Brick Read online

  “So, you gonna be there this Saturday?” Mav asks slowly like he knows that I haven’t been to a party in a long time.

  “Yeah, text me the address and I will be there. Thanks for everything Mav. I mean it.” I smile at myself. I am almost positive that he had something to do with me getting the job. No way in hell would Brick let me work for him. He probably thinks I am whiney knit whit. What he doesn’t know is that I learned long ago that whining gets you nowhere with a man. As a mom I personally hate whining and I have tried like to hell to teach my two kids not to whine. If I say no it means no, no questions or whines will change that.

  Plus having a military dad meant no whines were taken anyway, I was raised to not whine when things didn’t go my way. Mav broke my thoughts. “No, problem sis, I am glad you’re here. But hey I gotta go sis, love ya.” The click of the line dying made me laugh.

  “Mama, cen we got ice cram?” Sean asks with his eyes gleaming with his plea. I look down at my watch it is already time for lunch.

  “Tell you what little man, we will get ice cream after lunch. Okay?”

  “yay!” Sean yells as he goes back into the living room with Amy and Sadie. I can’t help but laugh at his enthusiasm as I follow him.

  “Amy, did you want to join us? I need to shop for some clothes anyway.” I shrug my shoulders. It would be nice to make a new friend at the same time.

  “Yeah, I would love to. Let me call my old man.” She walks outside to make her call. I think back to our little conversation earlier this morning. I want to help them out. I pull out my phone and put a note in my note app to look for segregate mom’s that don’t judge.

  “Alright, I know the best place that we can shop and eat at the same time.”

  I knew that Redding was a big city, not a big as Houston but like Dallas. I hate Dallas and its crazy as hell drivers. I was pretty sure there would be malls and tons of shopping around the area. As we are leaving, I look up to see Brick talking with a customer, but his eyes are on me, a shiver goes down my spine, as I wonder if he has eaten yet. I give myself a mental shake, he is not my responsibility to take care of. Paul hated that I always tried to take care of him, feeding him and wondered about his wellbeing when he was at work. He said I was nag, and that I wasn’t any of my business if he was hungry or what he was doing. Now that I look back at it, I was being a normal wife, I guess, he was the one that was worried I would find out about his second life that he kept from me.

  The shopping went well, I got a few new tops and jeans and a new outfit for the party. I also got the kids some new clothes, shoes, and other things they might need. We hit up Bath and Body works to get some new scents for the shower and lotion. Amy kept on eying a dress and I bought it for her, but she doesn’t know it. It makes me smile knowing how much she is going to love it. I even got her matching shoes to go with it. Of course the shoes are her size. “I need you try these on. I want to see how they will look.” Amy smiled and tried them on they looked great on her feet, made her legs look longer. She is going to be a knock out in the dress and shoes. I am sure her old man will approve.

  “My old Man said he is at the Sinner’s Ink. I bet he is hungry.” Amy announced as she got some food to go. My thoughts went back to Brick. “Do you, uh, think Romeo might be hungry too?” I asked. I wanted to slap myself as the words came out of my mouth. Amy smiled and nodded her head. She didn’t say anything more when she ordered the food.

  When we got back to the car, I put most of the bags in the trunk. I left the two out that were for Amy. “Here, a thank you for coming with me.” I smiled at her as I slid in the driver’s seat. “Korey, you didn’t have to.” Her face turned red as she sat down in the seat. I noticed she hasn’t looked in the bags yet. “Well, what did you get?” Sadie asked.

  “I don’t want to look yet.” Amy blushed as she peered in the bag and pulled out the dress. I wanted to make her happy, but she was crying. Maybe I shouldn’t have gotten the dress. “Amy, if you don’t like it, we can return it.” I blurt out. God, I feel like a dumbass thinking I could make friends with her. she seemed so nice, and I desperately wanted a friend.

  “No, no I don’t want to return it. I just haven’t had someone besides my Old Man buy me anything.” She hugged me up. “Thank you, you’re a wonderful friend Korey.” I smiled and whispered in her ear “Good, because, I was thinking those shoes are so going to get you laid.” She busted out laughing and snorted. It made me laugh hard and Sadie and Sean were laughing too. I bet we looked like a car full of crazies.

