“We got this,” Whisk said, handing the remote to Maddie after turning on the guide showing what movies were playing. He started talking to Maddie, showing her each movie she could watch. With Maddie’s attention diverted, Brass went outside. Link wasn’t the only one waiting for him. Crank was leaning up again the rail, smoking a cigarette.
“Cathy finds out you were doing that, and she is going to kick your ass, brother,” Brass said.
“Tell us what happened,” Link barked, clearly not wanting to wait around for him to rib Crank about his Old Lady.
It took over fifteen minutes to explain the events of the night from top to bottom. Brass didn’t omit his fuck ups or try to sugar coat shit in any way, just gave the facts how they happened.
“Are you going to have a problem with this girl being in your house?” Link asked.
“I will do my damn job, just like I always have, don’t question that, Link. I have my reasons for handling this shit a certain way. You’ve never doubted my methods before, don’t start now. I know what I’m doing.”
“Yeah, I knew exactly what I was doing with Carrington, too, asshole, and look where that got me. That is Tuck’s kid in there, we can’t risk you being distracted.”
“Fuck you! I know exactly who that kid is and what she means to this club and to Tuck. If they don’t stay here, where are you going to take them, huh? Maddie needs medical attention at the ready, can you guarantee that shit at one of the safehouses? We can’t take them to the club even undercover because if you place a lockdown, the town is going to start question why after the last fucking catastrophe. Tell me, Link, where do you think they are the safest right now?”
“The kid could stay with Creed and Tessa, and we could send the chick to one of the safehouses, she doesn’t need medical attention on the ready. Tessa is new in town she could pass her off as what she is, her niece or some distant relative.”
“Dude, they fucking call me crass! You want to separate those two? Jada has raised Maddie since she was a baby, she’s the only constant in that kid’s life. With everything that’s happened, don’t you think that would send the kid over the edge? How about when we get Tuck back, you want to risk that kid not trusting any of us? Maddie asked one thing of me, to protect her Aunt Jay, and I plan on keeping my word. You want something different, you do it.”
“No need to get your panties in a twist, Brass, we’re just putting out idea’s here,” Crank said.
“Yeah, well let me ask you this; if you could put a baby in Cathy’s arms right now, have her raise it for five of the best years of your life, then have Link here come in and say, times up, what would you say or do? Got any ideas on how you would handle that, Brother?” Brass sneered, crossing his arms.
“Yeah, asshole, I know exactly how I would handle that, but you see, you're getting a little off track with a woman you’ve known for a couple of hours, don’t you think? Cath and I have been together for over twenty years, and she is my fucking wife!” Crank bellowed.
“Wife or not, what you’re asking is wrong, and I won’t have any part of it,” Brass retorted.
“No, you’re wrong. I’m fucking in charge of this Club until we get Tuck back in one piece. That chick is a liability. Her story might check out, but there are holes a mile wide. Even you know that, or you wouldn’t have asked to have Kit look into this shit too. We are putting it to a vote, tomorrow bright and early, and what the club decides stands. You get me?”
“Yeah, I get you,” The tension in his body increasing tenfold. Brass might have questions, but he knew Jada was on the up and up, and Link hadn’t even taken the time to talk to her which was bullshit.
“Hey,” Whisk said putting his head outside the door, “you need to come in here and take care of your girl.”
“She isn’t my girl!” Brass said with a little more venom than needed, but he was pissed.
“Yeah, well, whoever the fuck she is, she’s breaking down in your bathroom, and I can hear her crying from here. Someone needs to go in and take care of that shit before the kid wakes up.” Whiskey snarked.
“Fine!” Brass said throwing up his hands. “Are we done here?” he directed at Crank and Link.
“Yeah, we’re done. Be at the Clubhouse tomorrow.”
