by Rita Herron
“But you’ll kill how many people before you perfect it? If you ever do.” Night cleared his throat. “And what about the germ you exposed our son to?”
“In case you haven’t figured it out, that’s the reason you’re here.” Grace gestured toward the gurney. “Now, I have samples of Miss Langworthy’s blood. I need some of yours, Walker.”
Night swallowed. “What for?”
“To compare your blood to your baby’s.”
“What are you looking for?” Night asked.
“I’ll check all the genetic components, study the interactions, and differences between your blood, Miss Langworthy’s and the baby’s.”
Night frowned. “Tell me about the germ you exposed my son to.”
“It was a combination of a retrovirus and Q fever. The retrovirus shouldn’t affect adults, but my hope is that it is carried to the unborn baby through the mother’s bloodstream. If my hypothesis is correct, it will enhance his immune system.”
“This is the same virus that was included in the Q fever germ spray you sprayed in Silver Rapids. So, you don’t know for sure that it will have positive effects?”
Grace smiled shrewdly. “You’re finally catching on, Walker. The reason for testing your son.”
“Did Senator Gettys know what you were doing?” Night asked.
Grace laughed. “He thought they were testing the vaccine spray to see how the spray mist and sprayers worked.”
“But you don’t know what the results will be,” Holly said, emotion hardening her voice. “You might have exposed my baby to something deadly.”
Night grit his teeth. “Then he didn’t know you and Helio were using a live version of the bug?”
“No.” Grace shrugged.
“You’ll never get away with this,”
More laughter from Grace followed. “You’re wrong. No one will track you down here.”
“Don’t be so sure,” Night said. “Agents are on their way now. They have the coordinates.”
“Yes, but with the impending blizzard, they’ll never be able to see the lab from the sky. And they won’t reach us before we escape.”
Night heard Holly’s sharp intake of air and silently willed her not to panic. Although their situation seemed bleak, he would find a way to get them free.
After that, he had no idea what would happen.
HOLLY WATCHED in disgust while Grace tightened the tourniquet around Night’s muscular arm, then inserted the needle to draw blood. Night sat stone straight, expressionless as he stared at the doctor, his menacing glare unnerving her, but not deterring the doctor in his mission.
“When you finish, can we see our baby?” Holly asked.
Grace glanced up from the needle and shrugged. “I suppose it won’t hurt for you to be together while you’re here.”
Relief surged through Holly. Night’s mouth twitched slightly, the only sign that he cared one way or the other. He wore a mask over his emotions, she realized, a protective measure against the pain. But he must feel deeply.
She dragged her gaze away from the blood seeping into the test tube. She had never mastered such control and wore her feelings on her sleeve. The reason she’d been an easy target for men to take advantage of when she was younger. She’d been starry eyed and romantic, so sure that every man she dated would fall in love with her, when they had simply been in love with her money. Her father had tried to warn her.
But then he’d partnered with Carlton Sanders.
Another incident that had come between them. But at least she knew now that her father hadn’t orchestrated Sky’s kidnapping. Her parents must be out of their minds with worry.
The sound of Night’s feet hitting the floor as he shoved himself off the gurney broke her thoughts.
“Let’s go.” Grace and Bertram both aimed their guns at chest level and nudged her forward. Night sent her a silent message, his eyes urging her to do as they said. She offered him a small smile to let him know she understood, that she wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize the rescue of their child.
NIGHT MEMORIZED the way as Grace and his crony escorted them to the nursery. In spite of his ability to maintain his mask of calm, his heart was pounding inside his chest. After four long months of searching for his son, he was finally going to meet him. A quiver of apprehension snaked through him. Would his little boy connect with him?
Yes.
The ways of his people ran deep in the blood. His son would look into his eyes and know. Night had to keep his faith in all things eternally true to his nature.
He instinctinew when they neared the nursery. His son’s cry rang through the halls. Holly’s eyes shifted to his, anxiety sparking in the depths. He focused on remaining calm, hoping to reassure her.
You are a horse whisperer. Read the signs. Speak to the vulnerable one’s fears.
He had to do the same for his son and his son’s mother.
Bertram unlocked the door and he allowed Holly to enter first. She hurried toward a nurse, who was pacing the floor with the screaming infant.
“Here, let me have him,” Holly said.
The woman sidestepped her and continued her shushing, bouncing Schyler up in the air in frantic jerky movements.
“You’re scaring him,” Holly said. “Give me my baby.”
Night stilled beside the crib, his gaze locked onto the squirming little boy. Did he sense the strife in the room? Realize he had been torn from the bosom of his mother and thrust into the unknown? Into the clutches of a madman?
The nurse tightened her grip. “He doesn’t know her.” She directed her shrill comment to Grace. “She is not fit to be his mother.”
The sound of anguish Holly emitted felt like a punch to Night’s stomach, yet he checked his reaction.
“Give her the child, Mary,” Grace commanded.
Mary backed away but Bertram placed a hand on her back. “Yes, Mary, give the baby to the woman. For now.”
A sinister look crossed Mary’s face but she finally relented. Holly eagerly accepted Sky into her arms, her eyes lighting up with such affection as she gazed down at their son that Night moved nearer.
