by Rita Herron
He pulled the sling off his arm, then knelt to untie her, drinking in the fact that she was alive. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss her, but her wary gaze held him in check. Still, he yanked the gag from her mouth and cradled her face in his hands, searching her eyes for signs of injuries. “Are you all right?”
She nodded and flicked her head toward the back cabin. “Paul—he’s in there.”
He untied her and helped her to stand, his stomach tightening when she ran into the cabin and dropped to her knees to rescue Polenta.
ALANNA PULLED Paul to his feet, trying to ignore the fierce relief pounding through her. Cain had saved her life. But what about Simon?
“We have to go back to the island,” Cain said.
“I heard the men say Arnold Hughes is on his way,” Alanna said. She turned to Paul, questions and hurt mingling together. “Is it true? Is he really Simon’s father?”
Paul’s face twisted in resignation. “Yes. He was the sperm donor.”
“Oh, God, what are we going to do?” She glanced at Cain, panic-stricken. “He’ll never give up Simon.”
Alanna slid an arm around Polenta’s waist. Together they staggered toward the steps to the deck. Alanna ignored the emotions playing havoc across Cain’s features. Emotions that wreaked of jealousy.
She was grateful to him for saving her, but she wouldn’t allow herself to fawn all over him. He had lied to her and betrayed her trust. Although she thought she’d been in love with him, Cain had never spoken of love to her.
He led the way up the steps and took over at the helm, and she breathed in the fresh salty air. While he guided the boat, Paul explained about the project.
“I hated seeing the problems families with mentally challenged children face,” Paul said, regret tingeing his voice. “I had a son with terrible birth defects myself who died shortly after birth, so when Ames and Peterson first consulted me about doing experimental gene therapy on a human embryo, I thought I was doing the humanitarian thing.”
“That’s how you became involved in this project?”
“Yes. But Ames and Peterson worked with Hughes. They wanted to create the perfect child. I…I didn’t know the sperm donor was Hughes until after you left with Simon.” He bowed his head. “Even Hughes doesn’t know. The doctors wanted to wait and make sure the project was successful. They didn’t want Hughes to know if the therapy failed and the embryo had some terrible medical disorder or deformity.”
Alanna nodded, thinking how crazy their scheme sounded. “You had noble reasons for getting involved,” Alanna said softly.
Paul ran a shaky hand over a face thick with beard stubble. Cain gave her an odd look, but she dismissed it and encouraged Paul to continue. “Did the therapy work?”
“It seems to be successful, although only time will tell about Simon’s intelligence. Ames and Peterson wanted to make sure Simon stayed around for observation, so they hired you to care for him.”
“What about his mother?” Cain asked, a cold look in his eyes.
Paul cleared his throat, the wind howling behind them. “That’s where things really fell apart. She was a surrogate. Originally they told me she abandoned Simon. But while I was drugged, I heard them say she died in childbirth. I wondered if her death might have been related to the gene therapy but wasn’t sure. There was no way to tell. They cremated her body.”
“She died or they killed her?” Cain asked.
Paul frowned. “I…I really don’t know. Dead or alive she would have brought unwanted attention to the center, so they covered up her existence altogether.”
Alanna wiped salt water from her cheek as Cain cut the engine on the boat and let it coast into the bay on the west side. The small boat hit the rocks, then Cain threw the anchor overboard. “Did they kill the OB-GYN, too?”
“I don’t know.”
A security guard approached, but Cain pulled a gun and took control, ordering Polenta to tie up the guard and watch him while they went on shore to find Simon.
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IRRATIONAL JEALOUSY ATE at Cain. It didn’t take a fool to see that Polenta was in love with Alanna. But how did she feel about the doctor?
He had no right or claim on her, yet…. “Stay here, I’ll come back for you.”
“I’m going with you.” Alanna stood, that fierce determination back in her eyes.
“No—”
“Cain, this is my battle. I have to.”
