“You go crouch behind that chair, okay?” he whispered. “Promise me you’re going to do exactly what I say. Okay?”
Zander’s eyes went wide, and he nodded. Okay. There was another knock at the door. Then the door handle rattled.
“Zander?” Erica’s voice grew louder. “Are you okay? I need you to unlock the door for me, okay?”
Nick pressed himself up against the wall and slid back the lock. The door opened, and someone began to step through. He leaped, swiftly and smoothly, grabbing them by the arm, swinging them around, pushing them up against the wall and clamping a hand over their mouth. He slid the door closed with one hand and clicked the lock shut. Then he looked down into Erica’s face. Dark, beautiful, long-lashed eyes looked up at him over his hand.
“Mommy!” Zander darted out from behind the chair and threw his arms around his mother’s waist.
“Sorry,” Nick whispered, peeling his hand away from her mouth and stepping back an inch. “I couldn’t be sure it would be you or that you’d be alone.”
“Lou’s standing at the end of the hall,” she whispered. Her hand brushed over the back of their son’s head, but her eyes were locked on Nick’s face with a look that tugged at something far deeper inside him than he was ready to acknowledge. “About three feet away. Thankfully these cabins are pretty soundproof as long as nobody starts shouting.
“Mr. Grand divided us between three of the sleeper cabins and told Lou to shoot anybody who tried anything funny. He seems more exasperated by the situation than anything now and he’s really making things up on the fly. I talked them into letting me check on Zander and convinced them I’d have an easier time calming him down if he didn’t see any big men with guns. I think they underestimated just how much trouble having to watch a child that young would be. Also, I think I managed to convince them I wasn’t going to try anything foolish like jumping out onto the tracks. The longer this situation drags on, the harder it is on everyone, including them. And as far as Mr. Grand knows, I’ve been a perfectly cooperative hostage.”
Right, because Mr. Grand had no idea what she’d done to Orson’s nose and that her collapse in the rear engine had been a strategic fake out. Or that anybody who underestimated Erica Knight’s capabilities did so at their peril.
Including, apparently, him.
Her eyes were still holding his, searching his, as if she was looking for long-lost treasure behind his gaze. Then, suddenly, she threw her arm around him, buried her face in his chest and held on to him tightly with one arm while the other hand slid down to brush her son’s back.
“I’ve missed you so much,” she whispered into his neck. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you here.”
Nick felt his entire body recoil and stiffen. No, he couldn’t hug her back. He couldn’t wrap his arms around her, pull her into his chest and act like everything was all right.
“What happened to you? Last time I saw you, your motorcycle was crashing. How are you even here? Did you really drop from a helicopter onto a moving train?” Something like wonder or admiration swelled in her voice, accompanying that look that always made him feel like he was invincible, that he could do anything he set his mind to as long as she was by his side. No, he couldn’t let himself fall into that feeling again and let it sweep him under. Not now. Not knowing what he knew.
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “But in my defense, the train was going really slowly due to the storm. The tracks are under a few inches of water in places. Jacob and Max risked their lives to fly by in a helicopter and pick me up.” He pressed a hand against her shoulder and pushed her back a step. “That’s the thing about family. You can always count on family to be there for you.”
Had he meant to put as much bite as he did into the word family? Maybe. Her eyes widened. Emotions poured into their depths, flooding them with tears—fear, relief and the need to be forgiven.
Two words etched clearly in her gaze. You know.
He nodded.
The rap on the door was so hard and fast that the whole cabin seemed to shake.
“Hey!” Lou shouted. “What you doing in there? You got the kid?” The doorknob rattled. “Open the door!”
Erica swallowed hard. “I’ve just managed to get him calmed down. You tell Mr. Grand if I drag him out now, he’ll kick and scream.”
Zander nodded fervently as if to show just how willing he was to go along with the plan.
“What’s the problem?” A second voice came now. It was Mr. Grand’s.
“They’re too quiet and she’s locked the door. I want to check what’s going on in there.”
“I got Zander quiet and settled now,” Erica said. “I don’t want him flipping out again.” No answer. It was like the three of them collectively held their breath. “Please! It’s not like we’re going anywhere. You’ve got other things to worry about. And I don’t want my kid getting hurt because he’s getting underfoot and distracting you.”
There was a pause so long that, for a moment, Nick wondered if Mr. Grand had walked away. And, if so, where on earth could he have gone? Then he heard Mr. Grand say, “Look, it’s a just a woman and a little kid. They’re stuck in a room. It’s not like they’re going anywhere. And I’ve got way too much to deal with. Just keep an eye on the door. Tell me if it opens.”
Footsteps faded. He glanced through the gap in the door. Lou was standing at the entryway of the car. The hall was empty again.
What was that about? This wasn’t like any hijacking or kidnapping he’d ever heard of.
Nick untangled himself from where he was standing between Erica and Zander. “Come on. Let’s move away from the wall. The last thing we need is somebody trying to fire through it. I just wish the furniture wasn’t bolted to the floor so I could wedge something in front of the door.”
