That was one of the things Brick loved about her. She had a big heart. Rose was worried about these women although she never met them.
“Grizzly and Trigger will make sure they’re returned to their homes,” Brick said. “Rose, you didn’t answer my earlier question.”
“Oh. Sorry. Donny wants to see Stefan one more time before he leaves,” she admitted.
Brick stared at her for a few seconds. He took a deep breath before saying his piece. “Rose, you’re aware he’s asking you to walk into a trap, right?”
“I’ve considered that, but he made a convincing argument. He says he wants to see his kid one last time before he leaves. Donny also promised that once he’s settled somewhere safe, he’ll send me the relevant papers so I can finally take custody of Stefan.”
“That fucker,” Brick said under his breath.
Rose flinched, and he reminded himself to calm down. Stefan cleverly dangled bait designed to ensure Rose would make an appearance tomorrow. “Rose, don’t think for a second I’ll allow you and Stefan to go.”
She pulled away from him and sat up in bed, furious. Damn it. She looked beautiful when she got angry. Like a pissed-off goddess about to unleash her wrath on poor mortals. “Brick, I don’t need your permission,” she said.
“Think about this more carefully, Rose. You, Donny, and Stefan would be in one place. The Black Dogs MC could just swoop in, kill you all, and that will solve their problems. I’m on your side, sweetheart. Remember that.” Brick pulled her to a hug. Rose didn’t fight him.
“Do you think he’s still working for them?” she asked.
“My guess? They found him first, but obtaining Donny isn’t enough for them. They want you too, because of Dragon.” Brick winced as he said the words because killing Dragon was on him.
“What am I going to do?” she asked.
Brick wanted her to sit tight while he resolved this mess, but one look at the determined expression on her face told him he’d have a hell of a fight on his hands. Even if he locked her up in his bedroom, Rose wasn’t the kind of girl who obeyed orders. She’d find a way to slip out and meet her brother. Brick had to factor her in the plan forming in his head.
“Okay,” he said, taking a deep breath. “We do this together. I’ll tell you about my plan, but you have to promise me one thing.”
Rose looked momentarily stunned, but she quickly recovered. “What’s that?”
“That your safety and Stefan’s comes first. Remember that there’s a life growing inside you,” he reminded her.
She sucked in a breath. “Okay, let’s hear your plan.”
So, Brick told her. They spent most of the night sharing ideas and brainstorming what could go wrong the next day.
****
“I can’t believe it. You actually showed,” Donny said in a strained voice as Rose slid into the booth Donny had chosen. Her brother looked worse for wear, if that was possible. She had only seen him the day before, and yet he looked like he lost more weight. His clothes looked like they hung on his thin frame.
“You said you wanted to see your son one last time, so here he is,” Rose said. She juggled Stefan in her arms. He cooed at her, and Rose gave her a kiss on the nose. Donny looked like he was about to throw up. A waitress arrived to take their orders.
“Fuck off,” Donny said.
“I’m sorry about him. He didn’t get much sleep last night,” Rose said.
Brick told her to act as normal as possible. She killed the urge to study her surroundings. Brick said the Black Dogs MC would probably have someone already in the diner. Someone nondescript. They were still in the Ruthless Reapers MC’s territory, so the Black Dogs wouldn’t dare try anything big.
Knowing Brick and his men were outside gave her courage. When Rose walked up to the diner, she had started shaking. Brick had been adamant that she remain at home. He even suggested using another woman to pose as her, but Rose ruled that out. Rose didn’t want to endanger another person. This was her problem to deal with.
The waitress finished taking her order and left the table.
“Are you really as dumb as you look?” Donny hissed.
“Look at your son, Donny,” she said in a quiet voice.
Donny seemed surprised. For the first time that morning, he snuck a look at Stefan. Regret and guilt filled his features. She’d never thought she’d see those two emotions on her brother’s face.
“You shouldn’t have come, Rose,” he said in a pleading, whining voice. He buried his face into his hands. “We’re dead. All of us.”
“Damn right,” said a gruff voice from the next booth. A huge man stood up. He wore dirty jeans and a hoodie, but he couldn’t quite conceal his tattoos. He took out a gun from inside his jacket. Fear gripped Rose in a vise. She couldn’t move or think.
Then Brick came barreling out of the men’s room, revolver pointed at the enemy biker. Rose shut her eyes and cradled Stefan against her chest. A pop went off. Brick had a silencer on his gun, she remembered. A heavy thump made her open her eyes. The Black Dogs MC member lay dead at her feet, his blood pooling on the floor.
“Let’s go,” Brick told her, hauling her to her feet.
“Donny, come on,” she yelled at her brother. Brick put his body in front of her, and she realized he was using himself as a shield. Finally, they got out of the diner. The rumble of a motorcycle engine made her grasp Brick’s arm. Brick’s backup, or were those more enemy bikers?
“Stay close to me,” Brick said in a low voice. A Harley rounded on the corner, where she and Donny were standing. The rider pointed a gunshot at her. Time froze to a standstill.
“Get out of the way,” Donny yelled.
Her brother ran in front of her just as the biker fired. Donny let out a cry as the bullet hit impact. She let out a scream. The killer changed direction, probably deciding it wasn’t worth it trying a second shot. Razor came running from the men’s room, carrying a shotgun. He aimed and shot the killer right in the chest. Both the corpse and the bike went wild.
She tore her eyes from the grisly scene.
“Donny,” she whispered, kneeling. Stefan started crying. Brick stood in front of her, gun out, probably watching for more enemies. A second passed, then a minute. None came. Donny stared at her, mouth slack open, eyes dead. Her heart threatened to rip in two. Donny had been an asshole to Rose her entire life, but he finally did one good thing for his son.
“Rest in peace, big brother,” Rose said, then closed his eyes with two fingers.