“Yeah.” I open my eyes and turn around. Damn, she’s beautiful when she’s wearing that freshly-fucked look, her hair a tangled mess and her body slick with sweat.
“Where’d you go, Brick? I’ve never seen you look like that, zoning out on me.”
“Nothing you need to worry about.” I’ll take certain memories to the grave.
“Hey.” She reaches for my face but I step back.
“Don’t try to make this more than it is.” Time to put some distance between us. She’s leaving Louisiana and my life forever.
“You just fucked me without a condom again and I’m not supposed to make this more than it is?”
“That’s what you’re worried about, Starlet? STDs? I’m clean.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” she says, sounding angry. “I was trying to make a point. If I trust you with my body like I do, maybe you should consider returning the favor.”
I stomp to the kitchen and open the mini fridge and take out a beer. Leave it to Shorty to keep a fresh stock of alcohol at his cabin. I twist the cap off and take a deep drink. “You don’t know anything about me.”
“No?” She joins me across the room. “I know enough.”
That’s the second time I’ve heard that today—first from Shorty, now her. What kind of fucked up vibes do I give off? “What’s that even mean?” I look at her.
“Give me your hand, Brick.”
I roll my eyes. “Wanna play fortune teller now?”
She crosses her arms over her breasts, jutting her chin out. “Why do you always make fun of what I do for a living? My great grandmother was Romani, immigrated to the United States from Europe. It’s in my blood.”
“The whole Louisiana voodoo thing isn’t real.” Why am I taking out my anger on her?
“Oh, really? Just so you know, there’s a world of difference between what I do and voodoo, which is a respected religion, by the way. I think you’re afraid to let me see into your soul, Brick.”
Maybe I’m being an asshole, but I really don’t have a choice. I can’t keep her. She’s not mine. She belongs to Silver, a motherfucker I’ve never met but hate already. As for theseeing into my soulthing, she’s right. “Wanna add to your own pain, sweetheart? Go ahead, read away.” I shove my open hand in her face, half hoping this is a game, that she can’t really read palms or whatever the fuck it is she does.
Her shoulders relax as she takes hold of my hand and stretches my fingers out. There’s a small window over the sink with light streaming through it. She angles my hand and traces the lines with her fingertips.
“Your patterns are different than most.” She gazes up at me. “I’ve never seen anything like it. This is your lifeline, Brick. Do you see how many breaks there are? Every break accounts for a traumatic experience—an illness, death, or even violence. What did your father do to you?”
I don’t need to confirm her observations.
“And this is your heartline. It’s long and curved and reaches the base of your middle finger. Passion drives you. I should know.”
“I won’t deny it.”
She gives me a sad smile. “Everyone has the right to be happy.”
“Even you?”
She shakes her head. “I’m the exception, Brick. My life isn’t my own, is it?”
I look away from her. Guilt washes over me. That face of hers is worth risking my patch over. But her heart—that shit is purer than anything, and it kills me to know where I’m sending her. Silver needs to die. “I didn’t want to tell you tonight.”
“Tell me what? What I already know? I’m sure the majority of the brothers voted against me.”
“Had to be unanimous, sweetheart. I’m sorry.”
I watch as she walks back to where we stripped down and finds her bra and panties. “We tried, right?”
Not hard enough.
“Don’t worry,” she says, “I won’t fight it. I’ve already jeopardized Juanita and now your club. I’ll be a good little old lady and marry Silver. Cook and clean for him, and suck him off every night.”
Goddamnit. I growl and rush over to her, grabbing her arms. “Why do you have to put that kind of picture in my head?”
She frowns at me. “Truth hurts sometimes, Brick.”
Like a motherfucker. “Doesn’t mean I want to hear it. Not that version of the truth, Starlet. It cuts too deep—makes me want to do bad things.” I let her go and take a deep, calming breath.
“Since we’re brimming with confessions, I have something else to tell you.” She puts her skirt on, looking vulnerable and out of place in the cabin. “I think I love you, Brick.”
