Brick (Brutal Chains MC #2)

Chapter 5

Five

Luna

Once again, I'm on the back of Brick's bike. This time, instead of being able to focus on the thrill of the ride, all I can think about is the asshole who was waiting for me in my apartment. I don't know who it was, but I'm thinking it has something to do with my sister. It's the second time tonight that I've been attacked. That shit is getting old, fast.

I tried to get Brick to take me home; after all, I didn't really have any injuries, but just from the look on his face alone, I knew he wasn't going for it. He walked into my bedroom like he owned the place, grabbed a shirt for me to wear, and basically pulled me out of the apartment. Deep down, I'm happy to be out of that place. After tonight, I know it's going to be a long time before I feel safe there again.

I recognize the scenery as we whiz through the streets back toward his place of work. I'm not sure how I'm going to be able to sleep there tonight, but I guess I can give it a try. A few minutes later, we pull back up to the strip mall, and he helps me off the back of the bike.

"You remember how to get here?" Brick asks me as he gets off the bike himself. I didn't realize there would be a test. Looking around, I try to map out the roads he took to get here in my mind. I don't know the exact streets, but I think I can get back here if I try.

"Yeah," I reply, nodding my head.

"Good. If you ever are in any trouble or need someone to help you, I want you to come here." With that, he steps away from me, obviously expecting me to follow. I'm not sure what he thinks he's going to be able to do for me at his place of work, but then again, it's just nice to have someone offer to help me. It's not very often that I get even that.

I follow behind him, thoroughly expecting him to go right back into the shop, but he drifts to the side, walking down a long walkway.

"Where are you going?" I ask, looking over my shoulder to where I know the entrance is.

"Just come on," he grumbles.

Right away, I recognize that he's not happy about me being here, and it pisses me off. He could have left me where he found me. In fact, he didn't have to pick me up from the street. "No, I asked you a question. If you don't think it's reasonable to answer, then I can find somewhere else to go." I stop and cross my arms over my chest.

"You're not going anywhere else, not tonight." He glares at me.

"Yeah? And who's going to stop me?"

He narrows his eyes at me before he puffs out a breath. "You're going to be a problem, aren't you?"

I tilt my head to the side and smirk up at him. "Brick, you should know better than that by now. I'm going to be all of the problems. Are you going to tell me where we're going or not?"

I tap my foot, waiting for him to give me an answer or let me go.

"My room," he replies simply.

Now I'm confused. I asked him earlier if he lived where he worked, and he made it seem as if he did. If he didn't live there, where was he taking me? He doesn't give me any more information; he just turns on his heel and continues walking down the walkway.

I've already followed him this far; there's no sense in getting cold feet now. Soon we're in a large courtyard. It seems very out of place based on the surrounding environment and the fact that I know in front of this place is a strip mall of various businesses. Even in the dim night, I can see that the courtyard is beautiful and well taken care of, but that's not the part of this journey that most surprises me.

What catches me completely off guard is the large brick building behind it. How did I not notice this place from the front? On either side of the building is wilderness—trees and overgrown brush.

Brick continues moving forward at a brisk pace, and before I can ask any more questions, he's pushing open a large double door and waiting for me to join him. I take a step inside, and looking around, it's like nothing I've ever seen before. I didn't make my way to college, but if I had to guess, I'd think this is what the inside of most fraternities looks like. There are several rooms that line the door and then an open floor plan that holds the main room and other spaces.

If I could, I'd have explored more, but Brick isn't in the mood to show me around. Instead of letting me get my fill, he continues walking through the main area and then turns toward one of the rooms. I guess this is where he meant for me to stay tonight. I could do worse.

He opens the door to his room, and I'm surprised by how big the inside is. He's got a king-sized bed, enough space for a loveseat, as well as bookcases and a desk. Still, it seems like the room is sparsely decorated.

"What is this place?" I finally get to ask.

"This is the Brutal Chains Clubhouse. Everyone who is a member lives here," he explains, but I see more apprehension on his face. He's staring at the bed in the center of the room.

"Let me guess, you weren't expecting company?" I chuckle as I move forward.

"No, I never expect company. We don't allow people in here. Only those that are part of our family. You're an outsider."

"I am. You could've left me outside too." I cross my arms over my chest, my attitude coming back in full force.

"Luna, for Christ's sake. I already told you that I wasn't going to do that. I wish you'd stop trying to make shit so difficult." He shakes his head and walks over to a closet where he pulls out a sheet and a pillow.

