Liam pushed his way through Denver traffic, heading north as instructed. Maldin had insisted he drive but made it clear if he did anything to get someone’s attention, he wouldn’t hesitate to make him pay. And with the man’s nerves clearly strung tight, Liam had decided to simply follow directions and wait for an opportunity when he could put an end to all of this without the risk of someone getting hurt. Besides, all that really mattered right now was that Gabby and Mia were safe. That had been his goal through all of this. He’d find a way to take the man down, but right now wasn’t the time.
He glanced into his rearview mirror at the tan sedan four cars back. He’d spotted the tail when they’d left Mountain Springs and hoped Maldin hadn’t noticed. But he couldn’t be sure. The guy wasn’t stupid.
What he didn’t know was if Maldin actually had a backup plan in place, or if he was simply figuring things out as he went. The man had been on the phone on and off for the past thirty minutes, talking to someone about an apparent exit strategy, but Liam had no idea who he’d gone to for help. But assuming the man had no plan and no resources would be a mistake. He had a loaded gun and if given the right circumstances, there was no doubt in Liam’s mind that the man would use it.
Maldin let out a huff of air, then dropped his phone into his lap. “I want you to take the next exit, then turn left at the light.”
“I’ll try, but the traffic’s heavy.” Liam turned on his blinker from the center lane, then started to merge into the exiting lane. “Where are we heading?”
“You don’t need to worry about that right now.”
Maldin glanced into his side window again and frowned. There was no doubt in Liam’s mind anymore. The man had discovered the tail.
“Something wrong?”
“Don’t be stupid. I told them no tails, and they’ve got someone behind us.” He fingered the gun in his lap. “You will lose them, because I’d hate for your brother to find you dead in some ditch when all of this is over.”
Liam took the exit ramp, then quickly made a left turn at the green light. He followed the man’s instructions, weaving through the heavy traffic in an attempt to ditch their tail. A mile later, he glanced at his rearview mirror. The tan car was nowhere in sight.
“Keep heading north. We’ll turn off in a few minutes.”
Liam tightened his fingers around the steering wheel, wishing he were home right now eating dinner with his parents and Gabby. His mother had told him she was planning to make lasagna, one of his favorites. He’d been looking forward to spending time with Gabby. Instead, he didn’t want to know what his mother was thinking right now. He knew she worried every time one of her boys found themselves in a dangerous situation, which happened more often than not in their lines of work. Maybe he hadn’t told her enough how he felt.
But he knew she would understand his decision. Taking Gabby and Mia’s place had been automatic. He’d have done the same for anyone. Or at least that’s what he’d tried to convince himself of. He was still sorting through his feelings toward Gabby. Feelings he probably wouldn’t be able to fully process until all of this was over. And when it was over, they’d both go their separate ways, but he’d still feel responsible for her. There was no doubt about that. But he also couldn’t ignore that there was something more.
Maldin’s threats to take Gabby and Mia had shown Liam how terrified he was of losing them. There was nothing really noble or brave about his decision. It was simply how he’d been trained and who he was. And a reminder of how he wanted them in his life.
He glanced over at Maldin as he followed the now narrow road northwest. He wasn’t sure building a rapport with the man sitting next to him was possible, but it was worth a try. The more he could understand Maldin’s motivation and even possibly figure out what his plan was the better.
“Thank you for letting them go,” Liam said.
“Are you the baby’s father?”
He glanced at the man, surprised at his question. “No.”
“Then why do you care what happens to her?”
“She was my best friend’s daughter.”
“Something happened to him?”
“He was killed.”
His answer was ignored. Gaining Maldin’s sympathy wasn’t working. The man clearly had no desire to talk with him.
He decided to try a more direct approach. “Where are we heading?”
“Another fifty miles or so. I’ve got a friend with access to an airstrip. I’ll let you go once we’re there, as long as you don’t try anything in the meantime.”
“You know you don’t have to follow through with this,” he said. “The sooner you turn yourself in, the fewer charges you’ll be facing. Being a fugitive isn’t easy.”
“Turn myself in? Forget it. I don’t have anything to lose at this point.”
Liam shifted in his seat, frustrated. Because he did.
The thought surprised him. The past year had taken a toll on him emotionally. Months of physical therapy had meant hard work mixed in with occasional bouts of depression. And he still had no idea if he was going to be able to go back to active duty. The decision had been taken completely out of his hands and weighed heavily on him, leaving him feeling out of control. Like he’d lost everything he’d worked for in one moment.
The moment that had killed his best friend.
Except for the occasional command, silence hovered between them until Maldin directed him to turn off down a narrow gravel road lined with trees. The headlights caught a deer running out in front of them in the cover of dusk, pulling Liam back to the present. He slammed on his brakes and skidded on the gravel, barely missing the animal. The car slid to a stop, but his heart kept racing.
“What are you doing?” Maldin braced his hands against the dash. “Trying to get us both killed?”
