Page 17 of Brick (Chosen Few #5)

Oh dear lord, she was spiraling. Her breath came out rapidly and she tried to get to her feet, but Brick’s gentle hands on her shoulders eased her back down.

“We don’t think that’s what happened. Keetan’s truck is the only vehicle that emerges in a twenty-six-minute time span.

It’s most likely he took him to one of these places.

” He nodded at the screen. “There’re a few businesses nearby, and an apartment building.

Looks kind of seedy, but I think the latter is our best shot. ”

“An apartment building with how many units? Shit, this is impossible.” She channeled her fingers through her hair.

Brick caught her chin with his knuckle, forcing her to look at him. “This is anything but impossible. You’ve got three guys here who’ve lived and breathed the most hellish places on earth and come out the other side.”

She nodded, taking a deep, shuddering inhale.

“We’ve got guns, a drone, smoke bombs, and these assholes”—he jerked his head toward Zain and Taschen—“with a hankering for breaking faces and a soft spot for kids. He’s coming home, honey. Gimme a couple hours.” The unwavering drawl of his voice made her hurl herself into his arms.

She wouldn’t have relief until Bray was safe, but this was something.

***

In a normal situation, Brick wouldn’t dream of taking Natalie along on a mission like this. But he didn’t have enough men to leave someone behind with her, and more importantly, Bray needed her. If the child was there—and he prayed that was the case—he’d be terrified and in need of his mother.

He studied the equipment Zain had laid out on the table while Natalie went to her room to call her sister.

“We really going to do this in broad daylight?” Taschen asked skeptically.

“It’s 4:30p.m.,” Zain said. “It’ll get dark in a few hours.”

“We’re not waiting.” Brick picked up an earpiece and nodded at the guys. “Sound check.” They each stuck a little bud in their ear and did a quick round of tests.

“I just mean we’ve got work to do before we can move in anyway. Ghost is trying to see if Keetan has any friends in the area.”

Brick nodded. “Good.” He picked up his Glock and slid it into his waistband at his back. The guys had also brought his bulletproof vest and AR-15. All of this shit was as familiar to him as his own name, but for the first time, hesitation crawled through him.

The first time Bray met his father, he’d see him dressed for battle and carrying a gun—probably scary for a kid. But there was no help for it.

Taschen swung a vest over his head. “Did anyone consider how this will go if the kid’s not there?”

Brick shook his head with irritation. “Are you kidding? That’s all I’ve thought about.” He glanced at the staircase and lowered his voice. “I’m relying on the fact Keetan doesn’t want to add murder charges on top of kidnapping.”

“You think he’s thought that far ahead?” Zain asked derisively.

Brick bit his tongue. Fear chilled his skin.

All his life he’d been in control. The military had given him that.

Previously, the only time he hadn’t dictated an outcome was when Natalie left his bed in Fargo.

The idea he might not be able to do a damn thing to save his kid was too much to bear.

If Bray wasn’t at the apartment building or in the surrounding area. .. they had nothing else to go on.

But he’d keep looking. He’d never stop.

“Little insensitive don’t ya think, dude?” Taschen said, glaring at Zain.

Zain froze with his vest in hand. “Shit, I don’t know. Just trying to think of a game plan. We want to see the kid home, too.”

“It’s fine,” Brick said, waving him off. “Just get your shit on. We’re leaving in five.” He secured his own vest over his chest, then pulled on a camouflage baseball cap embroidered with the letters BCP . “Load up. I’ll get Natalie.”

He moved across the kitchen and climbed the stairs. Natalie’s soft voice drifted from the main bedroom. He hesitated at the door, and she glanced up from where she sat on the bed, phone pressed to her ear.

Her long, soft hair hung in waves around her face. She was so pretty, almost ethereal in her beauty. Her eyes widened when she took him in. And damn if his chest didn’t puff out.

“I’ve gotta go, Ellie.” She paused. “Yeah, I’m sure. I’ll call you as soon as we have him.” She lowered the phone and ended the call. The fact that she was speaking as if they were going to pick up Bray without question made his heart heavy.

Christ, don’t let me be fucking wrong.

She stood and smiled shakily. “You look ready for war.”

He hooked his thumbs into the sides of his vest. “I am.”

She stepped toward him and the clean scent of shampoo surrounded him. Her long-sleeved shirt hugged her slim waist, and her black leggings showed every curve of her supple thighs. Looking at her was torture.

God, he wanted to touch her. Kiss her. Not just because looking at her made his dick hard, but also because, dammit, he wanted to reassure her.

He wanted to make sure nothing filled her innocent eyes with anguish again.

Hell, he had a lot to unpack. But right now, he had to find his son. Until Bray was safely in Natalie’s arms, everything else had to take a back seat.

She moved into his personal space. He didn’t step away, but he didn’t reach for her either.

“Thank you for doing this. For calling in your friends and—”

He brought his palm to the back of her neck to cradle her smooth, delicate skin, cutting her off before she could thank him for something he hadn’t yet succeeded in. Something he might very well fail at.

“Don’t thank me, okay? Not right now.” He didn’t want to say not yet. “It’s time to go. Do you want to take something of Bray’s? A stuffed animal or a blanket?”

Her eyes widened and filled with tears. “Ohmigod, I didn’t even think of that. I better take a change of clothes for him, too.” She went to her bag on the bed and roughly opened it. After pulling out a fluffy white blanket and a small stuffed dog, she hugged both to her chest.

His muscles weakened. Emotion burned his sinuses. He’d been under pressure before. He’d fought the enemy, taken and given bullets for his fellow soldiers. But he’d never done anything more meaningful than reunite a mother with her baby.

And he’d do it now if it killed him.