I reach my hands up and wait for him to give it to me, but he simply walks by me and places it on the couch. "I can make up my own bed, you know."

"I'm sure you can, but this isn't for you." He grumbles.

Looking between the large king-sized bed and the small couch he is readying, I nearly laugh. "You can't seriously think you're going to be able to fit on that."

With a shrug, he continues to look at me. "You were attacked tonight, and no matter how many times you try to get me to believe that you're not hurt, I'm not going to make you scrunch up on the loveseat, and I'm damn sure not putting you on the floor. You've got the bed, sweetness."

I should hate that he keeps calling me that, but every time the word leaves his mouth, I swear I have to fight to keep from smiling. "This is ridiculous. Just get in your bed."

"No, get some sleep."

I bristle at his tone. I'm not used to anyone telling me what to do, let alone some grumpy biker man who just can't seem to stay out of my troubles.

"I won't get any sleep if I have to think about you being uncomfortable over there." I look back to the bed and make up my mind. "Just get in the bed with me then."

"What?" He stops what he's doing, his dark eyes leveling me, rooting me to the spot. I know what I'm asking. It's a slippery slope, but we're both adults. We can keep our hands to ourselves.

"I won't touch you, and you won't touch me. We're just going to sleep." I shrug, but my nonchalance is undercut by a long yawn. I really am about to fall asleep on my feet.

"I'm not sure you want to do that." He shakes his head, but I notice he hasn't gone back to making the bed on the couch.

"I do. Honestly, I'll be good." It's a joke, but the fire burning in his eyes lets me know this is no laughing matter.

"And what if I want you to be bad?"

"I'm sure you can find plenty of other women to warm your bed. You're going to have to control yourself until you can get one of them." I throw over my shoulder as I turn my back to him and walk to the bed. It's all I can do to hide the fact that I want to be his bad girl.

He doesn't reply, but I hear him walking behind me until he gets to the other side of the bed and pulls the covers back. "You need anything else to sleep?" he asks as I start pulling my pants and shoes off.

"No, this is fine." The shirt he pulled out from my closet was long enough that it covers my thighs. It's more of a tunic than a shirt.

"Alright."

Every nerve in my body is vibrating as we both slip under the covers. I hear him exhale a deep breath before he reaches over and shuts off the light.

Darkness.

Nothing but darkness surrounds me, and in an instant, I'm transported back to the drug den I went searching for my sister. My teeth begin to chatter, but I clamp my jaw down hard to stop it from making any sound. This isn't the first time I've had to look for my sister in some skeevy places, and I don't think it'll be the last. Still, my adrenaline from everything that went on today has plummeted, and all I can think about is how close I came to losing my life.

Why, though?

Why was someone at my place?

Why did my sister have to be the way she is?

Why can't all this be easier?

"Are you okay?" Brick grumbles from way over on the other side of the bed.

"Mm-hmm." I don't dare open my mouth to speak. I'm sure he'd be able to hear the lie before it even passed my teeth.

I force my eyes closed, trying to push the frightening thoughts out of my mind, but the darkness of the room weighs heavily on me. It feels like there's someone hiding in every corner. My eyes burst back open, and I try to acclimate to the fact that there's no light. I scan the room the best I can, but it's no use.

"Luna." Brick grumbles again.

I can't hold back; it's too much. Too dark.

"I can't see anything. It's too dark. Some light... please." I hate the vulnerability in my voice, but it's clear.

"Shit, hold on." Brick jumps out of bed, and I hear him padding over to the window. He pulls back the curtain, and heavenly moonlight comes spilling into the room.

It's like he opened the floodgates on my emotions. The second I can see my surroundings, I can't hold in my despair. I curl into myself and tremble hard. Sweat beads on my brow, and it feels as if I'm coming apart at the seams.

"Damn it, sweetness. Why won't you just let me take care of you?" He rushes to get back under the covers before turning me toward his body and wrapping his arms around me.

I look up at him and see the sincerity in his eyes. But how many times have I been tricked before? How many times have I thought that Wendy was telling me the truth, only to find out it had all been a lie?

I'm not made to be vulnerable. I've never had the opportunity.

"I don't know how," I reply honestly, and I watch a soft smirk crawl up his face before he shakes his head and kisses my forehead.

That one motion is enough for me to let go completely.

I snuggle closer to him and just let him hold me tight.

I'm safe. At least, while I'm in his arms, I know I don't have to be strong anymore.