High-Stakes Holiday Reunion

by Christy Barritt

  She nodded slowly, raw emotion lining her eyes. She pulled the white, wool coat around her more tightly as the wind picked up again, sweeping dry leaves across the porch. The sound tightened his nerves.

  “Christopher.”

  Instinctively, he stepped closer. He’d both dreamed and had nightmares about this moment for so long. During those dark moments on the battlefield, he’d wondered what it would be like to see Ashley again.

  And never had he imagined it like this. Not him with a gun in his hand and her with a look of absolute vulnerability straining each of her lovely features. No, in his moments when he’d faced death, he’d imagined Ashley forgiving him, smiling, picking up where they’d left off. He knew that would never happen. Even if there weren’t any hard feelings between them, Christopher knew he was too broken and damaged to be in a relationship right now.

  He remembered their last conversation and paused, unsure how to greet her. Not with a hug. Not with the way things had ended. A handshake seemed too formal when considering their past relationship. Instead, he settled for putting his gun away and making an effort to relax his shoulders.

  He and Ashley had met at a mutual friend’s house on New Year’s Eve more than a decade ago, and it had been a textbook case of love at first sight. Not only had he instantly thought she was beautiful, but her smile, her love for life, her hope for the future had hooked him. She’d pulled him out of the shell he easily sucked himself into—most people didn’t see it because he’d hidden it well with easygoing small talk. But Ashley had always seen right through him. She had a way about her that made him open up.

  Their two years together were filled with easy, effortless moments. Relationships like that didn’t happen often. Six months before the wedding, he’d called things off.

  Ashley brushed a hair out of her face and licked her lips. Her eyes implored him. “I’m sorry to show up here, but I didn’t know where else to go.” Her voice sounded tight and strained.

  He reached toward her, compassion and concern pounding through his veins, but his hand dropped midway. “Are you okay?”

  She hesitated and then shook her head. Those wide, pleading eyes met his again. “I need your help.”

  He stared at her another moment, thoughts and emotions colliding inside him. His help? What could he possibly help her with? Whatever it was, his gut told him it was serious. “Let’s go inside. Get you out of the cold.”

  As she stepped closer, Christopher wanted to soak her in, to absorb all the changes in her over the past several years. But he couldn’t do that. It was no longer his right.

  He unlocked the door, noticing that she was shivering uncontrollably. From the cold? Or from something deeper?

  He flipped the light on in the entryway and dust bunnies floated across the wooden floor. Perhaps he’d neglected housekeeping more than he should have. He offered an apologetic grin. “I wasn’t expecting to see you. I would have straightened up some.”

  She stepped inside, her face grim with...sorrow? Fear? Grief? His grin slipped. With a hand on her back, he led her into the living room where boxes still waited along the walls for him to unpack.

  She shivered again. “Believe me. I wasn’t expecting to be here. I only came here because I was desperate.”

  The brutal honesty of her words stung. She’d made it clear when they last talked that she never wanted to see him again. Christopher couldn’t blame her. Things had ended badly. He’d made the best decision possible at the time. But in hindsight, he’d wondered if it was the worst decision ever.

  He didn’t have time to think about what could have been now. Instead, he led her to the couch, one that had been left here by his grandfather. This was probably the same sofa that had been here back when he and Ashley were dating, when they used to come over and play dominoes with his granddad. “Have a seat.”

  She lowered herself and folded her arms across her chest. Her legs were crossed at the ankles, and trembles still claimed her muscles. Her gaze pulled on his. “I’m in trouble, Christopher. I didn’t know where else to go.”

  His jaw flexed under the weight of her words, but he nodded. “Go on.”

  “My brother and nephew have been kidnapped, and you’re the only one who can help.”

  TWO

  Ashley swallowed hard as she watched Christopher blink and tilt his head. It would take anyone some time to comprehend her words. She was still having a hard time comprehending them.

  “Say that again?” His voice held a touch of disbelief and confusion.

  She shook her head, emotion tightening her muscles. “Listen, I know it’s a lot to take in. I’m still trying to take it all in. It just seems like a nightmare, but it’s not.” She closed her eyes, wishing this was all just a bad dream and that she’d wake up to find everyone safe and sound. Things like this didn’t happen to ordinary people like Ashley. Only it had happened.

  Christopher shifted in his seat and leaned toward her, his full attention on her. He’d always been such a good listener. At one time, it had been one of the many qualities she’d loved about him. Their breakup had devastated her, though. Now almost every memory of him caused hurt instead of joy. Those hurts had been compounding for nearly a decade. Only desperation would lead her back here.

  “Why don’t you start from the beginning?” Christopher urged.

  She sucked in a deep breath before recounting the story, detail by detail. Christopher listened quietly, nodding on occasion. He murmured words of encouragement as he tried to grasp her story.

  “You jumped on the back of a bakery truck to escape?” He squinted.

