by Katie Knight
“I’ve trusted you this far. I deserve to know what we’re up against.” A stray tree branch wisped across her face, catching her hair, but she continued on without complaint.
“The engine didn’t fail.” He didn’t meet her eyes, just kept briskly moving forward.
Ben’s tone sent prickles of fear racing up her back. “What do you mean?” she asked as calmly as she could.
“Someone p-l-a-n-t-e-d a b-o-m-b.”
She stopped dead in her tracks, sucked some air into her lungs, and met Ben’s eyes when he turned just enough to face her.
“Let’s keep moving. Sun will be setting soon and we don’t want to keep walking in the dark if we can help it.” His gaze left her face and moved to Logan. “I can give him a lift.” He held his arms out, but she shook her head silently.
Logan needed someone familiar right now—he needed her. Besides, if they encountered someone who intended to harm them, she wanted to be able to keep him safe, and that meant letting Ben do what he did best. Keeping his hands free if there was an attack on them would only help them in the long run. Not that she was helpless. She might not have Ben’s tactical training, but she did possess a first-degree black belt in Taekwondo. It had taken her four years to earn, but after being assaulted on her walk to the subway after work one night, she'd learned to defend herself. She was lucky to only have a few bumps, bruises, and a stolen wallet from the ordeal—but it had left her profoundly shaken, and just a little ashamed, that someone could take away her sense of safety so easily. That shame might be why she hadn’t told her brother. Landon was a police officer in training at the time and would’ve made a massive deal out of it. Instead, she’d kept it to herself, and then set to work making sure no one could ever make her feel that helpless again.
An icy gale ripped at the collar of her jacket, and she shivered as the wind blew against her skin. Logan’s teeth chattered against the crook of her neck. The poor thing was cold, tired, and most likely hungry.
“We have to stop soon,” she called up to Ben, raising her voice to be heard over the increasing wind.
“Up there.” He pointed toward a rocky slope. “We need shelter from the wind. Somewhere we can light a fire without too much visibility.”
Because someone might be hunting them. She finished off Ben’s statement in her mind and used the sudden urgency to get out of plain sight to push herself forward on legs that were ready to buckle. She’d never been so physically exhausted. Then again, she’d never survived a reunion with her ex, a plane crash, and running from someone who would intentionally harm another through an icy wilderness in completely insufficient clothes, the biting cold another factor wearing her down. She couldn’t think of what might have happened to Logan or Ben if they had been positioned closer to where the bomb was placed inside the plane. It was all too much to fathom, and the only thing she wanted to do was focus on getting to the rocks ahead.
Ben was suddenly by her side, offering his hand. Did he know she was perilously close to breaking down? His gloved fingers wrapped around hers, steady and sure. She could count on Ben to protect them, and she’d do whatever she needed to be done to protect him and Logan. Maybe they’d failed each other as lovers, but now they needed to rely on each other as partners while they waited for a rescue team to find them. When they got close to the hillside, she could make out a break in the rocks—a tunnel of sorts.
“Stay here, okay?” Ben slipped his hand from hers. “I need to make sure there’s room at the inn.” He gave her a little smirk and disappeared into the dark cavern. Leave it to Ben to make light of entering the possible lair of a grizzly bear or a pack of wolves.
“We’re going to get you warmed up in no time.” She kissed Logan’s cheek and raised her arms higher around him, so her shoulders blocked the wind.
“And a wittle snack?” He looked up at her with owlish eyes, and she melted like chocolate swirled into hot cocoa.
“Oh, yes. Definitely a snack.” If only he would smile. His deep dimples never failed to light up her heart. Once upon a time, she had imagined having a child of her own, with the man currently scouting for wild animals. How much they’d each grown since then, going off to form their own impressions of the world, and choosing entirely different paths.
“All clear.” Ben stood in the entry of the cave, and her shoulders instantly went lax. Thank goodness. She’d never admit it, but she needed to put Logan down, stretch, and regroup. Ben reached out and plucked Logan from her arms and led them inside their temporary shelter. Megan followed behind, wincing. It was difficult to straighten the elbow of her right arm where she’d supported most of Logan’s weight.
