Panic flooded his organs.“What?”he yelled.“How?”
“The perp took a sharp turn and lost the officers on his tail down an alley.They just recovered the abandoned vehicle.Must’ve switched rides.”
Brick’s heart pounded in his eardrums, driving out the rest of the officer’s words.The world tilted on its axis.
Like ashes in the wind, Natalie was gone.
***
Natalie’s breath washot in the stale air of the trunk.The blare of sirens still echoed, but only as a memory.It’d been a good twenty minutes since Keetan opened the trunk and wrestled her into a different one.She’d noted the make and model of the beat-up maroon sedan.
Panic kept her body still, but her brain worked at a dangerous speed.Brick’s expression was imprinted in her mind’s eye.He’d been shot in the shoulder.But what’d happened after that?
She’d heard the police running from the station, but they’d been too late.Maybe they’d caught the men working with Keetan.What if they hadn’t saved Brick, though?
It’s all my fault.
A sob of despair escaped her lips.She couldn’t—wouldn’t regret stumbling back into Brick’s life.Bray had met his father, so she’d never carry remorse for that.
But he needed to come home.Needed to be a father to their son.
Oh god.Bray.Please let him be safe.
A thought struck her.Her phone!She patted the pocket where she’d stowed her cell phone.Her fingers grazed the smooth glass and relief cloaked her shoulders.The device hadn’t fallen out when Keetan threw her to the ground.Thank god for the tight jeans, and for the oversized sweatshirt that’d hidden the phone from sight.
Her hands shook as she brought the screen to life.
Fuck you, Keetan.
She located Brick’s number.Fresh, cold fear drained the blood from her fingers as the line rang.Please be okay.Please be okay.
“Natalie?”Brick’s choked, worried voice brought tears to her eyes.
“Yes, it’s me.Are you okay?”
He cursed.“I’m fine.Where are you?”
“I-I’m in the trunk of a vehicle.I had my phone in my back pocket.Keetan doesn’t know I have it.”
“Good.The cops lost you guys.What kind of vehicle is he driving?”
She kicked herself for not getting the license plate number, but everything had moved too quickly.He’d already had the trunk of the second vehicle open and waiting, and she’d been focused on trying to fight him.“A maroon car.Lots of rust.”She gave him the make and model.
“Good girl.I need you to hang on for me, babe.I’ve got the best guys looking.I’ll find you.”
“Is Bray okay?”she said with a sniffle.Tears drenched her cheeks.She needed that reassurance more than anything right now.
“He’s fine.According to Taschen he just finished a bowl of yogurt.”
“Don’t let them leave him,” she said, the words nearly strangling her.
“I don’t want you to worry.I promise Bray will be safe.But I need you to do something.Plant the phone somewhere in the trunk where Keetan won’t find it.I’m pretty confident he won’t risk changing cars again.And if he catches the device on you, he’ll destroy it or throw us off track.”
“Okay.”Just hearing the deep rumble of Brick’s voice gave her comfort, but she longed for more.
“Did he hurt you?”he ground out.
She winced.A spot on her face near her bruised cheekbone was still hot and tingly from when she fought him.“He was a little rough, but I’m fine.”
