Page 15 of Stonewall

I entered the room, seeing Tildie sitting beside the bed Reader was lying in; they both had been reading, and each had a book on their lap.

Yeah, these two were made for each other.

Tildie gave me a small smile, her eyes wary. She was still a little skittish around any man but Reader. “How are you doing, brother?” I asked Reader as I stood at the bottom of the bed.

“I’ll survive; it was worth it,” he answered, his eyes going to Tildie. The man had it bad for her. But she deserved someone as caring and patient as Reader. He would do right by Tildie.

“Good to hear. I need to tell Tildie something,” I said, looking at her and seeing she was already paying attention, her back straightening in the chair.

She nodded her head for me to continue. “Brooke and Gael are here,” I told her, and she jumped from the chair, signing to Reader.

“She wants to see them,” Reader said.

“I know you do, but it will have to wait until tomorrow. I went to get her this morning, and Flex had been there; he hurt her.” Tildie’s eyes teared up, and I hurried to say, “But she is going to be all right, Doc is taking care of her, but he gave her something to help her sleep.”

She signed to Reader again. “What about Gael?” Reader asked.

“He is staying with Sophia and Lord. I figured Gael could play with Roe, and it would distract him from what happened. But I’m bringing him back in the morning to see you and Brooke.”

Tildie sat back down, worry written on her face. She looked at Reader, signing. “As long as Brooke and Gael are okay. When can she see Brooke tomorrow?” Reader asked for Tildie.

“I will come to get you. I need to talk to Brooke first about who I am and where she is; she doesn’t know everything.”

Tildie looked at me with a look I couldn’t decipher but nodded her understanding. I hope like hell Brooke didn’t get mad that I kept things from her.

“You like her,” Reader said, stating it as a fact, not a question.

“I do,” I answered, saying no more.

“The Westcott women seem to sneak up on you and burrow deep before you know what hit you,” Reader smirked, taking Tildie’s hand, her smile going wide at his words and signing something.

“Tildie says Brooke has a tough outer shell and doesn’t let people in easily, so if she lets you in, don’t hurt her.”

I looked at Tildie and said. “I would never hurt Brooke or Gael. I will be by in the morning to get you, probably around ten.” Then, with a smile at Tildie and a take it easy to Reader, I went to check on Brooke in the room next door.

I opened the door quietly, entered the room, and walked over to her bedside. Brooke was sound asleep, her face peaceful. The sight of her battered face made my dark demon rise; I needed Flex to bleed. I shoved my fists into my side to keep myself from touching her. I wanted her to rest.

I remember looking into my mom’s battered face many times and watching her pretend everything was okay. But to her, my dad was something she couldn’t let go of, no matter how much he hurt her or screwed around with other women. I understand more now that I’m older why she was that way, my sister Grace works with abused women, and we have both come to understand mom better. Not that it makes a difference now, mom never left, and one day dad decided to make the decision to leave him by using his fists to darken her light forever.

Shaking myself, I focused again on Brooke. She was different from my mom, stronger; I could tell she was binding her time until she could find a way out and leave Flex. I had no doubt that Brooke would never choose Flex over her son. Not that Flex would be a problem any longer. I was here now and would protect Brooke from anyone that dared try and hurt her or Gael.

I heard a buzzing, realizing it was coming from Brooke’s purse sitting on the chair. Fuck, her phone. I grabbed her bag, taking the phone out. She had numerous calls and texts from Flex looking for her, threatening her and Gael with violence, and one from Margie. I read the message wanting to know if they were okay and if Gael was coming over. Margie must be the neighbor. I replied that they were okay, but Gael wouldn’t be over; they were somewhere safe.

I then took the battery out and pocketed her phone.

I was going to shower and get a few hours sleep before coming down to talk to Brooke in the morning. But I couldn’t resist leaning down to give Brooke a soft kiss before leaving the room. Reader was right. Somehow, she snuck right in, and I don’t even know how she did it.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

I FELT MUCHbetter today.My head didn’t hurt nearly as bad, and my body had the usual aches and pains after Flex got done hitting on me. Summer had been in early this morning to help me to the bathroom and gave me a sponge bath; she said she would help me this evening when she got off work to take a shower. Summer was a nurse at the local hospital. She didn’t elaborate on anything else, and I didn’t ask, waiting on Lenny. The doctor was in before Summer to check on me and said he would be back in a few hours.

I took in the room I was in; I hadn’t paid too much attention last night, but this looked just like a hospital room, strange.

The door opened, and Lenny entered, and my stomach dropped a little. Lenny was indeed a biker, wearing a cut today, and when he turned to shut the door, I saw what club he belonged to, and it all made sense.

I was a means to an end—a way to get information.

I was a fool.