“So what’s the deal now?” she asked as they walked up the street from Union Station to catch a bus. “Do we just go to the clan Alpha’s house, and collect the baby?”
“No.” Christian hefted the duffle bag full of weapons onto his shoulder, and nervous energy rippled through Adalyn. She really hoped they didn’t have to use them. “We’re going to do some real secret agent stuff instead. But first, we’ve gotta pick up another rental car.”
They rode the bus to another car rental place, and this time Adalyn picked the car – a low profile Hyundai Elantra. She thought it was a sensible choice, since it had good gas mileage and was safe and roomy.
Apparently Christian did not agree.
“You rented a mommy car,” he groused.
Adalyn arched a brow as she maneuvered through the tail end of morning rush hour traffic. “I figured that since we were going to pick up a baby and take it back to New York with us that a Mommy Car would be appropriate.”
Christian crossed his arms. “If this was a regular road trip, yeah. But we might end up with enemy dragon shifters hot on our tail, and then what? We would have been able to outrace them much easier in the BMW.”
“You mean the one that you couldn’t drive?”
“Ouch.” Christian stuck his tongue out at her. “No need to be so mean.” He pouted.
“Didn’t mean to hurt your tender feelings.” She giggled, reaching across the cab to squeeze his leg. His muscular thigh flexed beneath her hand, reminding her of how good he’d felt last night. “But seriously, this car gets up to sixty in less than eight seconds. We’re going to be fine.”
But as they pulled into the parking lot of three-story chrome-and-glass building that housed Moonstone Enterprises, Adalyn’s nerves began to jangle again. The jangling only got worse as Christian retrieved some weapons from the duffle bag, then handed her two knives and a Sig along with their requisite holsters. Her hands shook a little as she strapped them to her body, tucking the knives into her boots where they would be less visible.
“It’s possible that we could be attacked going in or out of the building,” Christian explained, noticing the tension in her face. “We have to be prepared for anything.”
Nodding, Adalyn got out of the car and approached the building. Like Christian, she scanned their surroundings for any suspicious persons lurking about, but she didn’t see anyone except the two security personnel dressed in black suits and sunglasses, handguns peeking out from behind the curtain of their suit jackets. One of them pulled out a hand radio, and murmured into it, his gaze on them as they approached. For a moment Adalyn thought he would stop them, but he didn’t approach, just kept his eye on them as they passed through the double glass doors.
The lobby inside was done in muted shades of grey and lilac, with a sitting area off to the left, a bank of elevators off to the right, and a large, black lacquered desk in the center. Seated behind the desk was a woman dressed in a slate grey skirt suit, there was a guard stationed by the elevator banks as well as another further back by the stairwell.
The receptionist rose to greet them, her wedge of bright red hair swinging around her angular face. “May I help you?” she asked, smiling politely.
Christian leaned in, resting his forearms against the counter. “We’re here to see Anya,” he said discreetly so that the other people in the lobby wouldn’t overhear.
Recognition flashed across the woman’s face, and she picked up the phone. “They’re here to pick up the package,” she murmured into the receiver.
“Have them sent up,” a female voice, slightly roughened by tears, said on the other line. Adalyn felt a twinge of sympathy in her chest as she realized it must be the child’s mother.
The receptionist hung up the phone, then gave them a too-bright smile before gesturing to the security guard standing to her left. “George will show you the way.”
“George” led them around the corner and into a small room. The guard patted them both down, removing their weapons, and pressed their thumbs to a fingerprint scanner to verify their identification. He also called Delilah to verify them. Once he was convinced Adalyn and Christian were who they said they were, he escorted them up to the third floor, not letting them out of his sight for an instant.
Talk about top-notch security, Adalyn thought, eyeing the cameras that had been discreetly placed in all four corners of the elevator. There was no blind spot for any criminal or assassin to stand in, and even if there was, she doubted anyone made it up past the first floor without the security guard in tow. She wondered if it was always like this, or if things were so tight because of the baby being present.