“They won’t,” she said, keeping her voice low. “Whatever’s going on with this heist, and whatever his plan is, I really don’t think Mr. Grand wants to hurt Zander.”
Erica shook her head and the scent of her seemed to fill his senses. Suddenly he was very aware of just how small their quarters were.
“That doesn’t mean he wouldn’t or that somebody else couldn’t,” he whispered. He couldn’t help the graveled tone of his voice.
Despite the anger and the hurt burning inside him, there was still some invisible cord tugging at him, reaching for him, pulling him into her. Like he was held in place by the dark, fathomless eyes of the only woman he’d ever got close to giving his heart to.
At the same time he could feel that old, familiar need to push away. Erica used to joke that every time he’d hugged her or complimented her, he’d always immediately deflect and step back. Well, now he had reason, didn’t he? They still hadn’t had the conversation. Not out loud. He still hadn’t asked the question and she hadn’t answered it. And now, despite how hard he’d fought and everything he’d gone through to get inside that train, part of him would’ve rather climb right back out the window and risk getting dashed to pieces by the tracks than ask her to confirm what he already knew and why she’d kept his son from him.
“What’s wrong?” Erica whispered.
“You know,” he said softly. “We’ve known each other too long to play games. Not about something like this.”
“I like games!” Zander’s voice perked up from the corner of the room.
Nick felt Erica’s hand grab his arm and clench. “Please,” she whispered, “not in front of Zander.”
He swallowed hard. And when were they supposed to talk about it? After they were free and rescued? What if that never happened? What if tonight was all they had? He closed his eyes. God, help me be the best possible man I can be right now.
He let out a long breath. Yeah, he should really check in with his brothers. He looked back at Erica. As he watched, a tear slipped from the corner of her eye. She didn’t even try to wipe it away. He
turned, pulled out the satellite phone.
“You got a spy phone?” Zander asked.
“And two guns,” Nick whispered. “One on my belt and one around my ankle. A Henry man is always prepared.” Though he couldn’t imagine how anything could have prepared him for this.
He turned the volume on the phone as low as it would go, then dialed.
“Hey, Nick!” Relief filled Jacob’s voice.
“Told you he wasn’t dead.” Max’s voice sounded in the distance with a laugh.
“What’s the good news?” Jacob asked. “You still clinging to the outside of the train?”
Like his brothers hadn’t been watching from a safe distance on infrared cameras or would’ve left him if they hadn’t known he was safe.
“Nope, I’m indoors,” he said quietly. “Actually, I’m with Erica and Zander right now in a sleeper cabin. Still on the train but completely secure for now.”
“Thank You, God,” he heard Jacob pray.
Then Max added, “Amen to that.”
“Sorry, I’ve got to whisper,” Nick said. “Hopefully you can hear me.”
“Everyone okay?” Jacob asked.
“Yup, all good.” Nick ran his hand over his jaw, trying to think about all the different definitions of good and deciding that “physically alive and currently not being shot at” was close enough.
“We’ve alerted the powers that be to the train’s location,” Jacob said. “They’re going to set up roadblocks about forty minutes northeast of where you are. Judging by radar, the train is still heading to Moosonee, just by a different route.”
Nick wasn’t sure what to make of that.
“Actually, can you do me a favor and talk to Zander right now?” Nick asked. “I’m sure he would love to tell you all about his adventures. Plus, we’re really short on both time and space right now. If he forgets, remind him we’re only using our whisper voices.” His eyes cut firmly to Erica’s face. “I’d like to have a quick word with his mom without him listening.”
* * *
Erica blinked hard and wiped her hands over her eyes. But the tears didn’t stop. She turned away before Zander could see. All this time, all these years, she’d felt too strong to cry. But the look of betrayal in Nick’s eyes when he’d realized Zander was his had broken something deep and central inside her core.
Nick, I’m so sorry. I don’t know what to say. But you’d left me. You’d hurt me. I didn’t know how to tell you. I didn’t know how to trust you.
She opened her mouth but no words came out. He wasn’t even looking at her. She watched as he said a few more words to his brother then crouched down and handed Zander the phone.
“Jacob and Max are my big brothers,” Nick said. He unrolled a pair of headphones from his pocket and plugged them into the phone. “Jacob’s a police detective and Max is a paramedic. He flies a helicopter. You can talk to them like a regular phone and listen to them in the headphones, okay?”
Not that Zander needed much of an explanation or convincing. He scrambled onto the sleeper chair in the corner and pressed the headphones to his ears. “Hi! This is Zander Knight! Over!”
Nick stood there for a long moment, just looking at their son curled up happily on the chair, giggling at whatever Nick’s brother was saying. Then Nick straightened and turned toward her, his full gaze falling upon her face. She stepped into the corner of the sleeper cabin, as far away from Zander as possible. Nick stepped closer until his toes were almost brushing against hers.
“You should have told me,” he whispered.
“I know.” Fresh tears escaped her eyes. Nick just stood there and watched them. “Tommy said he’d told you.”
“When? Years ago? And you believed him?”
“I was pregnant! You were gone! My whole life was thrown into chaos.”
