Page 28 of Brick's Redemption

A chill ghosted across my skin, and I rubbed my arms as we finally found a place to anchor the boat. Someone would have to return it to the dock, but it wasn’t important now.

Brick helped me to my feet, taking my hand as we began the hike toward the abandoned cabin where Dagger said they stashed their bikes.

“You sure we weren’t followed?”

It was hard to tell with the boat’s motor. It could have concealed anyone tracking us.

Dagger shook his head. “Nope. We would have seen signs.”

“True,” Brick agreed.

“This isn’t one of those times where you’re lying or stretching the truth to make me feel better, right?”

Dagger hooted. “She has you figured out, brother.”

Brick ignored him. “No, baby. I know I lied when we first got to the safe house. Couldn’t help it. I took one look at you and saw how exhausted and overwhelmed you were, and made the choice.” He stopped to tilt my chin up, grasping it tenderly. “I know that sucks. It won’t happen again.”

I believed him. “Thank you.”

He brushed his lips over mine.

“We’re building a foundation together. It can’t be built on lies.”

“And it won’t be,” he swore.

That was enough for me.

The hike took nearly thirty minutes, but we located the old trapper’s cabin, and I stood outside as Dagger and Brick uncovered their bikes. They’d stored them underneath an overhang where rusted tools and equipment sat forgotten.

“Is there a trail nearby?” I wondered aloud, thinking about how much noise these motorcycles would make and how bumpy the ride would be without some kind of path to travel on.

My stomach chose this moment to become queasy. Funny, the jostling, unsteady boat ride never bothered me a bit.

“Yeah,” Brick answered as he steered his bike around the back of the cabin. “Follow me.”

I walked behind the two bikers, noting the trail on the other side. It was worn with time, with more dirt and rocks than gravel.

“Here.” Brick handed me a helmet. “You’re not riding without this.”

Once the helmet was secured, he dug around in his bag and found a jacket. It was a bit too big but warm and smelled like him. Underneath the canopy of redwood trees, the sun didn’t penetrate as deeply. The cool, damp air left my skin cold to the touch.

“You ready?”

“Yes.”

“Then hop on, Babygirl. We got a hell of a ride ahead of us.”

I planned to hold on tight.

Chapter 9 Brick

Dagger rode behind me from the moment we left the old cabin and took the trail back toward civilization. I never had to ask him to stay in that position to ensure Ginny was safe. He already knew what I needed.

The ride through the redwoods should have taken us only an hour, but we had to stop twice for Ginny. She couldn’t seem to keep her stomach from upheaving everything she’d eaten in the last twenty-four hours. The uneven ground didn’t help.

By the time we connected to a normal road, she was clinging to me, dehydrated and exhausted. I should have planned this better, but when Dagger suggested stashing the bikes, neither of us thought about Ginny or morning sickness.

And we hoped we wouldn’t have to use the getaway option. It was a last resort. My fucking luck; it ended up being our only way to escape Ginny’s vacation home. At least the river had been kind to us. We never got stuck or spotted.

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