Chapter 5 Brick
S ix weeks ago, I brought Ginny home for Christmas.
The week after Christmas? I kidnapped her.
Now? I stood outside the bathroom door and listened to her puke, feeling terrible that she was ill but also hoping it had a reason. I’d bought a pregnancy test that morning, leaving early before many people were on the road, and placed it on the sink, hoping she decided to use it. This was the third time in a week she rushed into the bathroom to get sick.
Ginny groaned as she opened the door. “I feel like shit.”
“Anything I can do for you?”
“No.” She shook her head, and I closed my eyes, wanting to ask but trying not to push the issue before she was ready. I wouldn’t peek in there and invade her privacy, either. Tempting, but no. I wasn’t an asshole. Okay, not when it counted.
We stood on shaky ground since I brought Ginny to the safe house. She resented the reasons I had to hide her away and, in her shoes, I would have felt the same. But we didn’t know what the fuck the Crimson Skulls were planning. They already tried to kill us once and nearly succeeded.
Didn’t she understand this was the only way I had to protect her?
The weeks of solitude were taking a toll. She loved the location but hated the reason we had to stay. When combined with the absence of her family, it had to feel lonely. I was doing my best to keep her occupied and happy, but it didn’t change the fact that our rival club put a hit on her.
And me.
“I need to lay down. I’m so tired, Brick.”
Don’t forget I’m here, baby. Always. Doesn’t matter if you’re upset or angry. That won’t change.
“Okay. Let me help you get settled.”
I didn’t mention it was the first time she’d spoken to me in days. Her silence pissed me off, but I wasn’t angry with Ginny. It was the reason why I had to use a safe house and hide my woman to keep her alive.
We’d argued over the weekend, and it had been strained between us since, barely a civil word spoken by Ginny. She made her point. I still couldn’t let her leave.
Ginny curled onto her side, and I covered her with a blanket, brushing the hair back from her face as her eyes fluttered. My sweet girl was breathing deeply within seconds. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind that she carried my child. All the signs were there. I knew she skipped a period because she told me two weeks ago.
My woman had a big secret, and I let her keep it. For now.
I didn’t want her stressed, not after learning about the pregnancy. Ginny had legitimate reasons for her frustration, and she was fucking smart, drawing conclusions faster than I expected. Not that I wanted to keep her in the dark.
Judge ordered me to keep shit locked down tight.
That order caused additional friction between us. I’d let too much time pass before I sat down and answered some of the questions I knew she had about her dad and his death. We never got far the day we had our picnic in front of the river. I kept everything close, trying to protect her, but it was backfiring on me. Everyone had sheltered her from the truth, but that didn’t help Ginny. It did more harm than good.
The truth needed to come from me, but I wasn’t sure she was ready to hear it.
War was brewing with the Crimson Skulls. Hell, it was already here. My club craved revenge, and I needed justice for Hesh. Not only that, I wanted vindication for the attack on Ginny.
But there was another reason I never anticipated. I had fallen in love with Hesh’s daughter; now, she carried my child. I wouldn’t hesitate to vindicate my brother, but now I had to protect his legacy, too.
My woman. My child.
Hesh’s bloodline. A connection I cherished as much as Ginny.
I watched Ginny sleep, sinking into the chair beside the bed we shared. For the first time in years, in truth, probably ever, I wanted a future with a woman I loved. I cared about this child we created together, and she needed to know I was all in. Nothing would keep me from being a part of this kid’s life.
My ma was going to be fucking ecstatic when she found out. A part of me wanted to bring her here for protection, but the club had taken on that role, and I needed to trust Judge. He promised she’d never be alone. So far, he kept his word.
I needed to call her soon.
It wasn’t long after that Dagger appeared in the doorway, ticking his chin toward the hall. He wanted to talk.
I pushed off the chair and stood, leaving the room and quietly shutting the door. Ginny wouldn’t be disturbed.
“Something happen?”
Dagger slid his hand over his dark beard and sighed. “We got a problem.”
Fuck. I knew it. “Well, fucking tell me already.”
“Crimson Skulls were spotted in Crescent City.”
“When?”
“This morning.” He folded his arms across his chest. “About the same time that you went to the store.”
“You fucking kidding me?”
“Does it look like I am?”
I sized him up. “What the fuck’s got your panties twisted?”
“Don’t fucking know.” He rolled his shoulders and growled. “Fucking restless, maybe.”
No shit.
“Get out of here for a bit.”
“Can’t do that. Judge will have my ass if I’m spotted.”
“Take the SUV. It’s got tinted windows. Go take a drive.”
He perked up a bit, losing the cagey expression. “Yeah?”
“Go. I’ve got it covered here. Keep your cell close.”
“Will do.”
“STILL QUIET?” I ASKED Dagger as I stepped onto the porch of the safe house, taking a sip of my coffee.
“Yep. Not heard or seen a thing. No one comes down this dirt road often,” he reminded me, flicking ash from the end of his smoke.
“That’s why Judge put us here.”
“Yeah.” His chin ticked toward the house. “She speaking to you yet?”
Not really. After her nap, we fixed a simple dinner together last night. She made polite conversation but held herself back from me. I fucking hated it.