“Understood,” Brass barked. He didn’t bother checking to make sure the men left or what they were doing, he went right to the hall and the bathroom. He listened at the door as Jada poured her heart out in tears and sobs. She had done so well, but even with the most seasoned soldier, things eventually caught up to them. Brass tapped on the door. “Jada?” When she didn’t answer, he did it again. When still no answer came, he reached up on top of the door jamb and grabbed the key he had stashed there, opening the door. What he saw broke his heart. Jada was curled up on the bottom of the tub as the water splashed over her bruised body. Hell, he had seen some of her injuries, but he hadn’t gotten the full extent until now. There wasn’t an inch of her that wasn’t covered with a scrape, bruise, or cut.
Brass turned off the water, picking up a towel, and started to wipe the water away. He tried coaxing Jada to talk to him, but she wasn’t saying anything. It was like she was awake but not there at all. Not caring about anything else, he picked her up. Sitting on the edge of the tub, he cradled Jada in his arms and just rocked her. He promised her everything would be okay that he would make it okay if she would only just come back. But nothing he said worked. Adjusting the towel better to wrap it around her, Brass stood up and took Jada into the bedroom, laying her on the bed. Link walked in behind him as Brass started to dress her.
“Jesus! Fuck man, they beat the hell out of her. Was she…?” Link didn’t need to finish that particular sentence, Brass was thinking the same thing. There were finger and hand sized bruises all over her breasts and inner thighs. Hell, he had even noticed bruises and cuts on the bottom of her feet.
“I don’t know, man, none of us asked, but seeing her like this, I think it’s a good possibility. You might want to make arrangements for Kayla to come out and see her, maybe get Doc back here too.”
“Yeah, I’ll do that. You need any help with her?”
“No, I got it. Just have someone watch Maddie for a bit, I’m going to stay in here with her until I know she’s alright.”
“No worries, we got that, you do what you need to do. Maybe I’ll have Crank bring Cathy by in the morning, it might help.”
“Yeah, it couldn’t hurt.” Brass didn’t want to think about Jada going through what Cathy had—she had been gang-raped by the Vultures and was just now finally coming back to herself. Jada had seemed so strong and put together. He felt like an ass for not asking the basic question, instead of choosing to grill her about Tuck and why she had Maddie. All the RBMC was better than this. How they had treated the woman, hell, it was one of their specialties, but they hadn’t even given Jada the basics. They treated her like a criminal, instead of a victim. How wrong was that?
Brass finished dressing her, making sure he picked the softest clothes, even putting nice warm socks on her feet, then he laid down on the bed next to her, gathering her in his arms. It might have been the wrong thing to do, but he couldn’t think of anything else, and he wanted to be close to her right now, offer her comfort instead of scorn. At first, she was limp, not moving, and cold. Brass considered grabbing the blanket off the end of the bed, but he didn’t want to move just yet. He needed a minute to wrap his head around everything. When Jada moved and cuddled closer to his side, eyes closed and breathing more softly, he decided the way they were was good enough.
Brass was starting to doze when Jada said his name, “Brass?”
“Yeah, babe, it's me.”
“Will you make sure they never come back?” Brass didn’t need to know who Jada was talking about he already knew. He wished he could go back and kill all of those fuckers with his bare hands.
“You don’t need to worry about them anymore, Jada. I’ll make sure no one ever touches you again. That I can
promise you.” Her whispered thank you and the hand she placed over his heart broke off another piece of ice.
It took a while before Jada started to snore lightly. A few minutes later, Link came in again, talking softly as to not disturb Jada.
“I figured she needed sleep more than anything right now. Kayla, Doc, and Tessa are all coming back in the morning. Cath can’t make it until the afternoon, but she said she would be here, too. Jinx just got back in town and is going to camp out on the floor and watch out for Maddie since she already knows him. Whisk has to get back to Addy, and I don’t want to scare her if she wakes up in the middle of the night. You do what you got to here, and we’ll talk in the morning.”
“Thanks, Link.”
“Want me to hit the lights on my way out?” Link asked.
