She strained to hear the surrounding noises. Yes, she was in a hospital.
Had it all been a bad dream? Was she still in the hospital after her surgery? Had she wanted to escape from her nightmare so badly that she’d conjured up an action-adventure romance starring a good-looking pilot and drug runners?
Something cold touched her arm, and she jumped.
“It’s okay, Ms. Rose,” a woman said. “I’m just checking your vitals.”
Irene cleared her scorched throat. “I can’t see.”
The woman touched both sides of her face, lifting something. “You can see, Ma’am. Your fiancé covered your eyes, said it wasn’t dark enough … that you required a completely dark room to sleep.”
Irene blinked in the darkness. The only light streamed in through a cracked doorway at the end of the room. “My fiancé is here?”
“Yes, ma’am. He went to get coffee when I came in.”
Irene rolled her shoulders, attempting to work out the stiffness. “How long have I been here?”
“You came in last night.”
Irene smiled up at the woman. “Umm … what city am I in?”
The nurse tilted her head. “Your fiancé said you didn’t hit your head. Do you feel okay?”
“I’m sorry … I think I know where I am. I think I was just hoping this wasn’t a dream.” The dark-haired Alaska native was a major clue that she wasn’t dreaming. “I’m in Anchorage, right?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
The door to the corridor creaked open, and a man, based on his shape and height, walked into the room. Bright white surrounded his silhouette, making it impossible to distinguish his face.
The nurse patted her arm. “I’ll tell the doctor you’re awake.”
“Oh, darling,” Andrew cooed as he approached the bed. “I was so worried.” He leaned over the bed and kissed her forehead. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming here? I could have had my private jet bring you.”
Irene stared up at the man she hadn’t spoken with in more than a year. Their last conversation was a knock-down, drag-out, and now he was acting as if it’d never happened.
As hard as she tried, she couldn’t force herself to be pleasant. “There are no cameras here, Andrew. No need to put on a show.”
His face instantly transformed to the hard edge she knew so well. Once upon a time, she’d loved that hard edge. Hell, her own personality had nearly mirrored his. Until he’d let her down. Until he’d not supported her when she needed him the most.
“I was worried about you, Irene. I flew all the way to this godforsaken state to come to your aid.”
“I needed you a year ago —”
“You know I couldn’t take part in your decision,” he growled. “It would have ruined me.”
“Oh … Now it’s the woman’s decision? As if you didn’t take part creating the baby. I didn’t hear that stance in your political campaign. What you meant to say is that you couldn’t make the decision with me because it would have ruined your political career. A conservative democrat is hard to find, huh? Can’t have him making one of the hardest decisions in life.” She stared up at him with all the hatred she’d built up over the last year. Everything that she thought she’d resolved came roaring to the surface. “Tell me, Andrew … How will you make important government decisions concerning the entire state of California, when you can’t even stand beside your fiancée to make one decision? It’s not like you cared one way or another, you just didn’t want to make the decision.”
Andrew bolted upright. “That’s not true. I wanted our baby. I wanted you!”
“I didn’t have a choice, Andrew. I sat there all by myself as the doctor made it clear I had to decide. I was barely a month along. If I’d waited eight months, it would have been too late … the cancer would have overtaken every part of my body. And not that I expected you to make my decision … I didn’t. But you couldn’t even sit in the same room with me —”
He knelt by the bed again, but she waved him away. “It’s not over, Andrew. I still have only a fifty/fifty chance that I will live, so the last thing I will ever do is get pregnant. I can’t go through that again, and you don’t want a wife who won’t be able to give you children.”
Andrew blinked repeatedly, as if shocked by her statement. “Never … Even after five years?”
“Never,” she repeated. “I won’t abort another child to save my life, and there’s no guarantee the cancer won’t come back so, no … I will never bear children.”
He nodded slowly. “And your job? Will you come back to the station?”
She wanted to scream, And, see you daily? Never! But she’d thrown all the daggers she had left. She just couldn’t carry the pain and resentment in her heart for the rest of her life. All it did was bring her down. Made her collapse in the middle of an airport, when she should have been chasing down Alex, begging him to understand why she hadn’t told him.
