Comes the Night (Entangled Suspense)

by Cathy Marlowe

  Zach followed her into the spacious entryway.

  “I need a minute to…to…” She stomped her foot in frustration. “What is the matter with me? I can’t seem to clear my head. One minute I’m strong and the next I’m about to fall apart. I think that drug…”

  He ran his hand reassuringly up and down her back, forcing his voice to remain calm. “You were drugged?”

  She nodded. “They gave me something that knocked me out for most of the trip.” Her voice caught in her throat. “When I felt the needle in my arm, I thought…” Her breaths grew increasingly ragged, and he raised his hand to caress the vein that pounded wildly in her neck. “I thought for a moment that…”

  “You thought it was the drug they gave me.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, his hand lingering a moment before running down her arm. “You were drugged, you haven’t slept in weeks, you’ve been living in constant fear. It’s no wonder you’re confused.”

  Her attempt at a smile failed.

  With one arm wrapped around her, he examined the tastefully decorated home. His home. The entryway opened up onto a large family room whose dominant feature was a stone fireplace on the far wall. An overstuffed, L-shaped, leather sofa sat in the center of the room, deep green throw pillows scattered invitingly across its chocolate-brown cushions.

  A picture window filled most of the south wall, opening onto an expansive lawn flanked by peaceful woods. An upholstered seat ran along the base of the window, while a child’s table and chairs sat against the adjacent wall. Shelves filled with children’s books and art supplies fit cozily in the corner. A rocking chair was angled to provide both a view of the outdoors and interaction with the child’s play area. This room belonged to a family.

  It was nothing like the monstrosity of a mansion Alistair called home. It welcomed him. His eyes were drawn to a portrait on the opposite wall. A portrait of Lizzie, Sam, Daniel, and him. His family.

  “I’m ready.” Lizzie’s voice pulled him from his reverie. With her hand in his, she led him up the stairs and down an unfamiliar hallway. She stopped outside a door that stood ajar and hesitated, drawing a shaky breath. With an awkward laugh she admitted, “I’m nervous. I abandoned my little girl. I…”

  He stopped her with the touch of his fingertips against her lips. “You did everything in your power to keep her safe. You sacrificed for her. Thank God that miserable old man returned her to her father, but the fact that she was here doesn’t change the magnitude of your sacrifice or your strength through the hell of the past weeks.”

  He dropped his hand to grasp hers. “Now she’s not going to know all that—and yet, she knows what matters. She knows who you really are.”

  Her lips curved upward, and this time the smile was real. “Very clever of you to turn my words back at me.”

  She pushed open the door and approached the bed, brushing a tear away with her fingertips.

  He stayed behind to protect her privacy as she reunited with her little girl.

  “Sarah Ann,” she breathed, both a welcome and a prayer.

  The little girl slept peacefully. Lizzie raised her hand, laying it on Sam’s glossy dark hair, still damp from her bath. The sight of his wife sitting on the bed, inhaling the sweet smell of bath time, brought tears to his eyes.

  “Oh, ba-by.” Her words caught in her throat.

  He stepped forward as her defenses shattered, laying a hand on her shoulder.

  Sam opened sleepy eyes. “Mommy.” She smiled, not quite awake, and curled into her mother’s hand, falling back into deep slumber.

  Lizzie laid her head on the bed and closed her eyes, drifting off to sleep. A sense of unfamiliar contentment filled Zach’s weary mind. He hated to wake her.

  “Lizzie…honey.” He whispered her name, his voice husky with emotion.

  She raised her head.

  “You need to get some rest. Do you want to stay here? Or take Sam with us?” She stared at him, disoriented.

  “One of us needs to go to Daniel.”

  “Daniel!”

  He saw the panic that crossed her face and clenched his jaw. She was still so fragile…exhausted both physically and mentally. He could see her guilt in forgetting about their son for even a minute.

  “He’s safe with Sophie. She took him to the Weston Security condo. Kyle assured me it’s a safe location. And they have guards.”

  “I…I need to see my baby. I have to…” Her voice grew louder as her breaths came in broken spurts.