“Hardly.”
Maldin banged on the console between them. “Keep going. We’re running out of time.”
Time for what, he wasn’t sure. He focused his attention back on the road. Darkness began to settle in around them, forcing him to drop his speed. On top of that, he wasn’t sure where they were. No other cars. No cabins. Wherever they were going was isolated. There were a handful of private airstrips, and if Maldin had the right connections, it would be the easiest way out of here. Though where the man would go, Liam had no idea.
“We’re here. Stop the car, then get out.”
Liam checked the odometer, then turned off the car. Maldin snatched the keys out of his hand. They’d driven just over twenty miles from the turnoff. He stepped out of the car. The temperatures were dropping again, and a dusting of snow already covered the ground.
“Where are we going?”
“You’re not going anywhere. Get out.”
“You’re leaving me here? We’re twenty miles from the main road.”
“What did you expect? I could shoot you, too, but instead I think I’ll let you walk out of here. There are no cell phone towers nearby and very little if any traffic. But it’s the best I can do.”
“So I’m guessing there isn’t a cabin or somewhere I can stay till morning?”
“That’s not my problem.”
The question probably sounded ridiculous. He was a hostage, not a guest. Maldin had made that clear.
Liam shivered as he looked around, wishing he had his heavy coat that had gotten left at the hotel. Unlike his parents’ ranch, he didn’t know the terrain. While Maldin might have let him go, this wasn’t over. If he didn’t find shelter, he wouldn’t make it through the night.
Gabby sat in the O’Callaghan living room, telling Griffin everything she could remember about the past twelve hours. But relaying the details about Thatcher and their conversation in Gus’s cabin and the moments surrounding the man’s death felt more as if she were reciting scenes from a movie. Certainly not from her own life. The knot of fear in her gut tightened, reminding her that this was all too real. And until they found Liam, she wasn’t going to be able to put all of this behind her.
Griffin’s phone rang, giving her a brief respite from steady stream of emotion that had come with the retelling of what had happen. He checked the caller ID, then stood up.
“Give me a sec... I need to take this call.”
“Of course.”
She glanced down at Mia, who had finally gone to sleep and was now breathing softly in her lap. At least one thing had gone right today. Mia was finally safe.
Griffin walked back into the room a few moments later and stopped in front of her. “We have a problem.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Apparently Maldin had a jamming device on him, and my team lost visual contact. They have no idea where Liam is.”
“Wait a minute...” A rush of adrenalin ripped through her as she stood up. “Isn’t there a way to—I don’t know—disarm it?”
“There is, but it’s not easy. Maldin must have figured out he had a tail and made sure Liam ditched the officers.”
Gabby pressed her fingers against her temple. “What happens now? There’s got to be another way to track them. A phone...the car...city surveillance cameras...something.”
“There’s a statewide search on the vehicle. He won’t be able to get far. But we also have to ensure that law enforcement doesn’t engage Maldin.”
Which meant finding Liam had just gotten more complicated. Without having any idea what Maldin’s plan was—or even if he had a plan—they could have potentially gone anywhere. It was about thirteen hours to the Canadian border and less than that to the Mexican border. Depending on his connections and how much he was willing to risk, there were also airstrips and bus terminals scattered across the state.
But there was one lingering question that scared Gabby more than anything else. When Maldin got to wherever he was going and didn’t need Liam anymore...what was going to happen?
She tried to shake off the growing layer of fear as she entered the ranch house. Marci met her and Mia at the door with a big hug, then ushered them straight to the kitchen that smelled like garlic and onions. Her stomach growled, reminding her it had been hours since she’d eaten. Maybe she was hungry after all.
“I knew you’d find her.” Marci squeezed Mia’s hand. “I know you must be so relieved. Griffin’s been keeping us updated and we’ve been praying nonstop.”
“I am relieved, but Liam’s still out there.”
A shadow crossed Marci’s face. “They’re going to find him. He was trained to handle situations like this. He’ll be fine.”
Gabby nodded. She knew Liam was trained to handle a crisis, but as relieved as she was to have Mia back, his situation dented her relief. Because this wasn’t over. Liam was out there somewhere, and if the colonel was involved—like she was still convinced he was—this was far from over.
What if he came after her again?
“How is she?” Marci asked.
Gabby glanced down at Mia who was awake but nestled quietly against her chest. “They had someone check her out at the station, and she was just a little dehydrated. And clingy.”
“I don’t blame her.” Marci kissed Mia on the forehead. “Can I get you some lasagna? There’s plenty.”
“I didn’t think I was hungry, but it smells wonderful. I think I can eat a small helping.”
A minute later, Marci set a plate of the pasta in front of Gabby along with a slice of garlic bread. “If you want to put Mia in the high chair, I can get her something as well.”
