Page 35 of Brick

The silence is broken by the occasional creak of the train cars swaying in the wind, a haunting sound that sends chills down my spine. I look back at Brick, studying his face in the dim light. He’s focused, jaw tense, and I wish I could know what he’s thinking. Does he feel the same mix of hope and fear that I do?

When we finally reach the door, my heart pounds like a drum. I can feel the cool metal handle beneath my fingers, and I hesitate for a moment. What if she’s not in there? What if this is all just a trick?

But I take a deep breath, steeling myself. I can’t let fear win. I have to believe she’s in there. I look at Brick again, finding strength in his presence. I know he’ll protect me, and I need to trust him.

With a nod from Brick, he pushes the door open, and I step inside, my heart racing as darkness swallows me whole. The smell of rust and stale air fills my lungs, and I brace for whatever lies ahead. I’m ready to face this nightmare, to find my sister, and confront the shadows that threaten to pull us under.

Absolute joy. It's the first thing I feel as I step inside and see my sister sitting in a chair. She's battered and bruised, but those wide eyes are clear and staring straight at me. She must be happy to see me because her cracked lips lift in a smile as well.

"Wendy!" I yell and try to race over to her, but Brick captures my arm before I can.

Another man walks out from the corner of the room and steps right behind my sister. He puts his hand on her shoulder and squeezes gently.

"Brick, you know I never thought I'd see you and your lot again. In fact, I was sure all of you would be locked up by now. Way to prove me wrong."

Brick doesn't take the bait. He's not here to talk shit with Daly; he's here to get my sister back. He will. I'm just sure of it. We’re so close now.

"Let her go, now," Brick orders. The grit in his voice makes him seem so dangerous. I know he is.

"Sure, I've got no problem doing that. After all, what is one junkie worth to me? The problem is this little stuck-up bitch managed to swipe something from us that I need."

The thumb drive. So he's the one behind taping his old gang.

"She doesn't have anything. I have it."

The smug look on Daly's face falters, but he quickly hides it by running a hand down his face. This is obviously not going the way he wanted it to. Part of me is happy to see his plan being foiled so completely. That’s what he gets for trying to hurt my sister.

"I see. Well, that's unfortunate. Those videos weren't supposed to be for anyone's eyes besides Dutch and the rest of the Seven-O-Sevens." Daly shrugs a shoulder and gently strokes my sister's hair.

"Don't fucking touch her!" I yell from behind Brick’s back. If I could, I'd rush over there right now and break every one of his fingers.

"Brick, get a muzzle on your bitch." Daly looks in my direction for a second before he looks back up at Brick.

I'm about to show him what a bitch really is. Soon, there's nothing that Brick is going to be able to do to stop me from getting next to Wendy. All my life, I've had to fight her battles. The only one I've ever lost is to the drugs. I'm not about to let anything happen to her now. Not when she's finally on the right track. She's still clean and trying to live a better life.

We can finally take all those trips that we talked about. I can tell her about my feelings for Brick. She's going to be the maid of honor at my wedding. I can see her now, trying to force me to have a bachelorette party. The possibilities are endless; I just need to get her out of this one last mess. This is the last one.

Then we can be together, happy. Us against the world, just like we've always been.

I keep my eyes glued on Wendy and mouth the words, "Everything is going to be fine. I've got you." She nods her head and gives me another smile. The trust she has in me is awe-inspiring. I've never let her down.

"Honestly, what exactly were you planning on doing with those videos? Did you think you could extort your old gang after what you did?" Brick shakes his head, and that's enough to pull Daly out of his facade.

"Extort? You think this shit is about money? It's about what's right!" Daly shouts and moves forward away from Wendy.

There are three other men in the small train car with us, but they are completely overpowered by the whole BCMC.

"What the fuck do you mean, what's right? You've been excommunicated. You're not a part of them anymore. It's over for you."

"Is it though? I don't think so. I've always been the rightful leader of the Sevens. Everyone knows it, and then Dutch shows up with some raggedy bitch who claims I'm a snitch, and he just goes along with it. No one had a choice in the matter; he just gave a word, and they followed it. I don't blame them, though. They are all good street soldiers. They should've done what they were told. I blame Dutch. And I want his seat. He's not built forthat throne he's sitting on, and I've already got several of my old goons ready to take him out as soon as the time is right. Except, I don't want to just kill him; I want to show all the naysayers that their so-called leader is nothing more than a pussy. That one threat of jail is enough to have him shaking in his boots. That thumb drive is my ticket back home. At least it was until this bitch stole it." Daly's focus is back on my sister, and I feel the tension in the air start to get even more intense.

"Sorry to screw up your little plan, but it's not going to work out for you. Dutch already knows you're still alive, he knows about the videos, and he knows there are people in his group gunning for both him and us. You don't have a leg to stand on. So now you've only got one of two options: either you give us the girl, and we leave you be so you can deal with Dutch on your own terms, or we take you out here and now and save Dutch and the rest of the Seven-O-Sevens the trouble of searching for your ass." Brick reaches behind his back, and it's only then that I realize he’s got a weapon. I don't know where he picked it up from, but I'm happy he has it.

Daly takes a long breath before looking over to one of the guys in the corner of the train car.

"Don't be stupid," Hook growls from the back and gets into a better position.

My focus is still on my sister. "I'm right here, baby. Luna's here. I got you." I say this time just above a whisper. She's not crying; she just nods her head.

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