Page 54 of Brick

“Let’s go.”Brick slid from the passenger seat.He’d keep his rifle tucked close to his body so as not to alert the neighbors.There was the odd light on inside the other houses on the street.

They walked briskly down the sidewalk then up the walkway to Keetan’s front door.Anticipation strummed through Brick.Please give me a reason to put my fist through his skull.

Zain lifted his knuckles to knock, but Brick held out his hand to stop him.“One second.”He reached up and twisted the bare bulb until the light went out, sending darkness over the porch.“No need to show him our faces just yet.”

Zain snickered.“He’ll know who’s visiting when my knuckles break his teeth.”

Rap,rap,rap

Footsteps shook the floor inside, and a shadow passed the window overlooking the porch.The blinds were tightly sealed.“Who’s there?”Keetan barked.

All right, so the bastard wasn’t stupid enough to swing open the door in greeting.

“I said, who’s—”

Brick slammed his foot into the door, instantly splintering the jamb.The wood flew open.Keetan let out a sharp cry as he stumbled and fell onto his back.Brick charged inside with Zain at his heels.

Zain shut the broken door as Brick crunched his boot against Keetan’s windpipe.He really fucking liked putting this bastard on his ass.“Miss me, motherfucker?”

Keetan’s face turned red, veins bulged in his bald head, and his eyes bugged out.

Christ, he just wanted to crush his trachea right now and be done with it.The guy twisted and sputtered beneath his weight.Brick eased up the pressure.

Keetan sucked in a fast, wheezy breath.

“Tell me where the recording is,” Brick said, deadpan.

Keetan grimaced.“I don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”

“Bullshit,” Zain said.

“I’m gonna bet you’re lying,” Brick added.“You know.The evidence you told Natalie you’re using against her.The death you blamed her for.Shelby’s.”

Keetan’s gaze became spiteful.“Don’t talk about my sister.”

“We’re gonna do more than talk.”

Zain chuckled.“We’re also gonna beat the shit out of you, but you could save us some time and hand over whatever audio you claimed to have.”

“Fuck you,” Keetan spat.

Brick put more weight on the guy’s neck.“You got a silencer handy?”he said, looking at Zain.“We’ll shoot him in the hands first and work our way down until he wants to talk.”

Keetan grappled with Brick’s leg.

“Sure do.”Zain pulled a silencer from his jacket pocket and screwed it onto the muzzle of his Glock.He wedged his foot against Keetan’s forearm, pinning his wrist to the floor.

Keetan grew frantic.He bucked and squirmed, but with Brick and Zain holding him down, he couldn’t do a damn thing but squirm.

Zain met Brick’s eye, silently asking permission.

He nodded.

Zain aimed.

“All right!”Keetan said, the sound guttural.

Brick extended his hand to hold off Zain and then lifted his foot and slid it back a few inches.“Got something to say?”he asked sweetly.