regulars whose order I knew by heart pretended that they barely even knew me.  That in itself is a pretty difficult task, bearing in mind what a small town Painted Rock is and the fact that everyone knows everyone’s business. 
     
    “How’s Janet getting on?  She