Footsteps echoed behind him, then the door clicked shut, locking them inside.
Night reached a finger out to ease back the baby blanket and get his first real look at his son. Pride swelled in his chest, a smile soaring through him.
His son was perfect. He had olive skin, eyes the color of Night’s grandfather North, and prominent features that announced his heritage.
Sky whimpered, his fists circling in agitation. “Shh, honey, it’s okay, Mommy’s here.” Tears shimmered in Holly’s eyes as she cooed and whispered nonsensical baby talk.
Then she leaned over and planted a kiss on the baby’s forehead. “I love you, sweetheart. Now, there’s somebody very important you need to meet.”
With tears in her eyes, Holly angled the baby to look up at him. “Schyler, this is your father. He’s come to take us home.”
Chapter Five
Holly’s stomach tightened as she placed her son in his father’s arms. During those long months of pregnancy, she’d lain in bed at night, so alone, dreaming about how different things might be if she and Night had been together. If he had loved her. But her father had convinced her that would not want to be burdened with her or their child.
Yet the undisguised love in his eyes as he cuddled Schyler against his big chest proved she had been wrong about the second part.
And she had been wrong to keep the baby from him, even if he wanted no part of her. No matter what her father said, no matter that when he had confronted Night about the two of them sleeping together, Night had claimed he’d only wanted sex from her, that he wanted nothing more to do with her, she had known in her heart it was wrong to keep a lie.
Only she had been afraid.
Afraid of her father’s wrath. Afraid of embarrassing the great Centennial family. Afraid of Night’s condemnation, that he might think she had purposely gotten pre
gnant to trick him into marriage.
And even more afraid that he might love the baby, but not her.
Shame filled her for being so selfish and immature.
Baby Sky needed his father. He deserved to know his roots, his heritage and the man who possessed her heart. Even if he had hurt her unbearably and made her want to close herself off from love forever.
Night gently rocked their baby back and forth in his arms, his husky voice murmuring words in his ancient language, words she didn’t understand but that seemed to soothe her son. Schyler turned his big, chocolate-brown eyes up to his father, studying Night’s face as if he sensed a deep-rooted connection. “When we get out of here, my son, I will tell you stories of our people. Stories of the Buffalo ceremony, of the Sacred Arrows, of the Crows.” Then for the first time in his life, or at least since Holly had been with him, Sky began to coo and babble. Precious little sounds that warmed her heart and brought a rare smile to Night’s lips.
“He understands that we are his parents,” Night said in a gruff tone.
“I…” Holly tucked the blanket around her son’s sock-clad feet. “I was so afraid he’d forget me.”
Night looked up at her for the first time since he had taken his baby in his arms. “As Sweet Medicine, the cultural hero of the Cheyenne tribe, once said, there is a special power about women. They are the bringers of life to the people and the teachers of the little children.” He paused, his dark eyes intense. “A little boy can never forget his mama.”
The sincerity of his words tugged at Holly’s already raw emotions. She had never heard him talk about his heritage. It was almost as if he were two different people. The tough, mysterious detective. The wise, powerful Native American.
She wanted to know more about both.
And although it pained her to admit it, she had to be honest. Seeing the stark resemblance between father and son cemented the realization. “He needs his father, too.”
His gaze locked with hers, his expression unreadable, a strained heartbeat of silence passing before he turned his attention back to their son.
Yes, it was obvious Night wanted his little boy, but not her. She only hoped that if they escaped and everyone survived, that Night wouldn’t try to take Schyler away from her. As a detective, he certainly had the power and means at his disposal. And if he disappear of the reservations in Colorado or Montana and enlisted his people to hide his baby, she’d never be able to find him.
A SON NEEDS HIS FATHER.
Night stared at his little boy’s sleeping form and fought the swell of emotions bombarding him. At least Holly had admitted that much. But would she remember her admission once they escaped and made it back to the Langworthy mansion? Would she stand up to the Langworthys if they protested letting Night be a part of his son’s life?
And what about Holly? Did she need him?
Or would she return to the arms of Carlton Sanders? Would she marry the up-and-coming politician and allow the man to be a father to Sky, then force Night to play the drop-in parent?
How exactly did she feel about Sanders?
He stemmed the onslaught of questions, refusing to travel that road. He was not getting involved with Holly again, not in any way except to coordinate visits to see Schyler. His reasons for thinking the two of them didn’t belong together hadn’t changed since he’d first met her, and he didn’t see any way they could change. She had used him much as Charity Carmichael had, then dismissed him when a richer guy came along. Not that Samuel Langworthy had beaten him to a pulp the way Mr. Carmichael had had his hired hands do, but his verbal threats had been just as menacing. Langworthy had threatened to disown Holly. He could never have torn her from the world she’d grown up in, denied her her parents and home. Even if Colleen had stood by Holly, it would devastate her to lose her father.
And eventually she might blame him.
You have a son now.
That son changed everything. He wasn’t alone in the world now.
But wasn’t he?
His son belonged to the Langworthys, carried their name…
“What do you think Dr. Grace is going to do to us?” Holly asked.
