Chapter 27
CHAPTER
TWENTY-SEVEN
Brew
“What the fuck?” I bark. “When did this happen?”
“Today,” Erica says.
“I’ll be there in five minutes.”
“It’s okay, for heaven’s sake, don’t drive like a maniac, we’re fine. My building is safe—”
“You’re not fine if that asshole knows where you live, Erica.”
“I know that,” she goes on. “I’m fully aware that somehow he’s tracked us down.”
“I’ll get to the bottom of that. Sawyer will check the security footage around your apartment building, and we’ll install cameras to protect you,” I say.
She won’t fight me on it because it’s what needs to happen.
I don’t like the idea of her being there until this fucking hearing is over and done with.
They need to lock him up and throw away the key.
Clearly, this asswipe has someone on the outside, and I don’t like it.
With the hearing coming up, this has been plaguing her, and I don’t blame her for being worried.
From what I’ve heard over the years, her husband was obsessed with her.
Having her run away with Olive wouldn’t have sat well with him.
If that bastard gets off on some technicality, there will be hell to pay. I won’t stand for it. No woman or person anywhere has a right to feel unsafe, and especially not in their own home.
“I’m sure we’re all overreacting, but you’re right. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Olive safe.”
“And you.”
“And me.”
That’s my girl.
I wonder if she’ll show me the letter willingly. I clench my jaw at the very idea he sat down and penned those fucking words. Jealousy swirls through me that he got to have her for so many years and she lived in a prison with no escape. It boils my blood.
“I’ll be there soon.”
“Amber is coming over with Bronco,” she says.
“Fine, but don’t answer the door unless you know it’s her.”
“I’m not a child, Brew, I get how this works.”
“I just don’t trust anybody.” I mean every word. “I’ve seen some shit in my time. When people are desperate, they can do crazy things.”
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll be fine. It’s just a letter, but you’re right about taking things seriously. I don’t like him knowing my address.”
“Sit tight and let the doorman know I’m comin’.”
I hang up, mounting my motorcycle. I’ll call Sawyer and Haze when I get there.
I roar my Harley through New Orleans, annoyed at myself even though I couldn’t have known dickface Steven would pull a stunt like this.
It’s gotta leave an impression, as immune to him as she says she is, it’s unsettling.
The rumble of the engine beneath me usually settles my nerves, but not today. I try to keep my focus on getting to Erica, even when I want to head to Iowa jail just to rip Steven’s throat out with my bare hands.
When I arrive, the doorman lets me in, and that reminds me I’ll have to get myself a key for safety’s sake. If I needed to get to her in a hurry, I’d be fucked.
I head up the elevator to the right floor and find her number easily. It’s a nice building. Clean. The amenities are near new, and the security is tight. That’s a good thing, even though I’m nowhere near being okay with any of this.
When I ring the bell and call out to her, I hear movement behind the door. A few moments later, I hear the locks, and Erica opens the door. I cup her face as I step inside. “Are you okay?”
Her cheeks look a little pink, and she’s lost some of her sparkle, and that makes me mad.
“I’m fine, just a little shaken.”
“What did you tell Olive?”
“The truth. I didn’t show her the letter, but I told her he’d written to me.”
I shut the door behind me, then lock it. “What did she say?”
“She was upset, but she handled it really well.” Erica looks down at her feet. I tilt her chin back up with my finger.
“What aren’t you sayin’?”
“Brew, he knows where I live.”
“I know, it’s fucked. You’re not safe, Erica, I don’t want you comin’ back here until we find out who’s on the outside. It’s just not worth it.”
“Where would we go? I can’t live at Amber’s, their place is too small. It’s fine for a night or two, but—”
“My place.”
Her eyebrows practically touch the top of her head. “Your place?”
“It’s quite spacious and has three bedrooms.”
“What about Nova?”
“She can go to Haze’s,” I say. “That way it’s closer to work, and I can keep an eye on you.”
Her eyes meet mine. “That reminds me, my daughter seems to think it’s okay to give me dating-my-boss tips, any reason for that?”
I shrug. “Datin’? I thought we were just fuckin’?”
Her mouth opens to an ‘O’ and I laugh as she slaps me on the arm. “You did not just say that.”
“I didn’t say shit to Olive, but she’s observant, I’ll give her that.”
“We’re being too obvious.”
“Does it matter? We’re practically engaged.”
She gives me an exasperated look. “You’re impossible.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
She strokes her hands up my chest, over my cut, one hand landing on the dirty patch, the other reaching around to cup the back of my neck. “I’ll bet you have.”
