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“I don’t need a babysitter,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest. My tone is firm. “I’m not a child who needs to be watched over. I can take care of myself.”
He opens his mouth to speak, but I cut him off. “I know my brother better than anyone, okay? I know he would have made you swear to protect me and all that macho bullshit. I know you would have made that promise to him. But I’m not his responsibility anymore, and I’m certainly not yours.”
Brick’s jaw clenches, his eyes hardening. “Ava, it’s not that simple—”
“But it is,” I counter, stepping forward. “This isn’t about what Ace wanted or what you promised him. It’s about me and whatIwant. WhatIneed. And Idon’twant or need a bodyguard. I don’t want to feel like a burden or an obligation.”
There’s a brief moment of silence, tension thick in the air. His gaze never leaves mine, a silent battle of wills taking place.
Finally, I turn on my heel and head back toward the apartment building, leaving Brick and his silent vigil behind. I can feel his eyes on me as I go, but I don’t look back. I won’t look back.
CHAPTER3
Brick
The confrontationwith Ava leaves me reeling, her words echoing in my mind. She’s right, of course—she doesn’t need a babysitter, and she’s not a burden. But damn if Ace’s words, his plea from his deathbed, doesn’t keep playing over in my mind like a broken record.
Swinging a leg over my Harley, I fire up the engine, letting the roar of it drown out my thoughts for a moment. The streets are quiet as I head away from Ava’s apartment, her defiant words and fiery spirit still burned into my brain.
I’ve always known Ava was strong and capable. Hell, she’s patched up half the club on one occasion or another, stitching wounds and setting broken bones with a steady hand and nerves of steel. Ace trusted her implicitly, and that trust wasn’t misplaced. But knowing that doesn’t make it any easier to step away, to leave her unprotected in a world that’s far from safe.
Navigating the winding roads that lead to the Cascade Reapers’ clubhouse, my thoughts are a turbulent mix of duty, loyalty, and a burgeoning sense of something I can’t quite name. The secluded foothills of Mount Rainier loom large in the growing twilight, but the clubhouse lights a beacon in the darkness. It’s more a miniature town than anything—a fortress surrounded by tall fences. From the outside, it warns you to stay away. But inside, it’s home.
My dad and his generation of Reapers bought this land decades ago, wanting to escape the rest of the world and be free to live as they pleased. Over the years, not all of us have chosen to live here, but most of us do. We live in a kind of harmony that’s only possible when a group shares mutual respect. And we do. There’s a hierarchy, with me at the top and Slash my second, but it’s no dictatorship. Everyone’s vote counts, and none of us interferes with the others’ personal lives uninvited. Considering how contentious the world has become, it’s no small miracle that we continue to live like this, and I never take it for granted.
The compound is bustling with activity when I arrive, the air thick with the scent of beer and motor oil. My brothers are gathered, their voices a low hum of conversation that grates on my already frayed nerves. I need to be present and focused. The ongoing issues with the Iron Serpents aren’t going to resolve themselves.
But I find it hard to concentrate on anything but Ava. Her face swims into my mind, her words a sharp reminder of the promise I made and the one I’m struggling to keep. I shove the thoughts away, forcing myself to focus on the matters at hand. I’m a Reaper. My club needs me, and I’ll be damned if I let personal shit get in the way of that.
But even as I dive into discussions about territory, retaliation, and club politics, Ava’s safety remains a constant worry, gnawing at the back of my mind. And despite everything she said tonight, isn’t the pull I feel toward her, this inexplicable urge to protect, just as strong as the promise I made?
I play a round of pool with the guys, but I tank every shot I take. Soon, I find myself back on my bike, the night air cool against my skin. My mind is made up. Ava might not like it, might not want it, but I can’t stop watching over her, not when the dangers of our world loom so close.
Guided by instinct and a deep-seated sense of responsibility, I find myself on the outskirts of Ava’s apartment building, lurking in the shadows like a fucking creep once again. I keep a careful distance, hidden from view but close enough to intervene if need be.
The night is still when a low rumble breaks the silence, a sound I know all too well. My body tenses as a familiar bike rolls into view, the sleek black and silver insignia on the side marking its rider as an Iron Serpent. The rider dismounts, his gaze locked on Ava’s apartment window, where she’s visible as she heats something up in the microwave. My blood runs cold.
“Taking an interest in a new piece of ass, are we?” The Serpent’s voice grates on my nerves, a smug grin on his face as he saunters over. His eyes gleam with malevolence and mirth, a dangerous combination. The bastard must have followed me here.
I instinctively reach for the knife at my side. “You stay the fuck away from her.”
“What are you doing back here?” I whip my head around and see Ava walking toward us. “Itoldyou—”
“I know, Ava,” I interrupt, just as the Serpent steps around me and looks her up and down.
“Well, well, well,” he drawls, his voice laced with menace and a predatory glint in his eye. “I was just about to tell your guard dog here how much my club could…” he pauses, licking his lips, “usea pretty little thing like you.”
I shove him hard and follow him as he staggers backward. “Get the fuck out of here,” I say. “Now.” He’s by himself, and he must not be quite as dumb as he looks because he spits on the ground and mounts up, then tears out of the lot.
“I told you—”
“I heard you, Ava. But I can’t just let you walk around on your own. Not with the Serpents sniffing around.”
“Serpents?” she repeats uncomprehendingly.
“The Iron Serpents,” I clarify, my expression hardening. “The club that fucking killed your brother. They’re not just a threat to the Reapers, Ava. They’re a threat to you now because of me, and I’m so sorry for that, but it’s the truth.”
After a shocked pause, she says, “I can take care of myself,” but now her voice lacks the conviction and defiance it held a minute ago.
