Page 30 of Brick's Redemption

Dagger snorted. “You did.”

Mike smirked. “Yeah.” He gestured toward the house. “Come on in. Got chili on the stove and cold beer.”

Man, that sounded perfect.

I led Ginny inside, steering her toward the hallway. I used to come here so often that I knew the layout.

“Take one of the guest bedrooms, Brick.”

“Planned on it,” I laughed, leading Ginny toward the one on the stairs.

The hall ended with two bedrooms and a bathroom, but a set of steep stairs led down to a lower level where three bedrooms and a bathroom took up most of the space. There was a little nook with tall glass windows and a set of doors. Beyond that, a deck beckoned where you could view the redwoods for miles. I’d always been envious of this house and its layout.

I brought Ginny to the room with the largest bed, gesturing for her to get comfortable.

She nearly collapsed on the mattress.

I snickered as I sat beside her and pulled off her shoes. “You need anything before you rest?”

She shook her head. “No.”

I watched as she stifled a yawn. “I’ll grab some water and a package of crackers.”

“Okay.”

Her eyes were already closing as I pulled back the comforter and covered her, lowering my head to kiss her sweet lips.

“I’ll check on you in a bit.”

She mumbled a reply, but I wasn’t sure what she said.

After leaving the room, I found Big Mike and Dagger in the kitchen. “I want to bring Ginny water. You got any crackers?”

He lifted a brow.

“She’s pregnant, and her stomach is queasy.”

“No shit?” he grinned wide. “Congrats, man. Yeah. Crackers are in the pantry. Water in the fridge.”

“Thanks.” I grabbed what I needed, took it back to Ginny, and left it on the nightstand, where she would see it once she woke. Noting her even, steady breathing, I could tell she’d be asleep for a while. Plenty of time to discuss shit with Dagger and contact Judge.

When I returned to the kitchen, Dagger and Mike had grabbed beers and headed out to the upper deck. The approaching evening was growing cooler with a slight breeze. It would be a great night for cornhole or the shooting range. Big Mike set up his own years ago on his property.

I grabbed a beer, popped the top, and joined them. “How you been, Mike?”

Mike and Audrey looked similar, with dark blonde hair and green eyes. Where Audrey was younger and petite, favoring their mother, Mike followed after his dad. Big, broad-shouldered, tall, and muscled. Hence the nickname.

He was a hell of a cop. The kind of guy you wanted on your side when you got into trouble with the law, which Dagger had more than once. Mike helped him out a few times. They used to be close until Dagger and Audrey split. After that, shit got strained.

Still, if Dagger needed anything, Mike never turned him down.

Mike’s smile faded as he stared the two of us down. He never was one for bullshit. A lot like Hesh in that way.

“You wanna tell me why you’re showing up at my doorstep and need a place to lay low?”

Dagger finished his beer and set the bottle on a nearby table. “Crimson Skulls.”

Mike frowned. “What about them?”

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