“No, Andrew. Sorry. That part of my life is over too. I’m going to enjoy the rest of my years doing what I want to do, not what everyone else wants me to do.”
He forced a smile. “I understand. You’re welcome any time, you know. I’m sure the world would love to hear what happened to Irene Rose.” Andrew offered her hand a squeeze and then turned and walked out of her life for the second time.
His last words echoed in her head long after he was gone, until a soft rap sounded on the door, followed by cries and squeals and amens.
Irene felt a tear slide down her face as she took in the three familiar faces. The auburn hair that matched her own topped her very pregnant sister. Next to her sister, her mother, as short and dark-haired as she remembered, with extra crinkles around her soft Aleut face, hustled toward her, dragging Irene’s father in her wake. Her father, tall and lean, but with a head-full of gray hair where there used to be red, kept hold of both women’s hands as they all moved toward the hospital bed.
Together, the three of them approached her. Together, the three of them embraced her. Together, they all whispered I love you and Thank God you’re okay and We missed you so much.
Together, the four of them cooed and cried kind words and encouragements for untold minutes.
Her ex-fiancé was out of her life. She might not ever see Alex again. A madman probably wanted her dead. But this … her family holding her without any questions of where she’d been or how she ended up in the hospital, was what she needed right now.
Tomorrow, she would decide her next steps … and figure out what to do about Cal Landrum.
Chapter 22
~ Alex ~
For the third day in a row, Alex switched from channel to channel and repeated the identical message. “Interested party, got a 10-20 on Kevin’s Kodiak near Middleton. Copy?”
The message was vague enough that it wouldn’t rouse attention from the wrong listeners. But Cal would understand. Just by Alex mentioning Cal’s dead pilot and the plane he flew, it’d be enough. But adding Middleton sealed the deal. If Cal heard the transmission, he’d know that Alex wanted to talk to him. He just had to find the correct channel … at the correct time.
He’d driven by Cal’s hangar and house repeatedly, at all times of the day and night, but there was never any sign of life. Had Cal really fled the country? It seemed unlikely, especially since there hadn’t been word one about his illegal affairs. Apparently, Irene had also decided it was best to let him get caught on his own. Irene had called numerous times, but Alex told Vince that he wasn’t taking any calls, which included Irene. He couldn’t talk to her right now. Maybe in the future … if he had a future. But not right now.
After sending out the message countless times, someone finally clicked a response. It could have been anyone, someone who was getting tired of hearing the same message. But when the click wasn’t followed by a transmission, he knew he’d reached his mark.
Alex sucked in a breath as the line remained quiet. He leaned forward, hovering over the radio, waiting. It had to be C
al … or perhaps the bald military-looking man.
He held down the mic. “Are you the party looking for a pilot?” That question would definitely interest Cal. After all, Cal had mentioned that maybe they could work together, and the man was down a pilot.
Nothing but dead air followed his direct question.
Realizing his head was pounding from not breathing, Alex sucked in a breath and released it slowly. He leaned back and massaged his temples. What else could he ask? Nothing. If the person at the end of the frequency was, in fact, his interested party, Alex had said all he should. He had to let Cal make the next move.
A crackle on the channel had Alex darting forward again. “Yeah,” a gruff voice offered. Cal’s military thug, he assumed. “We’re interested. We’ve been wanting another Kodiak. You got one for sale?”
Alex released a long breath as he looked over his shoulder, making sure none of his brothers or mother had returned home. If they knew what he was doing, they’d kill him. Not that they’d need to. One wrong move with Cal, and Alex would end up at the bottom of the Aleutian Trench.
Alex licked his lips and clicked the mic. “Yeah. When would you like to see it?” He released the mic and closed his eyes. What am I doing?
Minutes passed slowly, to the point that Alex was certain he’d been too forward. Hell, he had no idea how to handle situations such as these. Cal needed someone, though. It wasn’t as if he could advertise for a drug runner. No, he imagined those situations happened just as this one. A pilot owed him … or needed money and knew about his illegal enterprise.