  She nodded, knowing how crazy she sounded. It was amazing the things a person did while fighting to survive. She’d been there before—emotionally, at least. “I jumped off at the next stop.”

  “And how’d you end up here?”

  “I ran into Karina about a month ago at the grocery store, and she told me that you were back in town.” Karina was married to a SEAL and remained a distant but mutual friend. “I used my cell phone to find Karina’s number and asked if she knew where you were living now. She said at your granddad’s old place. I snuck off the truck, called a taxi and now I’m here.”

  He stared at her a moment, an unreadable expression on his face. “Ashley, if you don’t mind me asking, why here? Why me?”

  How could she tell him the truth about how Josh and David’s disappearance affected him also? She couldn’t. Not yet. She’d only tell him the secret she’d been carrying with her for years as a last, desperate measure.

  For so long, she’d been bitter about Christopher walking out of her life. Now here she was, basically at his mercy. Where did she even start?

  She held her hands in the air to show her confusion. The action also showed her surrender. She’d basically raised her white flag when she arrived here, an unspoken agreement to put the past behind them. But could she really do that? She let out her breath slowly. “I don’t know where else to go. I can’t go to the police. I think these men would kill Josh and David if I did.” She glanced at her hands, now in her lap. “I thought maybe you could help.”

  Christopher leaned forward. He’d aged since Ashley had last seen him. He used to have the boy-next-door look about him. He’d been all-American with his tousled blond hair, easy smile and friendly green eyes. What had changed besides the fact that he was beefier now, more man and less boy? He was still chiseled and defined. He carried himself with his head raised high and his eyes wide and alert. He was confident, capable and tough.

  But right now, whenever he looked at her, a strange emotion loomed in the depths of his eyes. Weariness? Hardness? Apathy? She didn’t know.

  “Why would someone abduct your brother and his little boy, Ashley? That’s what doesn’t make any sense to me.”

  She shook her head, grief clutching her h
eart again as their parting images filled her mind. “I don’t know. Josh had been working on some big projects for his company. He never told me any details, though, as to what exactly he was doing.”

  He shifted but kept his gaze on her. “He’s some kind of computer genius, right?”

  She nodded. “He’s absolutely brilliant when it comes to anything to do with technology. There’s nothing he can’t do.”

  He rubbed his hands on his jeans and shook his head. “How about his wife? Have you talked to her? Does she know about any of this?”

  “She died three years ago. Cancer.” Her heart panged as she said the words aloud.

  “I’m sorry, Ashley. You said they had a son? I knew they’d been trying.”

  Ashley’s throat burned as she nodded. She remembered all of the Sunday brunches Christopher had shared with her family. He’d seemed to fit right in. That part of her life seemed so long ago. So much had changed since then. “David. He’s eight, and he’s a wonderful little boy.” Her voice caught. “I’m so worried about him, Christopher.”

  Christopher stood and ran a hand over his face. “I’m not an expert at tracking down missing persons, Ashley. Terrorists, maybe. But this...I want to help. I really do. I just...”

  “Please, Christopher. I don’t know where else to go.” She looked up at him, hoping her eyes conveyed her desperation. She would have never come to him unless she was desperate. He had to know that.

  He was silent a moment before nodding. “Let me call some of my friends at Eyes. Maybe they can—”

  “Eyes?”

  He nodded. “They’re a private security contracting firm.”

  “I’ve heard murmurs about them in the area. I didn’t realize you worked for them now. Karina just said that you were a contractor for the Department of Defense.”

  “That’s right. I’m a training specialist. It’s a nice change from what I was doing. I’m sure someone there can help us. The men who run the operation have connections...well, everywhere. Local law enforcement, FBI, CIA, you name it.”

  “That sounds perfect. Thank you.” A touch of hope filled her for the first time since all of this had happened.

  He pointed outside. “In the meantime, the apartment over the garage isn’t much, but you can stay there tonight, if you want.”

  She shook her head harder than intended and started to rise. “I can’t even think about sleeping. I need to go find them, Christopher. Now. Don’t you understand?”

  His hand covered her arm, and he pulled her back down onto the sofa. “Ashley, I know you want to go out there and search, but we have no idea where to even look. We need a plan. We at least need a clue. If we go out there right now, all we’ll be doing is driving around in circles. It’s best if we get a good night’s rest and start fresh tomorrow morning.”

  The truth of his words washed over her. It wasn’t what she wanted to hear, but he did make sense. If they left tonight, where would they go? What exactly would they do? She had no idea.

  Finally, she nodded. “You’re right. I can call a taxi, though. Go to a hotel for the night.”

  “Don’t be silly. You should stay close, just in case.”

  Just in case what? Her throat burned, but the question wouldn’t leave her lips. Instead, she said, “Okay. I hate to impose, but I don’t have a lot of choices right now.”

  Her cell phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw that she had a text message.

