by S. J. Bishop
As I watched Franklin walk around the room with the baby in his arms, I knew that I couldn’t let him go. I had come knocking on his door hoping for temporary support, but now, things were different.
I wanted to stay.
15
Franklin
Is the baby coming home today?” Gina asked as soon as I placed her breakfast in front of her.
“Yes.”
She giggled with glee.
“Just as soon as you finish your breakfast.”
Her eyes widened before she started to scarf down her food.
I chuckled, watching her shovel cereal into her mouth.
Meanwhile, I sipped on my coffee – black, no sugar. I was nervous. This would be a huge commitment, especially with a woman I knew so little about.
Just then, my phone rang. Cruz’s name appeared on the screen. I hesitated to answer it. Would it really be my friend, or would it be Dean, once again trying to torment me?
Eventually, I gathered the courage to pick up, walking into the living room for some privacy.
“Hello?” I answered, a bit of trepidation in my voice.
“Franklin! Today’s the big day, isn’t it?”
My shoulders dropped in relief. “Yeah, I’m bringing her home today. Have the guards picked up anything suspicious?”
“Nothing. The hospital’s been quiet. I think Dean went into hiding.”
“But… why? It doesn’t make any sense. First, he kidnaps Lauren and then he leaves me an obnoxiously easy message to decode. I thought for sure it was a trap, but when I got to the park, there she was, completely unguarded. It feels too easy.”
“I’ve been thinking the same thing. Trust me, I have most of VanGuard trying to find this guy, but he knows how to stay off the grid. But don’t worry, we’re going to find him. In the meantime, I’ll keep security tight. Nothing is going to get to her again. I can promise you that.”
“Good.”
“Are you at least wearing the gun I gave you?”
“You know I don’t do guns. Besides, I’m not going to carry a gun with me around my newborn child.”
I could almost hear Cruz rolling his eyes.
“Look, if push comes to shove, I think I’m stronger than Dean, even on a bad day.”
“Don’t underestimate him. He’s spent a long time in jail. He’s had more than enough time to bulk up. You, on the other hand, are not the same man who served as a Navy SEAL. Remember that.”
“Are you calling me old?”
“No. I just don’t want you to underestimate your enemy. In our line of work, that could be fatal.”
“You think I don’t know that?”
“Anyway, Amelia and I will be there in the afternoon to meet the little guy.”
“Great. Um… do you think Amelia could make something for dinner and bring it over?”
“I’m sure she’d be happy to. If not, I’ll pick something up on the way over.”
“You’re the best.”
“I try.” With that, he clicked off.
Gina was standing in the middle of the living room, already zipped into her jacket. “I’m ready!” she exclaimed, looking like a tiny soldier about to fulfill marching orders.
I chuckled. “Someone’s excited to meet her baby brother.”
She nodded so hard that it looked like her head would pop off.
“Alright, let’s go.”
When we arrived at the hospital, Lauren was already in a wheelchair, holding Frankie in her arms. He wore tiny blue socks on his feet and matching mittens on his hands.
Gina ran up to Lauren and peered at the baby, curiosity in her eyes.
“Careful, he’s not a doll,” I warned. “You have to be extra gentle with him, okay?”
She nodded. “Can I touch him?”
Lauren took her hand, letting her fingers sweep across his chubby cheek.
“He’s so soft!”
Lauren chuckled.
“I thought babies didn’t have hair,” she observed, pointing to the tuft of blackness on her brother’s head.
“Most babies don’t, but some do,” I explained. “So, what do you think? Do you like your new brother?”
“I do! Can I hold him?”
“As soon as we get home, okay?” I answered.
“Okay.”
We waited a few more minutes for the release papers. Oddly enough, there was a golden envelope clipped to the documents. A corner of it was discolored, as if it had fallen into water.
Lauren’s eyes flashed with fear when she saw it, but she didn’t say a word. She just held it in her hands for a moment, her fingers shaking.
“What is it?”
She shook her head and shoved it into her bag. Quickly, she signed the necessary papers, looking like she was all too eager to get home.
Not wanting to delay a moment further, I grabbed the handles of her wheelchair and pushed her through the maze of hallways.
In the parking lot, I grabbed Frankie and strapped him into his car seat. He gurgled at me, blowing a bubble between his lips. I smiled at him and bopped his nose. The soft giggle that emerged made me feel like the happiest man in the universe.
Gina took her seat beside him. She had graduated to a booster seat with her sudden growth spurt right before school. She didn’t take her eyes off her brother. I could tell that she was going to be an amazing older sister.
When I emerged from the back seat, Lauren was trying to get to her feet. “What are you doing? Let me help you.” I grabbed her by the elbows, steadying her before she could fall. “I don’t want you to hurt yourself.”