  “That’s what friends are for right, looking out for each other.” I smiled at her. The last friend I had was two years ago, but I later found out that she was screwing and engaged to my husband at the time. Yep I did the same thing for her. bought her pretty clothes and shoes and yes, I got her laid, but she was fucking my husband while he was at work.

  “Yeah and trust me the tops you got will do the same for you.” Amy had suggested a few tops that normally I would wear but Amy insisted that I get them. I couldn’t help but laugh. Most were cold shoulder tops; one was a thin strappy top with a handkerchief bottom.

  “Well I doubt that, but good looking out for me.” Amy gave me a stern look and shook her head. I shrugged my shoulders as we got to the shop. We all piled out with our ice cream and food for the guys. I felt like a third wheel but who cares I work here now, well starting tomorrow. “Come on, guys. Sadie and Sean I want you to meet my husband.” Sean looked at me with a question in his eyes. I knelt down at his level as the Amy and Sadie went in. “Buddy, it will be okay. One day you will see.” I kissed his head. “Mama, cen yow fend me a diddy?” He asked, I wanted to cry for him. He so young and just wanted a daddy like his friends had. “I will see, okay.” I smiled at him and looked at his tear rimmed eyes. God it broke my heart every time we had this conversation. I took his hand and lead him into the shop. “This is where mama is going to be working now.” I looked down at his little blonde head as we went inside his face took on a oh wow look. Yep I may not look like a mom, or act like one, but these two were my joy.

  “Mama, come look. I found something!” Sadie yelled at me. I found her looking at a wall full of familiar artwork. “Look mama, it’s your owl, and look there is your fairy, and your….” Her words fell on silent ears as I took in all my artwork that I had sent to my brother. I didn’t know if I wanted to scream at him, pound on his chest or hug him. All the drawings that I had sent him over the years were right here. The tiger that I drew after Paul and I ended things two years ago. It was my angry piece, the tiger had a look of death in her face, the jungle fading behind her and she bared her teeth.

  I felt a hand on my shoulder and it startled me. I looked over at Amy staring at the wall, she looked at my arm and looked back. “Have you gotten ink here before?” Amy asked me. I shook my head, tears trying to fall. “My mama drew all of these!” Sadie said happily. “Excuse me.” I pulled out my phone and dialed my brother’s number. I felt numb, I knew I shouldn’t be mad, but I was hurt, it was my private work. I had no plans of having it on display.

  “How could you!” I yelled at Mav. There was a pause on his end.

  “Um, Korey, I meant to tell you, but I thought you would be happy. They were so damned good. I never told anyone who drew them. And they are best sellers at Sinner’s Ink.” Mav’s voice held a hint of sadness to it. I couldn’t help but laugh. I knew I was laughing like a maniac. “Shit, sis, please don’t kill me.” He knew what it meant. When I laughed like this it was not happiness but me being beyond pissed.

  “Really Mav, I would have expected you to at least let me know, you were selling my artwork. I mean people are putting this on their skin thinking it looks awesome, but not really knowing the meaning behind it. I know I should be flattered that people like it, but shit Mav, that tiger was mine and mine alone. The rest is fine but not the tiger.” I whispered the last part. The tiger was my little sanctuary of strength, she was something I wish I could be.

  �
�Sis, I’m sorry. Look I will tell Brick to take them down.”

  “No, you won’t, look the damage is done. No harm no foul right.” I heard the bell above the door ring, but I didn’t turn around. “I can always draw more, right, no problem!” I yelled as I ended the call. I let out a shaky breath.

  “So you are the person behind the drawings huh?” I head a deep voice ask. I nodded my head without turning around. I knew my face was a mess from trying to keep the fucking tears inside. Grams always said strong people cry. But I didn’t feel very fucking strong right now.

