“Half a goddamn hour.”
MARYA
I’m staring blindly at the TV Mom turned on as distraction for the boys. I’m wedged between them on the couch. They haven’t left my side since they walked in, pale-faced and quiet. I’m sure I look the same.
I can hear the quiet whispers from the kitchen where Kerry and Mom have withdrawn. I shut down after talking to Dylan, mentally hanging onto his promise he’d bring my baby home. I replay his words over and over in my head like a mantra—a prayer—I’m afraid to stop.
I barely register the doorbell ringing and Mom opening the door. It’s not until Clint sits down on the coffee table in front of me I can pull myself together.
“Hey, little lady,” he murmurs in his deep Southern drawl. “How ‘bout I take these youngsters with me? Get them out of the house for a bit?”
“I don’t know.”
“Beth’s waitin’ with some grub and Max is eager to show them the tree house.”
“Tree house?” Harry’s voice pipes up and I turn to him, only now noticing my arm is tight around his shoulders. Same on the other side, holding Theo firmly against me.
I guess it wasn’t so much them not leaving my side; it’s been me not letting them go. It’s almost painful to lift my arms, but I do and the small sigh of relief coming from my oldest doesn’t escape me.
“Big ole tree house. I built Max one when he was little and we still lived in Cedar Tree. Then when we looked for a house in Durango, we made sure we had plenty of trees big enough on the property to build him another. Max helped build this one. It’s big enough for a sleepover, if y’all bring your pillows.”
“Cool.” Harry is already on board.
“What do you think, Bub?” I ask Theo, sensing his struggle. I’m pretty sure I’ve freaked them out more than they already were when they got home, but I also know my oldest feels he needs to be here for me.
“I dunno.”
“Listen.” I turn to him and take his face in my hands. “I want you to go with Clint and look after your brother. I’m okay. Grandma’s here, and so is Kerry. We’ll be okay until Dylan brings home Liam.” I read the disbelief in his eyes, grab his shoulders and gently shake him. “He will bring him home.” This time he nods, albeit reluctantly. “Get your stuff, guys. Sounds like you’re sleeping in a tree tonight.”
The moment they disappear upstairs to grab their things, Clint grabs my hands. “I’m bunking up in the tree with them. As for Dylan, that boy won’t rest until he’s got your son home. You can believe that to your soul.”
I nod, pressing my lips together and swallowing hard. I manage to smile at the boys when they come downstairs and hug me goodbye.
The moment the door closes and I feel two pairs of arms sandwich me; I totally lose my shit.
CHAPTER 30
Liam
I almost cry when I hear my phone hit the far wall. I’m sure it’s in pieces.
All could I see was his outline, but I know it’s a man. He yelled a curse word, I heard him drop something, and then he charged at me, pulling the phone from my hand and flinging it.
I’m blinking, trying to get a better look at him, when he turns and shines the flashlight back on me, and I know I’m in trouble.
Reaching out, he grabs me by the hair, and starts pulling me toward the door. It stings so bad; it feels like he’s pulling the skin off my head. I scream, but I don’t stop struggling against his hold.
The next moment I’m dropped and my head hits the floor. I catch a glimpse of Thomas hanging onto the man’s neck and roll to my knees, making a dive for his legs. He wobbles, but doesn’t go down.
I hear a loud smack and a cry, and next I’m flying through the air, hitting the floor hard enough to knock the breath out of me.
I’m gasping for breath, blink a few times, and see Thomas lying in a crumpled heap only feet away looking back at me. He has no clothes on at all.
His gaze moves up and his eyes go big a second before I sense him looming over me.
“I don’t fucking get paid enough to deal with you little bitches.”
I recognize the voice at the same moment my head is lifted off the floor by the hair and slammed back down.
The last thing I hear is a woman’s voice.
“FBI! Back away!”
DYLAN
“How far out are you?”
Toni’s voice comes over the Expedition’s sound system, whispering.
“A few minutes, why?”