She blushed slightly as she looked at me, our faces dangerously close. I remembered the kiss we had shared right after Frankie’s birth. It had been quick and spontaneous, but it was something that had been replaying in my mind in a constant loop. I had thought about kissing her again, but I could never find the right moment. Now, however, I allowed my inhibitions to melt away as I leaned her against the car and kissed her sweet, sweet lips. My hands fell to her hips, holding them tight, letting my emotions come to the forefront.
I couldn’t tell whether I genuinely liked this woman or if it was the fact that she had given me a son, but I could feel a fire burning inside of me. I wanted to hold her close. I wanted to keep her in my arms – forever.
16
Lauren
My body surged with pleasure as Franklin kissed me. I never thought I would enjoy kissing this man. But now that I had tasted him, I knew I would never want another.
Every second I spent locked against his body felt like time spent in heaven. My fingers weaved into his hair, tugging on it. He pulled me even closer, leaving no space between our hips. A surge of excitement crept through my spine.
All too soon, however, he pulled away. As he looked at me, I could tell there was a sense of hesitation. He was holding back.
“Sorry…” he mumbled before opening the door for me.
I shook my head. “Don’t apologize…” I wanted to say more, but I couldn’t get my mind to work. His kiss had turned it into mush.
As he started to drive, he remained quiet.
The silence unnerved me. I feared that I had done something wrong. After all, why would he want a relationship with me? I was just some freeloader who had knocked on his door in the middle of the night, begging for help. I was probably nothing more than a pity case.
Yet, I knew there was something there. I could feel it.
When we pulled into his driveway, I had reached a height of nervousness. What if he asked me to leave? What if he no longer wanted anything to do with me now that the baby was born? These questions terrified me so much that I could not move an inch of my body. I remained inside the car like a frozen statue.
Gina was the one to open my door. She smiled and held out her hand.
I looked at the little girl. Her bright, happy demeanor quelled some of my fears. I took her hand and eased out of the car. She continued to hold my hand, guiding me inside
. Behind us, Franklin cradled his son in one arm while carrying my bag in the other.
“I want to show you something,” he said, stepping in front of us. Together, we walked down the hallway to the guest bedroom where I had stayed for the last month.
As soon as he opened the door, I was overwhelmed by the transformation. I gasped, my hands covering my mouth in disbelief. “How did you manage to do all this…?”
“A lot of sleepless nights put to good use. I also called a few of my friends to help. I hope you like it.”
“It’s beautiful…” I whispered, still in a state of utter awe.
The room had been repurposed into a nursery. The walls were painted in a soft baby blue, decorated with gray elephants. There was a large crib placed against the far wall. Above it was a mobile where tiny elephants danced in midair. The hardwood had been covered up by a soft, plush carpet that would allow the baby to crawl around when it got a little older. There was even a chest filled with toys.
I slumped into a nearby chair, trying to wrap my mind around the Herculean effort Franklin had made for me and the baby.
“Can I hold the baby now?” Gina asked, interrupting the silence that had settled in the room.
Franklin nodded, directing her to a big blue chair tucked away in the corner.
She climbed onto it and quickly settled herself.
“Now, you’ve got to be careful, okay? This is your brother and you have to treat him nicely.”
Gina nodded. “I would never hurt my baby brother!”
Franklin laughed, kissing the top of her head. “I know you wouldn’t. You’re going to be an amazing sister.”
“You think so?” She beamed up at her father.
“I know so.” He assured, gently easing our son into her arms. “Now remember, the most important thing is to keep his head supported.”
Gina nodded. She did exactly as she was told, holding the baby with utmost care. There was a bright smile on her face as she looked at her brother. “He’s so cute!” she squealed. She started to talk to him, ranting on and on about all the fun things they would do together.
As I watched her, I was filled with a flare of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this would all work out.
Soon, Frankie fell asleep. I got up, scooped him up, and placed him in the crib. I leaned over it, watching his sleeping face. He looked like a tiny angel.
“Do you mind giving us a minute, sweetie?”
Gina frowned. She didn’t want to leave her baby brother.
“Please?”
“Okay,” she relented, walking out of the room.
Franklin closed the door. “I just wanted to apologize.”
“For what?”
“For what happened. That man… he came after you because he was trying to get to me.”
I furrowed my brow in confusion. With all the excitement surrounding the baby, I had barely thought about my kidnapper. I had dismissed it as some freak occurrence, but now, as I thought about it, there were a million questions I wanted to ask. I started with the most important one. “Why?”
He sighed and sat down. “A long time ago, he tried to hack into the Pentagon. He was getting dangerously close to overriding the safety codes that keep our missiles from blowing up half the world. No one was a match for his skill. Somehow, however, I managed to break his code and figure out where he was hiding. He was arrested and put in jail. But… a few weeks ago… he escaped. I knew he would be coming after me. I was careless. I should’ve been more vigilant. I should’ve told you, but I was scared you’d run away and then I’d never get to see the baby… It was selfish of me, I know…”
I took in his words, trying to process them. Most of it made little sense to me. But I could hear the sincerity in his voice. I knew he truly regretted putting me in danger, which meant he cared about me. Gently, I laid a hand on his shoulder. “I don’t blame you.”
