by Amy Gamet
Dammit. What was she going to do now?
She pulled out her cell phone, wishing she still had the numbers for the HERO Force guys in her contacts. Fortunately, she still remembered the number for headquarters.
"I need to speak to Leo Wilson please. It's an emergency."
"Who's calling?"
"This is Jessa McConnell. Ralph McConnell's widow."
"I'm very sorry, Ms. McConnell, but you are not on the priority call list. I'm afraid I can't put you through."
Frustration and fear had Jessa clenching her fists. "You listen to me. I'm at the hospital where Jax Andersson is recovering, I've got a seriously bad dude trying to kill me, one man I love has already died for you people, and I'm pregnant with the baby of another one. Now you better damn well put me through to Cowboy this instant!"
Silence hung on the line between them. "Hang on, transferring you now."
Jessa was nearly back to the elevator and pressed the button as she listened to Cowboy's phone ring in her ear.
"Leo Wilson."
"Cowboy! It's Jessa. Where are you guys?" The elevator doors opened and she got on with a small crowd of people.
"Logan here ain't never tried fajitas, so we stopped by Sexy Hombre's for a skillet."
That restaurant was at least a quarter mile away. "I need you back here now. I know who's after me. It's all in the book. I figured it out, but now I don't know what the hell to do. Jax is still out cold and the bad guy lawyer is due back here any minute." She was aware of the curious glances she was receiving from other people in the elevator and turned her back to them.
"Go to the lobby," said Cowboy. "Stay where there are a lot of people. We’re on our way."
"Hurry, Leo. Please." She disconnected the call and turned back around. Her eye caught that of Fred Bach standing in the very back of the elevator, and her heart leapt in her chest. He was staring at her like a predator stared at its prey, and she knew he'd heard every word.
The elevator doors opened and two construction workers got on, further crowding the already packed space. Jax’s room was on the top floor of the hospital. If she did nothing, the crowd would thin until the only people remaining in the car were her and the lawyer, the man who wanted her dead.
Just as the doors were closing, she dashed between them and out of the car. From the corner of her eye she could see the lawyer making a move, heard him say, “Excuse me," but it was too late. The elevator doors closed behind her and she looked around at what was clearly a construction zone.
She began a desperate search for escape. There had to be a staircase, another way out of the building, but everything was covered in giant sheets of plastic, an eerie green glow the only light on the floor.
She pushed at door after door looking for an exit. "Is anyone here? Please, somebody help me!"
The sound of plastic rustling in the distance stopped her cold. The hair on the back of her neck went up. She wasn't alone. She couldn’t head back to the elevator — that's where the noise came from. She could only go forward like a rat nearing the end of a maze.
A voice called out behind her. "I'm not going to hurt you, Maria. I just want the book. That's all."
Jessa was aware of the tap of her tennis shoes on the floor. She slipped them off and continued on in her socks. Even her breath was too loud. She pushed at this door and that, nearing the end of the hallway.
The very last door had two strips of yellow hazard tape across it, and it opened wide as she pushed it. Even though she was being careful, she nearly fell into the stairwell shaft. But the stairs were chipped out, their concrete and most of the steel supports missing, with only a few bars to hold the structure in place.
"The book has no value to you, Maria. It is only important to me. We can make a deal."
Jessa squeezed her eyes closed, swallowed against the knot in her throat. "What are you offering?" she asked. She was aware as she said the words they might be the last to escape her. If he had a gun, she would surely die here today. She reached up and pulled the hazard tape off the door.
Bach rounded the corner at the end of the hallway with a shuffle of plastic sheeting. They faced each other.
“Ten thousand dollars," he said. "An amount like that can change your life." He walked toward her, the click of his shoes ticking off the seconds until he reached her.
"I think one eighth of your law firm is worth a hell of a lot more than that. Don't you?"
He smiled affably. "What are you talking about?"
"It's all right here." She held up the book. "Señora Cortez's child was the son of Reggie Moore. Your grandfather, I assume?"
He didn't answer.
"Mine, too, it would seem."
"It's a simple story. It holds no legal weight." He took a step toward her. “Peter Hopewell can attest to its fiction.”
“Peter Hopewell?”
“The heir of Harold Hopewell’s estate.”
She backed up, close now to the empty stairwell. "What did that cost you, Bach? Did you even consider that a simple DNA test will show you and I are cousins?”
In three quick steps, he closed the distance between them. "Not if you're not around to take it."
Before she knew what he was about, his hands were around her neck, squeezing. She dropped the book. Hours of self-defense lessons with her husband came back to her in an instant. Clasping her hands together, she pushed them high through the circle made by her attacker’s arms, forcing his hands from her neck.
He grabbed her around her middle and kneed her in the belly, vicious pain robbing her of her breath before he hit her on the back of her neck, taking her down. Her mind screamed for her baby, begging her to protect her little one at all costs.
She rolled up like a pill bug, hugging her knees to her chest, and he kicked her in the back. Her defensive position didn't allow her to fight back. All she could think about was the stairwell.
She inched toward it.
"Where the hell do you think you're going?"