“I’m on the south side of the property, there’s an old structure I noticed on the satellite images I wanted to check out. Dylan, the blue van is parked in the trees on the riverside.”
“Jesus, are you alone?”
“Yes,” her voice sounds small. “I...they were gone by the time I got back to the office. I’m sure they’re searching the plant. I just wanted to help...”
“Stay put. I’m turning into the lot now.”
“Follow the drive past the main parking lot, it turns into a dirt road that runs right to the river. You’ll...I’ve gotta go.”
The line goes dead.
“That doesn’t sound good,” Luna comments beside me, pulling her weapon and checking the chamber. Then she adds, “That doesn’t look good either,” pointing at the decrepit small warehouse where I can just see a figure slip through a side door.
I immediately veer the vehicle toward the building, more worried about speed than stealth. We both unclip our seat belts before I slam on the brakes.
Luna is out of the Expedition seconds before I am, and I trail her into the dark building. The moment I hear yelling coming from a hallway to my left, I switch direction and pick up the pace, following the sound. Luna’s steps are right behind me.
At the end of the hallway I can see Toni standing in a door opening, from her stance it’s clear she has her gun drawn and pointed.
“Put him down,” she says, her voice shaking. Her words send a chill down my spine.
“Fuck you!”
I know in an instant who’s inside that room.
“We’ve got your six, Agent Linden,” I say in as calm a voice as possible.
When Luna slips to the other side of her, Toni barely moves her stance. Her voice may be shaking, but her training is solid.
“Peter Grunsberg!” I yell out, hoping to startle him before I slip by Toni into the room, tucking my gun away and holding up my hands. The only light in the room is whatever is coming in from the hallway, and from a flashlight lying on the floor behind him; the stench is overwhelming.
My eyes immediately latch on Liam’s limp body held up with an arm around his throat, his feet dangling off the ground. I suck in a breath as blood boils hot through my veins like lava. Then I catch movement behind the tall man, and my eyes focus on the naked shape of a young boy, slowly crawling toward the heavy flashlight.
“Peter,” I quickly draw the man’s attention. “You need to let Liam go.” I try to move a step closer, lifting my hands higher.
“Stop right there,” he growls. “All it takes is a little more pressure.”
I sneak a glance at the little boy who’s now close enough to touch the flashlight. I don’t want him to move.
“Peter, let’s find a way to resol—”
I don’t get a chance to finish before the boy grabs the flashlight and with both hands swings it in the side of the man’s knee.
“Ahhh!”
I dive forward the moment I see him topple and his arm releases Liam. I’m only partly aware of Luna and Toni surging into the room behind me, struggling Peter Grunsberg to the ground, since my focus is Marya’s boy. Theirs is on Grunsberg.
I watch Liam’s legs crumple under him the moment his feet touch the ground, but I manage to cushion the rest of his body as he falls heavily on top of me. I sit up and pull him up to lean against my chest. My hand immediately comes up to cradle his head, but I instantly pull back when I encounter sticky wetness.
“Luna! We need EMT!”
&nb
sp; I turn my head in the direction of a tangle of limbs on the floor where Luna and Toni are working on subduing the large man. The moment they have him in cuffs, Luna pulls out her phone, while Toni takes off her jacket and carefully drapes it over Thomas, talking to him softly.
“Ambulance is en route,” Luna says, grabbing the flashlight and walking over to shine it on Liam’s head. The boy hasn’t moved yet. “He’s got a good-sized laceration above his ear. Is he stirring at all?”
The words have barely left her mouth when he groans.
“Is he okay?” Thomas asks, standing a few feet away, Toni’s jacket wrapped tightly around him, his spindly bare legs sticking out.
“Thanks to you, kiddo.” I look him straight in the eye. “You have no idea how happy I am to meet you face-to-face, Thomas.”
He nods, lowering his eyes.
“Let’s go,” Toni says, gently putting her arm around his shoulders. “I have a pair of sweats in my car that shouldn’t be too big.”
