A little hand reached cautiously for the stuffy, then Bray pulled it tightly to his chest and dipped his face into its fur.“Mommy,” Bray wailed.
Brick’s heart wrenched.He stood and reached over the crib.“Let’s go to your mommy, okay little man?”He scooped up the boy.
Bray didn’t protest, but he hugged his animal tighter.He also let out a shuddering gasp, as though he’d been crying for hours.He probably had.His soaked clothes stunk like pee.The kid probably hadn’t even been given a change of clothes.
Bastards.
If he weren’t holding a toddler, he’d have stormed out to the living room and put his fist through Justin’s face.
He forced calm into his muscles so Bray wouldn’t sense his anger.His hand on the boy’s back, he rubbed in small circles.Bray’s little body relaxed.
Emotion rushed through him.He had a son.There was no question Bray was his.He felt the connection down to his bone marrow.The toddler’s eyes held a piece of him, a piece so raw and personal he couldn’t even place it.Love at first sight had struck him in Fargo—little had he known it’d hit him again in a dingy apartment in Detroit.“How ’bout we go for a walk?Your momma sure wants to see you.”
Bray’s big brown eyes grew even bigger.He glanced over Brick’s shoulder as if expecting Natalie to appear.
“She’s waiting in my car.We’re gonna go get her right now.”He turned from the crib and glanced around to make sure there was nothing of Bray’s in the room, but it was impossible to tell.
Taschen appeared at the door, his gun drawn but pointed at the ground.His gaze landed on Brick and his shoulders fell an inch as his mouth rose in a smile.“Found our guy?”
Brick beamed.The smile came from somewhere so foreign but so right.“Yeah, we did.”
“Come on then, Dad.”
Dad.
Holy hell, he was a father.Pride brought forth a wave of adrenaline, and he fought the urge to kiss his son’s head.One day Bray would be comfortable with him, but it was too soon, and the last thing he wanted was to confuse him.He’d do everything in his power, as long as it took, to show Bray he was worthy of being in his life.
“Let’s get the hell—” Taschen paused.“The heck out of here.”
Brick scoffed.Not swearing was going to be tough for him, too.But he’d fucking do it.
With one arm wrapped securely around the little boy, he swung the strap of his AR-15 so the gun rested against his back, then reached for the Glock in his waistband.He’d need to walk out armed, but he wasn’t using an assault rifle while holding a two-year-old.Not if he could help it.
Taschen jerked his head, and they made their way back to the living room.Zain had Justin and his friend flat on their stomachs on the ground.He held a gun, and his booted foot was propped on the coffee table.He smiled when he saw Bray.“Hey, buddy.”
Bray dropped his head to Brick’s shoulder and turned away.He wanted to question the bastards and find out exactly what Keetan had planned to do with Bray, but taking him to Natalie was more pressing.She was probably going out of her mind.
“Get some answers,” he ordered Zain.
“On it.”
“Lead the way,” Brick said to Taschen.
His friend kept his weapon aimed ahead of him as they moved down the hall.Reaching the exit, he pushed open the door and then paused to scan the parking lot.
Brick shot a glance toward the apartment they’d just left.The prison in which his boy had been kept.Where he’d been forced to sit in his own filth and god knew what else.Brick’s face would be the last Keetan ever saw.Cop or not.
“All clear.”Taschen moved out the door.
Brick followed into the warm evening air.Bray lifted his head and blinked as if he hadn’t seen the sun in days.“It’s nice today, huh?”
“Go swimming my mommy?”he asked.
Brick smiled.A sense of peace settled over his heart.He’d accomplished many things in his career with the military, including protecting his country and saving lives.But this took the cake.“I bet your momma would love that, buddy.”
The wind picked up Bray’s curls as Brick carried him across the parking lot.Every step made his heart a little lighter because any second, Natalie would see them.As much as he loved holding his son, he couldn’t wait to place Bray in Natalie’s arms.
***
