Page 14 of Brick
“Don’t worry.We’ll figure this out.Try to sleep, and I’ll call you in an hour or two.You need to rest.”
The throbbing pain in her skull and face confirmed that, but how could she sleep?She needed to hear Bray’s voice.
“Don’t do anything,” Ellie implored.“I mean it.Don’t call him yet.”
“Okay.”She hung up.Every motherly instinct told her to ignore her sister’s advice.She glanced at the clock: 2:13a.m.
She rested her head on the pillow and wrapped her arms around her knees.Bray would be tired.Exhausted.He was on a strict sleep routine.If Keetan had taken him to his house, knowing Natalie wouldn’t call the police, Bray would feel safe there.He’d be upset, he’d cry for her, but he had his bedroom.His crib.Familiar blankets and stuffies they’d left behind.
He’d sleep if he was in his room right now.
She was certain Keetan wouldn’t cuddle him.Bray also knew his stepdad wasn’t one for affection.Surely Keetan had plopped him in his crib and shut the door.
Natalie’s heart split in two.
My sweet baby.Lord, please don’t take him from me.
CHAPTER 4
Brick tossed hisduffel into the back of the rental SUV and pressed his phone to his ear.The ringing drilled against his sensitive eardrum.He’d slept a good three hours on the plane, and that was all he’d needed with adrenaline pulling overtime.
Ghost answered with a sleepy grunt.
“Morning, sunshine,” Brick sang, as he slammed the trunk shut and got into the driver’s seat.The Detroit air was thick with pollution and humidity even at 7:42a.m.He’d managed to get a red eye flight from Seattle, but the time change had thrown him off three hours.
“How’d I know it was you?”Ghost grumbled.
“’Cause you’ve got a location for Natalie and the kid and you’re dying to tell me,” he answered wryly.
Blankets rustled in the background.“You’re lucky I can’t let go of something once I start.Took me until a few hours ago to get a final location on her.I came up empty-handed when I sought out the kid.All footage I found of her showed she was alone.But let’s hope she’s got him tucked away safely with a relative.”
Tension clenched his shoulder blades.He had to get his head right.“Tell me where she is.”Before I lose my mind.
“She’s staying at a motel on I-75.”He rattled off the name.“Second floor, room209.Just texted you the address.”
“Is she still there now?”
“No clue.Last movement I had was her checking in late last night.”Ghost cleared his throat.“She could be...different, man.”
Brick bristled.“Different how?”
“I dunno.People get involved in fucked-up shit.For all you know she’s on drugs.I mean, the allegations don’t say anything about that, but you really don’t know what you’re walking into.”
He gripped the keys tightly.Rarely did he admit Ghost was right, but hell, Natalie had given him a fake name, had possibly had his kid, and had never so much as tried to send him an FYI.Now she was wanted on potential felony charges, on the run, and the child was nowhere to be found.
To say the situation didn’t look good was an understatement.“Can you do me one last favor?”
“Why not?I’ve done this much already.”Ghost’s bland tone didn’t penetrate the hazy feeling of dread surrounding Brick.
“Find out what I’d have to do to get custody.”
If Brick were in front of Ghost right now, he’d probably see his friend’s head explode.“Jesus.Well, for starters you’d have to prove the kid’s yours.”
“Figure out how I’d go about that.If she’s in as much trouble as it seems, the kid’s better off with me than getting lost in the system.”Fierce protectiveness roared through him.Whether the kid was his or not, he’d make sure the best person possible cared for the child.
“Talk to Natalie.See what the deal is with the boy before we jump to conclusions,” Ghost said, with a measure of reason that was uncharacteristic.
“I’ll let you know how I make out.”He disconnected, then entered into the GPS the address Ghost had texted him.
