Midsummer Man

by Zelah Roberts

  “Okay.” Mac looked down at the distraught woman in his arms. “You want to go?” he asked quietly.

  “What? Yes!”

  “Right. We’re on our way now. Where are you staying?”

  “Nowhere. Haven’t had time—” Shots sounded in the background. James sounded tense. “Listen… I’ve got to go.”

  “Okay, I’ll sort out the arrangements. We’ll meet you there.”

  “Right.”

  The call ended. Holly stepped out of his arms and ran a shaky hand through her hair. Disbelievingly, she said, “Anton. Bloody Anton. I never even thought about it being him. I knew he was a vengeful person, but it’s been years since I got away…”

  Deep inside, Mac felt an uncontrollable rage coiling. This man had been the bane of Holly’s life and had got away with it for far too long. No matter what happened tonight, he vowed to himself that he was going to make sure this guy was dealt with…whatever it took.

  “And my mother… What if something happens to her?”

  Mac’s jaw clenched. “It won’t,” he said. “I’ll call for a helicopter now. Can you throw some clothes into a bag?”

  Chapter Twelve

  Three hours later, as darkness fell, they flew over the Firth of Forth. The arches of the Forth Bridge were lit up with gleaming gold lights, reflecting off the dark water, whilst in the distance, Edinburgh Castle towered over the ancient capital of Scotland.

  Holly looked down over the familiar landmarks and knew that, by helicopter, they were only minutes away.

  She clenched Mac’s hand. He’d been solicitous but largely silent throughout the flight, only occasionally interrupting her fragmented thoughts to tell her about arrangements he’d made or to ask if she wanted something to drink or a bite to eat. But there was no way she could eat at the moment. She was too upset and too worried about her mother.

  That intense anxiety surprised her. She’d long thought that any affection for her mother was gone. When her mother had supported her marriage to Anton, it had been the last straw for her. She had realised that Anton meant far more to her mother than she did, and that betrayal had cut deep.

  But it seemed as if she’d been lying to herself. Faced with the prospect of harm coming to her mother, she discovered that she did care, very much indeed. She was just praying that her mother was alive and safe so that she could see her and talk to her again.

  Her reverie was interrupted by the pilot’s announcement that they were preparing to land. Mac had already told her that a car would be waiting to take them straight to the compound, and she couldn’t help but be grateful for his reassuring support. His powerful presence was an enormous help in the circumstances.

  Biting her lip, she cautioned herself not to become too reliant on the wonderful man beside her. It would be so easy to take the solace he so freely offered, to seek comfort in his arms, to lean on him to see her through the horrors of this event. But that was the path to dependency. If she gave in to that need, she would be no better than her mother. No, she needed to stand on her own two feet, no matter what.

  “We’re here.” Mac’s voice in her headphones was steady as they started to descend. “We’re only ten minutes away from the compound by car. There’s been another message from James. The police are getting ready to take the place by force.”

  Holly wouldn’t have wished the car journey that followed on her worst enemy. The country roads outside of Edinburgh were narrow and winding. The driver did his best to navigate them quickly, appreciating the urgency. Holly was momentarily and queasily reminded of Harry Potter’s journey on the Knight Bus.

  But mercifully they soon arrived, slewing to a halt behind a phalanx of police cars. In the distance, shots were being fired. James and Leonie were waiting for them as they got out.

  “There’s been a breakthrough,” James said, dispensing with usual greetings. “We’ve had another call from the woman who gave us the original tip-off about the guns and drugs. She says she’s in the compound. Her name is Tabitha.”

  “Tabitha?” Holly’s face tightened. “That’s my mother.”

  “Yes.” James was unsurprised and she realised that he must have done his research and already known about her mother—and her upbringing. A wave of embarrassed shame washed over her. Mac stretched a warm arm around her shoulder to pull her into his side at the same moment that James broke off and said sharply, “Holly, stop it! None of this is on you. You’ve nothing—not one thing in the world—to feel ashamed about. You were just a kid, unlucky enough to be caught up in a terrible situation.”