The elevators doors opened, and they stepped into a open space with glossy black tile and green walls. Potted fronds and groupings of chairs and tables broke up the space, as well as another, smaller reception desk manned by a blonde who stood to greet them.
“They’re here for the package,” the guard said to her briefly.
She nodded, then slowly sat back down. “You know which way to go.”
He led them past the reception desk and through one of several doors that lined the green walls. Adalyn caught the sound of lullaby music playing softly as the door creaked open, and something in her softened at the scent of baby powder and lavender oil. Inside, a woman with pale skin and long black hair sat in a rocking chair, cradling a baby in her arms and murmuring soothing words. The room was windowless, the walls decorated with wallpaper featuring cartoon dragons, and a mobile hung featuring stars and planets hung over a wooden crib in the corner. On top of the dresser and changing station were several bags that had clearly already been packed for the child.
The woman looked up, her purple, reptilian eyes red-rimmed and her nose blotchy. “So you’re here,” she whispered, her voice aching with sadness.
Adalyn had to swallow back her own tears at the mother’s palpable grief. “We are,” she said gently, taking a step forward so she could take a look at the baby. In response, the mother shrank back in her rocking chair, holding the baby closer to her chest.
“Mrs. Moonstone,” Christian said quietly. “I know how hard this is for you, but we have to take him.”
“I know.” Tears slipped from the corners of her eyes and streamed down her cheeks, drawing attention to the fine bones in her face. “I just… I want to hold him for a little bit longer, you know?”
“Of course.” Ignoring Christian’s look of protest, Adalyn pulled up a stool that sat next to the changing station and sat down next to the mother. “We can give you that.”
Why don’t you and the guard gather up the luggage and bring it down to the car, she told Christian silently.
Christian nodded, and after exchanging glances with the guard, they began grabbing the baby’s things and bringing it outside. The woman hardly seemed to notice, all of her attention fixed on the little bundle in her arms. The baby shifted slightly, and the blanket fell away to reveal his cherubic face. He had a headful of black hair, and long lashes that swept against his round cheeks as he slept peacefully.
“He’s beautiful,” Adalyn murmured as the woman stroked her son’s cheek. “You must be so very proud of him.”
“I am.” The woman sniffled, but a smile curved her elegant lips. She stared down at her son for a long moment, then turned her red-rimmed gaze toward Adalyn. “I’m Anya, by the way.”
“Adalyn Shaw.” Adalyn squeezed the woman’s shoulder. “We’ll take good care of your son.”
“I’m sure you will.” Anya turned back to gaze fondly down at her son. “It’s just… I’ve only had him three months… and…” her voice broke, and her shoulder started shaking. A few of her tears splashed against the baby’s face, who instantly began fussing and squirming, responding to his mother’s stress.
“Here, let me take him for a minute,” Adalyn said quickly as the baby’s whimpers turned into wails. She relieved Anya of the infant before she could protest and held him to her chest, rocking him and murmuring soothi
ngly to him as Anya fought to gain control of herself. “There, there,” she said, keeping her voice low and even. “It’s alright. Everything’s going to be alright.”
Anya grabbed a tissue from the box sitting on the baby changing station, and blew her nose several times. A few deep breaths and two pumps of hand sanitizer later, she held out her arms, asking for the baby back. As Adalyn handed him over, she watched him scrunch up his face and the blink open his eyes – purple eyes, as beautiful and vivid as his mother’s.
“I’m sure he’s going to be just like you when he grows up.”
Anya nodded, a trembling smile on her lips. “I hope so. And I hope that he’ll remember me when we’re united again.” She pressed soft kisses to the baby’s face, and then with one final breath handed him back over to Adalyn. “Please… please at least let me know when he’s safely arrived.”
Adalyn nodded, swallowing back more tears – her heart broke for this poor woman all over again. What kind of cruel world did they live in, where dragon shifters were so power hungry that they would stoop to killing the innocent and tearing families apart?
