Brick Brick (Knights Corruption MC - Next Generation, #4) - S. Nelson Page 0,15

would hurt you.”

“You’d be surprised.” The words flew out of my mouth before I could think better of restraining them. Thankfully, she didn’t comment on my odd response, shifting into third easier than I thought she could, given the slight stick with the clutch.

I’d bought this white, mid-nineties Chevy pickup from a guy five years ago. It could use some work, but it ran well, the interior was clean, and there was only one spot of rust near the bumper. I didn’t care about vehicles as much as some of the other guys, all my money going into my Harley, which I rode most of the time.

“Have you given any thought to how you’re going to handle my dad if something happens once we get there?” Zoe tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, swallowing nervously when I didn’t answer right away. Her fingers wrapped tighter around the knob of the shifter, her chest expanding quicker than seconds before.

“Everything will be fine. Like I said, it’s not like he’s gonna come at me.”

“And like I said before, you don’t know that.” A small crease formed between her brows during the silence that followed. But there wasn’t anything I could say to ease her worry because I couldn’t predict the future. Ryder could choose to threaten me in front of his daughter or wait until we were alone to warn me off. Or there was a third option. He could keep his mouth shut. Although bets were not on the last possibility. Now, if it had been Stone, I had no doubt the man would come after me, not caring at all about my injuries. But Ryder wasn’t Stone, and I prayed with every mile that brought us closer I wasn’t wrong.

Physically, none of the guys were a match for me, given my size, but I still wouldn’t strike Ryder back if he hit me. One, because he was one of the older members of the club, thus deserving of respect. And two, he was Zoe’s dad, and a physical altercation between us would be disastrous on all levels.

When she finally pulled up to the gates, I leaned over and pushed the remote clipped to the visor, sitting back in my seat quickly before I started something we couldn’t finish.

“You can park over there.” I pointed toward the row of bikes on our right, Tripp backing into his spot as we passed. There was one other pickup truck in the lot, belonging to Trigger.

He couldn’t ride anymore because of an injury to his hand awhile back. Plus, he was old, and his coordination wasn’t what it used to be, which was more detrimental on a hog than tucked inside a truck.

As Zoe and I exited, a car pulled up next to us. Braylen was behind the wheel with Ryder in the passenger seat. I stood by my bumper, waiting for the confrontation once he slammed his door shut.

At first glance, he looked better than he had the last time I saw him. His color was good and although his walk was slow, I would’ve never known there was anything wrong with him.

Zoe walked up next to me and stood so close there was no mistaking we were together, had he not already known. I waited for her to put her hand in mine, but she never made the move.

“Honey.” Braylen was next to her husband in the next second, tugging on his arm when he took a step toward me. “Not now.”

“When, then? When he knocks her up?”

“Dad!” Zoe exclaimed, a flush covering her cheeks. I wanted to tell him off for embarrassing his daughter, but she spoke before I could say a word.

“What Brick and I do is none of your business. I’m gro—”

“Grown. I know!” he shouted, his mouth curving into a snarl. “You keep tellin’ me. So start actin’ like it. Nothing will ever come of you two together. You’re wasting your time.” A vein thickened in the center of his forehead when he snapped his attention to me. “And I warned you to stay away from her.”

There wasn’t any justification I could give Ryder for pursuing Zoe. I defied his warning, going against the unwritten rule of the club not to mess with someone from another member’s family, but I couldn’t go back now. I was in too deep. I’d deal with whatever consequences arose. I just hoped whatever happened didn’t push her away from me, making her regret her decision to be with me