  Leonie stepped forward, her face serious. “Yes, Holly. You taught me that lesson. Now it’s time to take your own advice. None of this was—or is—your fault. And no matter what, we have your back, Holly. We’re your family now. Whatever happens here today, we’re with you.”

  Holly felt Leonie’s words like a punch in the gut. She tried to take a step back but was prevented by Mac’s firm hold on her.

  What were they doing to her? How could she stay independent and stand alone, when they were so intent on gathering round her, helping her? How could she resist the lure of such care, such affection, the impossible promise of belonging to a family, something she’d never had?

  Feeling pressured, she said, “I can’t do this… I don’t know anything about being in a family.”

  Mac’s grip on her shoulder tightened. James stepped forward and took her hand in his. “There are many different kinds of families,” James said quietly. “And this one—me, Mac, Leonie—we are yours. You don’t have to do anything. There’s no obligation. You’re not trapped by us, but we’re here for you.”

  Oh, hell. She could feel herself sliding into the trap of loving them all, of wanting to belong, to have people of her own. But deep inside, she still felt scared. Her mother had been her family but had put Anton before her, betraying her trust. What if she opened herself up again, believed in them, and they let her down? She’d never be able to cope with it.

  She watched a pulse throb in James’ jaw and realised he had more to say. She had never seen him look so hard, so intent. His guise of ordinariness had been shed. The tough man beneath was visible. His stare pierced hers. “But, Holly, I have something to tell you that may shock you.” He paused then said, “Holly, your mother told the police that she had called them because she had discovered Anton was harassing you, and she was afraid he would go further and try to kill you.”

  “What?” There was no way. Holly shook her head. “But that’s impossible. My mother would never do that. She was totally besotted with him—”

  James shook his head. “That may have been true in the past, but it doesn’t appear to be so now. She gave the police enough information to bring him down and put him away for years. She was taking one hell of a risk to contact them. If Anton had caught her…”

  He would have killed her. Holly knew that for a fact and was sure her mother knew it, too. Her mother had risked her life for her?

  Something deep inside fractured painfully. Her mother did care for her. She had put her before Anton. It was a miracle. Tears were welling and Holly forced them back.

  But she couldn’t break down like this. She needed backbone. She needed to cope as she always had in the past. Gathering her thoughts, she asked “So, what’s happening now?”

  James expelled a harsh breath. “Now, they have a problem. Your mother said she and about twenty other people are being held hostage in a locked room at the back of the compound. A man put there to guard them—Thomas—is trying to break them out. They’re worried that Anton and his men might set fire to the compound and try to kill them all. It sounds as if they’ve realised how dangerous and insane he is.”

  Holly drew in a sharp breath and sweat prickled down her back as she tried to control her desperate reaction to the thought of her mother and a room full of other people being trapped in a burning building. But, she thought, clutching at straws, at least Thomas was there—big, strong, dependable Thomas, wh
o had once risked everything to help her escape. He would be doing everything, she knew, to get them out. But it might not be enough. “We have to do something,” she whispered. “Anton would sooner kill them than let them go.”

  James nodded. “I agree. They’re trying to keep him and his men pinned down by gunfire at the front of the building. There are officers at the back, attempting to get in. They can’t use a battering ram or explosives because they don’t want Anton to know what’s happening. They’re worried that if he finds out, he’ll shoot them all.”

  For a moment, black spots danced in front of Holly’s eyes. She wasn’t an idiot. She’d read about cults and sieges in the past, and she knew how badly things could go. But the thought of her mother and Thomas being caught up in such a situation made her feel lightheaded and nauseous.

  Mac must have felt her reaction, because a second later she found herself wrapped in his strong arms. “Easy, sweetheart,” he said gruffly. “One step at a time.”

  James’ radio crackled into life. He spoke into it briefly. “Thomas managed to break the door down and open the back exit. The police are getting them out now, then they’re going after Anton. I need to go.”

