Taschen seemed reluctant to leave, and Brick bet he was waiting to make sure Natalie made it through the statement and the cops left.Smart.
Brick had already given his statement to the chief, and Taschen had spoken to Rosealee earlier.
Taschen shifted in his seat next to the bed.“You worried about how this’ll all shake out?”
Brick scoffed.“Not really.With the corruption in that police department aired out, they’re going to be under fire.Even if they wanted to pin charges for Keetan’s death, they’d have a hard time with everything he’s done to Natalie, the testimony from Tommy, and the shit with Club East.”
Taschen nodded.“Right.But there’s something else you’re worried about, isn’t there?”
He tightened his arm around his son, feeling a surge of protectiveness toward his little family.“We don’t know how things are going to unfold regarding Shelby’s death.”
“Want me to talk to our lawyers?It might be a good idea to have them ready to offer representation.”
Brick’s attention drifted to the corner of the room.“Do that.”His temper ratcheted up a notch as he watched Natalie, who still sat in the wheelchair.She should be resting, not forced to be alert.Before he could open his mouth, Rosealee stood, patted Natalie’s good shoulder, and left the room with a wave to Brick.
Natalie wheeled herself to the side of his bed.“That was exhausting.”
“I bet,” Taschen said, then looked at Brick.“I’m going to head out.Need anything before I go?”
He shook his head.“No, but I owe your ugly ass a thank-you.”He wouldn’t risk saying what he fully meant.Not here, where anyone could overhear.Taschen’s killing Keetan was a load off his shoulders—and hopefully Natalie’s.Part of him hated that he hadn’t been the one to inflict pain and death upon the person who’d hurt Natalie, though.The person who’d scared her enough to keep her from finding him.
Taschen’s mouth firmed, and he placed a hand on Bray’s sleeping head.“Don’t mention it.You’d have done the same for me.”He made his way out.
Brick reached for Natalie and pulled her hand onto his lap.“I think I’m ready to get out of here.How about you?”
She sighed.“Yes.I just want to go—” She shook her head.“Never mind.Technically, we don’t have a home.”
“Natalie, you always have a home with me.”His voice was tight with tension.Hell, he’d thought they’d established the state of their relationship.
She smirked.“Technically you don’t have a home here either.”
He relaxed a little.“True.I’ll see if the rental is still available.Once we’re feeling better, we’ll go over what you want to take to Seattle with you.”He dipped his chin.“That is, if you’re still willing to move.”
“I want nothing more.”She bit her bottom lip.“But we still need things sorted out regarding Shelby.”
“I know.Let’s try to stay positive and focus on the life we want.Everything will work out.”It had to.He wouldn’t entertain any other outcome.
He picked up his phone and messaged the rental host, asking if they could extend their stay for another week.That might be more time than necessary, but they were in no hurry.
All that mattered was getting everyone rest until they were mentally and physically prepared for the move.Besides, surely Bray would want more time with Ellie.
Natalie hung her head.He set his phone aside.“Hey, what’s going on in that pretty head?”
She inhaled a shuddering breath and shifted her tear-filled gaze to the ceiling.“I wish I knew what was going to happen with...”She swallowed and looked at him.“With Shelby’s case.”
Brick’s heart clenched.“We’ve gotta have faith, honey.I know it’s hard right now, but I think if they wanted to press charges, they would have already.”
“Chief Wiebe asked me to come by the station tomorrow if I’m feeling okay.I’d go now if I didn’t need to spend time with Bray.I just want all this over with.”
He wrapped his fingers around her much smaller ones.The thought that someone could charge her with manslaughter—or hell, murder—was too much to bear.Not only was the accusation such a sharp contrast to everything Natalie embodied, it could ruin their lives.
He wouldn’t fucking allow it.
A minute later, the nurse came in.
“Where do we sign to get the hell out of here?”
***