His gaze locked with hers for a painful heartbeat before he nodded. But not because he wanted to bow to her; he didn’t want her out in the open with Polenta. She would be safer with him.
“All right, but stay behind me.” He frowned. “And don’t make any moves without me. Understand?”
“Yes.” Her voice reeked of irritation.
“Let me go, too.” Paul squared his shoulders. “I can get you through security.”
“Do you have any idea where Simon is?”
He gave a clipped nod.
Cain checked the guard’s bindings, and they set off, slinking through the woods until they reached the side of the main building.
“I’ll get us in that back door.”
Minutes later, they slipped inside and searched the halls, following Polenta through security to a lab located in the rear of the building.
Voices floated through the air ducts. Polenta steered them toward the sound, freezing occasionally to hide from another security guard. Although, given the time of night, the place was virtually empty, making it easier to find the lab. Polenta opened the door, but Cain pushed him behind him, along with Alanna. Cain wielded his gun and faced down the two scientists.
“We’ve been expecting you,” the gray-haired man said.
Polenta appeared beside him. “It’s over, Ames. Give it up.”
Both men’s startled gazes flooded with anger. “I thought you were dead,” the other man, obviously Peterson, growled.
“How many people are you going to kill to keep your project a secret?” Cain asked.
Ames raised a pistol. “As many as it takes.”
Cain shoved Polenta and Alanna out of the way just as the man fired.
Chapter Twenty
Alanna fell backward against Paul, the two of them flying into the hallway wall as gunfire rippled through the room. Paul threw his arms over her, and they huddled heads down on the floor in the corner. Suddenly a loud rumbling thundered above, nearly drowning out the pelting bullets. A helicopter had flown over the building and was landing somewhere very close.
Then quiet descended as quickly as the chaos had burst ou
A quiet that sent a chill up her spine. Cain? Had he been shot?
Her pulse racing, she pushed away from Paul. But just as she started toward the door again, Cain walked into the entry, his expression grave, his head downcast. “Ames and Peterson are dead.” Then she spotted the squirming bundle in his arm and her heart leaped with joy.
“Simon.”
“Mama,” Simon whimpered. “Miss you.”
Tears welled in Alanna’s eyes. “I missed you too, darling.”
Cain strode toward her, crooning comforting sounds to the baby. Alanna’s legs wobbled as she gently eased Simon into her arms. Her gaze met with Cain’s, the aching hunger in his eyes mirroring her own. Then he kissed Simon gently on the forehead and released him. Considering the violence that had just transpired, the gesture was so oddly tender and intimate that her heart clenched again.
Cain was an honorable man.
And Alanna loved him.
But what could come of that love?
“I knew they wouldn’t give it up,” Paul said. “They both let their egos and greed take over and lost all sense of morality.”
A security guard rushed toward them with two suited men on his tail. Cain met them halfway, identifying himself. “Thanks, Luke, but it’s over.”
Luke? The man from the FBI. Alanna’s arms trembled as she hugged Simon to her. Were they going to arrest her now a
nd take Simon away from her again?
A HELICOPTER RIDE LATER, Cain sat with Alanna and Polenta in an interrogation room at the FBI headquarters in Atlanta. Luke and another agent had drilled them relentlessly on each of their actions, sorting through Polenta’s story with a fine-tooth comb, taking notes on all aspects of the research center and its work for further scrutiny.
“Were there any doctors involved in the project other than Ames and Peterson?”
“The OB-GYN was the only one I know of.”
“Did Peterson and Ames have him killed?”
“I don’t think so,” Polenta said. “But I can’t be certain. They kept me drugged a good bit of the time the past couple of weeks.”
Luke leaned his hands on the scarred table in front of Polenta and glared into his eyes. “Do you know where Arnold Hughes is now?”
“No.” Polenta showed his first onslaught of nerves. “Believe me, if he knew Simon was his baby, he’d already have been here.”
“But you know for certain he’s alive?”
“That’s what I heard. He had plastic surgery but I have no idea what he looks like now.” Paul paused. “But he doesn’t know Simon is his son.”