  Holly’s head jerked up. “Where…where are you going?” Her eyes fell on Leonie, who looked pale and tense.

  James’ gaze softened. “I’m a negotiator, Holly,” he said, quietly. “This is what I do. I have to get Anton and his people to come out peacefully if I can.”

  Holly stared at him and swallowed. Suddenly the reality of his job hit home. “You can’t,” she said, dryly. “He’s not rational. He thinks he’s a god. You won’t be able to reason with him.”

  “I hear you, Holly,” he said, grimly. “And what you’ve told me will guide me in what to say to him. But I have to do it. I have to try.”

  He turned to Leonie and took her in his arms. “Leonie…my Leonie…” He pressed a kiss to her hair. “I love you,” he whispered—and he was gone.

  For the next fifteen minutes, she huddled with them, helpless to do anything but watch and wait. In the shadows, James, armed and dressed in a bullet-proof jacket, moved with a team of police towards the compound.

  They vanished into the darkness and Leonie gave a dry sob. Mac must have heard it too, because in the next moment, all three of them were holding onto each other.

  “Have faith, Leonie,” Mac whispered. “James is experienced at this—and he’s good at it.”

  Abruptly, Holly realised that Mac had already endured a similar agony in his past. He must have had a similar torturous wait for news of Leonie’s rescue. Suddenly, she understood how much it must be costing him to be there. She wrapped her arms more tightly around him. “I’ve got you, Mac,” she whispered, and a shudder ran through him.

  In the next moment, all hell seemed to break loose. From inside the compound there were shouts and a thundering volley of shots. Lightning flashes lit up the darkness and dark figures ran from the compound. All was chaos.

  For a minute, they searched the scene, trying in vain to see what was happening, desperate for a glimpse of James, then a black-clad figure was sprinting towards them.

  “James,” Leonie breathed, and she was running to meet him. He lifted her to spin her round, then he was kissing her with a hunger that was unmistakable, even in the dark from a distance.

  Holly glanced up at Mac and he was smiling. “You knew?” she asked. “And you don’t mind?”

  “Yes,” he said, “and no. Did you see it coming?”

  Holly couldn’t help but laugh. “I saw James persuade Leonie to go to London. I thought then that there was something going on between them.”

  He looked at her wryly. “I didn’t think they’d get it past you,” he said.

  At that moment, James and Leonie appeared, breathless and rumpled. Leonie looked flustered, whilst James grinned at them ruefully.

  “Right,” he said. “Ah…sorry about that.” He cleared his throat. “Well, Anton opened fire on us and got himself shot, the stupid sod. He’s alive—for now at least—and on his way to the hospital. Not sure he’ll make it, though. The hostages are safe. They’re in a hospital tent being triaged before being taken to the hospital. Holly, do you want to see your mother?”

  Holly froze. Did she? All these years, she’d bitterly resented her mother for choosing Anton over her. Now it appeared that things had changed, and she’d finally put her daughter first. But was it too little, too late?

  But then she thought about how she’d felt when she’d learned her mother’s life was at risk. She’d been desperate to see her. And she realised that time was too short to let old resentments stand in the way. Nodding, she took a firm hold of Mac’s hand and, with considerable trepidation, went to face her mother.

  The tent was chaotic. Doctors and nurses were checking people over, while ambulances waited outside.

  James spoke briefly to a policewoman who pointed them to the far corner. And there on a bench was Thomas, with his arm around her mother.

  “Mum,” Holly whispered. “Oh, mum.” And she was running towards her mother and they were in each other’s arms, crying.

  Finally, they pulled apart. “Holly, my baby,” Tabitha breathed. “You’re okay. You’re alive, and you’re all grown up…”

  Holly gave her a wobbly smile. If she had grown, her mother had aged. Streaks of grey ran through her mother’s once-chestnut hair and there were lines around her eyes and mouth. But she was still as beautiful as ever.

  “Yes,” she said. “Mum, are you and Thomas all right? You’re not hurt?”