  “Shhh. Everything’s okay. We’re going to do whatever you want to do. It’s your choice. If you want to stay here, you stay here. If you want to wake Sam and take her with us, we take her with us. Whatever you need.”

  His soothing voice appeared to penetrate her fear. She sagged against him. “I need to be with both of them,” she whispered, “but I don’t want Sam to see me like this. I’m a mess.”

  “Okay.” He weighed taking Sam with them or going to get Daniel and chose the option that most quickly reunited his family and allowed Lizzie to rest. “Let’s go to the condo tonight. I’ll try not to wake Sam.” He loosened Sam’s blanket and lifted her in his arms, waiting while Lizzie tucked the fabric around her for warmth. Then they walked back outside.

  Lizzie laid her hand on Grant’s arm. “We’re going to take her to the condo. She’ll be safe.”

  He opened his mouth, frowning, and then clamped it shut. He nodded. “I’ll call you in the morning.”

  “Reade, you stay here until the police are finished. I’m available to answer questions. Cole has my number.”

  “Sure. Don’t worry about things here.”

  “Kyle, will you give us a ride to the condo?”

  Sam continued to sleep, oblivious to the chaos around them. Zach held her close, and with Lizzie’s arm tucked in his, they walked to the waiting car and slipped into its warm interior, holding tight to each other as the car drove down the winding driveway into the night.

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  By the time they reached the main road, Lizzie had slipped into an exhausted slumber, one hand resting on Sam’s chest.

  Zach threaded his fingers through the wild curls of her hair, removing the tangles bestowed by the winter breeze. Although he felt a little foolish, her hair fascinated him. He remembered her hair, had dreamed about it night after night. He knew its texture even before he touched it, smelled its sweetness as it drifted in the wind.

  Although they were only dreams, they derived from memories. His memories.

  Shifting Sam gently, careful not to wake her, he pulled his treasured photo from his pocket. The smile on his wife’s face captivated him, filling him with a powerful yearning to see that unrestrained happiness in real life. Selfish though it was, he wanted to be the cause of that joy.

  Looking at Sam, he frowned. The little girl was adorable. Looking at her innocent face, he knew he’d give his life to protect her. But he didn’t know her. Not the way he’d known Daniel and felt the instant bond of a father for his child. What if he met Sam tomorrow and didn’t feel the same connection in his heart, a heart that appeared to be linked by blood to an evil man? What if Sam knew he was a fraud?

  And Lizzie would see his failure as well. What if he was no longer enough for her? He tucked the picture back inside his pocket, held his daughter close, and rested his face in his wife’s hair.

  The car slowed at a light. He looked out the window. Damn, he should have been paying attention. Not only did he need to relearn his life, but he couldn’t afford to relax his guard as long as Alistair remained a threat.

  Ten minutes later the car pulled to a stop in the parking lot of a condominium complex. Reade stepped out, surveying the area before he opened the back door. Zach handed Sam to him and lifted his sleeping wife in his arms.

  As Reade closed the door behind them, Zach examined the unfamiliar setting. Try though he might, he had no idea which unit was theirs. He sighed with combined relief and frustration when Cole stepped from the
shadows and moved to open the door of the condo on the right.

  Nodding his thanks, he entered the condo. The lights were on. A fire burned cheerily in the fireplace. He stood silent for a moment, thankful that Weston Security kept a corporate apartment so they didn’t have to go to a hotel tonight.

  “Well, hello there.” Sophie’s familiar voice washed over him as she entered from the hallway.

  “I found her,” he stated unnecessarily.

  “I never doubted that you would.” The dear woman smiled at him. “Daniel’s sound asleep in the portable crib. That little angel sure has grown.”

  “Thank you, Mrs.…” At her admonishing look, he corrected himself, “Sophie.”

  “Reade, put that sweet little girl in the bedroom with Daniel,” Sophie instructed and then approached Zach, resting a comforting hand on his arm. “I’m so honored you asked for my help.” Looking at Lizzie, she smiled. “It looks like this one is ready for a comfortable bed as well. The bedroom’s through that door.” She indicated the way with a sweep of her hand. Frowning as she searched his face, she squeezed his arm. “You could use some sleep yourself. Cole or Joey will be here at all times. You can rest without worrying.”