“How about today?” he asked. “When we were trapped in the baggage car? When we were alone in the back engine? When I almost fell to my knees, apologized for just how badly I’d failed you, told you how sorry I was and begged you to forgive me?”
“You didn’t fall to your knees—”
“You have no idea how hard it was for me to stay standing!”
He shook his head and blew out a long breath. But if he was angry, she couldn’t tell how much of it was aimed at her and how much at him. His eyes fixed on her face and a look moved through them that was so raw and vulnerable it wrenched something inside her. How had she ever convinced herself she didn’t care for this man? It was like every beat of her heart moved in and out in time to his breath.
I like you. I care about you. I want you to be Zander’s father. And in my life, too. In my heart and mind, there’s only ever been you.
Her hand brushed his arm. “Nick, I was wrong. I’m sorry. I never felt like you cared enough to take a hit for me. I always felt like I was some add-on to your life. I didn’t think you’d want to be there for a child. But we can’t change the past. We’re here now. We’re together. Let’s just forgive each other and move on somehow.”
Had he been willing to take a hit for her? Maybe not. But that didn’t justify what she’d done. It didn’t justify keeping his son from him. He looked at the ceiling. Then he pulled away.
“You didn’t tell me because you didn’t trust me,” he said. “You don’t know who I am now. And I don’t know you, either. It’s as simple as that. Let’s just shelve this whole conversation for now and move on.”
“But—”
“We don’t have time.” He crossed his arms then glanced to where Zander was curled in the corner happily explaining every moment of his adventure in great detail to Nick’s, no doubt bemused, brothers. “Tell me everything you know quickly.”
“Nick—”
“Here’s what I know.” He stepped back. “The back half of the train has been secured. There’s a rescue operation under way to locate them and find the stranded crew. They’re scrambling a team about forty minutes down the tracks ahead of us to try to force the train to stop. It’s my goal to keep you and Zander safe before the situation escalates. Now, get me up to speed.”
She blinked hard. Her chin rose. Fine, if that was the way he wanted it to be.
“I think there are six other people on this train besides the three of us.” Her stance mirrored his. “Tommy is in a sleeper cabin across from us. He’s being held hostage but not injured. Julie is trying to hack into the stolen laptop. I’m pretty sure her brother, Rowan, is in the front engine with Bob, who’s still driving the train—but I haven’t got eyes on them. Lou is waving the gun around. Mr. Grand is really frazzled. I don’t think he has an endgame.”
Nick blinked. “Explain.”
“Clark apparently told Tommy that he was working with a whistle-blower within North Jewels’s mining to expose hidden offshore bank accounts and smuggled diamond routes. Clark was going to use it to take down your brother’s investigation. Mr. Grand is trying to get Julie to hack the information and make a copy of it before they turn the laptop over to whoever hired them.” Nick whistled under his breath. “But Mr. Grand’s had Julie searching the laptop for over an hour with a gun to her head and she’s found nothing.”
“Yeah, that tracks.” Nick sighed. “Trent had originally been tagged to go undercover on that operation when he and Chloe realized they’d wanted something very different for their future. Instead, Trent had taken a promotion and been part of the team that’d overseen it from headquarters. Obviously, I don’t know all the details, but I don’t believe the investigation was faulty. I trust my brother. Frankly this whole offshore accounts and foreign smugglers thing is ludicrous. But the idea that Clark thought he was getting a laptop with that kind of information from a whistle-blower, and that somebody tried to intercept it, fits what we know.”
“So, if you think the laptop doesn’t contain evidence of offshore accounts and hidden diamonds, then
you think Julie and Mr. Grand are searching it for nothing?” Erica asked.
“Huh. Now, that’s a thought.”
“In which case, Clark was played,” she said. “But if he was played, then so was whoever hired Mr. Grand to steal the laptop.”
“I still don’t think Clark’s murder was random,” he said. “You said Mr. Grand is frazzled?”
“Yeah. I don’t know what he was expecting to happen, but it definitely wasn’t how things have gone.”
The floor seemed to shift beneath them. The train had slowed even more and was now going uphill.
“Why was the train separated?” he asked.
“That I don’t know.”
“Why did it change route?”
What? “I didn’t know it had!” Her mind scrambled. Changing course meant physically switching the tracks. The only time they stopped long enough for that was to let the crew out. “Someone must’ve jumped out of the engine and switched the tracks. We just didn’t catch it on camera. Where are we headed now?”
“Moosonee still.” Nick held a hand up as if to reassure her. “Don’t worry. The authorities know where we are. We’re just taking slightly different tracks.”
Different tracks? Like all tracks were the same. She glanced at the window and saw nothing but darkness. “What was the ground like?”
“I don’t know. It’s wet.”
“How wet? Are the tracks under water? Are there high rocks on either side?”
“Yeah.” He nodded.
“Bob should know better!” She ran her hand through her hair. “There’s a faster route to Moosonee that will cut almost an hour off the trip. But it’s also almost never used because the tracks are older, the terrain is more treacherous and it means crossing a lot of older railway bridges, some of which aren’t in the best shape. The river’s prone to overflowing its banks, which is bad news for older bridges.”
Rescuing His Secret Child Page 13