Utah (Knights Corruption MC: Laredo #4)

Chapter 7

7

I hated relying on someone to physically help me, but due to my condition, I had no other choice. One of my fears was that Ria would see this vulnerable side of me and view me as less of a man. However, there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to change what had happened to me.

My rational side argued that I was being ridiculous, and that if anything, my attack might’ve brought out a protective instinct in Ria, which could potentially work to my advantage. Perhaps making up shit in my head was a coping mechanism to divert my attention from the agonizing pain surging through my stomach.

“Are you trying to hit every fucking pothole?” I asked, gripping the side of the door.

“Sorry.” Brick kept his focus on the road ahead. “Everything back to normal between you and Knox?”

“Yeah.”

“Good ’cause we need to direct all our anger and need for retribution toward the cartel. I didn’t really know Crash, but he was a brother, and that’s all I care about. That’s all any of us care about. ”

“He was a good guy.” I hoped one day soon whenever I thought about our fallen member, I’d think of something other than the last moments of his life. But for now, that image was burned deep.

“Is Utah your real name?” If I had to wager, Brick’s random question was meant to veer my thoughts away from Crash.

“Nah. It’s where I lived before coming to Texas. I think Rascal started calling me Utah when I first joined. Or Rez. I can’t remember. Either way, whoever it was said it fit me better than my real name.”

“Which is?”

I paused a moment before answering, “Paul.”

“Paul?” Brick briefly gave me a once-over. “Ehhh… you might look like a Paul, but Utah seems to be better suited for you.”

“What about you?” I asked. “I’m sure Brick isn’t your real name.”

“Nope. Matteo. But my wife is the only one who calls me that, and it’s usually when I’m in trouble for something. My cousin Morgan, Tag’s woman, often calls me Matty because she knows it annoys me. Otherwise, everyone just calls me Brick.”

“Brick fuckin’ suits you.”

“I think so.”

I gave him directions to Ria and Evie’s house, which was a couple doors down from their mother’s. I forgot to ask Ria if her family was aware I’d be staying until I recovered and what, if anything, they knew about what happened to me. I doubted she’d tell them I was stabbed, wanting to avoid the barrage of questions and concern that would follow. But I couldn’t be sure.

Five minutes later, we turned into the driveway. Ria and her brother were already here, and as Knox approached our SUV, Ria fidgeted with her keys while she waited by the house.

Both guys assisted me toward the front door as my balance was off due to lack of energy. “I need some things from my place, and I don’t want Ria going there alone.” My gaze swerved to Knox.

“Of course. I’ll go with her once we get you situated.”

“Thanks.”

Once we crossed the threshold of the house, Brick asked, “Which room?”

“Mine,” Ria answered. Knox mumbled something under his breath. “Don’t start. We only have two bedrooms, and I have a king-sized bed in mine. It’s not like I can put him on the couch.”

Before they could argue, Evie rounded the corner, stopping dead in her tracks when she saw us. First, her gaze landed on me, which was accompanied by a sympathetic smile. But when she saw Brick, her small grin disappeared and her lips parted.

“Who are you?” she asked, taking a step toward us, her focus remaining on the big guy next to me. Her lilted tone indicated interest, but I could’ve heard her wrong. Evie had never struck me as forward or brazen, not like her sister, so it was possible her curiosity got the better of her.

“He’s married, Evie,” Knox all but barked. “Back off.”

A blush tinged her cheeks. “I was just curious. God, you’re so rude.”

Brick chuckled before saying, “Let’s get this guy settled.”

The moment we stepped inside Ria’s bedroom, a calm descended over me. Not because of the décor, which was feminine and welcoming, or because of the tidiness of the space, the exact opposite of my place, but because this was where I’d be spending my time for the foreseeable future with the woman I couldn’t picture my life without.

Now, if only I’d let her in on my feelings, perhaps we could move forward together in the right direction.

“You have the stuff to keep the wound clean as well as fresh bandages, right?” Brick asked, his focus bouncing between me, Ria, and Knox.

I looked to my buddy and Ria for acknowledgment .

“Yeah, we got it,” Knox answered.

“And I have his pain pills,” Ria added.

“Good.” Brick turned his attention to me. “Don’t hesitate to call if you need help with anything. Other than a sponge bath.” He looked at Ria. “That’s all you, sweetheart.”

A pink hue tinted Ria’s cheeks, an adorable reaction.

What is happening to me? I didn’t think things like adorable , and I certainly wasn’t someone who got caught up in feelings for a woman.

But as I sat at the edge of the bed, I shoved aside the notion of how I had been and opened my mind and heart to how I wanted to be.

A man Ria could be proud of.