  “Thanks,” he repeated. The word seemed hopelessly inadequate for the immense gratitude he felt, not only for her help, but also for her acceptance. He could tell by the light in her eyes, no matter how meager his words, they were enough.

  “Now, do you want me to stay while you sleep?”

  “No, thank you. You should go home and get some rest.”

  “If you like, I could arrange for some of those muffins Lizzie loves to be delivered in the morning.” Her smile assured him she wasn’t offended by his need to be alone with his wife and child.

  “That would be great.” He really liked this woman, instinctively drawn to her warmth and acceptance. “If you’re up to it, maybe you could bring them yourself.”

  “I’d love that.”

  They stared at each other, until he leaned down to kiss her cheek, breathing in the smell of lilacs. “Make sure Joey goes with you and stays the night.”

  When she started to protest, he shook his head. “I can’t sleep if I’m not sure you’re safe. Besides, I know Joey’s going to want some of those muffins in the morning.”

  He looked at Cole, who nodded and opened the door for Sophie.

  She stopped at the door, then turned back to give him a considering look. “I love you, Zach Weston.” Looking at the woman who slept soundly in his arms, she smiled confidently. “And I’m not the only one.” She raised her hand and pointed at him, admonishing, “Don’t you forget it.”

  Once the door closed behind her, he headed to the bedroom. Reluctant to relinquish the feel of her in his arms, he stood next to the bed until his arms began to ache. Finally, he laid her on the bed. He removed the overlarge boots and coat, and then covered her with a heavy blanket to dispel the chill that clung to her.

  After placing a kiss on her cheek, he went to check on Daniel and Sam. She slept curled in her blanket from home. His boy slept peacefully in his crib. The sleep of the innocent…how he envied them.

  He certainly couldn’t claim the sleep of the innocent. Not after he’d lied to his wife about his identity, about his past. Even if he wasn’t the old man’s son, he’d still failed to reveal the potential danger to her. He rubbed a weary hand along his jaw. As much as he wanted to deny the relationship, his resemblance to Alistair was uncanny. And the hockey picture had screamed father and son. Releasing a long sigh, he acknowledged that he wasn’t going to find any answers tonight.

  He walked back into the hallway and stopped, uncertain.

  He could feel exhaustion finally taking over, no matter how hard he fought it. He didn’t want to leave Lizzie and he didn’t want to leave their children. He’d thought about moving the kids into Lizzie’s room, but he knew Daniel would awaken in a couple of hours, hungry. Lizzie desperately needed sleep, and, with a deep sense of sorrow, he acknowledged that since Alistair had drugged her, it wasn’t safe for her to nurse their son. Although he hadn’t checked to make sure there was formula, he was confident Sophie had seen to that need as efficiently as she’d taken care of everything else.

  Finally he grabbed throw pillows from the couch and stacked them in the corner of the hallway, directly in between the two bedrooms. He settled on the floor and adjusted his position until he could see into both rooms. Forsaking the pillows, he rested his arms on his knees as he kept watch over his family.

  …

  Lizzie awoke when rays of light peeked through the blinds, warming her face. Startled, she sat up in confusion. Her heartbeat gradually calmed when she recognized the bedroom of the corporate condo. Rising, she discovered that every muscle in her body ached. She limped to the bathroom. Although she really wanted a shower, she settled for splashing water on her face and brushing her teeth with one of the new toothbrushes that sat on the counter.

  She ran one hand distractedly through her hair and moved to the door. When she discovered Zach asleep in the hall, she stopped abruptly.

  Why had he chosen to sleep on the hard floor? She stood watching him until the sounds of a baby stirring drifted from the other bedroom. Daniel! Anxious though she was to see her son and daughter, her eyes were drawn back to the man who apparently had guarded them throughout the night, the signs of exhaustion evident on his face even in sleep.

