CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Brick
“I can’t believe you lied to me.” Starlet tries to make a serious face but can’t. She dabs at her lips with a linen napkin, then folds it neatly in half before setting it on the table. “You love Sushi.”
“That might be pushing it.” I pop the last piece in my mouth and nearly swallow it whole. “I meant everything I said about fishing anything out of the water up east, though. Lots or runoff from industry and too many people, equals low water quality.”
“That’s a concern everywhere, I think. But you smoke. Talk about poison…”
“So do you.”
She snorts, and I grin at how cute she looks. No matter how pleasant it is to be around her, no matter how much I can picture us spending more time together, my only goal is to keep an eye on her until the dinner tomorrow night. We broke too many rules together—rules that could get us both in trouble.
“So now what?” she asks, sounding more serious.
“Exactly what I told you before. Eagle expects you to show up tomorrow. Be honest—tell him everything you told me.”
“I didn’t tell you everything, Brick, nor would I.”
What is she hiding? This is her only chance to convince my prez that she’s in the right. “Give the brothers a reason to offer you sanctuary.”
She waves her hands in frustration. “It’s my life, not yours. Why do the Devil’s Crusaders or the Iron Norsemen get a say in what I can or can’t do? Explain that to me or I just might get up and walk away from you forever.”
Considering she’s sitting on the inside of the bench, she’d have to force her way through me first. I shrug, not because I don’t care or empathize with her situation, I do. “We’re not trying to reinvent the wheel here, sweetheart. There’s bylaws—common courtesies that all brothers extend to each other. It helps keep the peace.”
Tears fill her eyes, and I feel like shit for being so rigid. I reach for her hand but she moves away. “None of this helps me.” She wipes a tear off her cheek. “I thought you were different, Brick. I really did.”
Did I say or do something to give her a false impression of who I am. That’s not my style. I’m unforgivingly honest about everything. The patch comes first. My personal feelings are secondary. I gaze around the restaurant, the last thing I need is for her to cause a scene. Best to get Starlet outside. As I start to stand up a guy stops at our table.
“Sarah?”
She looks up. “Hi, Charles. It’s not a good time, okay?” She grabs her purse.
“What’s going on?” he asks. “You look upset.”
I recognize this dick hole—the same guy who was hanging on her outside the bar the other night. I growl. “You heard the lady.”
Charles eyes my cut, appears unimpressed, then focuses on Starlet again. “Do you need a ride?”
I let out a deliberately loud breath and rise to my feet, at least a couple inches taller than Charles. Everything about him screams college jock strap—his hair cut, clothes, and arrogant demeanor. Rich boy is obviously used to getting what he wants. Not tonight—not Starlet—ever. “This is your only warning,” I say it low enough so only he can hear me. “Back the fuck off. Sarah isn’t interested in anything you have to offer. Understand?”
I know every instinct he has is telling him to challenge me to save face. Nothing would give me greater pleasure than teaching him a valuable lesson. But for the sake of my club, I don’t want to start a fight in a public place. We’re trying to establish ourselves here, trying to win the trust of the people who live in Shreveport.
He takes another hard look at Starlet, then me.
My hands tighten at my sides reflexively—ready to pound him if I need to.
“Shit.” He runs his fingers through his hair. “Try to have a good night, Sarah.” He backs up, turns around, and disappears in the bar.
“That was awkward,” she says as she slides off the bench.
“Do you like that guy, Sarah?”
“I don’t really know him. As for the fake name…”
“You don’t need to explain, I get it. But I don’t want you talking to him.”
She arches a brow. “You’re ready to sell me to the Devil’s Crusaders and you’re worried about who I fuck?” Her mirthless laugh has the same effect on me as long fingernails on a chalkboard. “That’s rich, Brick.” She pushes by me, headed for the exit.
I pull a hundred-dollar bill out of my pocket and drop it on the table before I rush to catch up with her. Once we’re outside, I grab her upper arm from behind and force her to turn around. “I’m not selling you to anyone,” I say more forcefully than I intended. “As for who you fuck…” Not sure what I’m feeling right now, but the idea of her climbing into bed with Charles, or anyone else, pisses me off. “You belong to me right now.”
She lifts her chin defiantly. “Is your name tattooed on my body? Am I wearing your patch?” She yanks free and crosses her arms over her chest. “Well?”
“No.”
“That’s right. Last time I checked, I had a DC royalty tat. That makes me off limits to you and anyone else, remember?”
Jesus Christ, she knows how to push my buttons. I back her into the closest wall and use my knee to spread her legs wide. I stare down at her, sure she can feel the tension rolling off my body. I want her. I should protect her against any threat, even though the rules say I can’t. What’s that make me? Where are we going to end up? “I already told you how I feel. It isn’t up for discussion.” I plunder her pouty lips with mine, forcing my tongue deep inside her hot mouth, tasting the bitter flavor of the beer she just finished.
I’m fucked. As she laces her fingers behind my neck and pulls me down for easier access, I figure I’m about one kiss away from being neck-deep in her bullshit.