Page 24 of Brick

Luna gasps and grips my forearm hard. "You think they might have killed her already?"

"No, no, that's not what I'm saying at all. I mean, maybe Wendy got away in time and is just hiding out, which is why she hasn't been able to get in contact with you. There are a million different possibilities that don't mean she's already dead. Have a little faith, sweetness."

Luna shrugs and looks away from me. "If you say it, I believe it."

Those simple words strike me harder than I thought possible. "You mean that, don't you? You trust me even though you know what I've done in the past. You know who I am?"

"I do know who you are, Brick. Sure, you're not going to win any Citizens of the Century awards, but you're still a good man. Honest and protective. The only thing separating you from a lot of people is the drive to finish what you started. How many people have wished they could avenge their loved ones? Hell, they make movies about people like you. All blockbusters." She chuckles, and I follow along with her.

It's true; I'm pretty sure my life before prison would make a hell of a movie.

"The point is, I can't judge you for what you've done. All I can judge you on is what I've seen from you since I've met you, and by far you're one of the best men I've ever laid my eyes on."

Pride.

It's been a long time since I was proud of something in myself. Sure, my club, my bike, even my craftsmanship, but something in my own soul—it's been a long time.

I don't know what to say to her. The air seems so fucking heavy. Luckily, she takes that moment to stand from the couch. "Youwant a drink or something? I promise my house isn't always a wreck like this."

"Yeah, some water or something would be nice."

"I have iced tea."

With a nod from me, she walks off to the kitchen. It's only then I realize that she's not walking correctly. Instead of walking flat-footed, she's walking on her tiptoes. When she comes back with the cups of iced tea, I see the grimace on her face.

"What's wrong with your legs?"

"My legs? Nothing. It's my feet that are killing me."

"Why?"

"Oh, I don't know, maybe because some asshole made me walk MILES back home in the middle of the night." She squints her eyes at me.

"The hell I did! You chose to do that on your own. I told you to stay." I fight back. I'm not going to be blamed for this.

"Yeah, sure. I was going to stay after you basically told me you thought I was working with the enemy. That's the perfect place for me to be." She rolls her eyes and comes to sit next to me again, placing the iced tea on the table in front of us.

"You could've called a cab or had one of the guys take you home. There were options." I turn in her direction.

"There were no cabs riding around, and I don't know your fellow biker brothers like you do. I don't just run along and hop on anyone's motorcycle. You've got to be special for that." She winks at me, and I feel like a fucking fool.

Sure, it was her decision to leave, but just like she had options, so did I. I could've gone after her. I could have called her a cab myself. I could have made her stay.

"I'm special, am I?" I question, pulling her leg up so I can get a look at her foot. Thankfully, there's no cuts, but I do see how red they are.

"Don't you know that by now? You're the only one who gets me this mad besides my sister, and that's saying a lot." She leans back on the couch's arm while I start massaging her aching feet.

"Well, I'm honored." I lift her leg and kiss the top of her shin before I really start trying to take away her pain.

I never understood the lure of a good foot rub, but that didn't mean I wasn't talented at giving them. Seems like my previous experience was playing in my favor.

"Oh god." Luna moans loud and lets her head drop back while I continue what I'm doing.

This was meant to be strictly to help heal her hurt, but it's turning into something more very quickly. My body is revved up.

Going from not knowing if she was okay, then seeing the danger that she's in, back to realizing she's in my arms has my hormones on full blast.

I want to kill something and fuck something. Those urges are both strong.

---