by Karen Kirst
“Spooked, but okay. I’ll show you the damage to the building.”
They walked around to the front, where Mason assessed the busted gate lock and the obliterated main entrance. Fixing that was a priority.
“I’ll take care of all this,” Cruz said. “Go be with your family. They’ve had a traumatic morning.”
He didn’t correct Cruz. Tessa wasn’t technically family. As the mother of his child, however, she was automatically in his circle of important people.
When Raven and Silver returned, he helped them unload Scout, Lightning and Thorn, and settle them inside. Silver left to meet Lindsey at the cabin and determine if there had been any property damage. Raven and Cruz would remain at the stables and oversee the necessary repairs. Officer Weiland agreed to accompany Mason and the others to his home. Before they left, Mason called around to several alarm companies and found one available to install a system in his home that day.
His mom asked to spend the afternoon with them. She might be as tough as nails, but this was enough to rattle anyone. They had a quiet lunch in the kitchen with the curtains drawn. Afterward, his mom volunteered to show Lily how to bake cookies. He recognized the attempt to distract the little girl and appreciated it. If he wasn’t preoccupied with the escalating threat, he would’ve participated.
Mason found Tessa on the screened-in porch. Seated with her back to the wall, staring at nothing in particular, her fingertips slowly polishing the mug’s surface, she looked fragile and hollow. The opposite was true, he knew.
She looked over at him. “I know I’m not supposed to be out here. I just needed five minutes of fresh air, blue sky and birds singing.”
Of normalcy. A reminder that there was good in the world. “I get it.” He pulled out the chair next to her and sat. The screen across from them still bore evidence of the henchman’s bullet. “Bell just got here. He and Weiland are at the end of the driveway. The alarm company should be here any minute.”
“A cost you weren’t planning on.”
“It’s worth it. I hope you understand about your phone. Let me know if you need to make any calls while you’re waiting to get it back.” He’d given the phone to Deputy Stark. Their department was larger and had the capabilities to determine if it had been compromised. “You’re welcome to use my laptop anytime.”
“Anything that will help prevent another scene like today, I fully support. Any updates from the hospital?”
“Mr. Pascal is out of surgery and is expected to make a full recovery. Silver has already pledged to refund their rental fees and travel expenses. He’ll also cover any out-of-pocket medical expenses.”
“I’m sad their memories of East Tennessee are tainted. At least they survived.” She swallowed hard. “What about Bruno?”
“No need for surgery. The bullet went clean through his shoulder.”
“Bruno is important to Dante. I don’t know how he’ll react to him being taken into custody.”
“The sheriff’s department has increased security.”
“They won’t get any information out of him,” she warned.
Mason nodded in deference to her personal knowledge. “It’s one less man to contend with. Maybe rattling Dante is a good thing. He’ll be more likely to make a mistake.”
“Or do something rash.” Her eyes were twin tombs. “I don’t want to contemplate how Lily will be treated if he were to take her to New Jersey. His hatred for me would bleed into that relationship. My sister betrayed me, so I have no hope she’d stick up for my child.” Her fingers latched on to his arm, and she crowded his space. “No matter what happens to me, promise you’ll move heaven and earth to keep her out of his clutches.”
His mom’s words scrolled through his mind. Bruno had said Tessa’s death certificate was already signed. Figurative words, of course, but no less chilling. When he’d come out of those trees and seen her and Lily seconds away from being ripped from him, Mason had been desperate to save them both.
As if of their own volition, his fingers slowly and reverently traced a line from the bandage on her temple to her jaw. Her eyes flared with surprise. Beneath that, he recognized loneliness and longing.
She’d been alone for so long, shouldering explosive secrets. He’d been alone, too, and not because he relished the bachelor life. Because she’d taken away his right to decide.
Tessa must’ve sensed the shift in his mood, because she lowered her gaze and removed her hand from his arm.
“I don’t want you to worry,” he said gruffly. “Lily’s well-being is my top priority.” Scooting out his chair, he said, “We should go inside.”
* * *
Tessa still loved him.
That first year without him had been a nightmare. The fear that Dante would track her down. The worry about her unborn child and how ongoing stress would impact the pregnancy. The separation from Mason—missing him, aching to see him, talk to him, hold him. When she’d brought their daughter into the world without him, she’d made a conscious choice. No more mourning what she’d lost. She had to pour all her energy into raising Lily and creating as normal a childhood as possible. Out of a need for self-preservation, she’d buried her love for Mason.
Those moments with Bruno, when it seemed she would soon be reunited with her brother, she’d released the lock on her feelings. She’d allowed herself to fully feel again. Why wouldn’t she cherish what they’d shared if she was on her way to die?
But she hadn’t died. Mason had rescued her. And he had held her so tightly and tenderly. Just now, he’d caressed her face and regarded her with affection. Like old times.
What did it gain her, though? Fresh hurt. Fresh pain. Fresh rejection. Not because of Dante’s actions, but her own.
