Page 114 of Cash

“He’s fine. Bullet grazed his head and the lucky bastard knocked himself out when he hit the floor.”

Brick cautiously stepped over bits of broken glass with a frown. “How is that lucky?”

“Because Ramp thought he was already dead and didn’t shoot him again.” Cutter holstered his gun and looked over Brick as if inspecting him for damage. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“I didn’t get shot?” Brick touched his face and found he was drenched in sweat. He wiped off his brow, and he tried to will himself to stop shaking. The room was spinning, and he felt a bit faint.

“Hey, hey. Come on. Go sit down.” Cutter took Brick’s arm. “Where’s your gun?”

“Gun?” Brick echoed.

“You sure as fuck didn’t shoot Ramp with a banana. Where is it?”

“Oh, right. Desk. It’s on my desk in my office.”

“You have a seat, and I’ll be back in a minute to have a little chat.”

Police officers were pouring into the house as Cutter guided Brick over to the couch. He left Brick there to go bark orders and steer some of them back outside, and Brick sagged into the cushions. He could hear the sound of crunching glass behind him as someone went into his office, probably to retrieve his gun.

Closing his eyes, Brick took several deep breaths to clear his head.

He was alive. He was okay. He had survived.

There were too many people talking, and a siren was still going outside. The security system alarm had been turned off at least, but then some cars got to honking, more people were shouting, and Brick had no idea how long he sat there before it all became a distant blur of white noise.

All he wanted was a bottle of wine, a hot bath, and a really big hug from—

“Where is he?” Jules’s booming voice cut through the noisy fog, followed by his footsteps pounding up the steps of the porch.

“Jules!” Brick was up on his feet in an instant.

“Here, come on,” Cutter was saying as he opened the front door. “He’s fine.”

Jules barreled past Cutter, his eyes wild as he searched for Brick. As soon as he saw him by the couch, Jules crossed the space between them in three big leaps and then swept him right off his feet and into his arms. “Oh, baby boy. My sweet fuckin’ baby boy!”

Brick clung to Jules, burying his face against his neck as he whispered, “Daddy.” The numbness and shock that had held his emotions prisoner broke, giving way to a flood of anguish and joy. He was in tears before he even realized it, and he whimpered brokenly. “Oh, Daddy.”

“I’ve got you. Daddy is here now.” Jules rocked him gently and smothered kisses into his hair. “I’m never leaving you ever fuckin’ again, I swear it. Not ever. I don’t care if you gotta go take a shit. I’ll be in there with you holdin’ your hand while you pinch one off.”

Brick laughed and sobbed at the same time, and he swallowed back a heated wave of tears. “I don’t think we need to do all that, do we?”

Jules lifted Brick’s chin so he could claim a fierce kiss, and he squeezed Brick tight. “You’ll be a good boy and do whatever Daddy says…” He paused. “But maybe I’ll just wait outside the door of the bathroom, huh?”

“Yeah, that might be better.” Brick smiled weakly. “I’m a very shy pooper.”

“Are you all right, baby boy?”

“I’m… I’m a fuckin’ mess.” Brick blinked, and a tear rolled down his cheek. “A big, big mess.”

“I’m here, baby boy. I’m right fuckin’ here.” Jules kissed him again.

Brick kissed Jules back desperately, his heart aching as he poured his entire being in that kiss, pulse thumping and skin burning hot, and he’d almost forgotten they weren’t alone.

Cutter cleared his throat. “Sorry to break up this very sweet Lifetime moment, but I need to speak with Mr. Brixton about what happened.”

Jules growled in annoyance, and Brick quickly soothed, “Hey, it’s okay. Let’s just get it over with, okay?”

“Only if you’re okay.” Jules glared over at Cutter.

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