Slowly, she pulled off her sunglasses and kept her gaze down.“I lied about my name because I was hiding.Because I didn’t know you.”
“Hiding from your ex?”he pressed.
She nodded.There was nothing more to hide.Nothing this man could do to hurt or ruin her.All that mattered was Bray.The child they shared.The child he—
“Where’s my son, Natalie?”
Her face fell.Tremors took hold of her body.
“He is mine, isn’t he?”
She couldn’t take it anymore.A deep cavern of pain and regret channeled its way through her.She covered her mouth with her hand and did the only thing she could: nod.
Nearly every day she’d recited what she’d say to him if he ever found out about Bray.She’d developed an arsenal of apologies, pleas, explanations.Now she couldn’t pull a single one from the deadness inside her.
“Yes.Bray is your son.”Despair crushed her shoulders, but the shame was heavier.She couldn’t look at him.Needed to deny, even for a second, the pain she’d caused this innocent man.
He hated her.If he was anything like Keetan, he’d probably beat her to a pulp or strangle her.
A gentle hand landed on her shoulder.She flinched, anticipating a strike.But his fingers moved softly over her skin.“Natalie, please look at me.”
His words were like soothing cream on a burn.She lowered her hand to her lap and swung her gaze to Brick.He knelt on the ground next to her car.One hand was on her seat, an inch from her leg, and the hand on her shoulder slid down to her forearm.
“I want to know everything.”Earnestness filled his eyes.He drifted his knuckle along the bruise on her cheekbone.“Especially about this.Can we talk?”
She sniffed and nodded.He gently squeezed her wrist.“Do you want to go in your room or talk here?”
She owed him a conversation.More than that.But she also needed to get back to Bray.“I can’t talk long, but I want to explain everything.We can go to my room.I’m supposed to meet my sister.I need to tell her I’ll be late.”
“Do whatever.”
She took out her phone with shaking fingers and shot off a text to Ellie, just as she’d done that night in Fargo.I’m okay, but I’m going to be late.Can’t talk right now.I’ll call you asap.
She grabbed her purse.He stood and stepped back to allow her to slide out of the car.He shut the door and waved for her to precede him to the stairs.Keeping her head down, she crossed the parking lot and ascended the steps.
Her hands shook as she pulled out her key card and ran it over the lock.She shoved open the door and placed her purse on a table.
Brick closed the door behind him and crossed his arms over his chest.“How about you start with who beat you up.”
She winced.Lowering herself into the dinette chair, she knotted her hands in her lap.He’d never understand the situation with Keetan.Why she’d stayed.Humiliation sent a chill over her skin at the thought of the danger she’d kept Bray in since he was born.“My ex,” she said, her voice wobbling.“I left him two weeks ago.Rented an apartment and planned to find work online.”
She dropped her gaze to her fingers.“He found me last night.Needless to say, he was pissed.”
“Did you call the police?”
She gave a derisive laugh.“You don’t know who Keetan is,” she whispered.
“So tell me.”
“Heisa cop.A ruthless one.”She met his stare.
Suspicion creased his eyes, and his jaw was tight with an unknown emotion.His muscles seemed to be vibrating.“What happened when he found you?”
She bit down on her bottom lip.He took our son.She couldn’t utter the words.Not yet.She’d crumble if she did, and she had to keep it together to answer the rest of his questions.“He exploded.Got aggressive.Then I came here.”
“Where’s the kid?”The demand cracked like a whip.
She rested her elbow on the table and closed her eyes as sadness split her in two.Propping her chin on her fist, she willed the ground to swallow her up.Willed him to disappear because there was nothing he could do.Nothing.
