Page 63 of Brick
“Sorry,” she said, returning to the kitchen.“I just wanted him to know I was up.”
“You never have to apologize for putting him first.”The gruff note to his tone held back all the appreciation and gratitude that wanted to burst from inside him.He caught her waist as she approached.Natalie let out a little squeal as he lifted her and set her on the counter.
She planted her hands on his shoulders.“What are you doing?”
He leaned down and kissed her again.
“Besides starting breakfast without finishing,” she said with a chuckle, looking at the pan of bacon and the bowl of uncooked eggs.“Let me guess—Bray helped?”
“He sure did.But that’s not why breakfast isn’t ready.”
“Oh, right.You talked to Ghost.What’d he say?”Her fingers roamed over his shoulders and down his biceps before settling on the crooks of his elbows.
“Remember that APB?”
She grimaced.“It’s all I think about.”
He coasted his knuckles over the strands at her temple.The bruise had lightened.It was still prominent, but as it faded, he hoped to hell the memory of Keetan would, too.“I think we can lay that to rest now.”
Her eyes widened.“What do you mean?”she whispered.
Brick tucked a knuckle beneath her chin.“It means he put out that bulletin without proper clearance.When Keetan tried to hand over the recording, his plan backfired...leading to him getting suspended.”
“You’re joking,” she wheezed.Wonder sparked in her blue eyes but, dammit, so did hesitation.She shook her head.“I just—Wow.I don’t understand how he could be so stupid.What a reckless thing to do just to scare me.”
“We’ll talk to the police about his involvement with Club East, and hopefully that’ll spark a thorough investigation.”
“That’s it?I’m free?I don’t have to turn myself in?”
He lifted a shoulder.“That’s what I meant when I said you have a say.”
She nodded solemnly and rolled in her lips before lowering her gaze.He couldn’t blame her.Of course she wanted to do the right thing.Hell, she probably needed closure so she could move on and put this behind her.But walking into the police station after her abuser had tormented her into submission with threats would be no small feat.
He reached for his phone and brought up the social media post he’d saved the other day, when her picture showed up in his news feed.Natalie leaned over and watched as he clicked the link that led to the police report.An error message popped up.
Missing page
“Oh my god,” she cried.She met his gaze.“It’s true.”
He pulled her into a hug.“They wouldn’t have taken it down without good reason.”
She leaned back and covered her mouth with her hand.“I can’t believe this.It feels surreal this whole thing is over.”She gulped and shook her head.“I need to talk to the chief.I think that’s the only way I’ll feel good about this.I’m sure they have questions about Shelby’s death.”
“Probably.Remember, Keetan was a cop at the time.That doesn’t mean they can’t consider you an accomplice, but it is significant to how things went down.”
“Let’s hope.”Her tone was thoughtful, perhaps a little worried.“Either way, we need to do the right thing.I don’t want to carry this guilt or look over my shoulder anymore.”
“Me either.You want to go there today?”
She inhaled a ragged breath and drew back her shoulders.“Yeah.I think that’d be a smart move.Ellie’s coming over this afternoon.I called her when I woke up.Hope it’s okay I gave her the address.She’s dying to see Bray.”
“Sure, honey.He’ll love that.”The endearment fell easily from his lips.If she was as surprised as he was, she didn’t show it.
She nodded.“She can watch him while we go to the police station.”A shadow crossed her face.“Maybe that’s not a good idea.We can just take him.”
“It could be long and boring.He might be happier here.I’ll have Zain and Taschen come by, to be safe.”
“They won’t mind?I’m sure they want to get back home.”
