Page 23 of Harvest Brew With the Mountain Man
West comes around the counter and stands at my side, ready to step between me and my brother.
“Rein it in,” his deep voice rumbles.
“The fuck you say to me?” My brother turns his anger toward West.
“Stop,” I call out firmly. “West is my friend too, and he respected my wishes.”
Drew’s already furrowed brows crease deeper, looking back and forth between West and me. “What’s happening here?”
“What are you talking about?” I ask, though I know exactly what he’s asking.
“The fuck is this?” He’s glaring at West now.
“How about we focus on one thing at a time?” I suggest. Wrong thing to say.
“Is there something to focus on here?” Drew yells.
West steps between us and gets close to Drew. “Your sister’s life is in danger. How about we figure out this shit with her ex and get her off Black Feral’s radar?”
They stare each other down for what feels like an eternity.
West steps up, face-to-face with him. “You’re my fucking family. My brother. You know me. Better than my own brothers in some ways. Of course, I was going to tell you, but she’s like family, too. I had to respect her wishes until we formed a plan.” He lowers his voice, “We can’t have her staying on their radar, Styx.”
The tension hurts my lungs from holding my breath. I want to be mad at Drew, but I get it. I’ve had countless sleepless nights wondering what troubles he’s riding into being a part of an MC.
Drew makes a choice. Taking a step back, he looks over West’s shoulder at me. “Are you okay?”
I exhale the concrete weight in my chest. “I’m okay. Thanks to West.”
I don’t mention Nora. I don’t want her getting in trouble for keeping my secret.
Drew nods. “The apartment story.” He points at my head. “It’ll work on Mom and Dad. You moving back in with them?
“I was going to stay there until I figured out my next move.”
The thick weight in the air dissipates. Drew takes out his phone and texts while he asks West, “Were your brothers able to get us that whiskey order?”
“Nash is dropping that off at the clubhouse tomorrow. Since the fire, I moved all supplies back to the distillery until we open.”
My brother nods. “We have the perimeter around Eden Ridge covered. No motorcycles other than our own will get through without us knowing. I’m handling your ex.”
“Drew. Absolutely not. I’m calling Brian and asking?—,”
“The fuck you are.” Both of them. Both of them motherfuckers I love too much said that at the same time.
I rub my forehead. “I lost my phone last night. But that doesn’t mean you win.”
“Crushed by the car. Someone stepped on it,” my brother informs me.
“Excellent.”
“We’ll go get you a new one. I need to pass by the bar,” West says.
“Thanks.”
Drew starts for the front door. “Use his phone. Call the folks before you head to Main. Someone’s bound to call Mom if they see you.”
“And she’ll lose her shit that I didn’t call,” I conclude.