“Did he have anything to do with bombing my brother’s car?” Cain asked.
Polenta shrugged, his voice contrite. “I can’t be sure. Ames gave me a truth serum after Alanna disappeared, so I could have given them Eric’s name. I’m sorry.”
“I am, too, Cain,” Alanna said softly.
“At least he’s alive,” Cain said, realizing they hadn’t had a chance to talk since he’d seen Eric. Then he’d come back for her and found the empty house….
Simon began to fuss and Alanna jiggled him in her arms to soothe him.
“What about the baby’s mother?” Luke asked.
“I believe she’s dead.”
“Did you find out anything about that reporter?” Alanna asked.
Cain turned to Luke, but he shook his head. “Phyllis French worked for the paper, but they gave her medical leave a few months ago. She had a miscarriage and hasn’t been stable since. We’re still looking for her for questioning.”
“What if she knows about Hughes?”
Cain rubbed Alanna’s back to comfort her. “We’ll locate her and find out exactly what she does know.” Simon gurgled and Cain reached out and let the baby grab his thumb.
“I want to adopt Simon,” Alanna said, tucking the blanket around Simon’s feet.
Tension thrummed between them as her hand brushed over Simon. Simon and Alanna were safe for now, but how long would it be before Hughes came looking for them?
Cain cleared his throat. “Luke, I think we should get Alanna and Simon into the witness protection program, give them new identities. You know Hughes will look for the baby once he finds out about him.”
Luke’s eyebrows climbed his forehead. “We could use them as bait to catch Hughes.”
A fist slammed into Cain’s gut. “Absolutely not.”
Alanna’s panicked gaze flew to Cain’s.
“Listen, Caldwell, it’s the best plan—”
“I said no.” Cain glared at Luke. “They’ve been through enough. There’s no way I’d let you put either one of them in danger again.” He ignored Luke’s questioning look. “We’ll have to find another way to trap Hughes.”
“Eventually he’s going to learn that the baby is his and come after them,” Luke said.
Polenta stood, dark brows furrowed. “Not if I destroy any evidence that Simon belongs to him.”
Hope glittered in Alanna’s eyes. “You would really do that, Paul?”
Polenta turned to Alanna and Simon and lifted a hand to her cheek, a gesture that sent Cain’s temper into a roar.
“Of course, Alanna. There hasn’t been a day since I got involved with this project that I haven’t regretted it. My family at home would be ashamed of my actions, as
Without realizing what he was doing, Cain moved to Alanna’s side.
Anxiety knotted the muscles in his neck at her softening expression. Just exactly how did she feel about Polenta? If Cain couldn’t offer her love and commitment, would she turn to the doctor?
THE NEXT FEW HOURS FLEW BY in a whirlwind of activity as the federal agents worked to secure Alanna and Simon a new place to live. Though filled with relief to have Simon in her arms and the hopes of a new future, Alanna battled an inner war of emotions. Cain’s friend had assured her that once she and Simon were settled, they would move her grandmother to a new nursing home, and place her under a different name. Alanna could visit her regularly. Only Luke and Cain would know Alanna’s whereabouts, and they had devised a special code so she could phone one of them if necessary. Another agent had escorted Paul back to the lab to destroy any evidence that might link Simon to Arnold Hughes, then they took him to the hotel.
The short ride to the hotel where Alanna would stay was filled with tension. Finally Alanna could stand the excruciating silence no longer.
“Thank you for all that you’ve done for me and Simon,” she said, after settling Simon into bed for the night.
Cain stood in the doorway between the suite area and bedroom, as if he didn’t know whether to come all the way inside or leave completely. Alanna’s heart squeezed as she realized he would choose the latter.
His job, his brother, his life, all the things that mattered to him were in Atlanta.
Their situation had brought them together, but now it would tear them apart. Or maybe it was the fact that Cain didn’t love her that would take him away from her.