Certain she couldn’t keep her turmoil hidden, she murmured an excuse to him and Gia and slipped upstairs. In the privacy of the bedroom, she poured out her heartache to Jesus and took comfort in the Scriptures’ promises. God loved her. He wouldn’t leave or forsake her.
Tessa was physically and mentally spent. When Gia brought a sleepy Lily upstairs, Tessa opted to take a nap, too. The sound of a vehicle woke her more than two hours later. She left Lily tucked beneath the blankets and padded downstairs. Through the living-room window, she watched the security company van get swallowed by the trees as it disappeared down the drive.
“Feel better?”
Tessa finger-combed her hair off her forehead and gave Gia a perfunctory smile. “I will after I’ve had a cup of coffee.”
“I just made a pot.”
Gia poured a cup for Tessa and retrieved the milk from the fridge. She then returned to her cutting board and continued dicing onions and tomatoes. The curtains were drawn, and needles of sunlight poked around the edges.
“I’m not usually a nap taker,” Tessa said, sipping the rich brew. The house was silent, and she wondered what Mason was doing. “Has the security company already installed the system?”
She nodded. “He was quick and efficient. He will have to come back later and do the upstairs windows. Mason wouldn’t let him disturb you and Lily.”
“Oh.”
“After what you’ve both been through, you’ve earned the rest.”
“Thank you for entertaining Lily. Actually, I’ve been meaning to find someone to teach her to bake.”
A genuine smile curved her lips. “She’s a delightful child. You’ve done an excellent job with her.”
Her cheeks heated. “Thank you. I had support from the community.”
“You made friends, I hope?”
“At first, I kept people at a distance. But when my pregnancy became apparent, women in my neighborhood started popping by unannounced. They brought me books, maternity clothes and baked goods. I blame my weight gain on Barbara Roland’s caramel brownies.” She smiled, remembering how Barb and the others had become her tribe. She wondered if
she’d ever see them again.
Gia’s gaze flicked past her shoulder. “Are you going to stand there all day or are you going to help me make salsa?”
Tessa didn’t need to turn around. Her stomach flip-flopped as Mason slowly traversed the room and came to a stop beside her. How much had he heard? She glanced at him, relieved to see his expression wasn’t shuttered like before.
She glanced down at her wrinkled scoop-neck shirt and pants, wishing she’d taken a moment to change before coming downstairs. Her hair was no doubt in wild disarray, the default hairstyle she’d been born with.
“Was anyone with you during the delivery?” he said, washing his hands and retrieving an extra knife and cutting board.
“Lisa, my next-door neighbor, is a pediatric nurse. She volunteered, and I accepted.”
As he diced the vegetables, his movements were both careful and precise. He had tanned, strong hands, thick wrists and corded forearms. His watch face caught and refracted the overhead light as he worked. Tessa was reminded of the countless meals they’d prepared together, sometimes just the two of them and sometimes with Gia and Candace.
“Were there any complications?”
“None.”
Tessa got the feeling he wanted to ask more pointed questions but refrained. Later, when the time was right, she’d give him the opportunity to delve more deeply into Lily’s birth.
Gia’s perceptive gaze bounced between them. “Tell me about how you came to be a believer, Tessa.”
“I was a regular patron at the library, both before and after Lily’s arrival. Mrs. Smith, the head librarian, invited me to church. I was both fascinated and confounded by her faith. She talked about God like He was a dear friend. It was a natural thing for her to bring Him into daily conversations.” Her father and Dante thought believers were weak. “My circumstances drove me to a place where I was in desperate need of peace, and I eventually recognized God was the true source. I also had much to be forgiven for, and it comforted me to know He was willing and able to forgive me.”
Gia swiped at her eyes. “These onions,” she muttered.
They shared a smile that buoyed her spirits. She felt Mason’s gaze on her.
“I’m happy you had a support system,” he said. “More important, I’m happy you found God.”
“When did it happen for you?”
“A year or so after we broke up.” His spiky lashes swept down to hide his eyes. “I pretty much hit rock bottom.”
Now she was ready to cry. At least she’d had Lily to focus on. “That must’ve been hard.”
“Hard for this mom to watch.” Gia’s voice was raspy.
“Good came out of it,” he pointed out. “I’m a changed man.”
Lily’s wobbly voice called for Tessa.
Mason immediately put down the knife. “Do you mind if I go?”
“Of course not.”
He quickly washed his hands and went upstairs. Tessa set aside her coffee and took his place at the cutting board.
“He’s enamored with her,” Gia noted fondly. “He’s talked about having children off and on through the years.”
“He’ll be a wonderful father.”
Reaching across the counter, she squeezed Tessa’s hand. “God will see you through this, Tessa. He brought you, Mason and Lily together for a reason.”
Without faith, it is impossible to please God. That was one of the first verses she’d memorized, and she’d repeated it to herself whenever fear threatened to overtake her. Now that Dante knew her whereabouts and was launching an all-out campaign to ruin her, fear was her greatest enemy.
He wasn’t just gunning for her anymore, either. Mason was in his crosshairs.
TEN
Mason was in his study that night fielding texts from his sister when Tessa came searching for him. He waved her in and offered her a seat. Instead, she hovered by the door.
