by Karen Kirst
He found Tessa at the counter emptying chocolate packets into mugs. His sudden appearance startled her, and she knocked one into the sink.
“Mason, I’m sorry we woke you,” she said in a hushed voice. Her curls were a soft, disheveled cloud around her face. She was as beautiful as ever, and he was tempted to pull her into his arms and kiss her.
Lily rushed over to him. “I had a bad dream.”
He crouched to her level and pushed a curl off her forehead. “Hot chocolate is the best cure.”
Tessa was using a paper towel to wipe up the spilled powder. “I hope you don’t mind. I found the box in your pantry.”
“Not at all. Make yourself at home.”
She nodded and looked away. “Would you like some?”
“I’ll fix myself coffee.” It was half past two. “I’ll be relieving Raven soon.”
Lily yawned. She shifted closer, wrapped her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder. “Do you have marshmallows?” she asked sleepily.
Tessa observed them, her worry plain. Mason could relate. What effect would this upheaval have on Lily? She was too young to understand why she’d been ripped from her familiar world and dropped in the midst of dangerous situations. He desperately wanted to tell her that he was her dad, but he wasn’t sure when the right time would be.
Hugging her close, he said, “I don’t have any, but they’re going on the top of my grocery list.”
“I like the pink and green ones.”
“You’ll have to tell me what else you like.”
She lifted her head. Her eyes were big and dark in her pale face, and her eyelashes were thick and spiky, like his. “Pancakes and ice cream. Oranges. Grapes. Breadsticks.” She rattled off a dozen other items, and Tessa hid a smile.
“That’s a lot to remember. You and your mom can write everything down in the morning, okay?”
“Will you take me to Ed’s?”
“Who’s Ed?”
“He makes pizza.”
Tessa poured milk into the mugs. “It’s an Italian restaurant. We have lunch there every Sunday. Their pizza is top-notch.”
“Ah. Well, we have some pretty good pizza here, too.”
Lily’s brow wrinkled. “Ed gives me free ice cream.”
He wondered if Tessa had thought ahead to what would happen once Dante was no longer a threat. Surely, she wasn’t planning to return to Georgia. But would she want to live here in Serenity? This was his hometown. As a law-enforcement officer, he was widely known. She might not feel welcome or comfortable here, especially once the gossip mills latched on to the fact he had a surprise daughter.
His phone buzzed. “Raven’s heading inside.” He relayed the text. “I’ve got to go upstairs and change.”
He patted Lily’s back and stood. After setting the coffee machine to brew, he hurried to his room and changed into black cargo pants and a long-sleeved dark cotton shirt. Back downstairs, he sat at the table and began lacing up the old pair of utility boots he’d dug out of the closet when Raven entered the kitchen.
“Coffee’s brewing,” he told her. “Want some?”
She took in the scene and shook her head. Tessa offered her hot chocolate, which she also declined.
“I brought water.” Unzipping a bag she’d left on the counter, she took out a bottle and twisted the lid open. “I’m going to bunk on the couch. Good night.”
“There’s an extra guest bedroom upstairs,” he said to her retreating back.
“This is fine.”
Tessa’s gaze trailed after the female officer. When she switched her attention to him, he read the concern in the hazel depths. Putting others at risk was a problem for her. When she’d headed for Serenity, she hadn’t known she would be dealing with his entire unit.
The bathroom door closed, and the sink faucet turned on.
“Lily and I will take our hot chocolate to the bedroom so we don’t keep her awake.”
“Raven operates on very little sleep.”
Her eyebrows met. “Oh.”
“She lost someone close to her, and now she says nights are her enemy.”
“I’m sorry to hear that.”
“Do me a favor and don’t let on that you know. It’s a sensitive subject.”
“I understand.”
She watched as he slid his service weapon into the security holster attached to his utility belt. He double-checked that he had spare ammo and a full case of pepper spray. His flashlight battery was low, though, and his backup batteries were at the stables.
“What about you and the others? Your job requires quick decisions. I don’t like to think about you working on limited sleep.”
“It’s true this job demands a lot—physically, mentally and emotionally. We’re trained to deal with a number of stressors, lack of sleep being one of them.”
Mason cooled his coffee with milk and guzzled it before heading for the door.
“Be careful, Mason.”
The simple words hauled him into the past. He’d worked second shift then, so they’d spent afternoons together. Before he’d headed to work, she’d framed his face and kissed him sweetly on the lips, bidding him to be careful. Without fail.
His hand on the knob, he didn’t turn around. He didn’t want her to see how hard this was. Having her around, in his home no less, was cracking the ice around his heart and releasing memories that seared him.
With a nod, he let himself out of the house, making sure to engage the lock. The air had a distinct chill, not unusual for April in the mountains. The half-moon bathed the trees in filmy light, enough that he wouldn’t need his flashlight for most of the route he’d take around the property. He headed past the shed and leaped over the stream, which was rippling and gurgling along its shallow path.
