Page 71 of Brick

The words he’d wanted to say sat on his tongue.Heavy.Tingling...

You’re a great mother.Hang on for our boy.He needs you.I need you.We can’t do this life without you.Dammit, I love you, Natalie.

He covered his face with his hands, forcing his heart rate to slow.Think, for fuck’s sake.His brain wanted him to shift into drive and find the maroon sedan Natalie had mentioned, but that’d be a waste of time without more direction.His shoulder throbbed and was sticky with warm blood.Adrenaline numbed the sting of the bullet sitting in his flesh.

Taking one more deep breath, he lowered his hands and called Taschen again.

“Any news?”his friend asked eagerly.

“Is it Brick?”he heard Ellie say, her voice worried.

“I spoke with Natalie.She’s got her phone.The last I heard, Keetan swapped the vehicle for a maroon sedan.”

“Plate number?”

“Nothing,” he said, as he pulled a U-turn to get onto the interstate.

“We’ll trace her phone.I’ll get Ghost on that as soon as we hang up.”

“Thanks.I’m heading back to the rental, but I’m worried Bray will be upset if I come back without Natalie.”

“Yeah, shit.What if Zain takes them to an indoor park?It’d be better to keep him somewhere public.”

He heard Ellie ask for the phone.

“Brick?”she said.

“Yeah,” he barked.He couldn’t keep his patience in check right now.He needed to do something constructive to find Natalie, and mundane conversation wasn’t it.

“I know somewhere I can take Bray.How about I pack a bag for him and plan to keep him for the night?I don’t want you guys to worry about him while you’re focusing on Natalie.”

He tightened his grip on the steering wheel.He’d never been in the position of having to make decisions for a child.But he needed to do so right now to ensure Bray was safe—he needed to officially step into a parental role.“Uh, yeah.I think that’s a good plan.But I want Zain to stay with you every minute.Consider him your and Bray’s personal bodyguard until further notice.”

“Okay.”Silence stretched for a heartbeat.“Do you know anything else?I really need some hope right now.”Ellie sniffed, and the sound tugged at his heartstrings.

“We’ve got nothing if we don’t have hope,” he said flatly.“Just take care of Bray for me.Know that I won’t come back without Natalie.”

“Don’t say that,” she hissed.“Your son needs you.Natalie would want Bray to have you.Okay?Promise me you’ll do everything to find her, but also promise me you’ll come back, too.”

His throat tightened.“I will.”

“Be careful.”There was a rustling, and then Taschen came back on the line.

“All right.Zain’s taking off with Ellie and Bray.I’ll see you when you get here.”

“Thanks.”Brick hung up and drove on autopilot, his mind reliving the sight of Natalie being torn away.

Somehow, he made it to the rental house.He walked up the driveway, and the empty space beside him made his heart ache.When he entered the front door, silence kicked him in the chest.There was no shriek of laughter or pattering of little feet.No stirring of Natalie moving about the house.

Taschen stood from the couch, his face somber.“They just left.”

Brick shut the door and walked further inside.Nausea struck him.Shit, he hadn’t felt sick to his stomach in years.

Taschen’s eyes widened.“You’re shot.”

Brick dropped to the coffee table and lowered his head in his hands.“I know.Tell me you’ve heard something from Ghost.”

“Nothing.But we’ve gotta get you patched up.I’ll be right back.”