And she’d clean it up.
If she lost Bray, she’d have nothing to live for.
CHAPTER 6
Watching Natalie sitand talk with her sister was almost surreal.Seeing them together was like witnessing yet another side of the woman he’d once fallen for.The women spoke softly at the table while he sat on the bed.They’d already gone over the plan.Natalie and Ellie would go to the house and stay with Bray.Keetan might not allow Ellie to stay long, but Brick had exchanged numbers with both of them—and he’d put his number on speed dial in Natalie’s burner phone.
If Ellie left the house first, she’d call to let him know how things had gone.Then it was simply a matter of waiting until the guys came.They’d swarm the house, detain Keetan, and get Natalie and Bray out.
Ellie reached for Natalie’s hand and held it in both of hers.Something twisted in his chest.He’d spent so long wishing just to see the woman again that he hadn’t even considered the trouble she could be in.
He should’ve done more to find her.There’d been red flags that night.She’d spoken briefly about a messy split, but he hadn’t realized how bad shit was.And there was still something huge lurking in the room—she’d yet to tell him what the hell this guy had on her.
Natalie toyed with a strand of her blond hair while she spoke to Ellie.Her voice struck him for the first time, its raspiness indicating she’d screamed or cried a lot.He studied her subtle movements, the shifting and blinking of her eyes telling him she held back tears.
Ellie embraced her.“We’ll get him back,” she said, loud enough for him to hear.
The women stood.Ellie was slightly taller than Natalie, and her hair was dark brown, but they had matching blue eyes and facial features.“We’re going to Keetan’s house now.Ellie will drive me.”She scooped up a backpack from the floor and tucked her purse and phone inside.
“I’m coming.”He got to his feet.
Ellie’s eyebrows went up.
Natalie froze.“That could be a disaster.”
“I’ll follow you and park out of sight.When you get close to his house, Ellie will call me and leave her phone on in her pocket so I can hear what’s going on.If he sounds aggressive...I’ll come say hello.”He shrugged.He couldn’t silence the sick part of him that hoped the bastard would try something.
But damn, Brick couldn’t go around shooting cops, which posed a problem because he definitely intended to shoot the fucker at some point.For now, nothing could stop him from beating the shit out of Keetan.
Ellie beamed.“I think that’s a swell idea.”
Natalie rolled her eyes.“You’d love for Keetan to get roughed up.”
“Hell yes I would.”Ellie swung open the door of the motel room.
Natalie followed, and Brick trailed behind.She moved with tension, and not just the kind that indicated she was unsure or afraid.She was stiff.
She was hurting.
Christ, it hadn’t even crossed his mind that Keetan could’ve done more than mark up her face.He clenched his teeth and balled his hands as they descended the stairs.They reached Ellie’s car.
As her sister got into the driver’s seat, Natalie turned to face him, her hands winding in front of her abdomen.“I know this sounds dramatic, but if something bad happens to me...please—”
He placed his hand on her slim shoulder.“I swear to you, if he sounds the least bit threatening, I’m coming in.”
“But you’re not armed.He is.”
“I can do plenty of damage without a bullet.”
She exhaled with exasperation, but a smile fluttered on her lips.God, he’d do anything to see a glimmer of the happiness he’d witnessed in Fargo.There, she’d seemed free.Maybe not quite—there’d been a cloud of uncertainty around her—but she had been at ease, beautiful and mesmerizing.More than anything, she hadn’t been battered and terrified like this.
If he did anything after all this was done, he’d keep her safe.He might never look at her the same way given the secret she’d hid, but he’d make sure no other bastard laid his hands on her.Period.
“I’ll see you soon,” he promised.
Her bottom lip wobbled a bit, but she stepped back and went to the passenger side of Ellie’s car.She grimaced as she dropped into the seat.
She was hurt.And Keetan would pay for every fucking bruise.