He stopped and turned to observe the house. The kitchen light winked off, and he pictured Tessa and Lily navigating the stairs, anticipating their chocolate treat. When he’d bought the place last year, he’d known it was too big for one person. He’d hoped that one day he would meet someone to make him forget Tessa. That wasn’t a fair expectation. Maybe that’s why he hadn’t had more than a handful of casual dates. He couldn’t come to a relationship with an open heart and mind. Now that Tessa had barged back into his life, he was even less optimistic about his ability to move beyond the past.
The light from their bedroom spilled into the night. Finding that one person to share his life with was no longer important. He had a child to raise. He would focus on making up for the years he’d lost.
* * *
As Mason parked the borrowed unit truck close to the stables early Monday morning, Tessa recognized the willowy brunette hovering in the entrance.
Her stomach dropped. “Your mom is here.”
He killed the engine and removed the keys. “I meant to prepare you. She called right after my alarm went off this morning. Candace apparently wasn’t acting like herself yesterday, and Mom gathered it had something to do with my absence at church.”
“She knows everything?”
“Yes.”
Tessa mentally braced herself. Mason wasn’t the only person affected by her decisions. His mom, Gia, and Candace must’ve believed, like him, that she’d been unfaithful. Her innocence on that charge didn’t negate the fact she’d kept Lily a secret. She had hurt Mason, plain and simple. She deserved their anger and recriminations. And she would bear them, because of Lily. If she had any say, her daughter wouldn’t have ties to Tessa’s family. Gia and Candace would have to fill the void. It was too much to hope that Tessa could also claim that benefit.
Mason unbuckled his seat belt. “You can’t blame her for being impatient to meet her only grandchild.”
Tessa winced at the reproach in his voice. “Of course not. I want Gia and Candace to form a strong bond with her.”
He flicked a glance in the rearview mirror. Lily was subdued this morning, content to look through her books.
“That won’t happen if you go back to Georgia,” he asserted in a low voice. “If you try and take her away again, you’ll be in for a fight.”
Tessa’s head reared back. Mason’s jaw was hard, his body stiff.
“I wouldn’t do that to you.”
He searched her face, picking away at her with his fierce gaze, leaving her sore and exposed. Their present interactions in no way resembled what used to be. He hadn’t spoken to her in anger, hadn’t directed his frustration at her. Unlike the men in her family, Mason had treated her with a fond regard, underscored with respect. As their bond had grown stronger, fondness had deepened into something more, something rare and precious. She had believed they would be together forever.
But then he’d lost faith in her. And in the midst of her crisis, she’d run away from him instead of to him. Time wouldn’t heal their wounds, and it made her feel like giving up.
“Are we gonna see the horses?”
Lily’s voice sliced through the thick, tension-choked air. Mason’s chest expanded on a ragged sigh, and he pulled the door handle, popping open the door. “There’s someone I’d like for you to meet first.”
Mason walked with Lily, her tiny hand in his large one, and Tessa followed a few steps behind. The smells of hay, earth and horseflesh washed over her. She could hear companionable chatter and activity in the central stable area.
“Lily, this is my mom. Her name is Gia.”
Gia’s eyes were suspiciously bright and eclipsed only by her smile. “Hello, Lily.”
Lily shifted closer to Mason and leaned against his leg. Tessa’s heart fluttered. That she had taken to him so readily made this transition easier for everyone.
“She didn’t get a good night’s rest,” he informed Gia.
Gia’s forehead creased. “Poor darling. I’m not surprised, all things considered.”
Mason ushered them into the break room and closed the door. “I wish we could’ve met at my place or yours, but it’s not safe. In fact, you should have an officer escort you home.”
Gia finally looked at Tessa. “Mason told me about your troubles. You did the right thing coming here. He’s the best person to offer you protection. If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know.”
Tessa’s white-knuckled grip on the plastic chair loosened. She’d expected to be blasted or berated. The school nurse was a confident woman, someone who could handle whatever life threw at her with poise. Tessa had quickly grown to admire her fortitude. Mason thought Gia was too quick to speak her mind, but that trait was balanced by her fairness and generosity of spirit. She was also a fabulous cook. Mason and Tessa had enjoyed many Sunday-evening suppers in her home. Candace had been there, too, and it had been the closest to normal Tessa had ever experienced.
Gia had approved of their relationship, but she’d let them know they needed God as their foundation. Tessa wished now she’d heeded the other woman’s wise advice. Her troubles had eventually driven her straight into God’s arms, however. She didn’t regret that part of her past.
Silver knocked on the door and, poking his head in, addressed Mason. “We’ve got a lead.”
Tessa would’ve liked to go with him, but Lily reached for her, clearly not in the mood to be left with a stranger.
Tessa dropped into a chair and pulled Lily onto her lap. Gia settled on the opposite side of the table and clasped her hands on the smooth top. The ceiling lights shimmered over her brilliant gold-and-diamond wedding ring set that Mason said she’d refused to take off, no matter how many years had passed since her husband’s death.
Her brown gaze soaked in everything Lily. “She’s a beautiful child.”
“I know my decisions don’t make sense to you.”
