Page 55 of Brick

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Liv

The banging outside Liv’s front door had so much force behind it, the windows rattled in their frames. She hesitated to answer until Will’s voice boomed from the front porch.

“Open up the goddamn door, Liv.”

No matter how angry he sounded, she could never consider her brother a threat. An annoyance, yes, but the man was all bark and no bite.

The second she turned the knob, he barreled in, still dusty from his worksite. “You don’t fucking listen! Dammit, Liv. I told you to stay away from Brick Barlow.” His cheeks flushed red, and he paced with unspent anger.

She closed the door gently. “Calm down, Will.” He didn’t acknowledge her words, so she settled in on the sofa. “I can’t talk to you when you’re like this.”

He slammed the heel of his hand against the wall, leaving a black smudge on the cream-colored paint. “You keep fooling around with Brick, you won’t be talking to anybody.” He wasn’t getting calmer. “You’ll be too busy getting ass-raped by one of Sucre’s other goons, or if you’re lucky, you’ll only be dead.”

“Will—”

“You don’t understand the kind of people you’re dealing with.” He strode to the sofa then knelt in front of her. “When I went to prison, I learned fast, you don’t mess with Sucre’s crew. I saw one of his guys pop out somebody’s eye with a fucking spoon, Liv.”

His voice shook. Will never talked about the time he was in prison. “Those guys had no fear. They had no limits. They even scared the guards.”

She reached out to cup his jaw. “He isn’t like them.”

He clenched her hand. “You don’t understand. Brick was the one those guys whispered about. The one they were afraid of. You are letting a monster into your life.” His eyes glistened with tears. “I can’t protect you from these people, Liv. Please listen to me.”

Her stomach churned with his warning.

She’d never seen her brother scared before, and he was clearly terrified right now. As she pulled him into a hug, the wetness from his cheek soaked through her shirt. “Whatever was between us is over. I haven’t heard from him in months. Not since before Carol…”

He pulled back to search her face. “I don’t get it. I know he wants you. I’m not blind.”

“He said he wanted to keep me safe. I guess you two have something in common.”

Will climbed up from the floor and clasped his hands behind his neck. He stared up at the ceiling. “I pray to God what you say is true.” His gaze cut back to her. “You and Izzy are everything to me. I’d die before I let something happen to either one of you. I couldn’t do anything when you were sick; I was stuck in fucking jail. Please don’t make me feel so fucking useless again.”

He didn’t wait for a reply. Gritting his teeth, he spun around and walked straight out the door.

She took a shuddering breath. She believed him when he said he would die to protect her. It was a promise she prayed he would never have to see through.

***

Thank God for Google Maps. Without the app, Liv would have never found her way to the address in Devon’s student file. He hadn’t come back to class, even after their chat at Burger King, and she couldn’t help but wonder if his brother knew he’d been skipping out.

Will’s meltdown reminded her big brothers tended to put their siblings first. No way would he have been okay with her ditching school. Will would’ve found a way to keep her in class, even if he had to work three jobs to do it. Maybe Devon’s brother would feel the same way.

The apartment complex sprawled over a block, but it desperately needed repairs. Boards covered several of the windows. The siding sagged, and a sheen of green mildew obscured the original color. One of the buildings had obviously been damaged in a fire and left in ruin. She stepped carefully over the broken concrete as she tried to figure out which section housed Building E. If there were ever markings on any of the structures, she saw no sign of it now.

She didn’t spot anyone outside, strange for a Saturday afternoon, but the back of her neck prickled, the same way it had when she’d left the burger place. Even if she couldn’t see who, someone watched her. Nerves crept up her spine.

She shook them off. Old Liv would have never set foot in this place.

Go big or go home. The expression had been one of Carol’s favorites.

“You in the right place, lady?” The high-pitched voice almost made her jump out of her skin. Liv swiveled her head to the source, a gangly kid who looked about twelve.

She forced her voice to remain neutral, despite her unease. “Maybe you can tell me. Am I close to Building E?”

The boy narrowed his eyes. “Why you wanna know?”

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