"Let me go. I won't tell anyone about the book."
He laughed. "Too late for that now.” He kicked her again. "Get up."
If he was going to kill her, she had no reason to comply.
Protect your baby.
Keep this child safe.
She inched closer to the door. The book was only a foot away, and she reached for it.
He stepped on her hand and she cried out.
"Reading time is over," he said.
"You can't stand to see it in print, can you? Reggie Moore's illegitimate child screwing you over to this day."
He took his foot off her hand and squatted down beside her. "Not for long, Cortez. Your family should've stayed in the kitchen where they belonged." He stood back up, and she once again reached for the book. He kicked it away.
Jessa stared at it. It was mere inches from the door to the empty stairwell. She got up on her hands and knees and crawled toward it.
"You don't listen very well, do you?" He kicked her in her ribs, an audible crack making her wince as she gasped in pain.
She had no weapons. No way to defend herself.
Nothing except the empty stairwell.
She continued to crawl. When she was four feet away, he began to laugh.
She crawled, the pain of her broken rib stabbing her in the side with every movement of her torso.
He stepped in front of her and bent down to pick up the book. She lunged for him, forcing her body upright and driving him into the doorway like a football player.
He fell sideways and cursed, working to get his balance before he realized what she had done. His scream echoed in the stairwell until he landed with a disturbing crack.
Jessa fell back to the ground, curling back into her ball, nothing but pain surrounding her, and waited for Cowboy and Logan to discover her location.
38
Jax stood in the hallway of the maternity ward, his eyes fixed on Jessa through the open doorway to her hospital room. He should've been there, dammit. He'd put
her in harm’s way without even realizing it. She might even have died.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Andersson," said the doctor, some young medical student who'd done his best to explain placental abruption. In the end, all that mattered was they were losing the baby.
Cowboy thanked the doctor for the information, but Jax didn't have any words.
He walked into her room and sat down beside the bed. The machine was beeping and he stared at it, not comprehending for a moment. Two heartbeats. Hers and the baby's.
Jesus.
Were they just supposed to sit here and listen to it die?
Jessa opened her eyes and reached for his hand. He held it in his own, his thumb gently rubbing her skin. "What did the doctor say?" she asked.
"He said you need to get your sleep."
"The baby, Jax. How is the baby doing?"
His eyes locked with hers, the horrible truth needing no words to be conveyed.
"He's wrong, Jax! I can feel the baby kicking. Our baby is alive."
He nodded, tears falling onto his cheeks as he moved his head. "Yes. But the placenta is coming off the uterine wall. He said there's a chance it might stop, but in all likelihood—"
"I'm going to lose the baby." Her eyes glistened, but she did not cry. She moved over. "Come and lie next to me. Just be careful of my ribs.” She lifted the covers for him to climb in beside her, and Jax knew he had never experienced such great happiness or sorrow.
She settled her head in the crook of his arm and placed his hand on her stomach beneath her hospital gown.
His tears were coming freely now, rolling down his cheeks and into her hair. He kissed her forehead. A tiny movement beneath his hand made him jump.
"You felt that?" she asked.
"Yes."
"She's a fighter, our daughter. Don't count her out just yet."
Their daughter. Their little girl. It was too much to image she might die, and he felt a renewed sympathy for losses Jessa had already sustained.
Please, God, let us keep this baby.
Jax fell asleep in Jessa's bed, listening to the monitor beat in time to their daughter's heart and wondering if he’d ever have the chance to hold her in his arms.
39
Jax stood at the window of Jessa’s darkened hospital room, staring at the lights of the city below, a stray tear falling down his cheek. The irony of the moment wasn’t lost on him, the slowing of his daughter’s heartbeat at the very moment he realized two very important things.
He would be a good father, capable of showing emotion, and he loved his child’s mother with all his heart.
He didn’t deserve either one of them, but for this moment in time, they were here. He turned around and stared at Jessa sleeping in the bed, her pregnancy hidden by the bedcovers. But there was a baby inside her—he’d felt her kick—and it was a child they had made together. For his part, that baby came from love.
Moving to the chair beside her bed, he sat down and rested his head on the cold metal bed rail. “I love you, Jessa,” he whispered, knowing it had always been true and not even her deception could take that away.
“And I love you, baby.”
The monitor that was beeping over his head beat quickly twice. Jax’s head shot up and he stared at the screen, the little double heartbeat now a scratch on the screen. And in that silly moment that didn’t mean anything, Jax knew deep in his heart that their baby would be okay.
The tears that had been dribbling from his eyes welled up freely, spilling over as joy coursed through him. He reached for Jessa’s hand, clenching it tightly. She’d never doubted, not for a moment.
“Everything’s going to be okay,” he said.
Thank you.
An image appeared in his mind. He was holding his tiny baby girl in his arms with Jessa by his side, resting her head on his shoulder.
He exhaled a shuddering breath. “Everything’s going to be okay.”
40
Jax rounded the corner into Jessa’s hospital room, a bouquet of bright flowers in his hand. She was standing at the window, fully dressed, her bag closed on the bed.
