Now Cane’s coming to me while I’m working under the hood of my drag car, changing the spark plugs while the transmission drains. I’d left Brielle and the boys inside the clubhouse telling them if they needed anything to come find me at the garage off to the side of the lot. Did tell them to watch out for Bart though. Granted, if you don’t mess with him, he leaves you alone. He’d been around us since he hatched and doesn’t leave unless he goes in the bayou even then he won’t go far from this area.
“Think that’s a good idea?” I ask, without turning to look at the man.
“I don’t but Prez would give his life for his ol’ lady,” Cane remarks.
I know what he means, and I get it, but at the same time, I need to protect my own ol’ lady.
Ol’ lady?
Yeah that’s exactly what she is to me. I claimed her and I’m not doing it halfheartedly.
Sliding out from under the hood, I stand to my full height, toss the socket wrench in the toolbox and grab a work rag and wipe my hands off.
“I’ve got nothing but respect for your Prez; however, if whatever his ol’ lady wants whether it’s to confront and to hurt someone for putting her daughter through that shit, it won’t be Brielle. She’s my ol’ lady and I ain’t ’havin’ that shit. I’m drawing the line at bullshit drama added on top of the cluster fuck we already got around here,” I voice letting Cane know where I stand.
“I don’t think it’d be bullshit drama per say but she’s been dealing with a lot of shit and she’s just now started to really deal with it. I think if she spoke with Brielle, it might help her even more. Knowing the shit your ol’ lady went through for leaving the opening for someone to find Corrine,” Cane suggests.
“So, you’re asking me to let my woman, a woman you heard tell her story, tell another woman she doesn’t know, about what she endured for that small bit?” I sneer, lip curling as I cross my arms over my chest.
“Not what I’m saying, brother and you know it. You gotta look at it from where I am. I’m a bystander in this. When Corrine was taken, I’d been a prospect for the club. Seen what happened, what Rachel went through. She didn’t just lose her baby girl when Corrine was taken, she lost her son Luca as well as took a beating from a fucker who betrayed our club for some fucked up club that Rachel’s kids’ sperm donor belonged to. I see this from both sides as these two women both have a shit ton in common.” I take a moment and stare at Cane as I let his words sink in.
“Can see where you’re coming from, but I don’t know what you expect this to do besides hurt two women more than they’ve already endured. And that’s something I sure as fuck ain’t about to let happen.” To this Cane nods in agreement.
“Or it could help them heal more. Knowing they have been in the same situation as each other and not having anyone to understand the depth of pain they’ve both gone through. You and I might feel for them. You and Stoney feel deep what they feel but nothing compared to the true depths they’d only understand in each other.” The calm in his tone, I’d normally be the one to hold, if I weren’t in this, as he said feeling this deep inside for what Brielle endured.
Sighing, I shake my head, “How about instead of them coming all the way out here, we setup a time the two of them can skype or facetime each other or some shit like that?”
“That would work, I’ll talk to Prez, see what he says. This way it also gives you a chance to talk to Brielle,” Cane grunts.
“Yeah, that’s exactly something I want to talk to her about. It’s bad enough we got enough shit to deal with and get straight I don’t need another thing tacked on top of it. Swear one day soon this club is going to need a break longer than a month or so from the drama.” A sharp intake of breath coming from the entrance to the garage bay I was standing in, and I grimace already knowing who it is before looking.
Fuckin’ hell.
“It’s not like I asked you to take on my drama. So now you don’t have to worry about it, we’re not your concern and never were. I’ll take my boys and get out from under your hair so you and your club can have your break from, as you call it, drama, while I call it my life. Screw you, Ryder,” Brielle snaps, tears sliding down her cheeks as she turns on her heel and stomps back the way she came.
“Oh shit, Ryder, brother, didn’t think she’d have a temper not with the way she’s acted since I met her yesterday,” Cane chuckled. “She might give one of the ol’ ladies back home a run for their money. But you know what I’ve noticed?”
“What?” I grumble as I watch my woman storm toward the clubhouse.
“She doesn’t say cuss words,” he remarks catching my attention.
Thinking on this he’s right. I don’t think I’ve ever heard my woman say one foul word. Grinning, I decide I’m going to remedy that, thinking hearing her tell me to fuck her would be music to my ears.
“Close up the garage for me will ya?” I state to Cane as I start after my woman. I know I’ll have to be
