Dangerous Abduction (O'Connor Brothers Book 2)

by Rhonda Brewer

  It scared her the way James looked at her sometimes because his gaze had an intensity that made her tremble with desire. Marc had that same intense gaze, and it terrified her. She knew James was nothing like her ex-husband but Marc hadn’t always been the monster he’d turned into at the end of their marriage. It was as if she married one man but divorced another. When she married Marc she had said until death do they part, but she had no idea that the death was almost hers.

  She opened the front door and walked into the foyer of her small bungalow. Danny darted around her and went to the living room, plopping himself in front of the television to watch his favorite show. Something about dogs that was on Animal Planet. He was obsessed with dogs and had asked for a puppy numerous times, but Marina didn’t feel he was ready to have a pet. However, she did promise to think about it once he turned five.

  Marina turned into her huge bedroom. John had renovated it since he and Stephanie lived there. It had been transformed into an enormous bedroom with an ensuite. She loved to ease into the huge soaking tub once Danny was in bed for the night and relax. Then she’d curl up in her bed to read, work or even walk out onto the back deck that was off her bedroom.

  The spacious kitchen was her favorite part of the house mainly because through the large bay window she had a full view of the ocean. Of course Hopedale was surrounded on three sides by the ocean, but she thought the best view was from her garden. When her anxiety started to overwhelm her, she’d stand on the deck and let herself get lost in the sound of the waves splashing against the rocks. The feelings had lessened over the last four years, but lately they’d returned with the nightmares.

  Marina changed into her clothing of choice, jeans and T-shirt because it was how she felt the most comfortable. She was never a fan of business attire, but in her line of work she had to be professional. So, the fitted business suits and the torturous high heel shoes were what she wore at the office. Both she and Stephanie were never girlie girls mostly because they’d spent so much time growing up on construction sites with their father or digging around the garden with their mother.

  Marina glanced into the living room as she made her way to the kitchen, Danny sat crossed-legged in front of the television amongst the toys he hadn’t picked up before they’d left that morning. She reminded him to pick them up and to move back from the television, but she knew he didn’t hear her. The bunch of puppies running around a garden appeared on the screen, and Danny was enthralled. She shook her head and proceeded to the kitchen.

  Getting home after six in the evening was always a pain. Throwing something together to make a quick supper, then homework, then bed. During the week her time with Danny was short but Friday bedtime wasn’t as strictly enforced. It killed her to miss so much time with him. She wished she could work more from home, or possibly even write herself.

  “Yes Marina, you stay home and be a famous writer. What are you going to write about? How to cook supper in less then thirty minutes?” She muttered as she pulled open the freezer door.

  She pulled out Danny’s favorite—chicken nuggets in the shape of animals. He’d make the noise of each one as he ate them, but not before he’d ask over and over if the nuggets were made out of that specific animal. She’d have to assure him they weren’t and was glad the company had seen fit not to make a nugget in the shape of a chicken. Danny would never eat anything again. She’d just spread them out on the pan when her phone rang.

  Marina pulled her phone out of her pocket as she turned on her oven. “Hello.”

  “Hey, Rina.” Her sister always sounded so cheery. It was nauseating.

  “Hey, Steph, Whadda ya at?” A typical greeting for Newfoundlanders, which meant ‘what are you doing,’ and Marina said it without even thinking. Before she moved back to Newfoundland, she lived in Ottawa. It was amusing when she greeted people in the same way, they had no idea what she was saying.

  “I’m cooking supper and wanted to invite you and Danny,” Stephanie said.

  “I was just starting supper.” She was really too tired to walk the two roads to her sister’s house.

  “Put it away and come have supper with us. We’re leaving for the airport at nine, and I want to spend some time with you and Danny before we go on vacation.”