“You don’t?”
“No.” I shook my head. “You saved me – and the baby. That’s all that matters to me…” I sat down beside him. “But where is he now? Is he going to try to hurt us again?”
“I don’t know… he’s a dangerous man. He could be up to anything.”
“If something happens… will you save me again?”
He took my hands in his and looked deep into my eyes. “I would go to the ends of the Earth if it meant keeping you safe.”
17
Franklin
I meant what I said. This woman had come to mean more to me than just a burden. There was a part of me that wanted to keep her safe – to protect her from all the wrongs in the world. I felt like an alpha male protecting his mate.
“Thank you,” she whispered, laying her head on my shoulder. “That means a lot to me.”
I wrapped my arms around her torso and pulled her close. I rocked her gently and kissed the top of her head.
“There’s something I need to tell you,” she said so suddenly that it took me by surprise.
“What is it?”
“When that man kidnapped me… he placed that envelope you saw in my pocket. He told me to keep in touch… It didn’t even cross my mind to tell you. I was so preoccupied with the baby…”
“Where is it?” I demanded. It had to be a clue.
“In my bag…”
I flew out of my seat and out of the room. In the living room, I snatched the bag up and rummaged through it, eventually finding the envelope. I tore through the seal and pulled out a postcard.
It depicted a scene in Germany. Was that where he was hiding? No. That would be much too easy. Dean never made anything easy.
I flipped it over to see his handwriting.
Greetings from Berlin! It really is a very beautiful city. I think I might stay here a while, enjoy the food and women as I decide what I want to do with you. Who knows? Maybe I will lose interest and let you live your life, or maybe I’m still watching you and tracking your every move. It’s so easy to spy on people these days. After all, Big Brother is always watching. From your phone to your laptop, it’ll be easy to track down your location. You leave behind a digital trail that’s so easy to follow. You make my life boring. But I’ll make it interesting. Until we meet again, Dean.
I ground my teeth together. Why couldn’t he just leave me alone? Quickly, I snapped a picture and sent it to Cruz. Maybe he could make some sense of it. We had to get to the bottom of this – one way or another.
Almost instantly, he texted back. Where’d that come from?
He slipped it into Lauren’s pocket when he kidnapped her.
Why are you getting it now?
The baby.
For a while, Cruz was unresponsive.
Lauren stepped into the room, holding Frankie in her arms. “Is everything alright?”
“No…” I ran my fingers through my hair, pacing around the room. A part of me wanted to hide this from her, but at the same time, I knew she had a right to know. I gave her the postcard.
She read through it, her expression becoming one of horror. “Would it really be that easy for someone to track us down?”
“I’m afraid so… I’ll have to see your phone. I need to disable all location settings and anything else that can be used to track your movements. We have to be careful.” I looked over my shoulder as if Dean would emerge from the shadows at any moment.
“Are we… safe?”
I hesitated. “Yes.”
“How?”
“The company I work for specializes in keeping people safe. We have the best bodyguards and security specialists in the world. Even as we speak, this place is under tight surveillance. It would be difficult for anyone to get through.”
“Difficult… but not impossible,” she said.
I frowned. “Yes.”
She held Frankie a little tighter. “I’m scared.”
“Don’t be. I won’t let anything happen to you ever again.” I folded her into my arms, my hands running up and down her back in a comforting motion. “I’ll keep you safe. I p
romise.”
My phone buzzed. I’d be careful around her.
A spark of anger flared inside of me. How could Cruz accuse Lauren of being a part of this? She was the mother of my child. The DNA tests had proven it – they had eliminated all doubts that at one point had plagued my mind. She wasn’t in cahoots with Dean – it was impossible.
But in the back of my mind, I considered it as a possibility. After all, it was all a little too convenient – too perfectly pieced together.
I narrowed my eyes in her direction, trying to discover her true intentions.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing.”
She frowned. “Did you get news about something?”
“No.”
My phone buzzed again. I’m going to put Ned on this case. He’s our newest intern. The boy’s a genius. If anyone (other than you) can crack this, it’s him. Trust me, we’re going to get to the bottom of this.
Thanks. I answered back quickly, aware of Lauren’s gaze.
“Tell me,” she whispered.
“It’s nothing,” I repeated. “Don’t worry about it. Come on, let’s get Frankie settled so we can go to bed ourselves. We have a few hours before my friends get here, and even a few hours of rest would do us both some good.”
“What about Gina?”
“I’m sure she’s playing in her room. She’ll be fine.”
She nodded in agreement. Together, we laid him down in his crib and set up the baby monitor on the nightstand so we would be able to hear him when he needed us.
Lauren lingered by the door, hesitant to leave him. I finally took her hand and pulled her away.
“Wait… this is your bedroom…”
“Yes… and?”
“What am I doing here?”
“Well, since the guest room turned into a nursery, I thought we could share a bed. Is that a problem?”