NOT LONG AFTER THE Farmington FBI agents arrive on scene, two ambulances drive up. Peter Grunsberg is limping from the blow to his knee and quickly looked over before he is carted off to the FBI offices.
Both Liam and Thomas are being loaded in the back of an ambulance. Since Thomas won’t let go of Toni’s hand, she ends up in the ambulance with him. Luna and I stand behind the ambulance holding Liam.
“Get on the horn with Damian. Tell him to get Marya over to the Beaumont Hospital. I’ll call her from the road.”
With that I climb in, directing an encouraging smile at a groggy, but awake Liam.
MARYA
It was Mom’s idea to stay active. Had it been up to me, I would’ve been in a ball on the couch, sucking my thumb.
There is no way to describe the depth of my fear, the paralyzing sense of helplessness, but she was right that doing something made me feel marginally better.
My house is cleaner than it’s been in a long time, Mom and Kerry doing most of the hard work, while I did the laundry they brought down. Now we’re in the kitchen, prepping meals for the weekend with what food there is in the fridge. Thanks to Mom, we have quite a bit.
But awareness of time passing pushes back to the surface and the overwhelming fear squeezes the air from my lungs.
“It’s getting dark out,” I choke out, dropping the knife on the cutting board as I stare at the waning light outside the kitchen window. The thought of my baby out in the dark, scared out of his mind, has a sob burst free. Where is he? Is he hurt?
“Don’t, honey,” Mom advises. “Don’t let your mind go there. They will find him.”
“One boy is dead, the other missing for two weeks now, Mom. How can I not let my mind go there? I thought I could imagine what those parents were going through. I was so wrong. This agony is beyond any imagination, and it’s been hours for me, not weeks. I don’t think I could survive.”
“You can and you will. Your boys count on it.”
With that, I lose another battle with my tears and drop my head on my arms; the sound of more sniffles joining mine tells me I’m not the only one. Strong arms fold around me from behind and I turn to bury my face in my mother’s neck. I inhale her familiar scent for some comfort as she holds me tight against her.
What I wish for are Dylan’s strong arms, his quiet confidence, but he’s not here. He’s out there somewhere, looking for my boy.
It takes me a moment to recognize my ringtone, but Kerry beats me to it, checking the screen before handing it over.
“It’s Dylan,” she whispers and suddenly I’m afraid to answer. What if...
“Answer the phone, Marya. He wouldn’t call you with bad news.”
She’s right. I quickly answer the call.
“Dylan...”
“I have him, Sweetheart. Liam’s going to be fine.”
“He’s found him,” I announce, tears coursing down my face and the other women don’t fare much better. Then I clue into something Dylan said. “He’s hurt?”
“He has a cut on his head, and since he was out of it for a bit, we’re on our way to the hospital so he can get checked out.”
“I can be there in fifteen minutes.” I’m jump started into mom-action when he stops me.
“Not Mercy. The boys are being taken to Beaumont in Farmington. Damian is making arrangements to get you here as soon as possible.”
The information takes a moment to process. “Thomas?”
“They were together. Not sure what that kid went through these past weeks, but he’s a big part of why I’m looking at your son’s blue eyes right now.”
I choke down a sob. “Can I talk to him?”
There’s some rustling and then I hear him.
“Mom?” His voice is soft and a bit drowsy, but it’s the most beautiful sound ever.
“Baby. I love you so much. I’m on my way, okay?”
“‘Kay.”
More rustling and then Dylan is back.
“Pack an overnight bag for yourself and bring him some clothes, Sweetheart. Just in case. Damian should be there soon. We’re rolling up on the hospital so I better go.”
“Look after him, please.”
“Won’t leave his side. I promise.”
“I love you.”
“Love you too, Marya. Now go pack. I’ll see you soon.”
I’ve just updated Mom and Kerry when the doorbell rings.
“Kerry, would you get that?” Mom says, taking charge. “I’ll run up and pack a few things.”