  “I almost forgot you guys were leaving today.” Stephanie and John were heading to Hawaii for three weeks, since the doctors told Stephanie sometimes stress could make it hard to get pregnant. So thanks to John’s Aunt Cora, and her vacation home in the tropical paradise, they booked a relaxing trip to lessen their stress level and just enjoy each other.

  “So can you come over, please?” Stephanie was in full begging mode, and Marina knew it was pointless to argue.

  She was going to miss her sister, and Danny would definitely miss both of them. John was just a big kid with Danny. Marina hoped the couple were able to have a baby of their own, because anyone could tell John desperately wanted to be a dad. He’d come from a large family, and it was obvious they were extremely close.

  She turned off the stove and calmed Danny enough to get his coat back on and then headed outside to her car. It seemed so lazy to drive the two-minute walk to her sister’s house, but chances were Danny would be almost ready for bed by the time they returned home. That meant he’d only have one mood, and that mood would be cranky.

  Danny was strapped in his seat and she was about to get in the car herself. She thought she saw something move out of the corner of her eye, but when she turned her head the only thing she saw was the line of trees across the street from her house. She turned in the other direction but nothing.

  Not Nothing.

  Something was making the hair on the back of her neck stand up and as she scanned the tree line a second time, she saw a rabbit hopping between two trees.

  “Jesus Christ, I’m getting really getting paranoid.” Marina shook her head and got in the car.

  Danny was wiggling in his car seat as they pulled into Stephanie and John’s driveway, no doubt excited because he was about to play with his favorite uncle. He really loved spending time with them, and of course they loved to spoil him. Sometimes to the point it was almost impossible to settle him down once she got him back home again. No matter how many times she asked them not to hype him up before they dropped him off, or she picked him up, Danny would still come home talking a mile a minute and jumping around like a cat on a hot rock.

  Her sister’s home was a large white duplex with dark green shutters that they’d bought just after they got married, mostly because they wanted kids right away. It wasn’t fair that two people who loved kids so much were having issues but maybe their little vacation would give them exactly what they wanted. A child.

  Danny’s feet hit the driveway and he bolted right to the house. Marina closed her car door. Again, that nagging tingle in the back of her neck. She whipped her head around and walked down to the end of the driveway. Was someone watching her or was she just losing her mind?

  Chapter 4

  James watched her from inside the glass door of the daycare as she hurried to her car. He couldn’t help it. Her dark blonde hair was tied back into a neat ponytail that swung back and forth when she walked. He wanted to tangle his hands into that mane of hair while he devoured her plump lips. He wanted so bad to taste her lips and feel her naked skin next to his.

  It was getting more difficult to hide his attraction to Marina, and his emotions made him tremble whenever she was close. If the truth be told, James was apprehensive, because losing Sarah was the worst thing he’d ever been through, and he knew he’d never survive that pain again. He didn’t know how he’d done it the first time.

  His attraction to Marina was unsettling, because it had hit so suddenly. That first night when her ex-husband showed up at John’s house and he saw her on the couch trembling with pure terror in her eyes, every protective instinct he had kicked into gear. Knowing some of what that ass did to her made him angrier than he’d ever been in his life. He’d never
understand how a man could treat a woman with anything but reverence.

  Then there was John and Stephanie’s wedding. That day was so hard, or at least made him hard, because Marina looked sexy as hell in the dress she wore as her sister’s maid of honor. It also didn’t help that he was John’s best man and ended up paired off with her at the church. Then there was the bridal party dance where he was required to dance with her. Holding her in his arms was heaven, but the guilt was overwhelming. It had been almost three years after Sarah died, and lusting after another woman seemed a betrayal of his late wife.

  Now Marina was invading his thoughts and his dreams. He couldn’t get her out of his head, and he still struggled with the thought of moving on with his life. Plus, Marina’s previous relationship was pure hell, and Ms. Marina Kelly did not seem interested in a relationship with any man.

