“Lying, apparently.There wasn’t enough evidence to justify that APB.Looks like he put it out there himself, and when the chief asked for details regarding the accusations, he produced a recording that was flimsy at best.”
Hope made his heart jump.“So he got himself in a world of shit.”
“Yup.I don’t know what he was thinking.I guess he and the chief are close, and he thought he could talk his way out of it, but his boss didn’t have his back.”
Questions burned his brain.That had been a stupid move for a cop.“Sounds like he thought he could get away with it, though.”
“No shit.”
His wheels spun more.“Which makes me wonder if the chief is involved with the gang, too.I mean, hell, why else would Keetan think he could get away with something like that?He put his job on the line.”
Ghost sighed.“Yeah, it’s possible.Either way, I say your girlfriend is safe to turn herself in.”
He grunted.Why the hell didn’t that reassure him?
Because he couldn’t stand the thought of losing her.Logic argued that fear, but worry still numbed him.
“All right, thanks.”
“Yeah.Get back home already.I’m getting tired of carrying your workload.”No humor filtered his friend’s voice, but Ghost didn’t have a funny bone in his body.
Brick hung up and immediately called Zain.
“Hello?”Zain said, chewing something.
“Am I interrupting?”He paced toward the couch to check on Bray.The boy sat frozen in front of the TV—the fuck kind of program hypnotized kids like this?
“Just grabbed breakfast with Taschen.Rise and shine.We’ve been up for hours.”
Brick rolled his eyes.“That’s because you’ve got nothing better to do.”
“Guess not since I left Dana at home for your ass.”
“Dude,” Taschen grumbled.“You’d better not hint at anything else about you and my sister.I don’t need that image in my head.”
Zain snickered.“So sensitive.How’s everyone holding up?”
“Good,” Brick said.“The little guy’s watching TV and Natalie’s still sleeping.Ghost gave us the all-clear to turn Natalie in.”
“I heard.Can’t believe that shithead got away with putting out that APB.It wouldn’t have stuck, and he knew that.”
“Yeah, but his objective was to scare and control her—what he’s always done.”
“Well he got himself suspended.”
Brick startled.“Seriously?”Damn, that was good news.
“Yup.You going down to the station?”
“I plan on it.But Natalie has a say in how we handle this.”He turned away from the TV and spotted Natalie standing in the kitchen doorway.“I’ll call you later.”
He disconnected and set his phone on the counter.The sight of Natalie’s cutely rumpled hair and pouty lips made him cross the kitchen to kiss her.She grinned and folded her arms across her chest.She wore the oversized black sweatshirt she’d had on the previous night.“What exactly do I have a say in?”
“Morning,” he said, almost unable to contain his fucking happiness.All he wanted was to see her relief when she realized what Keetan, the sonofabitch, had done.“I just got off the phone with Ghost—”
Her gaze darted to the living room.“Hang on one sec.”She patted his chest, then went to the couch and kissed Bray’s cheek while smoothing his hair.
“Hi, Momma,” he said with a giggle, still focusing on his show.