I lean forward, our lips barely touching. “I need to keep you safe.” There’s an urgency to my tone that she must understand because she rests her forehead against mine.
“I know.”
“So you’ll come?”
“Yes.”
I press my lips to hers instantly and kiss her with all I’ve got.
Kissing isn’t my forte, but it really is like riding a bike, and when Erica pulls me closer, pressing her body against mine as I cup her ass, a thrill runs through me.
I haven’t taken her in my bed yet, but I plan to.
My tongue finds hers, and we’re lost for a moment, the urgency apparent as my dick presses into her and a soft moan leaves her throat.
Then someone clears their throat and says, “Eww, Mom.”
We spring apart as Erica runs a hand over her hair and attempts to straighten herself out.
I grin. “Hello, Olive.”
“Hey, Brew. Next time, could you guys get a room instead of making out in the middle of the living room?” She screws up her nose. “Gross.”
“Olive!” Erica scolds as Olive waltzes off into the kitchen.
My hands land on her hips as I pull her back to my front and whisper. “You make me so fuckin’ hard, baby.”
She stops struggling, leaning back into my body. “You’re a bad influence.”
“Never said I was a Boy Scout.”
“Not in front of Olive.”
“She’s already onto us,” I mutter into her hair, taking in her scent. She’s intoxicating.
“You think?”
“Go pack some shit.”
She turns in my arms. “Brew, I don’t want to live on the run. He’s still behind bars—”
I place a finger over her lips. “Not arguin’ about this. He’s a nut. Fuck knows what other criminals he’s involved with. He successfully kept all the shit he was involved with from you for a long time,” I say. “I don’t want you or Olive to get hurt. Please do as I ask.”
Her face softens. “It bothers you, doesn’t it?”
“You not bein’ near me? Yeah.”
“Because of what happened with Valencia?”
“There will always be a part of me that will never forgive myself, and I won’t make that mistake twice.”
She runs her fingers through my beard. “I love you.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “What?”
“You heard me, I’m not going to scream it for the entire apartment to hear.”
I pull her closer. “You’ll be screamin’ more than that once I get you all to myself.”
I kiss her long and hard, not caring if Olive comes back. “You’re not just sayin’ that because I said I love you first?”
“No, I think I’ve always known it.”
I stare at her, unable to fathom what she’s saying. “What do you mean?”
She shrugs like it’s nothing. “We’ll talk about this later.” She moves away just as Olive comes back into the room.
“I’ve packed all the good snacks,” she tells us. “Just in case we’re not back for a few days.”
Erica moves toward her daughter. “This may be for a little while longer, but I’m not sure yet,” she says. “We’re under the NOLA Rebels protection, so what they say goes.”
“I know,” she says loftily. “Which is exactly why I’m taking the snacks. Oh, and Mom? It’s fine if you want to stay at Brew’s and have some alone time. Aunty Amber, Bronco and I can have a movie night.”
“I don’t need to do that,” she says, her voice a little shaky. I can see the flush spreading up her cheeks.
“Thanks, Olive, appreciate it,” I butt in as Erica elbows me in the ribs.
Olive meets my eyes, then signs ‘you’re welcome’ and leaves.
I chuckle to myself.
Erica turns on me. “You don’t have to be so encouraging, she’ll know what we’re up to.”
I give her a pointed look. “She’s a teenager, she knows exactly what we’re up to, and she doesn’t wanna know. Stop overthinkin’ it. I can take care of you.”
“I’ve never…”
I cup her chin once more, softly stroking it. “You’ve never?”
“Had a man do that before. It isn’t what I know.”
“I know that, and for every single time you weren’t taken care of, I’m gonna rinse and repeat until you can’t stand it anymore. Your body is mine, Erica.”
“You and those dirty words,” she whispers.
I smirk. “Don’t pretend you don’t like it.”
There is no way I’ll ever let anything happen. This piece of shit would hurt her just so nobody else got to have her. I know how people like him think.
“Fine, I won’t.” She kisses me chastely.
“Will you show me the letter?” I ask.
Her face drops, then she nods. “Of course.”
I grind my teeth. “Bring it with you, I’ll read it later.” She pulls away, then I grab her hand and bring her back to face me. “Let me hear it one more time.”
“Hear what?” she breathes.
“You know what.”
“That you’re the kindest, sweetest, grumpiest man in the world and I love you?”
“Grumpiest?”
“You’re right, Tag still outdoes you.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re gonna love me a whole lot more when I kiss every inch of your body.”
“Holy crap.”
I press my forehead to hers. “So just to confirm, you’ll stay?”
She takes a second, swallowing as I wait for her answer. “I’ll stay.”
It’s like music to my ears.