An ache, soul deep, opened up inside her. But she refused to beg him to stay or guilt him into loving her when she’d caused him so much trouble already.
She loved him too much to do anything so devious.
“I’m glad that it all worked out.” His gruff voice sent need pulsing through her. She remembered the husky sound of his lovemaking, the torturous way his fingers had teased her into bliss, the way her body had burned with heat at his possession.
“Why did you leave the beach cottage?” Cain’s gaze bored into hers.
“You promised you wouldn’t tell the FBI, then your friend called…”
Disappointment flitted across his features. “We were in over our heads, Alanna. Even I had to admit I needed help.”
She swallowed, his words hitting home. But could she admit she needed him? Did he want her to? She wasn’t sure.
“I’m really glad you get to keep Simon.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I do love him, Cain. I…I never thought it would work out for me to keep him forever. I owe you.”
“You don’t owe me anything. I was just doing my job.” In spite of his declaration, emotions clouded his dark eyes. “I’d like for Eric to see Simon somed.”
Another reason he had to leave. His brother had been hurt terribly because of her. And Eric still had a long recovery ahead. Surgeries. Skin grafts. Therapy.
How could Cain not blame her for his brother’s suffering?
“I…I guess I should go. I know you’re exhausted.”
She ached to stop him from walking out, but she remained frozen in her spot. “And I know you want to see Eric.”
“He’s going to need me now,” Cain said in a low voice. His gaze dropped to Simon on the bed and lingered. Then he walked toward the bed and brushed a kiss across the baby’s forehead. Slowly he straightened and his dark eyes met hers. Tears blurred her vision as he wrapped his uninjured arm around her, then pulled her against him and kissed her. His lips moved gently first, then with such hunger that her legs buckled. Simon cooed, bringing them both back to reality.
She was breathless and trembling with unsated hunger when he turned to leave, but she managed to lock the door behind him. Then she stood with her forehead pressed against the closed door and listened until his footsteps completely faded, her heart splintering into a thousand pieces.
Thankfully Cain had brought the baby back to her.
She only w
ished…wished for what? It had been forever since she’d allowed herself to need someone.
But in the darkness of the night she silently admitted that she needed Cain.
Only she didn’t think he’d wanted to hear it.
EMOTIONS WARRED within Cain all the way to the hospital. Eric needed him, but Alanna no longer did; why did that fact bother him so? He admired her independence, respected her for standing on her own, for not clinging to him and begging him to stay. She’d given him permission to return to his job, to his responsibilities, to his brother. He didn’t like scenes, didn’t want emotional attachments. God knows he remembered the pain of losing his mother, the grief he’d felt when he’d stood at that graveyard in the dismal rain, thinking he’d buried his brother.
Then Alanna had appeared with Simon, adding to his turmoil and things had spiraled out of control. He had crossed the line with her on this case, delved into grays that he’d sworn to avoid all his life. Getting involved with a suspect or victim under his care had never been an option, much less something he’d allowed to happen. His anguished state had altered his judgment; the fear had altered hers. There was no other logical explanation for the fact that he’d let her get under his skin.
He never should have slept with her.
He was glad the case was over, that he could get on with his life.
Wasn’t he?
And then there was Simon, that precious little boy…
His mind spinning with questions, he entered the ICU, and was surprised to find Eric had been moved to a room.
“He’s doing much better,” the head ICU nurse said.
She gave him the room number and he took the elevator, contemplating the hard haul his brother had ahead of him.
“Hey, man,” Eric said in voice still hoarse from the respirator.
“You’re looking better.” Not that he could see much beyond the bandages, but Eric was sitting up. That had to be a good sign.
“I’ll be better when I get out of this damn place.”
Cain chuckled and moved to the edge of Eric’s bed. “How are you doing, bro?”
Eric shrugged, his tough-boy act in place. “All right. Hurts like hell, but they’re keeping me pretty doped up.” He raised his hand, touched his fingers to the bandage on his cheek. “I don’t imagine I’m going to look very good.”
