Page 84 of Brick

CHAPTER 24

Questions pulled atNatalie’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!”