Chapter 20 Brigid
TWENTY
brIGID
A knock came at my bedroom door, and I drew in a deep breath.
I allowed myself one more moment of silence before I walked over and cracked the door.
What I wanted was to be left alone with my worries and my concerns, but what I got instead was Puck’s beautiful face peering at me from beyond the threshold.
“Hayley told me you were in this room tonight,” he said.
I nodded slowly. “Yep. Seems like it.”
He thumbed over his shoulder. “My room’s just across the hall.”
I grinned. “How convenient.”
He scolded me with a look. “Not here. We know better than that.”
I rolled my eyes. “I know, I know. I’m just playing.”
Kind of.
His eyes raked down my body. “Well, if you need anything don’t hesitate to wake me up.”
I gave him my best smile. “Even if I crawl into bed with you?”
He winked. “Just don’t let anyone hear you if you’re going to do that.”
I giggled with delight. “You have my word.”
He left me to my own devices, and I was thankful for the silence.
Had he teased me any longer, I might have pulled him into this room and sat right on his face.
I forced myself to back away from the door and didn’t stop until I closed the bathroom door behind me and started in on my evening routine.
And after I got changed into my pajamas, I flopped down onto the queen-size bed and stared up at the ceiling.
I’m not even tired.
If anything, I was worried as hell about Lori. If those guys in the black suits really were with the cartel, then there was a chance she had already been harmed. Or taken. Or drugged, for fuck’s sake. And even if they had gotten to Lori, was there anything we could do at that point?
They’ve got security everywhere. She’s okay.
My thoughts did nothing to settle my worries, though. On the one hand, if it was the cartel and they did want to do her harm, they wouldn’t have cared if I had been there with her. So, were they investigating her? Keeping tabs on her?
The only thing that reassured me was the fact that a couple of the crew’s guys would be watching the place all night.
But that still didn’t mean we’d get an update on Lori anytime soon.
Every time I tried to fall asleep, my mind played tricks on me.
I saw Lori laying in her bed with one of those men in black holding a knife to her throat.
Another dream had me yelling at Lori to run, only for her to be roped by a noose around her neck and hung right in front of me.
My mind wouldn’t rest, so I didn’t rest. By the time the birds started to chirp outside, I was already showered, dressed, and ready for my day.
If I can’t beat them, then I join them.
I wandered out into the halls of the warehouse and started exploring.
I walked the long way around the inside rectangular perimeter, clocking the staircase that led up to a lofted area of the building.
Curiosity wanted to know what—or who—was up there, but the second my stomach growled, I made a beeline for the kitchen.
And when I opened up the fridge, I found it stocked to the brim with fresh foods and condiments.
“Wow,” I murmured.
After reaching for an iced coffee way back in the back, I set my sights on making myself a sandwich.
I pulled out everything I needed and made myself a turkey sandwich with cheese, lettuce, and tomato.
And as I took my first bite, the moan that escaped my lips was so loud that it echoed off the corners of the room.
Then footsteps approached me from behind.
“Who’s there?” I asked quickly.
The second a hand came down against my shoulder, I dropped my sandwich to the counter. I grabbed the person’s hand and twisted around, taking their arm with me. I shoved it into their back and barreled the dark, shadowy figure against the wall.
And it wasn’t until I heard him grunt that I gasped.
“Shit, Puck. I’m so fucking sorry.”
I released him immediately and he chuckled. “You really are a spitfire.”
I massaged his arm. “I didn’t realize it was you. I’m so—”
He pressed his finger against my lips. “It’s fine, Brigid. Really.”
I gazed up into his eyes. “Trouble sleeping?”
His finger traced a line down my jaw and my neck before trailing off just before he touched the top of my exposed breast. “Seems like you have that problem, too.”
I made my way back to my sandwich. “A little bit, yeah.”
He walked up to me and sat down at the table. “I went by your room to check on you and you weren’t there.”
I took a bite and swallowed quickly. “Didn’t know I needed to clear a snack with you first before I made myself one.”
He snickered. “Pass me all of that shit. Your sandwich smells good. And for what it’s worth, I didn’t sleep all night.”
“Makes two of us, then.”
He made his sandwich while he sat at the table. “I mean, being cooped up in this place makes me antsy as it is.”
I polished off my sandwich. “It’s the lack of windows.”
“Huh?”
I took a long pull from my iced coffee. “It’s the lack of windows. It’s hard to judge the passing of time without them, plus you’re missing out on Vitamin D and all that shit. It’s probably why you’re so antsy.”
He grinned. “Probably.”