“Thank you.” She set Mia in the high chair, hoping the little girl would be able to stay awake long enough to eat something. “You’ve done so much for Mia and me. And I’m sorry for dragging your family into this. I know you have to be scared—”
“Don’t even go there. Griffin told me you were feeling guilty over what happened. Don’t. I know my son well enough to realize that everything he did, he did because that’s who he is. And no matter how much I worry about him, I know he’d make the same decision again in a heartbeat. He won’t have any regrets, which means I can’t, either. What I can do is pray, something I’ve been doing a lot of lately.”
Marci set a few bits of finger food on the tray in front of Mia, then watched her daughter perk up.
“That has to be hard,” Gabby said. “Knowing they’re all out there willing to take risks that most people would run from.”
Marcy caught her gaze. “You know what that’s like.”
She nodded, then took a bite of her bread.
“I remember the first time Liam told me he was going to be a soldier. He wanted to be just like his grandfather. It was at that point I realized my boy was a warrior. And really, I guess all my boys are warriors in their own way. For justice and duty. I’m proud of them, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy. A mom’s job is to love and support her children but taking worry out of the mixture feels pretty impossible most days. Today especially.”
Gabby set down her spoon and shook her head. “How do you do it then? Get through another day of worrying.”
She might not have any claims on Liam or his heart, but that didn’t take away her own worry for him.
Marci filled a mug of coffee for herself, then came and sat down next to Gabby. “I’ve learned that the only thing I can really do is trust them into God’s hands. There are no guarantees in life whether they’re deployed or working right here in Timber Falls. God created Liam to be a soldier. That’s who he is. And in the end, I have to trust God’s plan for his life. I don’t always succeed, but I try to shove the worry aside and concentrate on the moments I have with him. It’s the only way I’ve found to get through life. For now, they’re out there looking for him and I have to believe they’ll find him. My advice for you right now would be to finish eating, then get some sleep. And I’m praying that all of this will be over by morning.”
Gabby set her fork down. “Thank you.”
“Did you get enough to eat?”
“I did. Thank you.”
“Why don’t you go upstairs and take a shower before you go to sleep? I’ll get Mia cleaned up and watch her for you.”
Gabby glanced at Mia, whose eyes were starting to close. But she still hesitated, unsure if she was ready to leave her daughter, even for a short time.
“She’ll be fine,” Marci said. “Poor girl’s exhausted, and I know you are, too. I’ll go rock her in the living room, then you can both get some sleep.”
Twenty minutes later, she was thankful she’d washed off the grime from the past day.
She’d just slipped into a fresh pair of flannel pajamas Marci had left for her and now went to find Mia already asleep. She took the sleeping girl from Marci and nestled the child against her shoulder.
“Will you promise me one thing?” Gabby asked Marci.
“Of course.”
“If there’s an update on Liam... I don’t care what time it is...will you let me know?”
“You bet. And Gabby...” Marci hesitated in the doorway. “I’m probably completely overstepping my bounds for saying this, but I’ve waited a long time for my boys to find themselves good wives. Sometimes I wonder if I’ll actually live to see the day I have grandchildren.” She let out a low laugh. “I just hope Liam finds someone like you one day.”
A moment later, Gabby closed the door behind her, then carefully laid Mia in the crib next to her bed. She didn’t want to read into Marci’s words. The woman hadn’t said that she wanted Liam to marry her specifically, but the implication had been there.
None of that mattered. Not tonight.
She moved to the window, pulled back the heavy curtains, then checked the lock. It had started snowing again, and moonlight reflected off the white ground. Liam had saved her and Mia because that was who he was. A hero, in her eyes. One who’d chosen to take her place in the face of danger. Which was why she needed to compartmentalize what her heart was feeling. His actions didn’t speak to his feelings toward her, but to something greater. His sense of duty and honor. But for some reason, she was having a hard time separating the two. Tonight, though, had proven once again why she couldn’t fall for him. His willingness to face danger head-on made it far too big a risk for her heart. She’d loved and lost once before, and she had no desire to do it again.
Mia stirred, and Gabby picked her up again and started singing to her. She needed confirmation that Mia was safe. Needed to feel her baby sleeping against her chest. Needed to breathe in the familiar scent of baby lotion and powder while trying not to think about how close she’d come to losing her little girl. And how that reality still terrified her.
And Liam... No matter what her heart said, she couldn’t lose him, either.
God, I’ve pushed You away for so long. Coming back to You only when I need something seems wrong, but I need You. Not just today, but every day. And I need Liam to be okay.
She stood at the window with Mia until she knew she couldn’t stay awake any longer. Marci had promised her again to update her if anything happened. In the meantime, she’d just have to trust, and try—as hard as it was—to let go of the fear and panic. Because for now there was nothing she could do. She’d just have to trust that God would protect him and bring him home safely tomorrow.
She laid Mia down on the bed next to the giraffe that Gus had washed and dried—almost as good as new. She only wished she knew how long it would be until she felt as good as new. Letting out a deep sigh, she closed her eyes and prayed for sleep.