Page 10 of Brick (Chosen Few #5)

W atching Natalie sit and talk with her sister was almost surreal.

Seeing them together was like witnessing yet another side of the woman he’d once fallen for.

The women spoke softly at the table while he sat on the bed.

They’d already gone over the plan. Natalie and Ellie would go to the house and stay with Bray.

Keetan might not allow Ellie to stay long, but Brick had exchanged numbers with both of them—and he’d put his number on speed dial in Natalie’s burner phone.

If Ellie left the house first, she’d call to let him know how things had gone. Then it was simply a matter of waiting until the guys came. They’d swarm the house, detain Keetan, and get Natalie and Bray out.

Ellie reached for Natalie’s hand and held it in both of hers. Something twisted in his chest. He’d spent so long wishing just to see the woman again that he hadn’t even considered the trouble she could be in.

He should’ve done more to find her. There’d been red flags that night. She’d spoken briefly about a messy split, but he hadn’t realized how bad shit was. And there was still something huge lurking in the room—she’d yet to tell him what the hell this guy had on her.

Natalie toyed with a strand of her blond hair while she spoke to Ellie. Her voice struck him for the first time, its raspiness indicating she’d screamed or cried a lot. He studied her subtle movements, the shifting and blinking of her eyes telling him she held back tears.

Ellie embraced her. “We’ll get him back,” she said, loud enough for him to hear.

The women stood. Ellie was slightly taller than Natalie, and her hair was dark brown, but they had matching blue eyes and facial features. “We’re going to Keetan’s house now. Ellie will drive me.” She scooped up a backpack from the floor and tucked her purse and phone inside.

“I’m coming.” He got to his feet.

Ellie’s eyebrows went up.

Natalie froze. “That could be a disaster.”

“I’ll follow you and park out of sight. When you get close to his house, Ellie will call me and leave her phone on in her pocket so I can hear what’s going on.

If he sounds aggressive... I’ll come say hello.

” He shrugged. He couldn’t silence the sick part of him that hoped the bastard would try something.

But damn, Brick couldn’t go around shooting cops, which posed a problem because he definitely intended to shoot the fucker at some point. For now, nothing could stop him from beating the shit out of Keetan.

Ellie beamed. “I think that’s a swell idea.”

Natalie rolled her eyes. “You’d love for Keetan to get roughed up.”

“Hell yes I would.” Ellie swung open the door of the motel room.

Natalie followed, and Brick trailed behind. She moved with tension, and not just the kind that indicated she was unsure or afraid. She was stiff.

She was hurting.

Christ, it hadn’t even crossed his mind that Keetan could’ve done more than mark up her face. He clenched his teeth and balled his hands as they descended the stairs. They reached Ellie’s car.

As her sister got into the driver’s seat, Natalie turned to face him, her hands winding in front of her abdomen. “I know this sounds dramatic, but if something bad happens to me... please—”

He placed his hand on her slim shoulder. “I swear to you, if he sounds the least bit threatening, I’m coming in.”

“But you’re not armed. He is.”

“I can do plenty of damage without a bullet.”

She exhaled with exasperation, but a smile fluttered on her lips.

God, he’d do anything to see a glimmer of the happiness he’d witnessed in Fargo.

There, she’d seemed free. Maybe not quite—there’d been a cloud of uncertainty around her—but she had been at ease, beautiful and mesmerizing.

More than anything, she hadn’t been battered and terrified like this.

If he did anything after all this was done, he’d keep her safe. He might never look at her the same way given the secret she’d hid, but he’d make sure no other bastard laid his hands on her. Period.

“I’ll see you soon,” he promised.

Her bottom lip wobbled a bit, but she stepped back and went to the passenger side of Ellie’s car. She grimaced as she dropped into the seat.

She was hurt. And Keetan would pay for every fucking bruise.

***

“He’s intense. Tell me again why you didn’t want to find him after Fargo?” Ellie sometimes had no filter.

Natalie pressed her back to the seat and stared out the window at the hot September day. Puffy white clouds blotted out the crystalline blue sky. It’d be the perfect day to go swimming, but knowing Keetan, he wouldn’t allow them to leave today. If he even let her stay.

He probably wouldn’t shoot her. Guns made too much noise. He might hit her again, though not in front of Ellie. He wouldn’t want a witness.

It was getting close to lunchtime. Had Keetan even given Bray breakfast? Her own stomach churned but not with hunger. She hadn’t eaten since she and Bray shared a meal the previous night.

