Page 36 of Brick (Chosen Few #5)

Q uestions pulled at Natalie’s mind as cold air whipped her cheeks. Keetan. Had he lived? Shame struck her only briefly. She hoped he hadn’t, but she needed to know.

“Is Keetan dead?” she asked.

Brick pressed his lips to her hair. “He’s dead.”

She sighed, relief encompassing her, and drew closer to Brick’s warm, solid body.

Part of her should feel guilty, but she didn’t.

Couldn’t. Not after he’d taken Bray, terrifying him.

Or attempting to kill her and have Bray grow up without her.

She shuddered. When Keetan shot her, she’d spiraled into a violent vortex of sadness and resistance.

Sadness because in that horrific moment, a realization had permeated deeply: she’d lose the people she loved. She wouldn’t see her son laugh again or grow into a man. She wouldn’t have a future with Brick and watch his relationship with Bray flourish.

Resistance because she hadn’t wanted to leave this earth.

Brick’s palm sliding up and down her bare thigh brought her back to the present. “We’re here.”

She lifted her head and gazed beyond Taschen’s form. The headlight of the boat illuminated the beach. He turned off the engine, and the watercraft glided toward the dock. Two figures waited on the dock.

Officers Rosealee Braden and Tommy Fisher.

Panic hit her, and she tensed in Brick’s arms. Seeing the outline of Tommy’s body in the dim lightly, his narrow shoulders and sharp jaw brought forth a rush of recognition.

She’d been too distraught the night Keetan had taken Bray, hadn’t gotten a good look at who’d been with him. Now she knew for sure.

“Shit,” he whispered.

“Evening,” Tommy called. “Glad you made it back safely. Everyone all right?”

“Keetan shot Natalie,” Taschen said, as he tossed the rope to Tommy. The cop wound it around a post.

Natalie curled closer to Brick. “Keetan was close with both of them,” she whispered. “T-Tommy was there when he took Bray.”

He nodded and inched his hand to the side to draw his gun beneath the blanket.

She gulped.

“Oh my word,” Rosalee said. “I’m so sorry, Natalie. Let’s get you comfortable.” She extended a hand.

“Can you stand?” Brick asked cautiously.

Her teeth chattered again, and fear sloshed in her stomach. “Y-Yes,” she said, not convinced she could. At least not well.

Brick stood and lowered her to her feet next to him. His hand that held the gun stayed at her back, beneath the blanket. The metal gave her an odd sense of comfort.

“I’ve got her,” Brick said, as he moved her closer to the side of the boat.

Taschen leapt off first, then bent to hang on to the boat so Brick and Natalie could disembark.

She lowered her gaze and made eye contact with Taschen in silent warning. Awareness sparked in his gaze. He gave a slight nod in understanding and she sent a thank-you skyward—these men were hypervigilant.

Brick held her tightly to his side as they stepped onto the dock. “Where’s your backup?” he asked the officers.

Rosealee firmed her thin lips. “Short-staffed tonight. Plus, we had help from the coast guard. They went out looking for you, so we opted to wait here in the event you made it back.”

Natalie studied her intense green eyes. The officer kept her right hand on her waist, inches from her gun. Natalie’s heart sped up.

“Any weapons on you?” Tommy asked.

In one swift, efficient move, Brick and Taschen positioned her behind their backs and withdrew their weapons. Fresh fear gripped Natalie’s chest.

“Whoa,” Tommy shouted. “Hands up!”

“Drop your weapons,” Rosalee bellowed, the threat in her voice clear.

The blanket fell away from Brick. Natalie quickly bundled it around her. It wouldn’t do a damn thing to protect her if another bullet flew, but she also didn’t need to flash anyone. She was naked beneath Taschen’s sweatshirt.

“Not a fucking chance,” Brick retorted. “You lower yours first.”

“You’re failing to obey a police order,” Tommy snapped. “Drop your weapons or—”

“You fucking helped Keetan. You kidnapped Bray. You let Keetan disappear with Natalie. Why? You working for Club East, too?”

From between the two men’s shoulders Natalie watched, shaking, as Rosealee blinked and swung her uncertain gaze to Tommy.

“That’s quite the accusation,” Tommy growled. “A bullshit one at that. Now for the last time, drop your weapons and put your hands in the air!”

Rosealee didn’t utter a word, but her weapon shifted to point slightly toward the ground. What Brick had said must have planted doubt in her mind.

Brick raised his hands, directing his gun in the air but not putting it down. “Now you,” he said.

“All right, everyone stay calm.” Rosealee lowered her weapon further. “We don’t want anyone else getting hurt here, Brick. Natalie needs medical attention, and I want to see she gets it.”

“Good,” Brick said. “Now talk some sense into your partner.”