When she walked back out of the nursery, the guard was waiting for her outside. He led her into the elevator and down to the subterranean parking garage, where Christian waited with the Hyundai.
“We thought it might be better to leave from the garage so we wouldn’t have to bring the baby out into the open,” Christian explained. His shoulders were stiff, grooves of tension bracketing his mouth. “Everything’s packed up and ready to go.”
“Our weapons?” Adalyn asked as she leaned in through the open backseat door so she could strap Mason into the waiting car seat.
“Returned to you,” George, the guard, said from behind them. Adalyn turned back to see him watching them. His arms were folded across his massive chest, and she couldn’t get a read on his expression because of the sunglasses, but Adalyn couldn’t help but feel some kind of emotion emanating from him, like sadness. She knew then that Anya wasn’t the only one who would miss Mason. “The guards outside report there is no suspicious activity. I would get going while that’s still the case.”
Adalyn nodded, then strapped herself into the driver’s seat. Christian was already seated in the passenger’s seat, cradling a big gun in his hand. A spike of fear shot through her nerves, but she swallowed it down and put the car in gear.
“Well,” Christian said ruefully as Adalyn pulled out of the garage and onto the road. “Congratulations to us. We’ve just become parents for the next forty-eight hours, to the most-wanted dragon shifter child in the country.”
Chapter Ten
“Oh for fuck’s sake!” Christian exclaimed as a lusty cry filled the air. Twisting in his seat, he glanced in the back to see Mason squirming in his car seat, his tiny pink face scrunched up. “What does he want now!”
They’d stopped twice already because of the little squirt – once to change his diaper, and then a second time because fire had spurted out when he’d sneezed and he’d set his own clothes on fire. It was a miracle the entire car hadn’t burned up, but Christian had managed to get to the baby in time and prevent the fire from spreading. Sure, his hands were still throbbing from being burned – he healed more slowly in human form – but at least the baby was still alive, and his mother had packed more than enough changes of clothes.
“Christian!” Adalyn cried, scandalized. “Don’t swear like that in front of the baby!”
“Sorry, sorry,” he muttered. “I’m still a little new to this whole fatherhood thing.” And wasn’t at all sure whether or not he was enjoying it.
Reaching between the seats for the baby bag, he pulled out one of the shiny, dragon-shaped squeaky toys and waggled it in front of Mason’s scrunched up face. “Look at the shiny dragon!” he cooed in his best baby-talk voice. “Isn’t it pretty?”
Mason stopped crying for a moment to look at it, his purple eyes glittering with curiosity. He reached out with a chubby hand and wrapped his tiny fingers around the little dragon’s head, and some of Christian’s annoyance disappeared as warmth stole through his chest. There was something amazing about this little guy, about the bright soul that gleamed from within that tiny body, just waiting to grow into something amazing.
And then the baby pushed the dragon aside and let out another ear-throbbing cry.
“Augh!” Christian threw the toy in frustration. It bounced against the window with a squeak, then landed on the floor, which only seemed to make Mason squeal louder. “What kind of baby dragon doesn’t like to play with baby dragon toys?”
“He’s probably hungry, Christian,” Adalyn said, sounding weary now. Christian felt a little better knowing he wasn’t the only one being drained by the baby’s fussiness. “Anya packed several days worth of breast milk. You should try feeding him.”
“I wish you would just do it,” Christian grumbled, reaching across the backseat to unbuckle Mason. He had a feeling this wasn’t exactly legal, but they couldn’t afford to stop again so soon – the more times they stopped, the greater the likelihood that they would get ambushed.
“Yeah, well, I can’t exactly bottle-feed a baby and drive at the same time,” Adalyn said dryly. She glanced over as Christian settled back in his seat with Mason cradled in his arms, and then surprised him with a wink. “Besides, you look kind of hot with a baby in your arms.”