“Marya...” Damian’s deep voice sounds from the doorway as he crosses the distance in a few long strides and folds me in a tight hug. “He’s going to be fine.”
His arms feel solid and I’m not afraid to lean into him heavily while I try to regain my equilibrium. “Where did they find him?” I finally ask when he releases me.
“I’ve got the vehicle out front, let’s get on the road and I’ll fill you in.”
“I’m coming. Dante will be fine with your sister,” Kerry announces, challenging Damian with a look.
“So am I,” Mom seconds, coming down the stairs with a bag.
It’s not until after we pack into his SUV, and I quickly call my boys at Beth’s house to tell them their brother is found, that Damian tells us what he knows.
“It was actually Agent Linden who found the boys. She contacted Dylan, who was only minutes away, and along with Luna they were able to overpower the suspect.”
“How did she know?”
“Good instincts. They were in a small abandoned warehouse on property that belongs to a company called Contechs, a manufacturer of electronic components. The company belongs to Connor Keswick, who is Jeremy Berger’s father-in-law.”
“Jeremy?”
“No. Although your ex-husband has plenty to answer for, he was not involved with the abduction of the boys or Seth’s murder.”
“So it was Keswick,” Kerry contributes from the back seat she shares with Mom.
Damian glances up at her reflection in the rearview mirror. “Not exactly. We’re still working on tying all the pieces together, although it should be easier now that we know all the players.”
“Who took the boys then?” I ask, meeting his quick glance my way.
“Peter Grunsberg.”
There’s something familiar about the name. I’ve heard it before, but I can’t quite place it.
“Who is that?” Mom voices my question but before Damian has a chance to answer it comes to me.
“Coach?”
CHAPTER 31
Marya
I’m still reeling with the knowledge Liam’s soccer coach is a predator when Damian pulls up in front of the hospital to let us out.
The first person I see, when the nurse shows Mom and Kerry the waiting room and I follow her on my crutches into the ER, is Toni Linden. She appears deep in conversation with a couple standing outside one of the rooms in the long hallway.
The already dissipating anger I’ve felt toward the agent melts
away completely as I watch her wrap the clearly distraught woman in a hug. These must be Thomas’ parents. Trying not to intrude, I follow the nurse and slip as best I can past them, but when I throw a glance over my shoulder I catch her peek at me.
I recognize the apology in her eyes as if she’d spoken the words and simply I nod my acceptance. It’s all I have time to give her; my son is waiting for me.
The nurse holds open the door to an image that burns itself into my soul. Dylan leaning forward on a stool, pulled close to the head of the hospital bed that holds my son. His large hand is covering Liam’s chest, and his head is resting on the pillow next to my boy’s bandaged one.
Liam appears to be asleep, but Dylan’s head lifts up the moment he hears the door click shut behind me.
“Sweetheart,” he murmurs, before carefully removing his hand from Liam’s chest and getting to his feet.
With one hand he takes my crutches, while the other arm pulls me tight against him. My nose is pressed against the hollow of his throat and my hands clutch his shirt at the small of his back. My nose stings and I have a lump in my throat, but I refuse to give in to tears. I’ve shed enough of them the past hours.
“Was he...” I let the word trail, afraid to finish my question, but Dylan hears it anyway.
“No.”
I slump against him. “Oh God, thank you.”
“Mom?”
Dylan takes a step back and we both turn to the bed. “Hey, baby.” I hobble to Liam’s side and try to smile, even as my eyes take in the large bandage wrapped around his head and the crusted blood not quite wiped from his neck and behind his ear. It’s a good thing life with three boys includes plenty of encounters with blood; otherwise I might’ve lost it again.
I feel Dylan’s hand settle on my lower back and feel the instant comfort it provides.
“The doc will be here soon. Liam just got back from a scan maybe fifteen minutes before you got here. Why don’t you have a seat?”
“I got stitches,” Liam says, as I’m gently pushed down on the stool.
“Twelve of them,” Dylan says behind me and Liam grins up at him.
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