“You two take it easy while we can.”
She didn’t need to be told twice and dropped soundlessly to the dirt floor. Ben gently lowered Logan into her arms and tossed her the duffle bag containing the snacks and drinks. “I’m going to gather some wood for a fire. Scream if you need me.” He ducked outside, leaving them in silence except for the wind whistling at the cavern’s opening. Logan sat in her lap as she unzipped the bag and dug out a snack for him, handing over a drink as soon as she found it—the poor kid had to be thirsty. He gripped the juice box between both chubby hands and guzzled it greedily. Taking those extra few minutes to fill the duffle with inflight snacks and drinks had been time well spent while Ben had been searching for their luggage. The bags of potato chips, pretzels, and cookies along with an assortment of drinks would be nice to have on hand.
“Meggie! A tweasure map.” Logan scuttled off her lap and closed his fingers around a piece of paper on the floor. “X marks the spot. That’s where mommy and daddy will be.” He did a few jumps, took her hand, and placed the paper in it. “We can have Ben wook at it after my snack.”
She knew she should wait until Ben returned to unfold the note. It probably had fallen out of one of the bags or his pocket. If it was his, then she had no right to look at it without his permission. And besides, it was most likely nothing important—but for some reason, her heart pounded faster as she took hold of it. She opened some chips for Logan, and while he was engrossed in his snack, she spread the paper out on her leg.
Tonight, you’ll know pain as I do. I know you’ll never read this note since it’s bound to be shouldering ash by the time crews find the wreckage of your boy’s plane, but it’s your pain I want, not your knowledge. Oh, I’ll make sure you find out in time why your boy had to die. Why he couldn’t be saved, just as mine wasn’t.
Dizziness coursed through Megan, and even though she was sitting, the floor seemed to spin. Her fingers turned as white as the paper she clutched.
That’s on you, though. My boy’s death—and now your boy’s, too. You might’ve been able to hide behind your fancy medical degree, your money, when you killed my son in the operating room but even your riches couldn’t protect what you loved most, and finally, my soul can rest with the knowledge that you too have paid the ultimate price. Your son. Now my Billy can rest in peace.
She tempered her breathing, trying to slow the rapid drum of her heart. Someone had planted that bomb to kill Logan. Her vision blurred as she tried to tell herself it wasn’t true, that there was another explanation. But what other explanation could there be? What were the chances that another child who had a father in the medical field was scheduled to board that plane? She bit her bottom lip, tasted the coppery tang of blood. She couldn’t come undone and freak Logan out. Megan closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. Logan was crunching away as he ate, blissfully unaware that he was the target of a heinous crime. Footsteps echoed through the cave, and she breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t want to be alone right now. Having another adult to share the burden, instead of only the child she needed to stay strong for, eased some of the weight on her shoulders
Ben returned and began digging out a shallow hole toward one side of their enclosure. In what seemed like no time at all, he had a small fire, framed by a circle of rocks, crackling.
“I can
’t make it any bigger. It might be dangerous with the limited space we have. But at least this takes the edge off the cold.”
Even the cozy sound of snapping kindling, the rustic, smoky scent, and the slight warmth beginning to radiate in the space couldn’t calm her nerves. Logan, however, relaxed into the warmth. With his thirst and hunger sated and the cold eased, he quickly fell asleep and started to snore softly, his breath joining the song of rushing wind and the snapping blaze.
“Little guy sure devoured those.” Ben glanced at the empty bag of chips then at the front of her shirt. She followed his eyes to the thick trail of crumbs that Logan had left all over her jacket. She brushed herself off and glanced up to find Ben looking at her intently.
“What is it, Meg? What’s wrong?” He said the words in a whisper, glancing between her and the child cradled in her lap.
“Read for yourself.” Her hand trembled when she held the note out to Ben. He scanned the first line, and his brows instantly knit together. Megan stepped in to answer his unspoken question. “Logan’s dad is a prominent anesthesiologist at Anchorage’s largest children’s hospital.” She let her words hang, watched the frown lines etch over Ben’s face as understanding grasped him.
