Brick was barely aware of Taschen leaving the room and returning a couple of minutes later with a first aid kit and a bottle of water.He set the drink on the table next to Brick, then settled himself across from him, on the couch.
“Found this kit under the bathroom sink.Let’s see.”Taschen touched Brick’s sleeve, but he jerked out of the way, annoyance flaring through him.“I don’t have time for that shit right now.He’s going to fucking kill her.”
Taschen’s gaze latched on his.“Yeah, that’s what he wants to do.But we have no way to find them right now, and getting some water in you and patching up the bullet hole will help you operate more efficiently.”
Brick grunted and took the gauze wet with peroxide from his friend’s fingers.“Fine, but we’re not playing doctor.”
“You gonna dig out the bullet?Last I checked you’re right-handed.”
“I’m not digging out shit.I don’t have time for that.”Brick pulled his shirt over his head and smothered a hiss.His shoulder stung with the force of a dozen fire-ant bites.He slapped the wet cloth on the open wound.The pain became searing.
Taschen held out a squirt bottle of the same stinging shit.“Here.”
Brick allowed him to spray the wound.Bubbles erupted on his skin.He clenched his fist until the hole was good and clean, then he took some gauze from Taschen and mopped up the blood around his chest and shoulder.Taschen helped him place a bandage over the wound before getting him a clean shirt.
“Thanks,” he mumbled, as he pulled the material on over his head.He reached for the water bottle, unscrewed the cap, and tossed back the whole thing.
“Did the cops mention if they’ve got a lead on where Keetan is?”Taschen asked.
“No.I didn’t call them again.They said they’d continue their hunt, but I’m not hopeful.I don’t like the fact that they all worked with Keetan.Someone could be pulling strings or helping him out.”
Taschen nodded.“It’s possible.”
Now that his shoulder was patched and he was semihydrated, urgency rushed through him.They were already on borrowed time.He couldn’t stop hearing Natalie’s scared voice in his head.If they were too late—
Jesus he couldn’t go there.“Why the hell hasn’t Ghost called yet?”
Ring,ring!
Brick tensed as Taschen pulled his phone from his pocket.He hit the speaker button and held out the phone between them.“Yo.Brick’s here and he’s losing patience.Talk fast.”
“Hey,” Ghost said.“Took a while, but I traced her phone.It’s not as easy when I don’t have access to her account, but I managed to go about it another way.”
Meaning a way that bent the law, but that didn’t matter one iota.
“I’ve picked up a location near Lakeport State Park.”The gentle tap of fingers on a keyboard came through the speaker.“Looks like there hasn’t been movement in twenty-three minutes.”
“That’s when I last spoke to her.”Brick got to his feet.“We’re heading there now.Thanks for the intel.Call us if anything changes.”He hung up.
“Wait a sec,” Taschen said.“Zain mentioned you grabbed Keetan’s phone along with his laptop last night.Where is it?”
Brick retrieved it from the kitchen counter and handed it to Taschen.“It still has the recordings we were looking for,” Brick said.“What do you want with it?”
He shrugged.“I’m not sure there’s anything it’ll help with at this point, but it wouldn’t hurt to take it just in case we want to turn it over to authorities.I’m sure they’ll find evidence of his involvement with Club East.”
“Good call.”He passed Taschen the phone because he really couldn’t deal with anything else right now.
He went upstairs to grab his AR-15 from the office.He secured his vest and pulled his T-shirt overtop.The bullet wound sizzled but he ignored it.No time for that shit.With cold determination, he stalked down the hall.His gaze slid to the master bedroom, where all three of them had slept just hours before.
Whatever happened, he had to make sure Natalie got home.Bray needed her more than anything in this world.The idea she might not return broke his fucking heart for their boy.
***
Keetan stood overNatalie, glaring.She pushed herself into a sitting position, and her already bruised ribs screamed.Her throat ached from his grip.A cold sheen coated her skin.
“Get up,” he demanded.
“What’s the matter?I thought you wanted to kill me.”Taunting him wasn’t in her best interest, but there was a reason he’d refrained from killing her already or beating her further.Insects screeched from the bushes, reminding her that in an hour or so they’d lose daylight.
