“I’m not shit faced,” she denies and maybe she’s not drunk, but she’s been drinking and that pisses me off.
“I’ve been sitting here going out of my fucking mind with worry while you were off getting tanked.” I scoff, unable to believe her. “What the fuck, Brie?”
She raises defiant eyes to me, her mouth pulling into a tight line.
“I never asked you to wait for me. I never asked you for anything.”
I throw my arms out in frustration. “You were upset. You think I was just going to walk away without checking you were okay? Do you really think I’m that much of a dick?”
I want to roar my words at her, but somehow, I manage to keep control of my temper, which is a fucking achievement. I feel the anger tingling through every cell in my body, ready to erupt at any moment. Her fear is palpable and I watch as she shuts down, her eyes glazing over, her arms wrapping around herself as if she can protect herself from my outburst with her body alone. I force myself to calm down. I don’t want to freak her the fuck out, but I’m so furious.
Layla moves in front of me and points a finger in my face. “You need to leave.”
I peer down at her, both frustrated with her interference, but also grateful Briella has a friend in her corner. Doesn’t seem like she has a lot of that outside of me and Levi.
“Ain’t going anywhere.”
Layla sneers at me, rolling to her toes, so she can get in my face. Her almond shaped eyes flatten out as she glares at me. “You don’t get to come into our home and start shouting, dickface. She’s an adult. If she wants to get drunk in the middle of the day, that’s her business. Honestly, after dealing with you for even five minutes I’m driven to drink.”
That would be funny as fuck, if I wasn’t already riled to hell.
I ignore Layla, my gaze going over her head. “Why you drinking?”
“To forget.” Briella says the words so softly, I almost don’t catch them.
My heart starts to pound in my chest and my stomach rolls. “To forget what?”
She rakes her hair back from her face and for a moment I see the vulnerability there before she shuts it down again. “Layla’s right. You should leave.”
“I know your father did you dirty, baby. Know he screwed you in ways I don’t even want to imagine, but losing yourself in booze is a one-way ticket to nowhere. Believe me. I’ve been there, done that. Don’t let him have that hold over you.”
Something passes between Briella and Layla that has my heckles standing on edge, something that tells me this has nothing to do with her father. But if she ain’t drinking to forget her father, what the hell is she drinking to forget?
Once again, I’m standing in the dark, unsure what the fuck is going on.
Brie lifts her chin and I see the moment she puts that steel she needs in her spine. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but Layla’s right. I’m an adult. I don’t need to be babied by you, by my brother, by anyone.”
Desperation claws at me that I’m not penetrating through that stubborn as fuck facade she’s put up.
“Ain’t doing that. I’m just trying to look out for you. Please, let me help you.”
Her eyes narrow on me. “Why do you care?”
Why do I care? I don’t have a fucking clue, but all I know is I do. My need to fix her world, to make her life easy is a persistent itch I can’t scratch.
“You’re family.” I fall back on that line, but it’s more than that.
If I was being truthful with myself, I’d admit it’s because I feel something for her, something I can’t explain, but I’m not about to open up and chat about my fucking feelings. Especially not with cunt face standing right there looking haughty as fuck.
Her face pulls into a snarl that surprises the hell out of me and has ice clawing up my spine.
“The club isn’t my family and it’ll never be my family, Daimon. You’re not someone I need involved in my life either, so you need to leave me alone. Please.”
My stomach twists unpleasantly at her words.
I stare at her, willing her to take that shit back, but she doesn’t. She just ducks her head, avoiding my gaze. God-fucking-dammit.
“Going to give you the space you’re asking for, but if you think I’m going to leave you alone, you’re out of your fucking mind. Ain’t how shit goes in this family, and whether you like it or not you are fucking family. In our world that counts for something.”
With that parting shot, I walk out of her flat.
14
Briella
I don’t see Daimon for the next few days. I throw myself into work, trying to focus on anything but the fact I might have fucked things up with him. I was so terrified of him poking holes in my life, that I panicked and tried to push him away. I’m scared I went too far. The thought of losing him makes my heart feel heavy and my stomach cold. I’m not ready to lose him from my life. He’s one of the few bright spots in the darkness that consumes me.
Luckily, my job as a sales rep is hands-on. I have to be on the telephone all day, drumming up new business for my company, which doesn’t leave me time to think about Daimon or my shitty past. The way I’m sleeping lately—or not—it’s a wonder I’m functioning at all. The nightmares come after dark. The moment I shut my eyes, his face is there, his weight on my hips. His scent surrounds me, like it’s branded into my skin. I’ve managed to hide the dark smudges under my eyes with makeup, but I know Layla is getting worried about me. If our roles were reversed, I’d be worried about her.
It’s coming up to lunchtime, when a shadow steps in front of my desk. I peer up, seeing the leather of his kutte before I meet my brother’s eyes.
“What are you doing here?” I demand, panic making my words terse. Levi’s never come to my job before, which makes me think something bad has happened.
He grunts at my response. “It’s good to see you too, Brie.”
“Did something happen?” Fear claws at my stomach.
Levi’s face softens at my word. “Everything’s okay. I just haven’t seen you in a while.”
I flare my eyes at his words. He’s never sought me out at my job before. “You came to my office because you haven’t seen me in a while?”
I glance over the top of my cubicle wall and see Melanie, one of my co-workers, staring at my brother like he’s a prize cut of meat. I roll my eyes. My brother is a good looking man. Where I have brown hair, his is an inky black. It’s long enough to style and from living with him, I know he has enough hair products to open his own store. He might be a biker, but I’m pretty sure he manscapes regularly. Appearance wise, he’s all our father, which I know pisses him off. I wouldn’t want to look in the mirror every day and see that bastard’s eyes reflecting back at me, but my brother is nothing like him. Levi has a good heart, even though I know he does unspeakable things in the name of the club.
“Catching you at the flat isn’t exactly easy.” His eyes scan the office floor, always looking for threats, even when there are none. This is what the club created.