Night winced inwardly. He knew the answer, but the harsh reality might trigger panic.
“He’ll kill us, won’t he?”
He searched her face, but found courage in her determined green eyes, the trace of fear almost hidden. Admiration for the way she was handling the situation mounted in his chest.
“Probably, once he’s finished his testing and doesn’t need us anymore.”
She bit down on her lower lip. “What…about Sky?”
His expression softened. “I think he wants to see the long-term effects on our son.”
Relief surged out through her sigh. “So, he doesn’t plan to kill him?”
“I don’t think so.” He traced a finger over the baby’s foot. “But he will use him like a lab rat.”
Pain flickered in her eyes, but she jutted up her chin. “We have to stop him“I know.” He needed his lock pick, his gun. Thank goodness he’d hidden the backpack of supplies outside and he’d brought along formula and diapers. They’d need them on the long hike back to the jeep.
Holly wrapped her arms around her midriff, and he sensed she needed to hold the baby again, so he brushed his lips across the soft skin of his son’s cheek, then gently eased the bundle into her outstretched arms. The expression on her face transformed from fear to love in a second, the protective flare in her eyes so motherly that he reconfirmed his vow to see that mother and child escaped safely.
He paced across the room, examining the door, then the small adjoining room which housed a bathroom and a cot where the nurse had slept at night. “We need to formulate a plan.”
Holly nodded and sat down in the rocking chair, slowly rocking Sky back and forth. “I hope you have one in mind.”
“When Bertram or Grace returns, follow my lead. I’ll try to convince Grace to open up about the lab work, maybe show us around. When I see an opening, I’ll attack, then we’ll make a run for it.”
Holly raised Sky to her shoulder and patted his back. “You won’t take any chances that he’ll hurt Sky?”
Her question rankled him. How could she even ask? “Of course not. How did Grace get you here, Holly? Does he have a four-wheel drive hidden somewhere?”
Holly closed her eyes and tried to remember the details. “A helicopter, I think. I saw one flying over the Aspen cabin when I arrived, but thought it was one of those rescue ones. Anyway, when I arrived at the family cabin, I didn’t see any cars, so I thought no one was there. I was wrong.” She hesitated, remembering her fear. “Someone was hiding inside. I saw a shadow move and reached for my pistol, but a man jumped me. He put a chloroformed rag over my face. Before I passed out, I heard the helicopter again.”
Night scraped a hand through his hair, pulling it back into its leather thong. “He must have a hidden landing pad, but I didn’t see it when I approached.”
“How did you get here?”
“ICU dropped me outside Ouray. I took a jeep as far as I could, then hiked through the mountains. But if we could reach Grace’s helicopter, we could make a faster escape.”
“I have no idea where it’s kept. When I woke up, I was lying in that room where you found me.”
Night nodded. “Maybe we can get Grace to slip up and tell us.”
“Do the other agents know where we are?” Holly asked. “Are they looking for us?”
“I radioed the location, but it’ll take time.” At Holly’s imploring look, he realized it was time for more truths. “Holly, there are others searching for us. Actually, ICU is part of a larger, secret group called Colorado Confidential. They work for the government.” He hesitated. “I work for them now, using ICU as a cover. Your parents don’t even know about Colorado Confidential. They’re based on a ranch called the Royal Flush. I work as a horse trainer there as my cover.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s why I’t
find you.”
“Yes.” That and her father, but he didn’t want to hurt her by telling her that.
“But like Grace said, it’s hard to spot from the air, and they can’t land nearby. It might take days.”
Days they didn’t have. Days in which Grace might snap and kill them, or decide to experiment with another germ on one of them. One that might have side effects even worse than death….
She sighed, and he noticed the dark circles beneath her eyes, the way her limbs sagged with fatigue. She didn’t look strong enough to travel.
“You should probably get some sleep,” he said. “You’re going to need your rest if we’re forced to set out on foot.”
Holly glanced down at Sky and chewed on her lip. “He’ll be all right, Holly. But the stronger you are, the better chance we have of getting away and surviving. The elements can be brutal this time of year.”
“I don’t think I can sleep.” She stared at him for a long moment, the wariness in her eyes stealing her earlier bravado. “I just hate to let him go now. Even for a second.”
In spite of his resolve to remain unaffected by her, the catch in her voice twisted his insides. He braced himself against his own feelings. He would do whatever was necessary to free them. “Come on, it’s important you try. Our son is going to need you to be strong.”
His words seemed to convince her, and she relented, allowing him to help her stand. His throat closed as he watched her place Sky in the crib and cover him up. “There’s Bun-Bun, Sky.” She spotted the stuffed bunny in the corner and placed it close to Sky, then lingered for several seconds, staring at their baby.
He couldn’t help but reach out and touch her, stroke her back. “Thank you, Holly. You have given me a beautiful boy,” he said in a throaty voice.
She glanced up at him and smiled, though tears pooled in her eyes. “He is beautiful.”
Moved by her emotions, he led her to the cot and coaxed her to lie down.
“Go to sleep now. I’ll watch over our son.” For a brief second, he allowed himself to imagine that they were past this nightmare.