Christian grinned a little at that as he shook the bottle up a little. “Well, when you put it that way.” He looked down at Mason, whose tiny hands were already grabbing for the bottle. “Huh, guess you really are hungry.”
He positioned the bottle’s plastic nipple at the baby’s mouth, and Mason latched on hungrily, his lips working hard to suck the bottle dry. Man, this is gonna mean more poop later, Christian thought, settling back in his seat..
But somehow, as he watched Mason feed, he couldn’t bring himself to be annoyed about that. The tiny tot was adorable, and he stirred paternal instincts in Christian’s heart that he didn’t know he had. A fierce protectiveness filled him, and he cradled Mason a little more securely against his chest even though there was no danger around them at the moment. And when the baby wrapped his little hand around one of the fingers Christian was using to hold the bottle, Christian’s heart actually melted a little.
No wonder moms get so sappy about their kids.
“Having fun there?” Adalyn’s voice drew his attention away from the baby for a moment. She was looking at him with a soft smile on her face, as if she knew exactly how he was feeling.
“I’m having something, that’s for sure.” Christian gave her a lopsided smile, then returned to looking at the baby. “He’s pretty cute, that’s for sure.”
“Yeah.” Adalyn gave the baby one last look before returning her eyes to the road. “Makes you want one of your own, doesn’t it?”
The idea shocked Christian. One of his own? The idea of being permanently responsible for a little being like this scared the shit out of him. And yet the fear couldn’t permanently eradicate the warm, fuzzy feeling that had taken root inside him and spread. Images of a little baby of his own, with a dark brown thatch of hair on his head and Adalyn’s blue eyes, danced through his mind.
Woah. A kid with Adalyn? His gaze flicked toward her. That wasn’t what she’d meant, was it?
“Umm, Christian?” Adalyn’s gaze flickered toward the rearview mirror. “It could just be me, but for the last fifty miles or so the same black Civic has been following us.”
Christian glanced in the rearview mirror at the vehicle she was talking about. It was several cars back, a sporty Si that was probably twice as fast as the Elantra Adalyn had picked out, and the windows were tinted, so he couldn’t see who was inside. “I’m not sure that means anything,” he said cautiously. “It’s not uncommon for cars to share the road on a highway for some time.”
“Yeah, but every time I change lanes this guy does too. He always stays one lane off from mine.”
Demonstrating, Adalyn fli
cked her turn signal light on. Not three seconds later, the SUV did exactly the same, and as she changed lanes, so did it. Christian’s pulse ratcheted up as a bad feeling went through him.
“This is definitely not normal,” he muttered. Carefully extracting the bottle from the baby’s mouth – he’d fallen asleep – he put it back in the bag, and then buckled Mason back in as fast as he could without waking him.
“What are we gonna do?” Adalyn asked, sounding worried now. Her eyes kept flickering back and forth from the road ahead to the rearview mirror.
“Just relax.” Christian placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “They’re not gonna do anything right now, not with all these cars on the road with us. Likely they’re waiting for us to pull of the road and get some gas so they can fry us and kill the baby.”
“Shit,” Adalyn swore, apparently disregarding her own rule not to cuss in front of the baby. Her grip tightened on the steering wheel.
“Just keep driving,” he insisted, not wanting her to freak out and do something stupid that would alert their tail. “I’ll handle this.”
The Si maintained a safe distance between them for a few miles, but as the road began to split off into two different highways, the traffic began to thin out. “Christian.” Adalyn’s voice was an octave higher than usual as she glanced in the rearview mirror. “They’re starting to close.”
“Yep.” Christian dug through the duffle bag of weapons. “Start heading for the nearest exit.”
With less cars on the road, the Si began to close the gap between them. Adalyn did as he said, her knuckles white against the black steering wheel, and Christian surfaced, a grenade clutched in his fist. He gripped the safety handle as she took the corner at breakneck speeds, his heart thudding in his ears. The baby wailed in the backseat, apparently not enjoying being jostled around.
“You have to slow down,” he said between gritted teeth.
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