Chapter 14
Fourteen
Brick
That was easier than I expected.
In fact, maybe it was all just a bit too easy.
Dutch isn't one to take slights sitting down. There's no telling what he's really planning on doing. I guess it all boils down to the fact that he thinks I'll really go to the cops with what I know.
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 could ever 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 getting yourself 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.”
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut, and I feel the heat of my anger dissipate, replaced by something warmer, something softer. I want to be the man she sees, the one who can hold everything together, but the weight of my decisions still gnaws at me.
“I’m doing everything I can, Luna,” I say, my voice low, almost a whisper. “As soon as everyone is ready, we’ll head to the railroad yard and check out that tip Dutch gave us. I promise.”
A smile breaks across her face, and it’s like the sun breaking through the clouds. “Thank you,” she says, stepping closer, her warmth radiating against me. And then, without warning, she leans in, pressing her lips to mine in a sweet kiss that sends a jolt of electricity straight through me.
As soon as our lips touch, the world around us fades away. That sweetness quickly transforms, the kiss deepening as desire ignites between us. She pulls me closer, and I can’t help but respond, my hands finding her waist, gripping her tightly as if I’m afraid she’ll slip away.
The kiss grows heated, hungry, and I feel a primal need surge through me. I want to possess her, to claim her in a way that leaves no doubt in her mind that she’s mine. My body reacts instinctively, the tension of the moment melting into an intense longing.
We break apart for a breath, and I look into her eyes, seeing the fire mirrored back at me. It’s maddening how one moment she can drive me insane with her questions, and the next, she ignites a craving deep within me. I’m caught in a whirlwind of emotions, confusion twisting in my gut. How can she make me feel both anger and desire so intensely?
Before I can think too much about it, I pull her back to me, kissing her again as we stumble toward the bed. The world outside fades into a distant echo, and all that matters is this moment. I lay her down gently, my hands exploring the curves of her body, tracing along her sides, memorizing every inch.
Her breath hitches as I touch her, and I feel a rush of satisfaction at the effect I have on her. I want to lose myself in her, to bury my worries in the heat of our bodies, to forget about the chaos outside these walls. I kiss her neck, trailing my lips down to her collarbone, feeling her shiver beneath my touch.
“Luna,” I murmur against her skin, my voice low and husky. “You drive me crazy.”
“Crazy good or crazy bad?” she teases, her voice breathy and playful, but I can see the desire burning in her eyes.
“Both,” I admit, my hands gripping her tighter, the need to possess her overwhelming. “But right now, all I want is you.”
In this moment, nothing else matters. The world can wait. I’m lost in her, consumed by the heat of our connection, and I vow silently to protect her, to keep her safe from everything, even if it means battling my own demons.
Pushing everything aside, I grab hold of her shirt and try to lift it over her head. She doesn't fight back; she just lets me do what I want to her.
"Touch me, Brick. I need to feel you," she whispers, and I'm already lost.
I'm going to do more than touch her in a minute. In a minute, I'm going to claim her, and I don't even care if the whole club can hear me. I want to hear her screaming down the walls. I want to feel her clench around me until there's nothing left of her but my mark.
Both of us make quick work of getting the rest of our clothes off; suddenly, the desperation of being together is so intense I can barely catch my breath. Sweat dampens my hair as I lean forward and kiss down the center of her body. The first time we fucked, I had no time to do what I wanted to do. I was bursting at the seams before she even took her clothes off. This time, I force myself to take things slower, to really give this woman the loving she deserves and to show her just how much I own her.
"Brick?" She claws for me and tries to pull me back up her body.
I already know she's ready for me, but I've got something else on my mind.
Slowly, I spread her legs so her slick pussy is spread open for me.
"Look at me. Look at me while I take what's mine," I order her, and slowly she lifts her head up so her gaze connects with mine.
I keep my eyes open and slowly snake out my tongue, just letting the very tip of it slide against her clit.
"Oh..." she moans, and already her body shakes. I press a little deeper, swiping my tongue up and down her folds, grabbing hold of one of her wrists to keep her sitting up and her focus on me. Her wails get higher, and I watch her abs contract as I continue feasting on her.
Her eyes roll back, and I know she's seconds away from coming. I want every last drop of it. I want all of her. I grab hold of her other wrist and keep her body in the crunched-up position as I feel her opening begin to pulse, and she screams loud in release. I keep my eyes glued on her the entire time.
"Brick, oh god, please," she begs me. She's just come, but I know the pain that she's in. The pain of needing something else to relieve her.
I'm feeling the same ache.
My cock drips pre-cum, and as much as I want her to come on my face another ten times or more, I know I have to cut this short. I slowly kiss my way back up her midsection.
"You know you belong to me, right?" I question, my words mixed in with each peppered kiss.
"Yes," she answers.
"You're always going to be mine," I continue.
"Yes!" Luna yells.
"I'm never letting you go."
"Yes! Brick, take me. I'm yours. I'm yours." She all but cries as I line myself up with her opening and slam into her.
How is it possible that it feels even better than the first time.
The wetness, the tightness, the warmth, all of her feels like she was made specifically for me. I've had some lust driven relationships and nothing has ever even come close to what I'm feeling for her right now.
"Ahh, Brick." Luna tosses her head back. Tears stream down her eyes.
I pull her head forward just to make sure my intensity isn't too much for her. I don't have to say a word when she digs her nails into my back and scratches down hard.
She wants this. No consent needed. She's already given me every part of her, still I want her to say the words.
"You my ol' lady, Luna?" I grunt with each thrust of my hips.
"I'm your ol' lady, Brick. I'm anything you want me to be for however long you want me to be it." She confirms.
"Forever."
"Yes." She hisses and her moans turn gutteral as her body clenches tight around me.
I grip onto the bed sheets fighting my own release but it's a battle I'm sure to lose.
My orgasm explodes from deep within me at the same moment she comes. I collapse down on her, both of us moaning and out of breath completely wrapped up in eachother.
I move to roll off her, not wanting to squish her beneath my weight but she grabs hold of my arms to keep me steady.
"No, not yet. Just hold me Brick. I want you to hold me."
Without hesitation I hold her as close as I can to my body. Our heartbeats pounding in unison against our chests.
I'd give anything to spend forever just like this holding her in my arms.
It's not possible.
The world may have stopped for a moment to let us enjoy eachother but with every tick of the clock I know it's going to be more and more impossible for me to shirk my responsibilites. Daly is a threat and there is no way in this lifetime or any other I'm going to let anything threaten my club or my sweet Luna.