Brick Brick (Knights Corruption MC - Next Generation, #4) - S. Nelson Page 0,38

get back at us.”

“Already done,” Stone replied.

“Same.” Tripp nodded in agreement with the club VP.

I watched as Marek raised the gavel, closing my eyes a second before the boom sounded, needing those few precious and brief seconds to reel in all of the anxiety and fear coursing through me at the prospect of what was to come.

All I wanted to do was get back home and see Zoe. Talk to her, hold her, kiss her. But as soon as I stood from my seat and walked toward the door, my plans were derailed. At least, for the time being.

“Brick, hold up.” Ryder’s voice came from behind, and while I couldn’t readily detect any anger in his voice, I was sure he was about to give me shit about my involvement with his daughter, in some way or another. I turned my head to the side and saw him approach without a hint of struggle on his part, which was good because it meant he was healing, as was I. He grabbed my shoulder when he was near, stepping in front of me and allowing everyone else to vacate before he inevitably started in on me.

Once we were alone, I stepped back, and his hand fell. “What’s up?” I prepared myself for what was gonna come out of his mouth, and even though I didn’t know the exact words I’d be hearing, his message would be clear. Zoe told me about the conversation she had with him when she went to visit him, and I doubted his feelings about me and her changed much since then.

“What I wanna say to you and what I’m gonna say are two different things.” He pulled a deep breath before continuing. There were several more lines etched around his eyes, the stress of everything going on surely taking its toll. “Zoe has been stubborn since she was little, always pushing back against me and anyone who tried to tell her what to do. I know she’s grown, but she’s still my little girl. I don’t like her with you. I don’t want her to be involved with any of this.”

“But she is because she’s related to you. You can’t change that.”

“I know. That’s why…” He stopped talking for a moment, his breaths slow and steady while his eyes narrowed. Ryder made a clicking noise with his throat, then flared his nostrils as his lungs deflated. “Do you care about her? More than someone to just fill your bed?” His eyes darkened when he asked his second question.

“Yes, I care about her. A lot. I’m worried about her every second I’m not with her. And as far as my bed is concerned, that’s none of your business.” There was a split second when I thought he was gonna say somethin’ snarky, but he didn’t.

“Then I’m happy she has someone else lookin’ out for her safety. I need all the help I can get as I have my hands full with Braylen and Roman.” Ryder stared at me for several seconds. “Don’t let anything happen to her,” he said, taking a single step closer. “I mean it. If she falls into harm in any way, I’m holding you responsible.”

I didn’t say anything in response. The only thing I could do was give him a curt nod, keeping my surprise hidden that he hadn’t ranted, demanding I keep my distance from her.

There was something unnerving about Ryder entrusting me to watch over his daughter. In an odd sort of way, he’d just stressed how dire our club’s situation really was.

Not that I needed the reminder.

18

I sensed him behind me before I saw him, the hairs on the back of my neck springing to attention. With my phone pressed against my ear, I turned slightly to the left and saw Brick leaning against the doorway of his bedroom, his eyes traveling the length of me, stopping for several seconds on my backside before wandering north to meet my stare.

“Okay, sounds good. I’ll see you then,” I said, ending the call with Natasha a moment later.

When I turned toward him, I froze, drinking in the sight of him. He was the epitome of raw and hungry maleness, his size only contributing a fraction to his essence.

Brick could be tender, but he could switch on a dime and become animalistic, embracing his baser needs when necessary. He ran every spectrum of the gamut, from sweet to devilish.

Dark brown eyes that captured and held me prisoner shone brightly back at me, the