“No man, I think if she wakes up, she’s going to need them, just leave them on. I don’t think I’m going to sleep anytime soon, anyway.”
“Got it. You need anything, just call.”
“Will do, brother.”
When Link left, Brass laid there, watching over Jada. He had never spent a night with a woman that didn’t involve sex, but he found he didn’t really care about the sex part. Just being there with her in his arms was enough.
Chapter Twelve
Jada had been at Brass’ house with Maddie for weeks. She wouldn’t say it had all been good because it hadn’t. Brass was used to living by himself, and she and Maddie had their own routine. It took them a while to get used to each other and even then, things were still stilted. Brass ran hot and cold toward her—there were times he was nice, sweet, caring even, then he would flip a switch, going cold like he needed her to be something or someone she wasn’t. But that honor only went to her, Maddie was, thankfully, left out of those times.
Maddie was adapting a little too well. She and Brass had bonded so quickly and on a level that was almost crazy to Jada. She wondered if that would change when and if Maddie ever got to meet Tuck. Tessa was another one of Maddie’s favorites, one Jada could relate to. Tessa was a genuinely nice and kind person, and she doted on Maddie. Jada considered her a friend. She and Tessa could talk for hours about everything and anything. It was nice to finally have someone in her life to do that with. Looking back, Jada realized she and Mazie never had that, Mazie was always looking for what she could get or who she could get it from, Jada included. The blood they shared meant nothing.
There were others, but she was still getting to know them and staying at arm’s length. She found out days after arriving, Brass’ property butted up against one of his MC brother’s properties, so people were able to come and go as they pleased without being seen or drawing any attention to the house. There were always men posted at the door which, at first, she was grateful for and in a way still was, but the isolation was starting to get to her, especially as her feelings for Brass continued to grow.
He was still a bastard most days, but he had his moments. Then there was the attraction. It was nearly impossible to live with the man day in and day out while trying to fight it. That first morning at his house, she had woken up in his arms, feeling safe, cared for, and cherished. When she fully woke up, she was mortified by what had happened—her breakdown in the shower, him having to get her out, dressing her, and putting her to bed like a child. As soon as he realized she was awake, he moved away and started to question her about what had happened. Point-blank asked if she had been raped. Jada had tried to assure him she hadn’t, not that her assault and kidnapping weren’t bad enough, but she hadn’t had to endure that humiliation. She knew if they would have kept her even a day longer, it would have happened, but thankfully it hadn’t.
That conversation started another argument because he insisted on her seeing Doc again and talking to a woman named Kayla. She wasn’t opposed to seeing either of the people. Kayla had actually become a friend and had helped Maddie and Jada get through the nightmares they had lived. She and Maddie had started sleeping better at night, and that was thanks to Kayla and the therapy she provided. It really bothered her that Brass never took her word for anything. If she said something, he always needed someone else to confirm it. He asked for her trust but didn’t trust her in return.
Today was definitely not one of the good days. They had all gotten up, Brass cooked them breakfast as had become their routine, but he didn’t stick around to eat anything. He didn’t even play with Maddie for a little while like he usually did every day. Lunchtime came around and went, and he was still gone. He managed to show up for dinner but just sneered at her across the table without saying a word. When Maddie finished up and went to her room to play, Jada started to clean up the dishes, ignoring Brass.
She was just finishing up the dishes and putting away the leftovers when she heard the scrape of this chair against the floor.
“Why are you wearing that?” he barked which shocked her. Jada was wearing a pair of cotton shorts and a t-shirt, nothing special. It didn’t make sense that he was asking her about her clothes and in such a nasty way. It wasn’t like she had a lot of choices to choose from, she was still living with the clothes Tessa had brought on that first night.
“What exactly is wrong with what I’m wearing?”
“Nothing, if you want to show every mother fucker who walks in here exactly what you got.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me. If you're going to be in my house, have some respect and quit flaunting yourself in front of the boys.”