CLICK! “Seven o’clock. Falcon Run strip.”
Alex’s heart sped up. Seven o’clock. All the staff would be gone. It’d be pitch dark. I must be nuts, but I’m really doing this. It’s the only way.
Alex clicked the mic again. “I’ll be there.”
Alex stood outside his plane at the non-towered airport, his gaze roaming between the entry and the moonless sky. He had no idea how Cal and his goon would arrive … if they’d even arrive.
He tugged his coat higher up his neck, attempting to tilt his head down to block the wind, while keeping his eyes focused on his surroundings.
Hours earlier, he’d left the house, so he’d be long gone before his mother or brothers returned home. Without the excuse of a rescue call, the family would have had endless questions about where he was going. After all, they knew he wasn’t seeing anyone. As much as his mother had pried, he absolutely refused to talk about Irene Rose.
He’d spent the last few hours driving … thinking. He’d driven by Cal’s again but still hadn’t seen any indication that he was home, so he decided to keep with their scheduled meeting.
Two bright beams lit up the vacant lot.
Alex’s heart pounded fiercely. I don’t know if I have what it takes … But it didn’t matter. He had to do this.
The vehicle sped toward him, not slowing.
“Well, Alex, it won’t be painless, but it will solve all your problems. You’ll be dead, and Cal will go away for murder.”
The vehicle skidded sideways, spraying Alex with a mixture of snow, mud, and gravel, then turned straight and squealed to a stop. The bright headlights made it impossible to see through the windshield. Cal hopped out of the driver’s side, his thug from the passenger side.
Cal lifted his arms, the gesture playful and friendly. “Alex! It’s been forever! So glad to see you again.” He nodded to the bald man. “Jeff, say hello to my old friend.”
Jeff crossed the distance of about ten feet with barely three steps. Then he was on him. He whipped Alex around, lifting each hand and placing it on the plane’s exterior. Systematically, Jeff patted down each of his arms, his legs, back, and chest. The big oaf dug into his pockets next, pulling out his cell phone and tossing it to Cal.
Cal popped open the back like a pro, then nodded at Jeff again.
Jeff pulled out a gold walkie-talkie-looking thing no larger than a business card and ran it up and down Alex’s body and then moved to the plane.
Alex shook off the feeling of being man-handled and jutted his chin to Cal. “What do you think? I’m an idiot?”
Cal forced his lips up. “Alex, my old friend. Just making sure we’re still friends.”
We were never friends, Alex wanted to growl, but he figured that wouldn’t help his situation. “Do you normally spray your friends with slush?”
Cal had always been a nerd, even in high school. He’d made stupid jokes and pulled ridiculous pranks. No wonder his brother had turned to drugs. He’d probably gotten the worst of Cal’s bullying.
Made Alex appreciate Sam even more. Yeah, his big brother gave him a hard time sometimes, but it was usually when Alex was doing something dangerous. Mostly, Sam had always encouraged him. It was Alex’s own guilt that had turned Sam’s gentle instruction into taunts.
Cal smiled widely this time. “You know me. Always looking for a good time.”
Jeff finished his sweep of the plane, and Cal gave him another signal that the man obviously understood because he walked back to the SUV, to the rear liftgate. Cal pulled out a fob and clicked, and the door opened on its own. Jeff reached inside the cargo area, then returned to where Alex and Cal stood with two familiar black duffle bags.
Alex sighed. I’m really doing this.
“Where’s Irene?” Cal asked flippantly. “I was really looking forward to seeing her again.”
Alex clenched his jaw, so he didn’t explode. Instead, he shrugged off Cal’s question, as if it didn’t even make sense. “How would I know? I haven’t seen her since the airport. I got her there safely. That was all I promised.”
Cal’s eyebrows lowered. “I was under the impression that you two were a hot item.”
Alex forced a smile. “You assumed. You know what happens when you assume, don’t you?”