“Not happening.” Tommy took a step back, sweat visible on his brow.

“You.” He signaled to Taschen. “Come forward. Lower your weapon.” His face was pinched and red and his gaze darted between all of them, his confidence gone.

Rosealee was visibly concerned, and she held out her hands toward Tommy as though calming a horse.

Natalie would bet any money Tommy had helped Keetan escape with her today. A memory rushed to her mind. “Hang on,” she said.

Brick didn’t turn to look at her, but his head tilted an inch. “What’s up, babe?”

“Do you still have Keetan’s phone?”

Taschen chuckled, probably realizing where her mind was going. “Reach into the pocket of that sweatshirt you’re wearing.”

She did as he’d said and pulled out Keetan’s phone. The heavy metal band sticker assured her she had the right device. She entered the new password and pulled up his contact list.

Her fingers shook as she found Tommy’s name. Just to be sure, she hit call. Two seconds ticked by. Oh god, maybe they were wrong. All this tension for—

Ring , ring

Natalie tied gazes with Tommy.

“That doesn’t mean shit,” he snapped. “We’re coworkers for Christ’s sake.”

She brought up the call history. “You called him at 4:45p.m. this afternoon.”

Taschen whistled.

“For the record,” Brick said, “that was minutes after he kidnapped Natalie.”

Silence filled the air.

“Officer Fisher, what the hell is going on?” Rosealee hissed. “Put your weapon down.”

Tommy took another step back. “No. You’ve got it wrong. I don’t know a damn thing that Keetan was involved with. I called him because...” His voice trailed off as he choked on the lie he couldn’t produce.

Rosealee glowered. “You can explain later. Right now, you need to—”

Crack!

A bullet whizzed past Natalie’s cheek. Brick was immediately on her. He threw her to the dock and covered her body with his. She screamed, covering her face. Shouts and grunts sounded.

Brick crushed her against the wood, and his tension radiated through her bones as if they shared an energetic system. She peeled her fingers away from her eyes in desperation, needing to see that everyone but Tommy was all right.

Taschen returned fire. One bullet hit Tommy in the arm, another got him in the leg.

He dropped to the dock and aimed at them.

The bullet clapped. Brick jolted then covered her even more, protecting her head.

Only a small gap between his bicep and the dock allowed her to see Rosealee tackle Tommy.

He stumbled, and they both careened over the edge of the dock.

Taschen launched himself into the water, and in less than a minute, he tossed Tommy back onto the wooden slats, the other man’s gun in his hand. Rosealee, soaking wet, knelt next to Tommy and cuffed him.

Brick eased off her. “Are you hurt?” His words came out winded, strained.

She shook her head and pushed herself into a sitting position. “No, I’m fine,” she said, grasping Brick’s hand. “I can’t believe that happened. I’m so glad you picked up on Tommy—” Her gaze rounded at the sight of fresh blood covering his neck. “Brick!”

He grunted and his eyes turned weary. He covered his neck with his palm, but blood seeped through his fingers.

Terror ping-ponged through her body.

Brick’s eyes flickered.

“Taschen!” she screamed, as Brick slumped into her arms. She caught his head and held it on her lap. She ran her hand over his face, his head. “Help! Brick’s shot.” The cry tore from her heart and prayers fell from her lips.

“Please, God,” she whispered. “Don’t take him from me. Don’t take him from us.”

His hand dropped away from the wound, and his eyes closed.

She placed her palm firmly over the bullet hole on his neck, her hand shaking and numb.

His hot, sticky blood made fear slam against her palate.

She struggled to breathe but knew she needed to hold it together, to keep him here.

But the harder she pushed, the more blood leaked out.

Taschen’s and Rosealee’s footsteps pounded on the dock, shaking Natalie’s already trembling body. “No, no, no. Brick, please . I can’t lose you. Stay with me!” Tears poured down her cheeks.

Brick’s eyes opened, but they were glassy and dazed. “Baby, I love you. T-Take care of my boy.”

Taschen and Rosealee were on them.

“Do something!” she shrieked.

They moved fast, pulling Brick from her lap onto the wooden boards. Taschen grabbed Brick’s discarded wet shirt from the boat and pressed the material to the wound while Rosealee barked orders into her cell phone.

Next to Brick, Natalie sobbed. She squeezed his limp, chilled hand and willed him to live. His eyes stayed latched on hers, but his gaze was distant. Then all the tension left his face.

“No!” she screamed.

Brick’s eyes closed and the world fell away from her.

***

Whomp , whomp , whomp

The huge blades of the helicopter sliced through the air as Brick was rushed into the aircraft on a gurney. A paramedic wrapped Natalie in a thick, scratchy blanket as he assisted her inside and onto one of the smooth leather seats, then the two medics went to work on Brick.