Page 78 of Brick
“What’d you find?”Taschen said as he approached.
Brick nodded toward their new transportation.“I hope you know how to hot-wire a boat.”
***
“Sonofabitch!”Spit flewfrom between Keetan’s clenched teeth.Blood spilled down his face, splattering his shirt and the deck of the boat.He grabbed the weight and tried to rip it from Natalie’s grasp.
“No!”She held fast and shoved him backward.He nearly fell over the edge but caught himself.
Natalie lifted the weight high, then brought it down on Keetan again.He blocked the blow with his forearm.
Cursing, he dove for her waist.Her restrained arm lurched painfully as she hit the ground.
Wham!
His fist slammed into her face, rattling her jaw.Stars burst in front of her vision.His face loomed close, bloody and vicious.“I’m going to enjoy this.”
Once again, adrenaline hit her veins.Using all her strength, she lifted the weight.He caught it midair, and her only weapon was wrenched from her hands.Keetan chucked it to the opposite side of the boat.
His breath came out in heavy gasps.His mouth hung open, and he gripped the side of his head.He lifted himself off her and slumped against the side of the boat.
Her chest rose and fell.Fear kept her frozen.Afraid to move.Afraid to breathe.To do anything that would draw his attention back to her.If she weren’t cuffed, she’d have jumped overboard and took her chances in the dark water.
Cold reality closed in.She’d lost.One shot at survival—and he was still standing.Well, barely.She watched Keetan pull off his shirt and press it to the wound on his head.He winced and closed his eyes.At least she’d done a number on him.
If she didn’t move soon, she’d have a dislocated shoulder.Summoning a silent breath, she eased herself off the ground.Her head pounded as she pressed her back against the seat she’d vacated moments ago.
Keetan lifted his head and looked at her.He didn’t say anything.Didn’t point the gun in his hand at her.But her awareness crackled.Any second, he’d fire a bullet through her chest.
Her gaze darted around the floor of the boat.There was nothing else to hit him with.He’d have to remove the handcuffs at some point, but he might kill her first.
She was fresh out of options.
Tears rushed to her eyes.She had one last chance to reason with this monster.He was too tired to fight.Probably battling a concussion.The only thing keeping him conscious was his hate for her.
“Keetan,” she said, her lip trembling.“Let’s go back.You need a hospital.”
“You don’t care about me.Never did.”
She closed her eyes.“That’s not true.I did, before you were so cruel.You think I left you just because?I left and ran to Fargo because I was terrified of you.”
“Terrified of what you did to Shelby,” he said, hurling the words at her feet.
“Whatwedid.It’s in the past now.You’ve lost your job because of all this.Everything’s going to come out.You’re a corrupt cop and it’s going to bite you in the ass.”
His one visible eye narrowed into a slit.Something was making him hesitate to kill her.She had to cling to that, to find out what it was, so she could get home to Bray.
“Fuck you,” he said, but the words came out strained.
She winced as pain ricocheted through her jaw.She’d have another bruise from this asshole.“We don’t have much time,” she managed to say.“Don’t die like this.Let me help you.”
“Ha!If I happen to die before you, you’ll have another death on your hands besides Shelby’s.How do you think that’ll fucking look?”
The sound of a motorboat in the distance caught her attention.It could be someone on an evening ride.Fishing, maybe.Yet her foolish, stubborn heart prayed otherwise.
Keetan’s glassy stare held her in place.With a shaky hand, he aimed the gun at her.He groaned and closed his eyes, then blew out a frustrated breath.He was wilting.Quickly.And if she didn’t stand up and draw attention to whoever was approaching, they could sail on by.
She firmed her lips and inched closer.“You’re going to let me go now, Keetan.”Her hand shaking, she reached toward the pocket of his pants.“I’m going to take the keys,” she said slowly, carefully.“Uncuff myself.”Her fingertips brushed the denim of his pocket.“And then I’m going to get you help.”
