Page 32 of Brick

I don't want to have to do that, but I will. I know all about the terrors that prison can hold for people, especially those that don't have any backup on the inside. I'd rather not have to put him in that position.

If it means keeping my family safe, I will.

Usually, the ride back to the clubhouse puts me at ease. It means that a job or a drop has been completed successfully, that everyone is safe, and we are home free. Today, though, it's different.

The roar of the engine vibrates through my bones as I weave through the streets, the wind a fierce companion that pulls at my leather jacket. Luna clings to me from behind, her arms wrapped tightly around my waist, and for a moment, the world feels right. But the weight of uncertainty hangs in the air, a dark cloud looming over us as we ride back to the clubhouse.

Each twist of the throttle sends us surging forward, and I can feel her warmth radiating against my back. It’s a sensation I want to hold onto, to drown out the chaos swirling in my mind. As we pass under the flickering streetlights, I catch glimpses of her reflection in the glass of storefronts, her face alight with a mix of excitement and hope. But I know that hope is a fragile thing, and I can’t shake the feeling that it might all come crashing down.

In my gut, I know Dutch has just as much to lose if things go sideways. We’re both standing on a precarious ledge, teetering between the promise of peace and the threat of war. But while I can see the risk laid out before us, I can’t help but feel that something darker is brewing beneath the surface. It’s like a storm gathering on the horizon, and I’m not sure we can weather it.

Luna’s grip tightens around me as we hit a bump in the road, and I glance down, catching the way her fingers dig into the leather of my jacket. She’s putting her trust in me, believing I can protect her and her sister, but the weight of that responsibility feels heavier than ever. I’ve never wanted to protect a woman as fiercely as I want to protect her—not since my mother. I failed her once, and the thought of failing Luna sends a chill down my spine.

The streets blur past us, a mix of neon lights and shadows, but my mind is focused on the road ahead. What if her sister isn’t out there? What if this newfound hope is just a cruel mirage?The thought twists like a knife in my gut. I can’t bear to see the light in Luna’s eyes dim, the hope falter when the truth comes crashing down. If we don’t find her sister, it’ll kill her, and that’s a pain I can’t stand to witness.

Part of me wishes that Dutch never mentioned the railroad car, not because I didn't want Luna to find her sister, but because I didn't want her to go there and find her sister's broken and lifeless body sprawled out on the cold floor.

There's every chance that it's the scene we are going to roll up on when we go there.

As we pull up to the clubhouse, I feel Luna tap me, her face a mixture of confusion and anger. I turn off my bike and turn in her direction.

"What?" I question.

"What do you mean 'what'? Why aren't we on our way to the railroad tracks like Dutch said?" She huffs as she hops off the bike and glares at me.

"Sweetness, we can't just ride straight there. That's not how this works." I slide off my bike and make my way into the clubhouse, the rest of the guys walking behind me.

"Hey, wait a minute." Luna snaps from behind me, but I don't even slow my stroll.

From the corner of my eye, I see Bea rush into Hook's arms. I'm really happy they found each other. At first, I might have thought it was going to be more trouble, but Bea has proven to be an integral part of our lives now without even really trying.

"Brick, don't walk away from me." Luna hisses from behind me. I guess that life isn't for someone like me. I don't think I couldever see Luna waiting at the doorway for me to get home, arms open, smile wide.

I want it, though. God knows I want it.

She continues trying to get my attention, but I'm not about to have this argument here in the open for all the guys to hear us. If she's going to fight with me, I'd rather her do it behind closed doors where no one else can see my vulnerability, and that's just what she does to me. She breaks me down, makes me weak, only to make me feel stronger than I ever have.

I push open my door, waiting for Luna to walk in before I slam it shut behind her.

I'm just about through with her questioning my decisions. Every last time I've made a ruling that had anything to do with her or her sister, Luna has been right there to poke holes in it or question if what I was doing is right.

I'm tired of it.

Luna opens her mouth to speak, but I beat her to the punch. I move into her space, effectively pinning her to the door, but I make sure not to put my hands on her. The last thing I want is for her to ever think I would put my hands on her in that way. I’ve never struck a woman in my life and I never will. The last thing I’ll let happen is I’ll turn out like my father.

"I'm going to tell you this one last time. You're going to stop questioning me in front of my men. They look to me to be able to make hard and fast decisions, not to be questioned by someone who doesn't hold any weight here in this club. I know what the fuck I'm doing. I know the players in this game. You don't. Wendy is your sister; I get that. Truly, I do. But if you don't learn when to back the hell off, all you're going to do is wind up gettingyourself and some of us killed. I'm not going to let that happen. If you want to be mad at me, so be it, but this is the last time we're going to have this conversation."

She opens her mouth to say something in return but before any words can come out she snaps her jaw shut.

I can see the same fire I'm feeling burning in her eyes, but this time I can't falter. I can't let her win, no matter how much I just want us to stop the bickering. Both of us are alphas in our own way, but when it comes to this dynamic, I need her to know I'm the one in charge. The one calling the shots.

She may not realize it, but Luna’s questions about my decisions cut deep, and I can feel the tension radiating off me like heat from an open flame. I know she means well, but right now, I’m not in the mood to justify my choices.

She steps closer, her eyes searching mine, and I can see the concern etched on her face. “Brick, I’m just trying to understand,” she says softly, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside me. I can feel the walls I’ve built around my emotions starting to crack under her gaze.

“I get that,” I snap, trying to keep my voice low, but the frustration leaks through. “But you have to trust that I know what I’m doing.”

The air between us thickens, and I can see her resolve start to waver. “I’m grateful for all your help,” she says, her tone softer now. “You care about me and my family in a way I’ve never experienced before. It means more than you know.”

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