I drew in a deep breath. “So, I passed stairs leading up to a second floor earlier.”
He finished fixing his sandwich. “That’s where Diego and my sister are bunked.”
I blinked. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”
He snickered. “My twin sister, actually. You’ll probably meet her if you stick around at the clubhouse long enough.”
“And she’s shacked up with that guy who was once part of the cartel?”
His face fell flat. “Don’t remind me.”
I shook my head. “You must absolutely hate that.”
He took a massive bite of his sandwich. “Yep.”
I smiled as I crossed my arms over my chest. “Is it awkward for you knowing they’re just over your head?”
He barked with laughter after he swallowed. “Hell yeah, it is. But she’s happy, so I’m happy for her.”
“What’s her name? I mean, if you don’t mind me asking.”
He shrugged. “You’ll know it eventually. Her name’s Ruby, though sometimes when I’m feeling endearing, I call her ‘Roo.’”
The second that name flew out of his mouth, I paused. There was no way, though. There was no way in hell the world was that sneaky and conniving.
Ruby’s a common name. Don’t panic. “Pretty name.”
He shoved the rest of his sandwich into his mouth and gave me a thumb’s up, which made me laugh even harder.
When I wasn’t pissed at the man for ditching me, he was a decent guy.
I enjoyed our light-hearted conversation, but I now knew to stay clear of any family talk until I could quell the voice chirping loudly in my brain.
So, I changed the subject. “I’m worried for her, you know.”
He furrowed his brow. “My sister?”
I snickered. “No, my contact at Pathways.”
He shook his head. “You don’t have shit to worry about. Frost and West are our two best scouts. If anything happens, they’re equipped to take care of it.”
“But what if it’s already happened? What if those guys snatched her up the second we left?”
“Wouldn't you have gotten a notification from the rehab center if that had happened?”
I paused. “You make good points.”
He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “I’m telling you, though, if something does happen? Frost and West can handle it until we all get there. I promise you.”
Relief washed over me. “I’m enjoying getting to know you, just so you know.”
He winked. “Makes two of us, then.”
I blushed as I finished the rest of my iced coffee, and I was glad that Puck walked further away from the subject of Lori.
“So, do you like helping people?” he asked.
I settled my hands in my lap. “I really do, yeah.”
“Then why the hell are you working for your father’s business?”
I giggled so loud that I clapped my hand over my mouth before I answered. “Do you even know anything about what we really do?”
He blinked. “Honestly? No.”
I drew in a deep breath through my nose. “Well, there are some things we do that aren’t so legal. But you guys get into not-so-legal shit all the time. Are you in it to intentionally hurt people?”
He scoffed. “Never.”
I nodded. “Two peas in a pod then.”
“So, your family helps if people ask?”
“Yep. My father makes it a point to help those who need it. All they have to do is ask, like Stone did when he had Asher reach out for him.”
He leaned back in his chair. “You’re remarkable, Brigid Fitzpatrick.”
I smiled so hard my cheeks hurt. “As are you, Puck. But now that I have food in my system, I can feel sleep quickly descending.”
He stood and offered his hand. “I’ll take you back to your room, then.”
I stood and looked around before I slipped my hand into his, and very quickly our fingers interlaced.
It caught me off-guard since we had agreed yesterday to keep things casual.
But I didn’t hate it. I leaned against him as he escorted me to my room, and as we stood in the middle of the open doorway, his arms slipped around my waist.
“What?” I asked as my hands fell to his chest.
His nose nuzzled my own. “A kiss goodnight?”
I peeked around to make sure no one was watching before I cupped the back of his head.
He growled as he scooped me against his body, forcing me onto my tiptoes as our tongues collided.
Heat pooled between my thighs. His tongue slid along the roof of my mouth, causing my toes to curl in my flats.
And as he pressed me against the doorframe, a need rose within me that I wanted to fulfill so badly.
“Oh,” I moaned.
His forehead touched my own. “You can’t moan like that in the clubhouse.”
“Hey, you growled, so I get a moan.”
He kissed my lips softly. “Fair enough.”
But just as his lips connected with mine once again, a light flooded our eyes. I shoved Puck away as he jumped practically across the hallway over to his bedroom door, but it was too late.
Stone’s eyes fell upon me before he nodded, then his attention turned to Puck.
“Take a walk with me,” Stone said flatly.
And after Puck looked over at me with a comforting stare, a nervous smile crossed my face.
“Goodnight,” I said softly.
Puck’s gaze turned back to Stone. “Night, Brigid.”
Holy shit, he saw us.
Which meant that if Stone saw us, it was only a matter of time before my father knew about it.