He has the audacity to tilt his head and smile. “You’re proving my point. You’re nothing but a weak waste of space who can’t do anything for himself. You always needed your sister to fight your battles for you, and now you’ve got them.” He nods at Crow and Journey. “Pathetic.”
I clench my fists to keep from ending him right here, right now. The Nightmare Room awaits me, and that’s where I’ll get my revenge. Normally, as the Road Captain, I’m not the one to inflict punishment, but Crow promised me that I could do whatever the fuck I want to Brian.
I want to kill him.
Journey chuckles at Brian’s statement. “Damn, man, you’re in for the surprise of your life.”
“We’ll see,” Brian says before leaning back against the side of the van like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
“Yeah,” I agree. “We will.”
CHAPTER 7
ROXIE
I just want a place to lick my wounds.
Staringat the place that I used to call home, I take a deep breath and remind myself that being here is temporary. As I open the door and get out of the car, a noise catches my attention. I whip my gaze toward the entrance to the clubhouse and see my brother standing there.
Deep breath… in, out, in, out.
“I was wondering when you were gonna get here,” Shuffle says as he walks toward me. “Glad you made it safely.”
He wraps his arms around me in a hug, and I find myself burning my head against his chest. I may have walked away from this place, this life, but I love my brother. For the first time since I left Jace, I feel… safe.
Sniffling back tears, I pull away and turn to grab one of my bags from the back seat. “Help me with my stuff?”
He moves to stand next to me and glance into the vehicle. “Yo, boys, get your lazy asses out here,” he shouts to the club brothers who are no doubt standing just inside the door waiting for me.
One by one, they file outside. I recognize each man, and my knees threaten to buckle at the happiness I see when they look at me.
“Welcome home, Rox,” Bear says, lifting me off my feet when he reaches me.
“Put me down,” I grumble even as my arms go around his neck.
I need this. I need to feel safe with people I know and trust.
As soon as he releases me, I’m swept into another set of arms. “Damn, girl, you’re a sight for sore eyes,” Chains comments just before he passes me to another brother.
“Glad you finally came to your fuckin’ senses,” Blush teases after kissing my cheek.
“Stop,” I snap before Creep can get his hands on me, and he freezes, a shocked expression on his face. “Sorry. It’s just…” I blow out a breath. “I’m fucking tired, guys. Can’t this little love fest wait until I get inside at least?”
Shuffle narrows his eyes on me for a moment, but then he reminds me why I love him so much. “You heard her. All of you, grab some of her shit and take it to her room. You can welcome her home later.”
Each of them mumbles but do as they’re told. When it’s just me and my brother, I soften my expression and give him a grateful smile.
“Thanks.”
“Don’t thank me,” he gripes. “Just because you’re getting a reprieve now doesn’t mean I’m not going to grill your ass later.”
With that, he turns on his heel and carries two duffels into the clubhouse, leaving me to follow. After grabbing the last box that remains in the car, I lock the doors and stride inside.
Shuffle is waiting for me across the room, and I walk toward him, forcing a smile for anyone who says ‘hello’. When I’m a fewfeet away, he closes the distance between us and wraps an arm around my shoulder.
“C’mon,” he says, calmer than he was outside.
We move down the hallway, stopping when we reach the door to my room, the same room I had before I left years ago. I open the door, and my breath catches in my throat.