  “Yeah, too bad Mav never told me he was putting them on other people’s skin.” I laugh at my own stupidity. I should have known that he might do this. He had said a million times that I should be a tattoo artist that my work was that good.

  “Well, your shit is good. But no one has ever gotten the tiger done. I think they just know that she isn’t for them.” I turned around and stared at him. “Really, no one at all?” I asked I made me a little giddy knowing that no one had my tiger running around.

  Chapter 6

  Brick

  “Yep no one has the tiger.” I reassured her, well truth be told one person had the tiger tattooed on them. But I wasn’t going to tell her that. Not like she would ever find out anyway. I didn’t plan on tell her that I had it done. Something about the damn tiger spoke to me. The hidden strength and hurt in her eyes.

  “Well, that is a relief. It was kind of a personal drawing.” She told me and blushed. “Well, I hope I still have a job.” She looked at me with her blue eyes and fuck me if I didn’t want her on her knees, or fuck on her back giving me that pleading look.

  “Of course, you have a job.” I shrugged my shoulders at her. why wouldn’t I give her the job. Just because her artwork has been lining one of my walls for years. Shit when Mav brought the drawings in five years ago, I was pretty amazed. Each piece was well drawn and had a meaning behind them. I knew they did, and I always tried to find out what it meant. Now I could pick her brain, and maybe find the lock on her pussy at the same time. God damn it not where my thoughts should be running.

  “Don’t forget ten in the morning.” I said gruffly and walked back into the shop.

  “I think I should go now. Love you Old Man.” Amy was telling Stink Eye. They kissed long and hard. When they broke apart, I noticed the little boy staring up at Stink Eye, like he was a god or something. The little girl was looking at the art on the wall. She walked up to the counter looking so much like the woman I wanted to fuck it was unreal.

  “So, how do I get my art on the wall?” She asked, she sounded more mature than she should be. I cocked my head to the side.

  “Well, depends on how good it is.” I challenged her. seeing how good her mom’s art was, I was pretty sure this little girl had the potential as well.

  “Well, I will tell you what…um what’s your name?” She asked me. I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. She had some of the same expressions her mother had.

  “Brick.” I grunted out.

  “Well, Brick, I will let you decide.” She turned and walked away.

  Damn when she grows up Cali is going to have its hands full with her. And Korey is going to have to fend off the Horney boys alone. I didn’t like that not at all. She shouldn’t have to raise two kids alone. But she wouldn’t really be alone. If she will let us the MC will be all she needs to keep the boys away from her daughter. Yep she is one of the family now. Everything will be good.

  “Damn man, that little girl is going to be killing little boys hearts before too long.” Stink Eye chuckled low. “That little boy is going to be a lady killer too.”

  “Yeah your probably right about that.” I add.

  “Hey, Korey is good for Amy. That shit is for sure. She got my Ol’ Lady a new outfit today. Amy said she had a blast with Korey. Damn if that doesn’t make me happy. It’s been hard for Amy these past few months.” He shakes his head.

  The last few months have been hard on Amy and Stink Eye, they want a baby so bad. But they can’t adopt one or find a woman willing to work with them. Once they realize that they are involved with the Angel’s and Sinner’s all bets are off. I hate it for my brother. They have been together for years, Amy is good not only for Stink Eye but for the club as well. She had become our mother hen.

  So, to hear that Blaze’s sister is doing her some good, mean she is good for the club as well. We take care of our own, the Ol’ Ladies included. We may look like a bunch of outlaws that we are, but we treat our women with respect. We take care of the families of the MC too. A few of the brothers have Ol’ Ladies and kids. It’s good meaning the next generation is coming up. That is important it means we have strength in numbers, sure another club could use our families against us, and a few of the brothers have been blind sighted by our enemies when the threat hits their homes where the Ol’ Lady is or hell even their kids.

  My Old Man always said it was risk to take to have a family in the MC, but that it is worth the risk. I personally don’t want to bring a woman into all this. I love my life, working as an artist, having my brothers at my side, but having a woman. Now that would be a distraction. She could be used against me, make me lose my mind and not be a good leader and President. And that is something I can’t have. I can’t have my leadership questioned. I don’t want my balls in a woman’s purse.

