Page 75 of Sins

“Oh, my God!” Kenna gasped. “Is that Simon?”

Trigger dropped him like a rock at the sound of her voice, like Kenna had just smacked him. He snapped out of his murderous rage and stepped back.

“Tell him or I will.” Trigger’s voice boomed throughout the room, and I felt Kenna step closer to me.

“Simon?” Kenna’s face was shocked.

Simon’s battered gaze caught Kenna’s, and I stepped in front of her to shield her from his lies. His shoulders slumped, and his head dropped forward as the pain overtook him. It was clear Simon didn’t live the kind of life we did. In our world, pain was a tool that fed our power, whether we were administering it or on the receiving end. I doubted he’d ever had much of it in his life, the way he gave in to it.

“Brick,” Trigger snarled, “get over here.”

The place went still while everyone’s eyes went from the bloody man on his knees in front of Trigger to Brick.

Brick’s expression went from confusion to anger, but confusion won. “What?”

“I got a DNA test run,” Trigger growled, “and that sumbitch he came up with ain’t your brother. He fuckin’ lied.”

Brick shook his head in defeat and his shoulders slumped as he shook off Minnie and brought a chair over next to Simon. “Sit.” He grabbed Simon by the collar and pulled him onto it. “Is that true?”

Simon felt around his face, and Morgan cleared his throat. “Out with it. Do it fast, or I’ll get that belt sander.”

“It’s me. I’m your brother,” Simon whispered through bloody lips.

“Liar.” Brick swung and punched Simon hard in the stomach. “I’ve earned the right to the truth, damn it. Stop fucking with me.”

“Yes, fine,” he coughed and held up a shaky hand, “just stop, please. I’m telling the truth.”

I muttered under my breath at Trigger. “This guy wouldn’t last ten minutes in our world.”

Brick stood back and studied Simon like an ant on the end of his finger. “You lie. Rowen had blue eyes. You have brown.” Simon tossed his glasses on the floor and carefully stuck hisfinger in his eye then looked at Brick. One eye was brown, but the other was now blue. “Take out the other one. I want to see all of you.” Simon removed the other contact and stared up at him.

“The last time I saw you was my birthday party. Your mother made quite the scene.”

Brick’s shoulders rose as he nodded at Trigger. Holy shit.The room went silent as the realization kicked in.

“More lies,” Kenna whispered, “so many lies.”

“What happened to our father?”

Simon rubbed under his nose to catch some blood. “He was killed.” He looked directly at Brick. “Good riddance, too.”

“The fuck does that mean?” Trig glared at Simon. We both knew Brick had only met his father one time, and they’d never even spoken to one another. The Devil’s Reach had filled in as many gaps as they could because his dad had been a life member. As far as we knew, he’d been a good man to the club.

“He was a nasty drunk with a mean right hook,” Simon growled. “I was the one who took the hits, and it only increased when I refused to join your club.” He groaned and stared at Trigger. “I wanted to do more with my life, and when our father was killed, I thought I was finally free of it all.”

He laughed darkly. “But Allen, your fucking father,” he glared at Trigger again, “stepped in and took over. It got worse. The more I refused to join the Devil’s Reach, the more he made me pay, until one day a dead body was found in my kitchen, and I was suddenly serving a life sentence.” He pressed his hands against his midsection. “I just wanted to be left the hell alone.”

“Simon, why didn’t you say something?” Kenna’s face seemed sympathetic, and I wasn’t having it.

“Kenna, don’t fall for all this shit. This guy’s making things up as sure as we’re standing here.” I went for Simon.

“No, Grim,” Brick held up a hand, “I want to hear it.”

“Suit yourself.” I pulled back, disappointed, and shook my head then caught Kenna around her middle and pulled her to me.

Simon wiped his mouth and took a breath. “Look, Brick, your club and the men who ran it have always made sure my life was miserable because I wanted no part in it. I was just a kid. So, my apologies for not wanting to out who I was when we met again as adults.”

Brick bit his cheek, and his mouth twisted as he let that sink in. No one spoke for a moment.

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