Maybe if she hadn’t slipped out of the bed and run away, things would have been different.But she’d had no choice.When she woke, she’d found a message from Keetan promising that he’d go to the cops if she didn’t return home.He’d been blackmailing her for years because of one mistake, and there was no way out from beneath his thumb.
Brick was pissed, upset, hurt.But as they’d talked, his fury had seemed to diminish.He hadn’t threatened her, or raised a hand.As a matter of fact, he’d been gentle.
Having his arms around her was a comfort she’d forgotten existed.In truth, the last time a man had held her like that had been their night in Fargo.
He might never forgive her, but he’d also shown her kindness and wanted to step up to support Bray.She just couldn’t let him get hurt.She hadn’t been kidding when she said Keetan was crazy.
“He must be reeling.”
Her sister’s words hit Natalie in the gut.Ellie had insisted on more than one occasion that it wasn’t fair to keep Bray’s father in the dark regarding his son’s existence.
It wasn’t as if she’d planned to never tell him, but the more time had dragged out, the more ashamed she’d been and the harder it’d been to contact him.Add in her tumultuous, toxic situation with Keetan and her life was a shitstorm.
“He is.But he wants to help get Bray.”
“I sincerely hope you jumped on that offer.We could use a little extra muscle.”Ellie’s comment would have made her smile if the situation had been different.Brick certainly came with “extra muscle.”
Just the memory of his rock-solid arms wrapped around her gave her an ounce more comfort.She’d expected his embrace as much as she’d expected him to confront her in the parking lot.But that didn’t mean she hadn’t liked it.
A deep ache opened up inside her.All these years could have been so different, her son’s life could have been so different, if she hadn’t been so stupid.“We’re discussing that.”
The door opened and Brick strode inside, his gaze intent.She gave him a weak smile, and he slowed.
“Can I come by?I don’t know if you need me anymore, but the more people we have to get Bray out safely, the better.”
They hadn’t yet formulated a plan, but it sounded as if Brick understood that they had to go to Keetan’s ASAP.“Yeah, that’s fine.”She shared the name of the hotel and the room number and hung up.
“Who was that?”
“Ellie.She wants to come here.I hope you don’t mind.”
He dropped into the chair across from her again.“Doesn’t matter.”He brushed his knuckles over his jaw as he studied her.“I reached my team.Right now, we can spare only two men.Zain and Taschen—they’re soon-to-be brothers-in-law—will be here in about six hours.”
She glanced at the clock.She needed to see her son.“That’s amazing.I’m really grateful they’re coming to help.I just—I need to go there.”
Brick’s heavy gaze landed on hers.He folded his arms across his chest, making his shoulders and biceps appear impossibly large.“I don’t want him to be scared a minute longer than he already has.But know that I’m coming there and will get you both out.”
She fought the urge to knot her hands together and flattened her hands on her knees.“Just be warned.He’s a loose cannon.”
“I don’t give a fuck what he is, who he is, or who he thinks he is.”Brick leaned forward, and his mocha-colored eyes brewed with fire.“He’s gonna learn who the fuck I am.”
Natalie rolled in her lips as heat flamed her cheeks.Arousal tickled her lower abdomen.Turns out she found tough, assertive men extremely attractive.“Okay,” she whispered.“Just don’t scare Bray if you can help it.”
His face softened.“That’s why you’ll be there, too.”
She shifted her gaze to the dingy, worn carpet.
“Natalie.”His deep voice probed her resolve.“What are you thinking?”
Fear threatened to suck her in and spit her out.She wanted to believe things would go smoothly, that Keetan just wanted her to come back to him.But the guy was twisted—that was the reality.She’d been down this road before.The last time she left Keetan, she’d made it all the way to Fargo.
He’d either pull her into his arms and apologize, as he’d done then, or he’d beat her.He might even have her arrested.After Fargo, he’d made her pay.Sure, he’d been nice and remorseful at first.But that’d quickly changed, and he’d fucked with her head and emotions ruthlessly.
Now that he’d put out an APB for her, there was no telling how this would go.
“Nothing.I just really want to get back to my—Ourson.”
His gaze never left her face.He was so scrutinizing, so imposing.She wished she could bare every fear at his feet, but what right did she have?She’d created this whole mess.