  James thoughts were abruptly interrupted when two little arms wrapped around his leg. He looked down to see the smiling face of his son. Mason was so energetic and spontaneous, traits he got from his mother. As much as it hurt to lose Sarah, he remembered her words every day. “You’ll always have a piece of me with you in Mason.”

  He wondered if she knew how right she was, because Mason resembled Sarah more and more every day with his dark brown hair and pert nose. He also had the O’Connor blue eyes, the dimples and the mischievous grin, but the grin made Mason look a lot like his youngest brother Aaron. He still wasn’t sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

  “Daddy!” Mason squealed as he started to jump up and down still clung tightly to James’ leg.

  “Hey there, buddy.” James tousled his hair.

  “Are we gonna go home now?” Mason picked up his backpack and struggled to get his small arms through the straps.

  “Well, we’re going to go see Uncle John and Aunt Stephanie before they go on vacation.” The noise his son created had heads turning and James’ ears ringing. It looked like it was a yes to the visit. “Let’s go.” James lifted Mason into his arms and walked through the door receiving nods and smiles from the other parents picking up their children.

  On the way back to Hopedale, he knew it was time to have a serious talk with Mason about his abrupt question during breakfast. The last thing he needed was his son saying something about him dating Marina in front of Stephanie, or worse Danny.

  “Mason, I need to talk to you about what you asked this morning.” James glanced into the rearview mirror to make sure Mason was paying attention. “Do you know what I’m talking about, buddy?”

  “Yep, what Nanny said, right?” Mason started to kick his feet as he bounced in his seat.

  “That’s right. I don’t want you to say anything to anyone else about that, okay?” James turned onto the off ramp that headed into Hopedale.

  “Why?” James should have known it wouldn’t be that easy with Mason being so inquisitive, and he always needed to have a reason for everything.

  “It’s a secret, and nobody can know about it.” The one thing he was sure about was Mason knew some secrets were meant to be kept quiet.

  “Okay, Daddy, but when will it not be a secret?” James shook his head in frustration.

  “I’ll let you know, okay?” James held his breath until Mason nodded.

  “Uncle John!” Mason yelled as he bolted through John’s front door. Before James was able to get into the living room, Mason was scooped up in John’s arms and thrown into the air. This was the reason it was so hard to get Mason to calm down after a trip to his brother’s place.

  “There’s one of my best buddies.” John chuckled. “I got a surprise for you.”

  James groaned, because John’s surprises were either noisy or gave Mason a sugar rush that took hours to wear off. He couldn’t wait for the day that he could return the favor to his brother.

  “You’re taking him with you if you give him anything with sugar,” James shouted as John disappeared from view obviously not paying any attention. Stephanie’s laugh made him turn to see her glide out of the dining room.

  She reached up and kissed his cheek. “Don’t worry, this surprise should knock him out.” She linked her arm into his and pulled him towards the patio doors in the kitchen. It led to a back garden with an incredible view of Hopedale Beach.

  “What the hell?” Standing in the center of the yard was the largest playset he’d ever seen in a private yard. It was probably bigger than the one in Hopedale Park. Four swings and a slide took up one side of the structure, and a large fort with an upper floor and a lower one took up the other side. Mason was squealing and running around it as if John had just given him a million dollars, or in Mason’s case a chocolate bar.

  “This is mine?” Mason said excitedly

  “You’ve got to share it with Danny, but you can play with it any time you’re here.” John scooped him up and put him on top of the slide.

  “This is so cool.” Mason slid down and ran around the slide to climb up himself.

  “Are you trying to make me look bad, bro?” James walked closer to investigate and clamped his hand down on John’s shoulder.

  “Well, I’m the cool uncle. You’re just the dad,” John boasted.

  “I wonder what our younger brothers would say about that.” James walked around the structure to check everything out.

  “They already know I’m the cool uncle.” John laughed as Stephanie tucked herself under his arm. They were so happy together, but they still wanted a baby. They were constantly asking James to bring Mason over for a playdate with Danny.