“Good morning. Are you two ready to go?”
She grinned at him and nodded, a hand pressed to her stomach. “More than ready.”
She’d been in the hospital almost a week with doctors making sure the baby was stable before they allowed Jessa to get up and walk around.
Jax had been here the better part of every day.
Rooting for their baby to survive had brought them closer together. They played stupid games and watched Jeopardy on TV. Jax liked it, and he’d already made up his mind he didn’t want any of it to end.
He handed her the flowers. “For you.”
“Thank you.” She sniffed the blossoms and smiled.
“I’ve been thinking, maybe you should move in with me,” he blurted.
“What?”
“This week here with you. I’ve enjoyed it.”
“I’m not sure that’s enough of a reason to move in together.”
“I can think of more.”
“I like you, Jax.” She looked at the floor then met his eyes. “A lot. But I barely survived my first experience with HERO Force. I can’t go back to living like that. Waiting for you to come home and always fearing the worst.”
“So expect the best, not the worst. I love what I do, and I’m good at it. HERO Force is making a difference in this world. A positive difference.”
“Then do it, Jax. But don’t expect me to keep the home fires burning, because I can’t do it. Not again.”
Jax stared at her long and hard. “Even if I love you?”
She raised her chin.
“Even if you’ve made me happier in weeks than I’ve been all my life?” he asked. “I meant what I said that first night you stayed in my bed. My life is better now— with you and the baby— than it’s ever been before.”
“HERO Force is a deal breaker for me, Jax. I’m sorry. I care about you so much, but I just can’t do it.”
“This isn’t the kind of love you can keep at arm’s length, Jessa.” He wasn’t used to expressing his feelings, wasn’t used to putting something so personal into words. “It’s the kind of love that swallows you up whole and will change everything in your life if you let it.”
She took his hand. “Will you let it, Jax? Will you let it change your whole life?”
She was asking about HERO Force. If he would give it up for her. The thought made him crazy, but so did the idea of losing her. He didn’t see how he could live without either one of them.
He brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of it, aware of just how much he had to lose. “It’s not an easy thing to do, what you’re asking.”
“I know.”
He nodded, unable to tell her what she wanted to hear but equally unable to deny her request. “Don’t give up on me yet, Jessa.”
“I’m having your baby. I’m not going anywhere.” She shrugged her shoulder. “Anymore, that is.”
41
SIX MONTHS LATER
Cowboy walked in Jax’s office. "What's up, chief?"
"We got a call from a liaison for the British monarchy. It seems Princess Violet is getting married to a member of the French National Assembly next week, and she’s adamantly refusing to bring her security detail on the honeymoon. They've asked for someone from HERO Force to travel along on the same cruise, keeping an eye on the royal couple, preferably without their knowledge.”
Cowboy furrowed his brow. "Maybe I'm behind on the tabloid gossip, but I've never even heard of Princess Violet."
"Daughter of Prince Bertram, sixth in line to the British throne."
"Ah. So, like the Beverly Hillbillies of the monarchy."
"That's exactly right." Jax laughed. "I figured you wouldn't mind a working cruise through the Caribbean."
Cowboy leaned back in his chair. "I think I might be able to squeeze it in my schedule."
Jax stood and grabbed his jacket. "Hav
e Logan set you up with the reservation and whatever you'll need for surveillance and possible defense."
"Expecting any trouble?"
"Nope." He walked to the door. "I'm on my way to the doctor." He smiled widely. "Jessa’s got another ultrasound today."
"You guys ever find out the sex?"
"No. Jessa's convinced it’s a girl. I'd be happy either way." He took his keys from a hook on the wall. "Oh, and one more thing. The cruise is for couples only."
Cowboy grinned wickedly. "I think I might be able to find a lady to accompany me."
"Have Logan get somebody from the Academy. Just in case."
Cowboy nodded. "Will do."
"Leo, I've been thinking about bringing some women on full-time. Maybe another SEAL, too. Jessa's really digging in her heels about me spending so much time with HERO Force.”
“Still won’t marry you, huh?”
He shook his head. “Swears she’ll never marry another guy from the team."
"Do you believe her?"
"I think if I cut back my hours, maybe promote a worthy member of the force and hire some new blood, she just might let me slide." He checked his phone. "I've gotta run."
Cowboy stood up. "I'm pretty worthy, you know."
Jax laughed. "Do a good job in the Caribbean. We'll talk when you get back.”
42
"What the hell do you care if I go out with him or not?" asked Charlotte.
Logan held his head in his hands. "Do you have any idea what this job means to me? Cowboy is like my boss—"
"I thought Jax was your boss."
"Well, yes, technically. But Cowboy is more senior than me, and he's the unofficial leader of the team. If you go out with him, I'm fucked."
She frowned, her fuchsia lipstick accentuating the downward turn of her mouth. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"All of your relationships end badly."
"Of course they do, idiot. If they didn't end badly, they wouldn't end."
Logan took a laptop and several files out of his briefcase. "Tell me you're messing with me, that you're just pretending you don't understand why this is a problem. Because if you're being sincere, I don't even know how to explain it to you."