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“Understood.” He turned to leave but stopped himself. “Grim, when have you ever known Leal to go off like that? He’s usually glued to your leg unless you give him the okay.” I looked down at Leal, who seemed completely unfazed by what happened.
“It was odd, I know. I never even saw him go.” I shrugged it off and pulled the chick back on my lap when she returned. I needed something to tame my erection.
“Ooooh, someone’s ready for some fun.” Kelly returned and started to grind on my lap, and I let myself go. determined to enjoy myself.
“Hey.” Brick sat down next to me and kicked his feet up. I eyed him and silently let out a long breath through my teeth. He seemed to have the weight of the world on his shoulders. He pursed his lips as he studied the chick on me.
“I need another minute.”
“Seriously?”
“Or maybe you should take a walk.” I warned her not to push me.
“Whatever.” She slid over to the other chair next to her chatty friend, and I gave him my full attention. I caught her pout, but she was smart enough not to say anything more. She kept a protective hand on my knee, but I ignored her.
“Vinni’s here.”
“Really?” That was news to me. Vinni was Elio’s cousin, and I hadn’t seen him in a long time.
“He pulled Trigger aside. I’m waiting to hear what’s goin’ on.”
“I am, too.” I went quiet as I thought for a moment, and the girl’s hand began to slide up my leg. I caught it and pressed it back to my knee. She got the point. I was interested in what Brick had to say.
“How much do you know about Simon?” He studied me.
“Simon Gable?”
“Yeah.” I could tell it was a loaded question.
“Not too much, just that Cameron hired him a while back. He’s quiet and doesn’t get in my way, so that’s a plus.”
“It is.” I could tell Brick needed more, so I searched my memory.
“Dad said he’s a bit of loner but is one of the best private investigators in town. He’s good at finding shit.”
“Good.” He rubbed his face.
“Why do you say that?” We never bullshitted each other with small talk; it was always straight to the point.
“Apparently, he did a job with my brother about a decade ago.”
“Really?” I knew Brick had a brother who’d disappeared. I figured the guy was probably dead and buried somewhere a long time ago. Happened all the time out in the desert. He’d been looking for him since before I even knew him. I heard from Morgan that he’d only ever had one lead, and it pointed to Mexico. Apparently, it was a dead end. “Does Simon know where he is?”
“He’s got someone working on it for me.” He looked over. “Do you trust him?”
“I don’t trust many people,” I shrugged, “but aside from the fact that he works with Cameron, he hasn’t given me a reason not to.”
“Yeah.”
“This fucking with your head?”
“Mm.” He sipped his beer. “I finally got Jilly into rehab again, not that it’ll fix anything,” he rolled his eyes as he talked about his sister, “but at least I know where she is. Thing is, it’s given me more time to think.” He paused, and a painful expression took over. “I never knew my old man, Mom was a fuckin’ waste of time, and Jilly’s been basically dead for most of my life. I guess I want to know…” He trailed off.
“I get it,” I murmured.
Brick barely talked about his personal life, so the fact he’d shared even that much meant his brother preyed heavy on his mind. “Don’t know,” he started mid-thought, “I just need this loop,” he pointed to his head, “to stop spinnin’. It’s fucking up my life.” I knew he meant Minnie. She’d hinted enough times that she was concerned about Brick.
“You and your brother have two different moms, right?