  Her mother shook her head. “No, love, we’re fine.”

  Thomas stepped forward and hesitated. For a moment, Holly wondered why, until she recalled the last time they’d seen each other, when he’d rescued her from Anton’s bed. Then she had been traumatised, battered and bruised after trying to fight off Anton. She had a sudden memory of his tears when he’d found her. Stepping forward, she deliberately wrapped her arms around him and gave him a firm hug. She wasn’t a scared teenager anymore. He exhaled, his big body relaxed and she was enveloped in his strong arms. In a gruff voice, he said roughly, “I’m glad you’re all right, lass.”

  She stepped back. “I am,” she said, quietly. “Thomas…there was no time to say it then, but thank you for rescuing me.”

  A sudden frown marred his brow. “Thank…me?” He paused. “Holly, we need to talk. But first, perhaps, you’d better introduce us to your friends.”

  * * * *

  Two hours later, they sat in an elegant private lounge in The Prism, a renowned hotel in Edinburgh designed and part-owned by Mac.

  Things had happened at breakneck speed since Anton had been apprehended. Wasting no time, Mac had liaised with the authorities, cutting through red tape like a hot knife through butter. As a result, suites had been arranged for her and Mac, her mother and Thomas and James and Leonie. In addition, hotel rooms had been booked and transport arranged for all the hostages who were well enough to leave the hospital. Despite the late hour, personal shoppers were providing clothes and toiletries for everyone. The dining room had been opened and chefs retained to provide meals throughout the night. Holly had tried to thank Mac, but he had shaken his head. “It’s only right,” he said quietly. “These people have been through an ordeal. They need our support.”

  In that moment, Holly understood just how deeply she loved him. How could she not? He had all the power of an alpha male, but he was driven by his protective instincts and the will to use his resources for good. He cared about people—even people he didn’t know. He had a conscience, morals and was motivated by kindness. And he loved her.

  It was wonderful and terrifying all at the same time.

  She held on to the thought of his love and support, and that of James and Leonie, as she settled herself on a sumptuous sofa with Mac by her side. She had a feeling that the conversation she was about to have with her mother was going to be a difficult one.

  They waited until d
rinks had been served before Thomas said tentatively, “Holly, earlier you thanked me for rescuing you.”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, there are things that you don’t know about that time. Things we need to tell you.”

  Holly watched in disbelief as Thomas reached over to hold her mother’s clenched hand. Are they a couple?

  Tabitha took a deep breath. “Yes. First of all, I have to say I’m so sorry—sorry for ever joining Anton’s group, sorry for the way you grew up. We were just kids when we joined, but we should have known better. By the time we did, we couldn’t get out.”

  Confused, Holly asked, “We?”

  “Me and your mother, Holly. We were…are…a couple. But you know Anton didn’t allow people to pair off, so we kept it a secret. But we’ve always loved each other. Always.”

  Holly looked at them in disbelief. “Am I… Am I…” She was frightened to ask, terrified of the answer. Am I Anton’s daughter?

  Thomas’ face softened. “You’re ours, Holly,” he said, gently.

  A torrent of memories ran through her head at his words—Thomas telling her stories, carving toys out of wood, teaching her to read, to write—and risking everything to get her out of the compound…

  Relief rushed through her. Thomas was her father. Kind, decent, brave Thomas, not Anton. She took a swift gulp of her wine. “Oh, Thomas,” she breathed, “I’m so glad it’s you…”

  His face contorted. “I’m sorry,” he said gruffly. “So sorry we exposed you to that lunatic. When your mother told me that he planned to marry you, we couldn’t believe it. He’d known you since you were a baby.” The revulsion in his tone was evident. “We knew we had to find a way to get you out. We made a plan, but when he brought the date of your marriage forward, it was a nightmare.”

  Across the table, Leonie gasped. “Holly, you’re married?”

  Holly clenched her fists. She shook her head. “No. It wasn’t a legal marriage. I was only thirteen.”