Page 49 of Patching Over

From under my lashes, I can see his frown as my words penetrate whatever it was he was thinking about. “Rayleigh, it’s not like that,” he starts.

“No, no, I get it, I ask far too many questions. I’ll be more mindful from now on.”

Inside I’m giggling because now he looks distressed at the thought that I’m upset.

“Babe, it really is club business this time, I promise. You can check with Brick if you don’t believe me. Why do you think you’ve got the twins with you today when you really haven’t had the need to have anyone following your every move?”

My blood freezes and I ask, “Am I in danger?”

I honestly don’t think I could survive if I was taken from my home again. Not after knowing freedom, finding Brick, becoming who I was always meant to be. No, if I ever get captured…again, I’ll fight back with every ounce of strength I possess within me. Nothing and no one will keep me from my man and my four-legged babies.

He makes a scoffing noise while shaking his head. “Babe, you’re the ol’ lady of the president, pretty sure if anyone comes after you, they’ll be filled with so much lead, they won’t need to be embalmed because all their bodily fluids will leak right outta them.”

“Well, that’s not a pleasant picture, Brew!” I exclaim, shuddering, causing him to laugh so hard he’s doubled over.

“I keep forgetting you might be the club princess, but you weren’t raised around all of us, so you’ve got more delicate sensibilities.”

“How the hell do you even know what that means?” I ask in astonishment.

“Ray, one of the things the old-timers insisted on is that those of us coming up in the clubhadto get our education. Some of us even did a short stint in the military, just the basic enlistment, of course, but they wanted more for us than they struggled to have. And because I enjoy reading, my vocabulary is a lot more advanced than your average bear.”

I can’t help the snicker that falls from my lips. “Y’all are all so different than I imagined.”

“We’re just flesh and blood men, Rayleigh.”

“Who ride motorcycles, beat the hell out of those who hurt those who are more fragile and less fortunate, incite fear in bullies and thugs. Yeah, nothing normal about that at all,” I taunt in a teasing manner.

“We take care of what’s ours, princess. Always have, and we always will, no holds barred. The difference now is that we’re part of something far bigger, so we’ve got more muscle behind us than we ever did before. Nothing and no one will fuck with us, and God help them ifanyonetries to fuck with you. Brick will burn the country down one town at a time if that happens.”

“I’m perfectly safe and fine, Brew. See? Right here, no danger lurking around the corner,” I announce, doing a pirouette then a bow.

“Smartass,” a new voice says. Turning, I see my brother standing there, grinning at my antics.

Without much thought, I throw myself into his outstretched arms, hugging him tightly. I’ve had a little bit of time to get used to the fact I have a brother now, and since he’s found out, he’s been really sweet toward me. I get the impression from the way the other men have reacted that how he’s been with me isn’t his normal personality, but I don’t care.

“What are you doing here, Banshee? Not that I’m not glad to see you because I am, I just wasn’t expecting it is all,” I say, rambling so much, I barely take in a breath.

“Thought you might want to see the house,” he replies, smiling down at me.

“The house?” I query.

“Where we all lived when you were little. Brick’s gonna meet us there because I found some old recorded family movies.”

“Movies?” I feel like a parrot right now, repeating one or two words after each of his pronouncements, but I can’t help myself.

I’m dumbfounded and a little flabbergasted.

The thought that I can see where my family lived, whereIlived before I was snatched, is mind-blowing. Then to know there are movies I can watch so I can see my parents and hear their voices? I don’t know what to say. On one hand, I wanna dance and shimmy in place. On the other hand, I wanna curl up into a ball and cry into my pillow.

I’m conflicted, yet excited… it’s a conundrum of mixed emotions flowing through me.

“If you want, that is.” His voice is cautious right now and I’m sure everything I’ve been thinking is showing on my expression, I’ve never really been one who’s able to hide how I’m feeling.

“I do but won’t it be difficult for you?” I ask, completely forgetting my earlier excitement about shopping with Cassie.

“The brothers have kept the house up through the years and since I’ve become an adult, I occasionally stay there. Not often because of the circumstances, but it won’t be hard on me, squirt, I promise.”

“Squirt?”

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