  Tell anyone and the boy dies

  She gasped and dropped the phone. They wouldn’t really hurt little David, would they? She squeezed the skin between her eyes and began praying.

  * * *

  “What is it?” Christopher leaned down and picked up the phone. The words he read there made his blood go cold. He glanced up at Ashley and saw that her face was deathly pale. The woman looked as if she were on the brink of a breakdown. Who wouldn’t be, in her shoes? Two of the people she loved most in the world had been snatched right in front of her, and she was sure to feel helpless about what to do.

  A tear trickled down her face. She looked so alone with her arms pulled across her chest. Christopher put her phone on the table and impulsively pulled her into his arms in a feeble attempt to offer comfort.

  She stiffened in his embrace. Bad idea, he realized. Really bad idea.

  He released her, his throat tight with emotion. “I’m sorry, Ashley.”

  She sighed. “I am, too.”

  The way she said the words made him wonder about their meaning. What was she sorry about? That he was the only one who could help her?

  Her eyes met his, and he could see the emotions pulling at her.

  “I didn’t come back to rekindle a romance, Christopher,” she whispered. “You know that. Right?”

  He nodded, picking up on the compassion and sensitivity in her words. “Of course.”

  Part of him had never forgotten about Ashley, but he knew she wouldn’t forgive him for calling off their engagement. It was just as well that way. At least their rift would help them both keep their distance.

  He pointed toward the back door, ready to end this conversation. “How about if I show you upstairs?”

  Maybe some time away from each other would be just what they both needed. Put them in the same room for ten minutes and fireworks had begun exploding—and not the good kind of fireworks, either.

  He grabbed some sheets and blankets before they stepped out the back door. Darkness surrounded them. Christopher reached back inside to flip on a small light, but nothing happened. “Must be burned out,” he muttered. “Just watch your step.”

  The full force of winter was evident in the dried leaves along the wooden floorboards beneath them and the skeletal outline of trees in the distance. The entire back side of the house faced the beautiful and massive James River. The grass faded into marshland and then into glimmering blue water—when you could see it during the daytime hours, at least. Tonight, all that was visible was the blackness.

  “Follow me.” Christopher led her up a flight of wooden stairs, pulled out some keys and unlocked the door just as another breeze swept over the area. “I heard we might get some snow,” he muttered, pushing the door open. Their conversation somehow seemed awkward, like they were strangers trying to fill the silence.

  “Yeah, I heard that, too. It’s been a while since we’ve had a good snowstorm in this area.” Her cheeks flushed as she said the words.

  Christopher remembered a snowstorm they’d had here nine years ago. He and Ashley had spent the whole weekend huddled inside together by the fire and talking about forever. They’d talked about marriage and children and how they were going to celebrate their 25th anniversary. Too many memories for his comfort.

  They stepped into the apartment, which was located over a detached garage. He tried the light switch, but again, nothing happened. “Must be a breaker. I’ll check on it in a second. Let me just put these sheets down.”

  As he placed the sheets on the bed in the darkened room, his gaze scanned the place quickly. He’d only been up here once since he’d been back, but the place appeared untouched. He turned back toward Ashley, who stood uncomfortably in the center of the room, her arms wrapped around herself again. His gaze latched on to her a moment. Was it even possible that she was more beautiful than before? She’d filled out more, but the extra weight looked good on her. She looked more naturally beautiful with only a little makeup on and her hair straight and long—fuss-free, if he had to guess.

  She looked up at him, the strain in her eyes obvious. “I know this is awkward, and I’m sorry about that. I’ll repay you for your help. I don’t know how, but I will.”

  How did Christopher tell her that he was the one who needed to repay her for all of the heartache he’d caused? He bit down on his lip. He couldn’t.

 
All he could do was to help her find her brother and nephew.

  * * *

  As much as Ashley resented the man in front of her, God had been trying to teach her a lesson in forgiveness lately. Yet she’d kept holding on. Now she would have no choice but to face her feelings of resentment and abandonment head-on.

  Christopher stepped closer, the raw look in his eyes making her throat go dry. She wondered what had changed in him over the past several years since she’d seen him last. “I’m glad you came to me, Ashley. I want to help.”

  Nothing will ever make up for your choosing your career over me. She didn’t say the words aloud. Instead, she reached for the sheets on the bed. “I’ll be fine. If you don’t mind hitting the breaker, I can take care of the rest in here.”

  He continued staring until finally he stepped back and nodded, his hands on his hips. “Good night, Ashley.”

  She hugged the sheets to her. “Good night, Christopher.”

  He took a step toward the door when gunfire exploded outside.

  “Get down!” Christopher threw her to the floor, covering her body with his.

  Her heart pounded louder than a drum in her ears as prickly fear took hold of her. What was going on? Had those men found her?

  Her gaze skittered across the room. They had to hide—but where? There was only this room, a closet and a small bathroom. There was no other escape except the door they’d entered through, and stepping outside now would make them open targets.