“Yup,” Brick said.“I’m sure we won’t need you.I’ll call when we’re on our way back.”He flicked his wrist to check the time.“Hopefully we’re home by five.”
“We’ll go sit in the back with them until they’re ready to come in,” Taschen said, as he stood.
Brick led Natalie to the front door.He picked up her purse from the table in the entrance and passed it to her.
She shook her head.“It’s okay.I’ve got my phone in my pocket.I don’t need my purse.”Nor did she feel like carrying it.
Brick placed it back on the table, then waved at the guys.“Thanks,” he called.
They stepped outside, and she inhaled a breath of air.God help them, this could be the best thing she’d done for her soul in ten years—or it could awaken a new hell.
Either way, she had to face the music.
***
Brick squeezed Natalie’sfingers on his lap as he steered into the parking lot of the police station.He found a space near the door.Her slim hand seemed so much smaller than usual, her demeanor almost shrunken.“Hey,” he said.
She turned to face him and her long blond hair cascaded over her shoulders.Her lips trembled a little at the corners, but she smiled.
“It’s going to be fine.”
She nodded.“It’s just...being here.Closer to him, which I know sounds strange.Keetan spent so much time here and everyone knows him.A lot of people will recognize me.”She shook her head and let out a breath.“It feels like I’m walking toward him, for god’s sake.”
He tightened his hold on her fingers.“Every feeling you’re experiencing right now is normal.”
She lowered her gaze.“I can’t wait to shake this hold he has on me.”She met his eyes, and determination flickered in her irises.“If it goes as well as we hope and I walk away from this unscathed, I promise I’ll never look back.We can go to Seattle right away if that’s what you want.”
He smoothed his hand over her cheek.“I want you to feel free.That means not doing whatever it is I want—it’s doing what you want.You get to decide the best thing for you and Bray.I just ask to be in the picture.”
She leaned forward.“You are in the picture.Already you’ve shown Bray he can trust you and be himself.That’s the best scenario I could ever ask for.The scenery we look at while we’re living doesn’t matter as long as he has his father.”
A sense of completion filled him.Days ago, he hadn’t known these two were missing from his life.Sure, he’d thought about Natalie often, hoped and prayed he’d see her again or she’d reach out.But he hadn’t been prepared for a built-in family.He kissed her cheek.“It’s funny, because I never imagined how or when I’d have a family.It just seemed unattainable.Finding out I had Bray hit me like a freight train, but hell, it’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
Natalie’s lip quivered just a fraction.“That means a lot to me.”
“I know.You’re an amazing mother.”He ran his hand down her back.“Oh, and the scenery is pretty great.You’ll both love it.”
She giggled.“Good.Bray’s never been to the ocean.”
This time he kissed her lips.“That’s the first thing we’ll do.”His eyes sparked with excitement.“I also can’t wait for my mom to meet Bray.”
Natalie’s eyes rounded.“I would love that.”She dipped her head.“Bray’s close with Keetan’s mom, but after all this they won’t be able to keep their relationship.Mary is...spiteful.”She smiled.“But Bray will be excited to meet another grandma.”
He bit back any questions about Bray’s relationship with Keetan’s mom.At the end of the day, if his son had been raised with a grandmother figure who’d loved him, he’d be grateful.“Good.Of course I haven’t told her about Bray yet, but she’ll be over the moon.”He straightened and reached behind his back for his Glock.He tucked it into the center console.“Guess I can’t bring this inside unfortunately.”He reached for the door handle.“Ready?”
Some of the hesitation left her eyes, and she nodded.He stepped out and made his way around the vehicle.He hadn’t mentioned anything to Natalie, but he’d bet his rifle that, having been suspended, Keetan was on a rampage.And if so, Natalie and Bray were his targets.
With Zain and Taschen at the house, he was confident Bray was safe with Ellie.But out here, Natalie was more exposed.She glanced up at him curiously as he tucked her under his arm.His palm itched to reach for weapon as he led her to the station, but he’d just have to do without.
Inside, the air buzzed with activity.They walked through a set of metal detectors.Bulletproof glass protected the front desk.An older woman looked up from her computer.“How can I help you?”
“We’d like to see the chief,” Brick said.
She frowned.“Do you have a meeting scheduled?”
“No—”
“Please tell him Natalie Shaw is here to see him,” Natalie said, her voice strong and unwavering.
