Page 21 of Bren

Walking out of the office, I go back to what I’d been doing when the text came through and lose myself in my art for the next hour until my alarm goes off, reminding me that I had to pack up.

It didn’t take long to close up the garage for the night before Gunny and I were riding our bikes behind Mum, who has Lexi in her car with her. I loved this ride to the Manor; it was peaceful because there wasn’t much out this way. Other than our properties, there was never a lot of traffic.

We’d just driven into the covered parking area and got off our bikes when Bren and Ellie drove in surrounded by Reaper, Navy, Dragon, and Onyx. My heart starts to pound as worry rips through me. I was guessing the reason for the mandatory Church meeting was the reason that Bren’s vehicle was surrounded. Not hesitating, I immediately walk to Bren’s door and forcibly open it. The need to get my eyes on her rides me hard. Bren jumps and looks at me with wide, startled eyes as the door opens.

“What’s going on, Bren?” I demand, my eyes moving over her body, cataloguing, not sure what I’m looking for other than to make sure she isn’t hurt.

“Jesus, Alec,” she stutters shakily, then slaps me in the stomach. “You frightened the life out of me opening my door like that. What the hell?”

“Sorry,” I apologise. “I was worried. First, Reaper called mandatory Church, and then you arrive surrounded by the brotherhood. I thought you were hurt.”

“I’m not hurt,” she assures me. “Something did happen today. Dad will fill you in on it at Church.”

“I see,” I say softly, looking away, a little hurt that she hadn’t called me to fill me in on whatever had happened to her today. But I got it. Noting that Ellie had slipped out of the vehicle while Bren and I had been talking. Mum had Lexi and was disappearing into the house. Reaper nods at me as he and the rest of the brothers walk past us and into the big house, leaving just the two of us in the carport.

“Hey,” Bren’s soft fingers grip my chin, turning my face back towards her. “I didn’t call anyone else either. Just Dad. I didn’t think to call anyone but him, and honestly, I’m not used to you caring.”

Shock ripples through me, followed by sadness that she thought so little of me that she didn’t think I’d care if there was a problem. It was my fault, I understood that, and I was angry with my younger self all over again. Swallowing past the lump of emotion in my throat, I tell her, “I’ve always cared, Bren. Even when I didn’t think I should.

“And now that you’ve given me Lexi,” again I swallow against the emotion clogging my throat at the thought of something happening to Bren.

“How could you think I wouldn’t care about something that has you worried enough to call Reaper? You’re the mother of my daughter, Bren; of course, I’d care.

“Aside from you being Lexi’s mum, you and I have history, and even if you decide that you don’t want me and move on, I’ll still care about you, because before I became an idiot, we werefriends. At least I thought we were. I understand that most of what’s happened between us is my fault, but… FUCK, Bren, you’ve got to know that I CARE!”

Bren’s face softens, and she runs her hand over my cheek, “You’re right, Alec, we were friends before everything went to shit. And I know you care. I’ll do better at letting you in. And it’s not all your fault; I’m just as much to blame as you. I kept Lexi from you, and I shouldn’t have. I’ll always feel bad about that. I’m sorry.”

At her apology, the ache that I’d carried in my chest since finding out about Lexi eased. We’d both made mistakes and were paying for them.

Leaning toward her, I wrapped my arms around her, hugging her to me. Burying my face in her neck, I inhale a deep breath, filling my lungs with her scent, and for the first time in forever, something settles in me. Bren hugs me back just as hard. Pulling back slightly, I cup her cheeks, tilting her head back to look at me.

“We’ll do better, okay? We’re a team from now on. It may take time, but we’ll find our way.”

Bren grins up at me, “Haven’t we always? We will. Now, are you going to help me out? I need to feed our girl and get into some comfortable clothes before Church.”

Stepping back, I grip her waist and lift her out, settling her on her feet. Closing the door on her vehicle, we turn towards the house. Reaching down, I grip her hand and can’t help the little tilt of my lips when she squeezes it.

I’ll take the small gestures because somehow, they meant more than if she’d declared she’d forgiven me for being an idiot. Once we enter the house, the connection is lost as she goes into mum mode as soon as she sees Lexi, but this time instead ofdisappearing straight away like she usually does, she tilts her head at the stairs and asks, “Are you coming?”

Very aware of the silence from everyone in the kitchen as they watch us, I nod only, stopping long enough at the pantry to pick up a pack of water for the fridge upstairs. Bren likes to drink water after she’s fed Lexi, and I’d noticed we were on the last bottle last night.

Talking in the kitchen resumed as soon as I was out the door and following my girls up the stairs.

Like before, I’d take the small wins when they came.

Chapter 11

REAPER

While I wasn’t happy that my family was being threatened in some way yet again, I’d been happy to see Alec’s reaction to Bren being in danger.

The two of them had given me so many sleepless nights over the years, and I’d often wondered if we should step in, but Abby, Gunny, and Bev had said to leave it alone. They’d either figure it out or they wouldn’t.

I knew from Bev that the two of them had a childhood history that none of us knew about and had been thick as thieves until Alec had moved away. It had gutted me to see how hurt she’d been when she’d come back from the States. With the rose-tinted glasses firmly ripped from her, she’d come to realise that Alec was just as fallible as any of us. That didn’t mean I hadn’t wanted to hunt him down and eviscerate him for hurting her like he had. I’d kept my word, knowing that whatever hurt and anger Bren was feeling, deep down she loved Alec.

My estimation of him rose significantly when he was waiting for us at the gym the first day he was back. Gunny had always assured me that he was a good lad who didn’t feel like he was worth the time and effort because of who his father was and that he covered up that insecurity with a happy-go-lucky, fuck-boy attitude. Sometimes, I forgot that some of our children hadn’t been born into our family and had hidden traumas that raisedtheir ugly heads when least expected, no matter how much therapy we’d insisted they have.

None of us could deny that he’d stepped up as soon as he found out about Lexi. Not that I’d been thrilled with Bren when I’d found out she hadn’t told him she was pregnant. The two of them were giving me grey hairs. It had nearly killed me to keep my mouth shut and not interfere. But I’d done it, and if tonight was anything to go by, it looked like they were working their shit out.

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