You’d think Ginny would be grateful for me bringing her here after we were nearly run off the road. A black truck rolled up fast and crashed into us, but not before scaring Ginny. That was six weeks ago. Christmas Eve, to be exact. Since then, I’d done everything I could to ensure she’d remain safe.
“Judging by that growl of yours, I’d say no,” he chuckled.
“It’s driving me fucking crazy.”
“You shouldn’t have kidnapped her then,” he deadpanned, looking far too amused.
“You’re an asshole,” I snarled, shoving my hands deep in my pockets. “There wasn’t any other choice.”
His grin faded. “Does she know Butcher is out of prison?”
“No.” And for now, she didn’t need that added stress.
“Fuck, Brick.”
I couldn’t blame the reason on Judge. He never said I had to keep that from her. It was my choice.
Before I could comment further, the front door opened. Ginny stepped out, cradling her hand against her chest.
“I think I might need stitches.”
“Shit,” I cursed, rushing up the stairs two at a time to reach her. “Let me see, baby.”
Ginny opened her hand, and I caught the slice across the tip of her finger. Blood dripped from the wound onto her white sweatshirt. She winced as I inspected the damage. “It hurts.”
“I bet. Come on. I need to clean it so I can see how deep it is.”
She followed me into the house and the first-floor bathroom, pausing in the doorway as I located the first aid kit. “Why do small cuts always sting like a bitch and bleed so much?”
It was rhetorical, but I answered anyway. “Wish I knew.” I patted the sink. “Hop up, beautiful.”
She walked in, stopping as her chin lifted and her eyes sought mine. “We need to talk.”
“I know, sweetheart. Right now, let’s focus on your cut.”
“Okay.”
I carefully picked up her hand, wiping the excess blood from her finger. The cut was long but not as deep as she feared. I didn’t think she’d need stitches. “It’s not bad.”
She snorted. “My stained sweatshirt disagrees.”
I cracked a smile. “As you said, these types of wounds always bleed a lot. It’ll heal in a few days.” I finished cleaning the area and applied a bandage. “Keep this dry and stay outta trouble. Doc’s orders.”
“Trouble seems to find me,” she joked.
“I know it feels that way, Babygirl.” I kissed her finger, then put away the first aid kit, dumping the trash in the waste basket. “It’s not easy when you feel like there’s a target on your back.”
“You’re a target, too,” she reminded me.
“I am.” I moved between her legs, pulling her forward until her thighs rested on either side of my waist. “Takes a whole hell of a lot to scare me, and I can tell you, Ginny, that I’m not afraid.”
“For either of us?”
She had me there. “I’ll always feel the need to protect you. It’s an instinct for me, driven by my alpha tendencies.” I grasped her chin and held her in place. “That doesn’t mean I’m worried. You’re safe. I’m here. Nothing changes that.”
“Brick,” she began as my phone vibrated inside my cut.
“Give me a minute, baby. Gotta answer this.”
She sighed, not upset but definitely not happy about the interruption.
I slid across the screen, answering Judge’s call. “What you need, Pres?”
“Ginny with you? Right now?”
I didn’t like the urgency in his tone. “Yeah.”
“Good. Got Dagger watchin’ the road.”
“What the fuck’s happening, Judge?” Sometimes, I slipped and called him by his road name. We’d known one another since we were kids, and old habits died hard, even harder when you rode on two wheels and your life belonged to the patch on your back.
“Crimson Skulls in the area. We picked them up on camera around town. They keep circlin’ like they know somethin’.”
“Or someone,” I guessed. “More like lookin’ for three specific people.” Me, Dagger, and Ginny.
How the fuck did they find us? At the very least, they knew what area to watch.
“It’s too fucking close to your location. Might be moving you soon. Don’t like the heat.”
That made two of us. “Should I be ready to leave?”
“Get shit sorted with Ginny. Make sure you’re ready to head out and have bags packed. Not sure how this’ll go down.”
“Don’t send anyone else. Dag and I have it covered.”
“Way ahead of you. Less ways for shit to go wrong.”
He had that right. “I’ll keep my cell close.”
“Brick?”
“Yeah, Pres?”
“Watch the river. It’s the one place you’re vulnerable.”
Fuck. “Yeah, I hear you.”
We ended the call, and Ginny stared up at me, her expression betraying a hint of fear.
“Hey, I got this. You’re safe.”
“For how long? It sounds like the Crimson Skulls have already found us.”
“No. They’d be here if they knew,” I assured her, “which means we play it smart. Stay hidden. Don’t do anything to put us at risk. Yeah?”
“Brick, Judge mentioned Redwood Creek. Should we stay away from it for now?”
I hated to take that away from her. The gazebo and the river were her happy spaces. “For now.”
Judge had been too loud over the phone. I should have walked away so Ginny couldn’t overhear every word he said.
“Should I be worried?”
I took her hands in mine, holding them so my warmth covered her chilled skin. “We take precautions and prepare. Pack a couple of bags. Be ready to leave if Judge gives the order.”
She pursed her lips. “But what if running sends us right into them?”
I already thought of that. “We won’t be leaving the way we came.”
She blinked. “What do you mean?”
“If we’ve got to go, it’ll be on the water.”
“By boat,” she whispered.
“Yeah, baby. By fucking boat.”