“I am hurt,” she admitted. “And shocked. I didn’t see this coming.”
“I owe you an apology.”
“Mason explained the initial misunderstanding between you two and why you didn’t seek him out.” Her gaze was full of compassion. “I was a single mother for most of Mason and Candace’s teen years. I worked hard to create a safe, loving environment for them. I can imagine the fear and uncertainty you grappled with. If I had been in your shoes, I might’ve made the same choice.” The creases at the corners of her eyes became more pronounced. “My son changed after you left. There was a long stretch of time when I wondered if he’d ever recover. This unit, the horses and training, brought him back to life. I won’t lie—I’m worried how your reappearance will impact him. I can’t bear to see him suffer again.”
“That’s the last thing I want, Gia.”
Before the other woman could respond, Tessa’s phone rang. She fished it out of her purse and frowned at the unknown number. She chose not to answer. Instead of a voice mail, a text came through. A photo of a couple she didn’t know, tied and gagged.
Her throat closed up.
“What’s wrong?” Gia said.
A second text came through. Answer my call, darling sister.
Shoving the chair away from the table, she lowered Lily to the floor. The phone began to ring. A video-chat request, no less.
“Lily, I need for you to stay with Gia for a few minutes.”
“But, Mommy—”
Gia stood. “Is it okay if I show her the horses?”
Tessa nodded her assent before hurrying into the hall and bursting into the conference-style office they’d used the day before. Mason was there with Silver, Officer Bell and a deputy.
“Dante’s calling. He has hostages, I think. I have to answer.”
Mason surged out of his chair and strode over.
She swiped the screen and was greeted by her brother’s deceptively serene face. “What have you done, Dante?”
“Is that any way to greet your only brother?” he chided, his smile at odds with the glitter in his black eyes.
“How did you get my number?”
He shrugged. “I had Jorge fly down to Georgia and search your house. You really should go paperless, Tessa.”
“Who are those people?”
“The Pascals? They’re my reluctant hosts.” He began walking through what looked like a cabin. The rustic furniture and decorative nods to black bears and the mountains told her he was nearby. The view flipped to reveal the couple in the photo. “Say hello to my sister. Oh, I forgot, you’re indisposed.”
The man and woman were both fair-haired. They were strapped to dining chairs and seated side by side. Gags prevented them from speaking, but their eyes broadcast their terror. Blood trickled along the man’s temple.
They looked like nice people. Somewhere, there were family members who loved them. Perhaps children and grandchildren. They were in danger through no fault of their own.
“Please don’t hurt them.” She started trembling from head to toe.
Mason’s hand came to rest on her lower back, his fingers curving around her waist.
“I’ll let them live if you agree to turn yourself over to me.”
She’d known that was coming. Sticky, slimy dread wound through her.
“Okay. I’ll do it.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Mason growled. Reaching up, he twisted the phone so that Dante could see him. “You’re not going to lay another hand on Tessa.”
Dante’s smile was cold enough to freeze a mountain waterfall in summer. “Sergeant Reed, I can’t say it’s a pleasure to speak with you again. Let me get this straight—you’re saying Tessa’s life is more important than these people’s?” Turning the video on them, he said, “Did you hear that? Local law enforcement isn’t willing to save you. You should’ve chosen another place to vacation.”
There was movement and a sudden, charged blast. The woman’s muffled screams stabbed Tessa. The ma
n’s face contorted as blood formed a blossoming stain on his thigh.
Beside her, Mason went rigid. Around the table, Silver and the others jumped to their feet, ready to respond.
“You’ve made your point,” Tessa gasped. “Where and when? Tell me, and I’ll meet you.”
“Noon. I’ll text you the location right before.” His mouth became an ugly slash. “And, Tessa, bring my niece.”
The call ended. A terrible silence descended.
“You’re not going to him,” Mason declared, his eyes flinty.
“Those people are in danger because of me.”
“You’re not sacrificing yourself. I won’t allow it.”
EIGHT
Mason could feel the other officers’ surprise. His customary equanimity had splintered. And no wonder. Tessa had just offered herself in trade.
“What other option do I have?” she cried, her voice quaking. “That man will die for sure if I don’t, and the woman, too. Dante will shoot her out of spite.”
“What about Lily?”
Her hands fisted. “He can’t have her.”
“I meant would you leave her without a mother? And when he realizes she’s not with you, what will he do to the Pascals then?”
Silver edged past the other officers. “That name sounds familiar. Show me the photo?”
She pulled up the text and let him peruse it. “The angle doesn’t show any defining architectural features.”
“You think this could be one of your cabins?” Mason said.
“It’s possible.”
Mason tried to get a handle on his emotions while his partner contacted his assistant.
“Lindsey, I need you to check the rental roster and tell me if we have anyone by the name of Pascal.” His forehead crimped, and his gray hair slid into his eyes. He flicked it away impatiently. “Their wedding anniversary? You told me last week?” Silver paced the narrow distance between the door and the table. “I do listen to you. How else would I have recognized the name?”