“You have got to be kidding me!” I had more risqué outfits in the closet at my apartment. “I’m wearing what every woman wears on a hot day. And where do you get off, I haven’t tried to flaunt myself at anyone!”
“You’re in my house, Jada, and I’m not going to sit here and watch you try to get another man in your bed. I’ve seen the way you look and act around Jinx, don’t think I haven’t noticed. Just like any other woman, you decided to up the stakes, show a little skin, and shake your ass in just the right way. Sorry, Princess, hate to tell you this, but he won’t bite at what you’re so deliberately offering him. Not while you’re under my protection.”
Jada watched as Brass got up from the table and went over to the refrigerator, too stunned to say anything at the moment. She hadn’t been trying to get anyone in her bed, let alone Jinx. She even looked down at her clothes again, they might be a little tight but there was nothing wrong with them. Then it just pissed her off that she was even questioning her choice in attire.
“Who is she?” Jada asked, coming to a couple conclusions of her own.
“What the fuck are you talking about?” Brass said as he slammed the door of the refrigerator, not even having taken anything out of it.
“It’s a simple question, Brass, one even you can decipher. But because you seem to need a little more, I’ll elaborate. What is the woman’s name who fucked you up so bad, you either hate all woman or maybe just me because of what she did? Is that clear enough for you?” Jada growled through gritted teeth, trying very hard to keep her voice at an even level.
“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about, there isn’t any woman.” The way Brass said the lie confirmed she was on the right track.
Normally, she would have let him his say and stalk off, but today, she wasn’t in the mood. He had pushed her too hard, and she wanted some kind of answer. When it became apparent he didn’t deem her worthy enough to get one, Jada couldn’t resist throwing out one more jab.
“If I wanted Jinx, asshole, I would just tell him, he seems like a straight up kind of guy. He would either tell me to fuck off or drop my pants. He doesn’t play games like you!”
Jada threw the towel down on the counter and went into the laundry room, taking her frustration out on the load of towels sitting on top of the washer. She had just started to fold them when Brass caged her from behind.
“You think I’m playing games with you, Princess?” Brass whispered in her ear, sending shivers straight down her spine. She wasn’t scared,
worse than that, she was turned on. All these days thinking about this man, watching him, wanting him, dreaming about him. Feeling his body on hers so close did it for her. She knew she needed it to stop, she needed to stop feeling these things for a man who would never give her what she wanted, what she needed.
Pushing back, she managed to dislodge him, only because he chose to let it happen and turned around in his arms, facing him. Using her hands, she placed them on his rock-hard chest, pushing him, trying to get him further away. He didn’t budge, he actually pushed into her further. Jada could feel his hardness against her stomach, causing her to moan. The sound barely escaped her lips before he was kissing her, long and deep, more intense than the first time. The kiss spiraled out of control in seconds, heating her body and wetting her thighs. This time, Jada whimpered she needed more.
Brass lifted her body until she was sitting on the washer, her legs splayed, allowing his big body between them, grinding into her core. Their lips never lost contact. Still needing more, Jada canted her hips, grinding against him fully, loving the feel of his hard cock through her thin shorts. Her clit hummed every time she hit it just right. But it wasn’t enough, she needed something more. Rubbing her hands up his chest and shoulders, she reveled in the feel of his body under her touch. Gliding her fingers into his hair, she pulled him closer and ground herself harder into him, showing him without words what she wanted.
Their tongues dueled for dominance, Jada didn’t have a chance. The glide of his tongue as he stroked against hers promised wild and wicked things. Brass didn’t just kiss, he took, and Jada loved it. Jada could feel her nipples pebbled against his chest. Scraping her nails into his scalp, she pulled the soft strands of his hair a little harder. When he broke the kiss, they were both panting. Jada’s eyes never left his lips as he slowly swiped his tongue over her bottom lip. Jada pulled him back toward her, wanting more of what he had given her.
Brass: Ruthless Bastards (RBMC Book 6) Page 8
