Page 75 of Brick

CHAPTER

TWENTY-TWO

Brick

Brick didn’t have to face Will for several days. He’d talked with Olivia every night since their date, and she’d told him her brother knew everything they were dealing with. As much as he dreaded facing the fallout it would bring, he was glad Will kept her safe in the afternoons. He was doing his part by keeping Tre occupied at night.

The electricians were installing the light trim at the house on Burgundy Street, which had the entire construction team focused on the Decatur house for the rest of the week. Will stood waiting for him by the front door when he pulled up Thursday morning.

“Let’s go out back.”

He followed Liv’s brother around the property to the backyard that butted up against a wooded area.

Will lit a cigarette and took a deep drag. “You know how I feel about the idea of you and my sister.”

“I think the whole crew knows. I get it. I know she deserves a regular guy, one who doesn’t do the shit I do. I swear, I tried to stay away from her, but I can’t.”

Will was sucking down his cigarette so fast, it was already halfway gone. “Tell me you are not a danger to her.”

He wished he could, but it would be a lie. “I promise you I will never hurt her, and I will do everything in my power to keep her safe from anyone who would try.”

Will tossed the filter in the dirt and ground it in with his heavy boot. “This Tre guy. He’s bad?”

“The worst I’ve ever seen.” Which said a lot.

“You have no idea what I’ve been through to keep my sisters away from this kind of shit.” Will kicked over one of the barrels of construction debris. Chunks of sheetrock, nails, and two-by-fours spilled out on the ground. “I failed once with Izzy. I’ll be damned if I come up short with Liv too.”

He bent over to right the now-dented can. “You didn’t fail her,” he said gently. “She told me how you stepped up after your parents died. You mean the world to her.”

“I wasn’t there when she got sick.” Will cursed under his breath, and they worked together to clean up the mess on the ground. “I heard a lot about you when I was inside. Can you at least tell me you’re not as bad as your reputation makes you sound?”

“No. I’ve done some bad shit. I still do. The only thing I can tell you—something hardly anyone knows—is I hate every second of it. I always have, but I’ll use it, you feel me? I’ll use the reputation, the skills, whatever. I will fucking break anyone who touches her with a goddamn smile on my face. We do what we have to do to protect the people we love. You understand.”

“Better than you even know.” Will sighed. “I won’t stand in your way. Not like it would have made a difference anyway.”

He offered Will his hand, and they shook. “It will make a difference to her. Thank you.”

Will stayed behind, already pulling another cigarette from the pack, while Brick made his way inside the house. He could see significant changes in the layout since the last time he’d been here. The man who’d commissioned the build had decided he wanted an additional bedroom downstairs with an attached bathroom. So, they’d had to extend the foundation and plumbing before they could even start adjusting the framing, which they worked on today. At least, he was working on it with Kane and Matt. Will and Cyrus focused on some task in the backyard.

Kane raised his hand in greeting. “Seems like you’re still in one piece. Should I congratulate you on surviving your conversation with Will? It looked intense.”

“We’ve reached an understanding.” Kane didn’t push for more, which was one of the qualities he liked best about him.

About an hour into the job, Matt’s phone rang, and he stepped away to answer the call. The man spoke too quietly to give anything away, but his face said it all. The dude looked ready to set the room on fire. Gritting his teeth, he walked back over. “I’ve got to go. Family emergency. Will you guys let Xander know I’ll call him?”

“Sure, man.” Kane gripped his shoulder. “Anything I can do to help?”

Matt shook his head and strode out the door.

Robby bustled over to them seconds after he was gone. “What’s going on? Is he okay?”

Kane raised his eyebrows, and Brick shook his head at him subtly.

“I’m not sure.” He caught himself before he called Robby kid. “He only said he had a family emergency.” He lowered his voice. “You ever try talking to him?”

Robby shot Kane a nervous look, but the biker was intently measuring the support beam he’d been working on. “I’ve said hi and stuff. I bring him Nestea; he doesn’t really like soda.”

“Not what I meant.”

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