  “I ran into your sister today.” James tried to sound casual as he hoisted Mason up on top of the fort. “Well, actually I grabbed Danny before he got hit by a car.” The wide eyes and gasps from John and Stephanie told James he needed to explain quickly.

  James told them how Danny had gotten away from Marina and ran out into the parking lot. His own heart had almost stopped when Danny darted out in front of the oncoming car, which was why he’d run full speed towards him. Danny had become like a nephew to him since he spent so much time with John but in no way did he think of the boy’s mother the same as a sister.

  “He’s a little bugger sometimes,” Stephanie said. “Actually, I just invited Marina and Danny over for supper.”

  “That’s nice.” James kept his focus on Mason to try to hide how his heart went into overdrive at the mention of her name.

  “Why don’t you and Mason stay too?” Stephanie smiled and her green eyes sparkled. He knew what she was doing, but the smell of roast beef was making him drool so it was making it hard to say no, plus, he’d get to see Marina again.

  “Sure, why not?” James said.

  “Good. The boys can play for a bit, and we can spend some time together before John and I leave for the airport.”

  “What time do you have to be there?” James followed Stephanie back into the house, leaving John outside with Mason.

  “We’ve got to be at the airport by nine tonight, but our flight doesn’t leave until eleven.” She grabbed a set of oven mitts off the counter and opened the oven door.

  “Hopefully, you’ll have a great time.” James glanced out through the window and watched John push Mason on the swing.

  “I’ll be doing nothing but relaxing.” Stephanie recovered the roaster she’d taken out of the oven and pushed it back into the oven. “It should be ready shortly.” Stephanie wiped her hands with the cloth she pulled off the counter. While he and Stephanie were talking, Mason came rushing through the patio door squealing with John behind him growling like a fool.

  “Unca John’s a monster.” Mason giggled and hid behind James.

  “You’re a big youngster.” James rolled his eyes.

  “I’m just a big kid at heart.” John stood behind Stephanie and snaked his arms around her waist as he growled into her neck.

  “If you don’t let me go you’re going for a time-out.” Stephanie giggled.

  “Gonna send me to my room?” John turned her around and pulled her into hi
s arms.

  “No that wouldn’t exactly be a punishment for you.” Stephanie smiled.

  “Child in the room,” James reminded the couple as they started to get a bit too intimate.

  “Kissin’ girls is gross, Unca John.” Mason made a gagging sound.

  “Oh is it now.” Stephanie pulled away from John and chased Mason into the living room.

  The love they had for each other was obvious to anyone who met them. Their relationship had been such a whirlwind, but there was no doubt they were meant for each other. The twinge of jealousy that hit him every time he saw them being affectionate made him feel like an ass. He was happy for John but James didn’t have that anymore, and no matter how many times he was told he’d find it again; it was still hard to believe. The only woman to even draw his attention since Sarah passed was Marina, but it seemed nothing would ever happen between them.

  “What’s with the long face, bro?” John’s voice pulled him from his depressing thoughts.

  “Just a little tired,” James lied, but as always John could read him better than anyone.

  “You wanna have a chat?” John grabbed a couple of beers and handed one to James. Stephanie carried Mason back into the kitchen, kissing his cheeks while he wiggled and squealed. She gave James a nod, letting him know she’d keep Mason entertained while he took a moment with John.

  “I guess.” James followed John outside, and John closed the patio door behind them.

  “So, what’s up?” John leaned against the railing.

  “Nothing, really.” James sighed as he plopped down on one of the patio chairs. “I’m just a little lonely.”

  “It’s been almost four years. That’s a long time to be alone.” John moved to the chair opposite James. “I know losing her was hard for you, but you’ve got to at least try and move on.”

  “I know, but I don’t have time for anything anymore.” A lump formed in his throat. “Between work and Mason, I don’t have time for dating.” Did it make him a terrible father even saying it? “I love Mason more than anything in this world, but I miss having someone in my life.”