“Because I’m stupid,” she finally responded, with a wry smile. “I didn’t know him,” she continued, before Ellie could cut in. She had to tread carefully because even Ellie didn’t know the depths of her ties to Keetan.

Many times she’d wanted to tell her. To share the truth with someone. But doing so would only put Ellie in danger. “It all happened so quickly,” she said wistfully. “By the time I realized I was pregnant, Brick was a distant memory.”

Ellie remained quiet. Probably minding her tongue more than usual because of the current circumstances. “Well, I hope he’s here to stay.”

“He was very clear about wanting a relationship with Bray. If I get out of this mess with Keetan, we’ll talk about what that will look like.”

“You still haven’t told me about the allegations. How could he possibly have an APB out for your arrest? I don’t understand. I know he’s a cop, but he’s not that powerful. He’d need evidence...”

Words jumbled on her tongue, but she forced them down. Ellie couldn’t know. She had to keep her in the dark, at least for now. “Keetan is resourceful. There’s a very real chance he could send me to jail on bogus charges.”

Ellie scoffed. “Just know nothing can stick if it’s not true. I’ll be ready to call a lawyer if things go awry.”

“Just get Bray out.”

“You know I’ll protect him with my life.” Promise clung to Ellie’s words.

“I know.” That’s what I’m afraid of.

Ten minutes later, they approached the only home her son had ever known. Well-kept two-story homes lined the street, and large trees and flowerpots filled the yards. Keetan’s cruiser sat in the driveway.

Butterflies beat against her belly, and not the good ones.

Their little wings created a violent storm of nausea as her sister parked on the side of the road out front.

Part of her wanted to fling herself from the vehicle and run inside to gather up her son.

The other part was stricken with fear at what she might find.

If Keetan had hurt Bray, she’d kill him.

She glanced over her shoulder to see Brick’s car roll to a stop thirty feet behind them. Keetan wouldn’t be able to see him from the house.

Ellie turned in her seat. “I hope you realize how hard it’s going to be for me to not punch him in the face.”

Natalie grimaced. “You and me both, but we can’t.”

“Why not? We beat the shit out of Sheldon Plank in eighth grade when he called you metal mouth and tried to take a picture up your skirt with a Polaroid.”

Despite the situation, Natalie fought a smirk. Leave it to her sister to bring up one of their most outrageous memories at a time like this. “I’d love nothing more than to gang up on Keetan, but this is real. He has a gun. Probably more than one.”

Ellie sighed. “Next time. You ready to go in?”

“Yeah. I just want my son back.”

“I know. Don’t worry, we’re not leaving without him.

” Ellie removed her phone from her purse and tapped Brick’s contact icon.

Brick had insisted Ellie be the one to keep a phone live in her pocket, just in case Keetan searched Natalie.

It was hard to say what he’d do, but Natalie sure as hell didn’t want to tip him off that they had backup.

Brick clicked on. “Here,” he said, the single word an unwavering lifeline of strength.

“We’re going in,” Ellie told him. “Put your phone on mute.”

Natalie climbed out of the passenger seat and stalked down the sidewalk. Ellie fell into step beside her, and they reached the walkway leading to the house.

The trees and bushes in the front yard brought up memories of Bray. He’d grown up here. She’d hated living with Keetan, but for Bray, she’d done everything she could to make their prison a home. That had included keeping face with their warden.

With every step her anxiety heightened. She climbed the cement stairs ahead of Ellie and rapped on the front door. Her chest thundered with the hammering of her heart. The muscles in her legs shook, but she locked her knees to stay upright.

Footsteps sounded from inside. Natalie closed her eyes. Oh god, I don’t hear Bray. Why don’t I hear him?

The door swung open. Keetan stood in front of her in a white T-shirt and snug jeans.

At first glance, he appeared attractive.

He had a killer smile. That was what had drawn her to him so many years ago.

But now his vicious green eyes were filled with menace.

“I knew you’d come crawling back.” He flicked his gaze to Ellie, and his mouth twitched with displeasure.

He’d never liked Ellie. Not only was she not afraid of him, but he couldn’t outright intimidate her as he could Natalie. He wouldn’t give anyone other than the friends he trusted proof of the real monster beneath his even smile.

It wasn’t until Natalie returned from Fargo and told him she’d leave again if he kept her from her sister that Keetan finally got used to having Ellie around. Much to his disdain.

“Ellie,” he said.