“There was a second bomb,” he told her. “A bigger one. Undetonated. When I went to find our luggage, I found this note on the floor nearby. Whoever planted the bombs must’ve assumed no one would ever read this note after the plane exploded—it gives away too many clues. I was in such a hurry to get us out of there that I just shoved it in my pocket without reading it. It must’ve fallen out when I leaned down to hand Logan to you.” His eyes came up to meet hers, and she shuddered at the cold fury that swam in their depths.
“No way in hell will they get away with this. No way they’ll touch you or Logan.” He slid over to her and circled his arm around her shoulders. “As long as I’m breathing, Meg, I’ll get you both out of this. I swear it.”
She forced back tears, though she was quietly touched by the determination in his voice. “We’re in the middle of nowhere. I thought staying put would be our best bet, but what if someone’s still after Logan?”
“Let’s not jump to conclusions yet. For all we know, the person responsible thinks we’re all dead. For now, let’s get our bearings, not call attention to ourselves, but keep our eyes and ears open for any kind of rescue team.”
“How could anyone think killing one child could vindicate the death of another?” She shook her head, letting her hair curtain her face.
“Sometimes, people go crazy in their grief.” He pulled her a little closer into the crook of his arm. “It’s going to be okay. We’ll get him home where he belongs.”
She closed her eyes, and for the first time in many years, just let herself be held.
Chapter Seven
“Let me take Logan.” Ben scooped up the toddler and carried him to a makeshift bed padded with some pine needles from the spruce trees growing outside the cave, Ben’s sweatshirts, and the blankets they’d taken from the airplane. He laid the boy down and tucked a coat around him. The temperature was already well below freezing, and he’d hate for the kid to wake up from the cold after all he’d been through so far that day—way more than Logan even realized. Again, Ben thought of the note. It should be unfathomable that an adult would want a child dead for revenge, but it was a scenario that happened far too often. He’d witnessed the worst of humanity during his time in the SEALS and had fought hard to protect the best of it. Freedom, family, and the future were all worth fighting for, and nothing good came without a price.
He returned to the fire and sat by Megan. She’d kept her emotions in check all day, even though they’d faced mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion. Damned if he was impressed by her resolve. When he met her eyes after reading the note was the first time he’d seen her waver.
“You said you’ve worked for this family for six months. Have there been any threats like this before?” He sat so he was angled toward her, resting his elbow against his knee. If only the fire could be larger, maybe his hands would finally warm up, but it was already a risk to light it in a cave like this. He’d be up all night tending it, as it was.
“Worked for them, lived with them, shared meals at their dining room table. This isn’t the type of family people have vendettas against, Ben. They’re both renowned doctors, respected in their field. More than that, they’re good people. Good parents. Good employers.” She swiped her hand through her hair, and the fire illuminated the smooth golden strands. “I mean, it would be much easier to rationalize if people were targeting them for their money.”
“I can imagine Logan wants for nothing.” He had the overwhelming urge to pull Megan into his lap, not only to comfort her but to stop her from shivering.
“And he never will. His paternal grandfather comes from one of the wealthiest families in the United States, so having both parents with high paying medical careers is icing on the cake.” She picked up her hair with both hands and dropped it to the side of her shoulder.
He gave a low whistle. “Sounds like Logan hit the financial jackpot.”
“Sure, but you can see for yourself that he’s not spoiled. His parents aren’t the type to think they can buy their way out of parenting. Yes, they’re crazy busy, but they make sure he always gets attention when they’re around. They’ve told me how much they enjoy coming home to him, knowing they’ll be able to talk to him and cuddle him to take the edge off of hard days.”
“Do they have a lot of hard days?” Ben pressed. “Days when things go wrong with their patients?”
Megan shrugged. “Not a lot, but they do have some. No doctor has ever been able to save every patient. The world just doesn’t work that way. I know tragic accidents can happen in the operating room, that mistakes are made, but there’s no way either of Logan’s parents would intentionally harm another.”