“Am I interrupting?”
He placed his phone on the desk. “Candace wants details about what happened this morning.” She was nosy and pushy, but he couldn’t imagine life without her.
“She’s right to be worried about you.”
“She’s worried about all of us. My guess is she’s also jealous that Mom got to spend the day with Lily, and she didn’t.”
Her lips curved into a semblance of a smile. “Lily’s asleep. I didn’t think she’d be tired after her long nap, but these last few days have been chaotic.”
“I’ve heard Candace say that kids like routine, especially at that age.”
As a brand-new father of a three-year-old, he felt at a distinct disadvantage. He had little experience with kids, and the amount of knowledge he needed to do this right was overwhelming.
“Gia was really helpful today. I’m glad she came over.”
He was glad, too, because her presence had been a buffer. It bothered him how quickly he’d gone from anger and distrust to awareness and yearning. He couldn’t afford to be attracted to Tessa, because he couldn’t continue to throw up barricades. They were co-parents of an innocent, vulnerable child. A team. He had to treat her as a friend, not an enemy.
“Do you mind if I use your washer and dryer in the morning?” She pinched the material of her wrinkled shirt and pulled it away from her body. “I didn’t bring many clothes with me.”
“Of course not. Use whatever you need.” Her disheveled appearance didn’t detract from her soft, inviting presence. She took his breath away, no matter what she wore or how her hair was styled. “If you think of anything you’d like from the store, let me know.”
“Thank you.” Tessa gestured to his open laptop. “Anything new?”
“Bruno is settled in at the county jail. He’ll be in the medical area until he’s ready for general population. Raven renewed her efforts to warn area residents.”
“I’m afraid the Pascals aren’t the only ones who will be hurt by him.”
He shared the same concern. “We’ve got a lot of people working on this.”
She pulled a flash drive from her pocket. “I thought you might want to see Lily’s baby pictures. I keep copies on my computer, so you’re welcome to keep this.”
“Thank you.” Mason immediately inserted it into his laptop.
“I’ll say good-night then.” She turned to go.
“Why don’t you stay?” he blurted. At her raised brows, he said, “You can give me a running commentary.”
She hesitated. “If you’re sure...”
He reached out with his foot, hooked the chair leg and tugged it closer. She sat down and clasped her hands in her lap.
The first photo knocked him back. Wearing a soft pink, flowing dress, Tessa was pictured outside a brick building with budding dogwoods all around. Her smile was wide, teeth showing, her eyes dancing at the camera. Her curls had been tamed into an elaborate, upswept style. His gaze zeroed in on her bulging stomach.
“I forgot about this one,” she said quickly. Leaning across him, she would’ve clicked the next photo if he hadn’t seized her wrist. She froze, and he did, too.
Her bones were delicate beneath his fingertips, her skin as soft as he remembered. Her hair tickled his chin as she angled her face toward him.
He allowed his gaze to roam her features—features he hadn’t been able to oust from his mind. The sweeping, elegant eyebrows, the earnest, intelligent eyes, the straight nose and full lips.
His mouth went dry. His hearing dulled until he could only detect the pound, thud, pound of his heart.
He wanted to kiss her. He longed to kiss her.
“I can’t.”
Her brows slapped together. “Can’t what?” she whispered.
Oops. He hadn’t meant to say that aloud. Instantly, he released her and shifted away. “Nothing. Ah, how far along were you in this photo? Where was it taken?”
&nb
sp; She audibly swallowed and left his personal space. “I was about seven months. Lisa, my neighbor, also attends the same church. She talked me into splurging on this dress, and she insisted on taking my photo after service that day. For Lily’s sake.”
He stared at the screen. “You look radiant.”
“I didn’t feel anything other than awkward, but thanks.”
Mason moved on to the next one, and was overcome for a different reason.
“She was beautiful from the start, wasn’t she?” Tessa murmured. “She weighed seven pounds and three ounces at birth.”
“She didn’t have much hair.”
A light trill of laughter filled the room. “That didn’t last.”
They continued through dozens of pictures. Some evoked a deep, emotional charge, while others made him laugh out loud. Tessa answered his questions at length. He knew she regretted her choices and their impact on him. That didn’t erase the complicated mix of emotions he was feeling. It also didn’t answer a question that haunted him—if she could go back in time, would she make the same choices?
When his phone buzzed, he noticed the late hour and the caller’s identity at the same time.
“What’s up, Silver?”
“We have a problem.”
Mason listened to his explanation with growing unrest. As soon as the call ended, he answered Tessa’s unasked question.
“Bruno escaped.”
“What? How?”
“Silver’s not sure of the exact details. We know that two prison employees have been hospitalized. The jail is on lockdown until they review footage and complete the investigation.”
Tessa buried her face in her hands. He twisted in his chair and cupped her shoulders.
“It’s an unfortunate setback, but we have dozens of men searching for them. Who knows? This could all be over tonight.”
ELEVEN
At first, Mason thought the alarm pulsing through the dark house meant someone had triggered the new system. He was reaching for his pistol when he smelled smoke.