Cal laughed, then tossed the two pieces of Alex’s phone next to his feet. “You mean what almost happened to me. I was one step ahead of you, Alex. Just like I’ve always been.”
No sense in commenting on that absurd statement. Cal had never been a step ahead of Alex. Then again, Alex had never kept track. Of what? The girls they dated in high school? The wrestling team or track wins? Was it possible that Cal had gotten involved in the drug trade because he’d felt second-best?
“You’re right, Cal. The income from your tour company far exceeds our little search and rescue non-profit.” Alex had decided to give the man something, even though he now knew it wasn’t true. He used to think that Cal had done well for himself with his adventure tours. He’d even been jealous a few times.
“Hm! Well, we’re going to see how well you do.” Cal dipped his head to the bags, and Jeff picked them up and carried them to the plane. He tossed them inside without saying a word. “You know where to drop them. I’ll have a boat pick them up tomorrow.”
Alex stared from the plane to Cal. “And my payment?”
Cal winked then turned for his vehicle. “You owe me one, Alex.” As he reached for the handle, he looked back. “You know … Irene and I got along pretty well. If you’re not seeing her, maybe I’ll drop in on her.”
Alex bit his tongue as both men piled into the SUV. Then Cal sped off as quickly as he’d arrived.
His breath came out ragged as he watched Cal’s hundred-thousand-dollar SUV disappear behind a track of trees, then in his peripheral, he caught a tiny flicker of light inside the small terminal.
He snatched up his phone, then hopped into his plane. Middleton. Humph! He had vowed never to go back there.
~ Irene ~
Irene clicked end and shoved the phone in her jeans pocket. “Grrr … Men!”
As the last few times she called, Vince had been more than pleasant, and she’d thanked him profusely for his help in rescuing her from Cal, but he’d repeated the same words, I’m sorry, Irene, but Alex still isn’t taking calls — from anyone. It’s nothing personal, I’m sure. He’s a good man, I promise you that, so please don’t give up
on him.
Give up? What is there to give up? We don’t have anything to give up. And they never would have anything. But she wanted to explain that she hadn’t been lying to Alex about her feelings for him. How could she explain if Alex wouldn’t give her the time of day? She’d thought about tracking him down, but she’d waited too long to see her family and had come too far. She intended to spend at least a week with them. Maybe next week she’d track him down. It wasn’t as if he were going anywhere. Sounded as though he’d locked himself away. Good. She’d let him stew. Alex needed to find his own way. As much as she loved him, she couldn’t be his reason for living, since she might die. And … she had her own life to figure out.
Instead of wasting any more of the time she’d planned to spend on Saint Paul, she decided to go for a self-made tour, starting with the port. After several days of reuniting, her father had to get back to the church, her sister had to get back to work at the Aleut Heritage Museum, and her mother said she’d be busy running errands. Irene had resisted laughing. Errands on Saint Paul … Instead of behaving rudely, though, Irene bussed her mother’s cheek. “Okay … I’ll go for a short hike while you’re gone. Have a good day, Ana-ana. See you tonight.”
Her mother followed her into the hallway. “You too, panik. Be careful. Don’t exert yourself.”
Irene offered her mother a smile and hug, then shrugged into her coat, draped a scarf around her neck, and topped off the winter ensemble with an ushanka-hat her mother insisted she wear when outside. She never should have told her family about her cancer diagnosis. Her mother was forever babying her and hadn’t been pleased when she said she would return to San Fran next week.
She had to go back to California, though. While she had more than enough money, her soul was aching to create. She hadn’t felt the need to research, let alone create something in more than a year. But now, that familiar excited feeling had returned. Especially at night, once her family retired for the evening, her brainwaves were firing on all cylinders. Whether it was because she finally felt healthier after months of feeling sickly, or the closure with Andrew, the passion with Alex, or the excitement of fighting for her life — literally — she felt more alive than she’d ever felt, and the creative side of her brain wanted to share her experience with others.
Alex's Atonement (Midnight Sons Book 2) Page 23