  Reluctant to wake him, she walked back into her room and grabbed the blanket from the bed. She knelt in the hall to cover him. As she started to get up, something caught her eye. She leaned in closer and tears filled her eyes. He held the picture of their family next to his heart. Although he clutched the photograph in his hand, she could see how carefully he had taped the torn pieces back together.

  For the first time since he’d found her at the lake, she considered his pain and confusion. Her heart broke for this man who slept on the floor, clutching a torn photograph of his family while his wife and children slept comfortably a few feet away.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Lizzie couldn’t put Daniel down. They’d only been apart for a little over twenty-four hours, but she felt she’d been away from him forever. Daniel. She’d spoken his name lovingly as she gave him a bottle. Now, as she walked around the combined family room and kitchen, she talked to him, calling him by his name a ridiculous number of times, simply because for the first time in weeks she could.

  She’d waited an entire hour without waking Sam. Their little girl had always been a sound sleeper. Tears filled her eyes. She hurried around the kitchen island to wake both Zach and Sam. It was time to bring their entire family back together. Lost in her thoughts, she knocked her empty juice glass off the corner of the bar. It fell to the floor and shattered with a loud crash, startling her so that she cried out.

  The front door burst open. Cole rushed in just as Zach exploded out of the hall. With guns drawn, they scanned the room.

  She’d been so absorbed in the anticipation of reuniting their family that for a moment she’d forgotten they were still in danger.

  “I’m…I’m sorry, I accidentally broke a glass.” She looked back and forth between the two fierce men. “Um, maybe you could put away the guns?”

  Zach shoved his gun back in its holster. He thanked Cole, who slipped back outside. “Well, I’m awake now.” He offered a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. “How are you feeling this morning?”

  “Like I was hit by a truck.” She rolled her neck in an attempt to loosen the tight muscles. Seeing his frown, she continued hurriedly, “Really, I feel good. Nothing a long, hot shower won’t fix. After all, I have this little guy in my arms and we have Sam. I was just going to wake her.”

  He approached them and grinned at Daniel. This time the happiness reflected in his eyes. “Hey there, Ace, you’re looking pretty pleased with yourself this morning.” He tapped the baby on the nose and was rewarded with a toothless grin. “Why don’t you guys get out of this k
itchen while I clean up the glass?”

  She moved to stand near the couch and bit her lip. Their baby’s name wasn’t Ace. How easily she’d forgotten this man was not fully Zach.

  …

  Zach cleaned up the mess, aware of a growing silence behind him. When he was finished, he turned toward Lizzie, who still stood only a few feet away, pale and unmoving. “What?”

  “His name isn’t Ace. It’s Daniel.” The quiet words hung suspended in the air between them.

  “I know that.” He stepped toward her, stopping just short of touching her. “I know that,” he repeated solemnly. “It’s just that last night Daniel and I were talking. He said Sam’s been giving him a hard time because her nickname is so cool. So I told him he could go by Ace some of the time if he wants to.” His memory of the enjoyable midnight conversation faded into uncertainty. “I…I won’t call him Ace again,” he continued, forcing a smile.

  Whatever she might have replied was forgotten when Sam entered the kitchen. “Mommy?” she whispered, uncertain, hopeful.

  Lizzie handed Daniel to Zach and approached her daughter. She brushed a lock of hair from Sam’s face with a trembling hand. “Hey, Princess, Mommy’s really missed you.”

  Sam stared, wide-eyed, then smiled and held out her arms. “Mommy!”

  Laughing, she scooped the girl in her arms, burying her face in her hair and nuzzling her neck until she giggled. “She’s glad to see me.” She smiled tearfully at Zach.

  Zach smiled even as his heart broke that she’d harbored any uncertainty about Sam’s welcome. And Sam…with her dark curly hair and deep brown eyes, she was a miniature version of her mom. He felt another tug at his heart.

  “Daddy! Daniel!” Sam held out her arms.

  Zach stepped close to Lizzie, and Sam patted first his face and then Daniel’s, before frowning at them. “Don’t leave again.”

  He heard Lizzie’s soft gasp even as his eyes remained locked with Sam’s. “We won’t. We never, ever wanted to leave.”