Page 16 of Stonewall
As he walked toward me, I noticed his road name was ‘Stonewall,’ and I had heard his name before out of my brother’s mouth. Instead of a long-sleeved Henley, he was wearing a short-sleeved white t-shirt that hugged his muscled arms covered in tattoos and his long legs encased in a tight pair of blue jeans. He still made my mouth water even though he lied to me.
“Whatever you’re thinking, Brooke, you’re wrong,” Lenny stated, his deep green eyes watching me closely.
I lifted my chin, glaring at him, doing my best to sneer with bruised lips, “What that you used me to get close to my brother?”
“Yeah, and you’re wrong, Brooke. I never came to find you to do anything besides check on you.”
“Why would you want to check on me? You didn’t even know me,” I retorted, looking away from him. Angry at myself for being an idiot to think someone like Lenny could be interested in me.
“No, I didn’t know you, but Tildie was worried about you and wanted one of us to make sure you were—”
“What the hell do you know about Tildie?” I asked hotly, cutting him off.
“Tildie is here, at our clubhouse, and has been for two months,” he replied.
“What?...How and why?
“It’s a long story, but we found Tildie beaten when we rescued one of our old ladies from Cross; she had a long recovery; I’ll let her tell you about it. But, when she asked, I volunteered to check on you, and then I didn’t want to leave when I met you.”
“Mouth beat her?” I hissed. He had never laid hands on her before.
“It wasn’t Mouth; it was someone named Rat; Mouth was gone on a run with Cross when it happened.”
“What about Mouth? He’ll come for Tildie.”
“Mouth is dead; he can’t hurt Tildie anymore. Tildie has been claimed by one of our brothers named Reader,” he informed me. So great, now Tildie is under the control of another asshole biker.
“I want to talk to Tildie,” I demanded. I wanted to make sure she was okay, see her with my own eyes.
DAMN, BROOKE WASpissed at me.I needed to make her understand. “I will get Tildie, but only after we have settled shit between us,” I told her, sitting on the edge of the bed.
“There is nothing between us,” she said, her hand going to her neck and rubbing there. Yep, definitely a nervous habit.
“Bullshit!”
Her one good eye glared at me. “We don’t even know each other,” she insisted.
“Again, bullshit! You are feeling the same pull I am since the moment we met. I knew the first time I laid eyes on you; I was fucked.”
“I’m married, Lenny,” she said, followed by an exasperated sigh.
“Not for long,” I growled.
“You’re a biker,” she snapped.
“So, fucking what! What does that have to with anything?” I countered.
“You forget I grew up and a clubhouse. I know what shit goes on; the fact that I’m lying here in this bed proves it. Bikers lie, cheat, and abuse.”
“I’m not like that, Brooke, I would never lay hands on women, and if I’m committed in a relationship, you damn well better believe I won’t step out. Not all clubs are run the same, Brooke.” I could tell I would have to let her talk to Tildie. Until she understood we were different from the Fire Dragons, I wasn’t going to convince her.
“Tell you what. Let me get Tildie and talk to her. She is happy here and knows what kind of men we are. But, know this, Brooke, we have only just begun,” I said, standing and exiting the room and going next door to get Tildie.
I knocked on Tildie’s door and was surprised when Tildie opened it herself. I looked behind her, seeing Reader, who gave a smile and a wave. “Are you ready?” I asked her, knowing the answer.
“She’s been ready since she got up this morning,” Reader supplied, chuckling.
Tildie stepped out of the room with a parting smile for Reader before closing the door. Tildie held up her notebook:How is Brooke?