Total pages in book: 40
Estimated words: 37638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 37638 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 188(@200wpm)___ 151(@250wpm)___ 125(@300wpm)
She gasped. “Brick! You did what?”
“Honey, I was completely in the wrong. My appointed JAG tried to get me to let him work out a plea, but I refused. I plead guilty and took my punishment like a man. With all the secondary charges and whatnot, I got ten additional years on top of the fifteen for the manslaughter charge, and since the admiral had pull, they ran the sentences consecutively instead of concurrently.”
“That doesn’t seem fair. And I thought you only had to serve part of a sentence. Like half or something.”
“Sometimes, but you have to have good behavior and various other things. Remember me telling you I refused to join the gangs?”
“Yeah.”
“That meant I fought. A lot. Killed more than once in self-defense. While they didn’t increase my time, saying I had no choice, it impacted my parole hearings. I suspect the admiral had something to do with that, too. I knew it would and never contested any hearing. I did the crime. I’d do my time. And I did.”
“I don’t know of anyone who would have done that, Brick.”
“Don’t look at me like I made some kind of noble sacrifice. I got my friend killed. I deserved exactly what I got and more. When I got out, I was in a pretty bad way. Overwhelmed, I guess you could say. That’s when I met Sting. I’d gotten in a fight with six gang members who’d been told to take me out. One of the men I’d killed on the inside had been affiliated with them.
“They were beatin’ the shit out of me. I was fightin’ back, but six on one, no matter how big I am, was more than I could defend against. Then this little prick got involved. Sting was twenty-three and so fuckin’ cocky I wanted to smack him upside the head.” I chuckled, remembering the man I now protected with my life. “He jumped in the fight, running his mouth and nearly got the shit beat out of him, too. Seein’ the kid who came to my defense in trouble gave me the extra something I needed to finish the fight. Two of those motherfuckers died. The other four ran. Obviously, they weren’t going to the police, so we had time to decide what to do. Sting called Warlock, and the Iron Tzars disposed of the bodies. Sting wanted me brought into the fold, but Warlock wasn’t a dumbass. He did give me a chance, though. Let me prove myself before they made me a prospect, then I spent another year provin’ I was a good fit for the Tzars.”
“Is that why you’re so loyal to Sting?”
“Yeah. He had no idea who I was or what I’d done, but he came to my defense. He said it was because he saw the tattoo on my forearm.” I extended my arm and let her see the special forces tattoo I’d had done the night my life went to hell. “He said that, no matter what had happened in my life after, I’d served my country and passed tests few people in the world could pass. I took him under my wing and helped him learn to control his temper. He earned his rank within the Iron Tzars and brought me up with him. We have each other’s back. No matter what.”
“I’m glad. If he hadn’t come to your defense, I’d never have met you.”
“We did meet, Serelda. And we ain’t ever gonna be apart. You get me?”
She smiled. God, would I ever get tired of seeing that beautiful smile? “I get you, Brick.”
“Xander.”
“What?”
“My name. Xander Scott.”
“Is that what you want me to call you? Because I’m not sure I can. You’re Brick. The wall between me and everyone else.”
“Which I love.” I brought her hand to my lips and kissed her palm. “You can call me whatever you like. Just thought you should know my name since you’re my ol’ lady. You’ll have your patch soon as we get back to Iron Tzars.”
She looked shocked, like she hadn’t expected that. “What?”
“You heard me, baby. I had your patch made weeks ago. Same time I got Sting Winter’s patch. Just wasn’t sure when I’d be able to give it to you.” Tears filled her eyes even as she smiled. “You didn’t think I was serious?”
“No!” She laughed. “It’s not that. I… I guess the thought of getting a biker’s property patch has come to mean more to me than I’d realized.”
“Told you, honey. I’m yours. You’re mine.”
“Yes. Agreed.”
“I don’t think Sting’s approached Winter yet, and I almost hate to tell you, but the second all this becomes official, I’ve got to get you inked.”
“Inked? Like a tattoo?”
“Yeah. It will say ‘Property of Brick,’ like your vest. It’s another layer of protection for you, but also reinforces to you what you’ve signed up for.”