Page 12 of Shadow Touched

For the entire trip to the town of RiderPass, Brim’s apprehension grew. Issues he hadn’t wanted to dealwith would be exposed because nothing good came from rehashing thewhat-ifs. He’d rather not drown in the grief that lingered justunder the surface. Still, the potential betrayal of someone in hisclub gave him a sense of purpose, so he focused on that, hoping itwas enough to put his heartbreak on the back burner.

Leia’s arms were wrapped around his waist,and she leaned into his body. He hated to admit that he likedhaving her so close. Logically, he knew she had nothing to do withhis club and the would-be assassin, but a small dose of doubtteased the back of his mind. How did she know about the attempt onhis life? Because if she hadn’t warned him, then he’d be dead bynow. The thought made him pause. If he had died, what had heaccomplished in this life? Of the two things that mattered most tohim, one was dead and the other he couldn’t trust.

When they finally reached the smallsoutheast town of Rider Pass, Brim turned into the first gasstation and parked his bike. He turned his head to address Leia,who took off the helmet.

“Hop off for a moment.”

She did as he asked, curiosity in her gaze.He dismounted and walked a few steps until he was in full view ofthe surveillance camera pointed directly at him. Slowly, he slippedoff his cut, and held it up before folding it. Then he walked backtoward his bike and stored the leather vest in the small storagecontainer on the back of the motorcycle.

“What was that about?” Leia asked.

“I’m in White Death territory,” he said.“It’s a show of respect as well as telling the MC President I’m nothere to start shit.”

“Kinda weird they’d have a camera to monitorthis gas station.”

“The White Death monitors everything in thistown. Every camera in town is watched by a guy named Mac.”

Leia glanced around. “Uh-huh. So, are yougoing to tell me anything about your mom before I say something I’mnot supposed to?”

“Not much to tell,” he replied with a shrug.“A few years ago, she married a man three years older than me—”

“Men have been doing that to women since thecaveman days.”

He held up a hand. “Hold on. I never said Ihad a problem with that. More power to her. And Striker isn’t thatbad of a guy. My mother is a typical biker bitch who likes boozeand cigarettes, and she’ll probably end up giving you tips on howto give a great blowjob.”

Leia’s jaw dropped a little.“Seriously?”

He gave a shrug. How the hell was he to knowwhat kooky ideas his mother would come up with. Growing up, she’dbeen a very unconventional mother, to say the least.

“Interesting,” Leia muttered. “Now I’mlooking forward to her spilling all your secrets.”

“What makes you think I have secrets? I’m anopen book.”

“Yeah, right. Maybe if the book was onfire.” She crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a levelstare. “I’ve only known you a day and a half, and I already knowyou have a list of secrets a mile long. So spill.”

This had been what he’d been dreading.Dredging up a past that could not be undone.

“It’s just we’ve had some family heartache,and I’d rather not drag it all up again.”

“What type of family heartache?”

Brim clenched his jaw and turned away. Therewas no way he could talk about it.

“Look, Brim,” she said softly. “I have toknow something, so I don’t put my foot in my mouth. How can I avoida delicate subject if I’m tripping over our cover story?”

He hated this already.

“I, ah … I recently buried my son,” he said.The burning pain that never quite went away threatened to drown himonce more. He shook his head. “I can’t talk about it, and I wouldappreciate it if you wouldn’t bring it up to my mother.”

A long moment passed between them, and justwhen he thought the subject was over, Leia laid a comforting arm onhis shoulder.

“I’m so sorry,” she murmured. “I can’timagine—”

He jerked away. “I don’t need pity.”

She circled him until they stood face toface once more. “Compassion isn’t pity. No parent should bury achild. I can’t even begin to imagine something so horrible.”

He swallowed thickly to choke back thetears. He hadn’t cried over his son when he had first learned whathappened, and he’d be damned if he cried in front of Leia. Somethings a man had to deal with alone. Or rather, not at all.

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