Chapter Three
“You’re saying Stefan and I still have targets painted on our backs,” Rose said.
“That’s right,” he said.
Everything happened so fast. When she ran out of the trailer with Stefan, she’d never been more afraid her entire life. She shuddered, thinking about the way Dragon and his pals looked at her. She’d been subjected to stares like that her entire life, but the men who gawked at her in the bar were mostly harmless. Dragon and this new biker, they were a different breed.
No, she wouldn’t exactly put this new biker in that same category but whoever this tall, muscled, and dark-haired stranger was—he was also dangerous. She had to crane her neck to look the titan in the eyes. A titan. That was an apt description.
Grave, blazing green eyes scrutinized her from a rough, bearded face. His entire body seemed like it had been carved from wood. Those massive inked arms looked like they could break a lesser man in half easily.
He was older than she was by maybe two decades, but despite her situation, Rose found herself attracted to him physically. Juggling three jobs to pay the bills never left her much time for romance. She had dated a total of three men her entire life, and all of them ended up being disappointments. Wait.
She liked that he studied her face and not her body, although it would be nice if—if what? Rose’s thoughts had drifted off in an unexpected direction. She had been certain she would be next on his kill list after he mercilessly gunned down Dragon and his friends.
Rose should’ve been disturbed by what she saw, but maybe she was just tired. She was still alive. That was something. She’d think about her yellow-bellied brother’s betrayal later. Right now, she had little energy for anything else.
“My advice? Take Stefan and go somewhere safe. Forget what you saw tonight. Even better, leave town for a few weeks until this mess blows over,” he said.
“I don’t have anywhere else to go,” she found herself whispering. What was he saying? She’d never left Castle Falls. She had some paltry savings in the bank, sure. Enough for a bus ticket, but where would she go with Stefan?
“Then you and Stefan would just have to come with me,” he said.
She snapped awake at those words. “What?”
“I’ll take you and Stefan under my protection,” he said with a nod. “If you two are with me, no one will dare touch you.”
“This is crazy,” she whispered. “I don’t even know your name. Why would do such a thing? At what price?”
“Everyone calls me Brick,” he said. “We’ll talk about the price later on. Right now, we need to move. One of the trailer residents would’ve probably alerted Rat and the rest of the Black Dogs MC. You have to decide now, Rose. Come with me or stay here. What will it be?”
Rose chewed on her lower lip. Not like she had plenty of choices left either way. There were always terrible stories of folks who happened to get on the Black Dogs MC’s bad side. Tales of how they simply disappeared out of thin air. The same thing would happen to Stefan and her.
Brick was right. Whatever her brother had done, it was bad enough to attract the MC’s attention. They’d hunt down Rose and Stefan just to get to Donny. Going with Brick was the best option she had right now. She knew what kind of price men like Brick demanded, and she found she didn’t care.
Brick saved her from a fate worse than death. That had to mean there was some good in him. Brick’s friend, the one with all the piercings, returned. He raised one eyebrow at Rose.
“She’s coming with us, Razor,” Brick said. “Rose and the kid will be under my protection.”
“Damn, Brick. What’s gotten into you? What’s so special about this one?” Razor asked. He gave her a sweeping gaze, and she didn’t miss the intelligence behind those dark eyes.
“That’s for me to find out,” Brick said. “Let’s go before Dragon’s friends come sniffing around. That your ride?” Brick nodded to Rose’s car. She blinked and nodded.
“Get in that car and follow us,” Brick said.
“Wait,” she blurted. “I need to pack some things. For me and Stefan.”
Brick hesitated.
“Brick, we don’t have time for this,” Razor said. “I’m pretty sure someone here probably ratted us out to the Black Dogs MC. What happened to a quick job?”
“Five minutes,” Brick told her. “I’ll help you.”
Razor cursed under his breath. Rose started for the trailer, but Brick beat her to the door.
“I’ll check if it’s safe first,” Brick said. This biker kept stumping her at every turn. Was Brick pretending to be a gentleman to get on her good side? Why would he need to do that? Rose thought a second later. Brick stepped in. As far as she could see, the trailer hadn’t caught fire. Thank God.
“Get in here,” Brick said.
Rose entered her home, grimacing as they passed the living room. The homemade bomb had landed on the floor, leaving a blackened mess. By some miracle, none of the furniture caught fire. Maybe the bikers were too drunk or in a hurry to make a proper bomb.
“I’ll hold him while you pack,” Brick offered.
Rose hesitated, then handed Stefan over. None of this made any sense. She still questioned herself for putting her and Stefan’s safety in Brick’s hands, but it wasn’t like she had plenty of choices. For some reason, Brick had offered his help to her. His intentions seemed sincere although Rose didn’t understand him at all.
Brick held Stefan like a pro, like someone who held babies before. Stefan was wide awake and stared at Brick curiously.
“Hello there, handsome boy. Sorry to interrupt your sleep,” Brick murmured to the boy.
Relieved, she went to work. Rose snatched a dusty duffel bag she hadn’t used in ages, then dumped clothes and baby supplies in there.
Nothing in this world came free. Rose understood that, but she shook her head. She had to focus on her task.
“Done,” she declared.
Brick and Rose left the trailer, and she dumped the bag in the trunk of her car. Brick helped her put Stefan in his baby seat, then she got behind the wheel. Brick and Razor mounted their bikes. She started the car, praying it wouldn’t die on her suddenly. It purred to life.
Rose expelled a breath. Was she really doing this? Trusting the word of a biker, a stranger she just met? She made a silent promise to herself to stay away from men like her brother and father. Those two were no better than petty criminals who kept failing at life, but Brick? Brick seemed like the real deal.