“Well, can you think back to a particular patient they mentioned? Maybe someone who started to give them a hard time or paid extra attention to their estate?”
“I—I don’t know, I don’t think so.” She crossed her arms over her chest and rested her head briefly against her forearms.
“What about someone who paid extra attention to Logan, to you?” He could tell he was starting to lose her by the way she paled and hugged her knees.
“I can’t recall. I don’t think so.” She blinked rapidly and looked away. She’d been through enough today, and he was pushing her too hard.
Megan let out a low sigh, and her chin quivered, but she forced her shoulders back and sat up straight. There was a pang in his heart. Once she had leaned on him for support, and now she was no longer willing to cry in front of him.
“Hey, why don’t you get some fresh air? Clear your head but stay close,” he suggested. They were far enough from the blast radius of the plane that she wouldn’t be injured even if something finally set it off, and for now, at least, they were safe. She glanced over at Logan, hesitated.
“He’s out cold. He’ll probably sleep through until morning. I can keep an eye on him.” So long as he stayed asleep. He didn’t know the first thing about kids, but he’d try so Megan could have the time and space she needed to regroup.
“Okay, I’m just going to stand outside for a minute.” She rose to her feet in one fluid movement and ducked out of their shelter.
Ben let the breath whoosh out of his lungs and leaned back against the rocky wall. A million questions were racing through his mind about the Hamiltons and who might have tried to target their son. Logan was a sweet kid, with freckles and deep dimples—and the sight of Megan doting on him made something shift inside Ben’s heart. She was the kind of girl who deserved promises, family, stability. None of those things he could provide her with. His life was with the SEALS, always unpredictable and dangerous. Even if he wanted to be in a relationship someday, was it fair to drag someone he cared about into this lifestyle? There were times when he was gone for months on end and couldn’t
contact anyone—not that he had anyone to reach out to. He had his brothers. The men in his unit would give their lives for him just as quickly as he’d give his for theirs. They were all the family he needed…right?
There was a rustle of fabric, and Ben whipped around to where Logan was sleeping. The boy was beginning to stir, and Megan wasn’t back yet. Ben gave himself a quick, silent pep talk. He reminded himself that he had handled classified intelligence missions, battled in the most war-torn areas of the world—he could take care of a toddler for a few minutes if he woke up.
“Meggie,” Logan called and sat up straight. He looked around the cave, and a deep frown puckered his cheeks when he realized she wasn’t there with them.
“She just went outside for a minute,” he said and looked on in horror as the kid’s eyes turned glassy with unshed tears. “Hey, don’t cry.” He jumped up and kneeled at Logan’s side, but he must’ve scared him because Logan let out a wail.
Ben patted the kid’s back. “She’s not far. Should be back any second.” He glanced toward the cave opening, hoping she’d materialize there and rescue him. The kid was on the verge of hysterics, his face beet red, and he was now screaming at the top of his lungs. Ben mentally froze, unable to process the best way to calm Logan down. He held up his palms as if to wave a white flag of defeat, but rather than calming down, Logan’s wail just grew to a roar. Ben tugged at the collar of his shirt and muttered to himself.
“What’s going on?”
He let out a huge breath and bowed his head, ignoring the bite in Megan’s tone. He might be a SEAL, but he was no match for Logan’s tantrum. “He woke up and was scared without you.”
While Megan whispered reassurances to Logan and rubbed his back until the crying had trailed off to a whimper, Ben walked outside to gather more tinder. The sky had darkened, there was a bite to the wind that hadn’t been there before, and the scent of snow hung heavily in the air. Right now, a snowstorm could be a curse and a blessing at the same time. If the person who was trying to kill Logan was still searching for them, a fresh sheet of snow would cover their tracks and afford them a bit of security. It would also hinder a rescue team, and depending on the extent of the storm, it could make their survival more difficult, given the small number of supplies they had. He gathered an armful of sticks and dried bark and started toward their shelter.