  Not now, not ever will I be ready to take on an Ol’ Lady. Sure, it might be good to have a warm body in my bed, but I will take cold sheets over having a weakness that could be exploited against me and the club.

  I see the struggle that goes on with my brothers as they leave on a run, and have to kiss their kids and Ol’ Ladies good bye, cause it could be their last time. I don’t need that shit fucking with my mind. I already have to take care of my brothers and ensure that they are safe, and that they come home to their families. That is enough by itself, if a woman and children are added to that mix it can’t bode well for me.

  “Good, that is real good, brother. Amy deserves to be happy.” I clap Stink Eye on the back as he is leaving the shop. I glance down at my watch only a few more hours before I can head home. And relax, before tomorrow morning gets here. I am going to have to bring my A game to keep the little pink haired vixen from getting into my head.

  I might want her, but there is too much at stake. I got the Grimm’s trying to push into our territory, that shit isn’t going to fly. The Grimm’s have always been a nuisance to our club since the beginning. My Old man had to put the last president down, after we left doing business with the Cartel and started doing business with the Irish. Right after that he died. I have had my suspicions ever since the funeral. I don’t have any evidence to point directly at the new president. But to take out both my parents seems like a direct answer to killing their president.

  Redding is a big city to keep tabs all over, but it is our city for the most part. The club has claimed the territory long before I was even thought of. My dad and his buddies started the club for just shits and giggles. Then the drugs came in and the guns. The drugs were easy to turn around since pot is legal in California. We opened up dispensaries to keep the government from sniffing to hard at our doorstep. The guns we are setting up a range for the weapons to be kept on hand. We are in the gray area of the law, not really legal but also not illegal to buy guns from a gun market that the Irish run see not exactly illegal but not legal and resale them. And that is precisely what we do. We don’t take any shit from other clubs and we have become well known for shooting first and asking questions later. Stay out of our way and we stay our of yours something my Old Man drilled into my head as a teen.

  My Ma was the perfect example of a good Ol’ Lady she kept my dad from getting killed. She listened when she needed to and was fierce when she needed to be. She knew how to wield a gun and she took care of the home when he was gone. She kept all of the brothers in line when they are needing reminding of who she was. She took no shit from anyone, not even my old man. She was one hell o
f a woman and an awesome mom. She had a gently and nurturing side that few got to see, but when you felt that side of her, you knew you were loved.

  When I was twenty-five my whole life changed. I had been a patched member for six years, but all that changed when my parents died. I became President overnight. I hate how I got the patch, I wanted to earn it, not it be given to me. There are a few members that don’t like how I got the patch, but hey. I wasn’t asked if I wanted it. I was voted in and it was expected of me because my father was the last president.

  Well fuck them and fuck the Grimm’s this is my club now and I have a responsibility to keeping these men and women safe, and I will. So, no an Ol’ Lady is not in the future not now and not ever. There is not a woman out there strong enough to handle my shit and the club’s shit. But my thoughts keep drifting back to Korey. I was impressed that she was the one behind the artwork that Blaze brought me. Seeing her soft pouty lips every time I closed eyes today was getting to my cock.

  Even after the day was over my cock is still hard from thinking about Korey. The way she smiles and her soft sultry voice. The ride home was uncomfortable, but I needed a distraction to get the pink haired beauty out of my mind.

  Getting inside the house didn’t help matters either, I make a line to the bathroom. The oversized tub lingering in the bathroom. I step into the walk in shower and hit the water. Right now I need a fucking cold shower. But fuck me it doesn’t help. “Fuck it” I yell out as I take my cock in my own hand. I close my eyes and see Korey on her knees sucking my cock, taking all of me in her mouth. Her blues eyes locked on mine daring me to fuck her mouth. I brace my arm on the shower as I continue to stroke my cock. After I am done fucking her mouth I bed her over the glass case and pound into her tight little pussy. I feel my release building as my balls tighten and my cock throbs as I splatter my come all over the shower tiles.