by Rebecca Rode
“Shel.” Alan let out a deep breath. “I’m not completely stupid. I hadn’t been seen in public for years. A little plastic surgery and a different hair color did wonders.”
As they worked in silence, Shelby found herself glancing at him from the corner of her eyes. Alan really was her father. The thought of the almost-lies he’d told her over the years made a part of her furious. And yet she couldn’t deny that part of her rejoiced. Alan was her father. Who had lied to her. Her mind kept spinning around and around, back and forth, like she was trapped on the Disney teacup ride and had no way off. She felt betrayed by Alan. Again.
Betrayal. Alan had just been betrayed by someone he thought of as a friend. Had Philip been plotting this for years? Or had something changed recently? It didn’t make sense.
“Did Philip know you before?” She kept her voice low and glanced at Alan, not surprised at the pained expression that crossed his face.
“Not since the beginning, if that’s what you mean.” Alan gave the support hose rope one last tug and turned to her. “When my old head of security decided to retire, he suggested Philip. I knew about him through my daily reports. He’d been especially effective in handling a nasty chemical accident on the outskirts of Jakarta. That’s where his wife’s people are from. Philip had a young family and a driving desire to succeed for them. Accepting him on my detail, letting someone new into my inner sanctum, was my first step toward a normal life.”
“Are you done?” Wade had to raise his voice against a loud rattling of the windows. “I don’t know how long the glass will hold if these gusts get any worse.” He must have moved the table away from the window while they’d been tying up the doors. “Once we open this window, it’s going to be a mess in here.”
“Wouldn’t Philip have at least one of his people out there watching for us?” she asked.
“Unlikely in this weather,” Alan said.
“Shel.” Wade pointed to her stash of food on the desk. “Be sure to bring that.”
She hurried to him, grabbing the food on her way. Alan followed behind her, a hand at the small of her back.
“As soon as it’s open, we need to move fast.” Wade bent to slide the window up, blocking a view of the outside. He stiffened and stepped back to reveal a shadowy face looking at them through the glass.
Chapter 11
SHELBY’S HEART LEAPED INTO HER throat until she recognized Ava. But who did she work for? Drenched, strands of her long hair whipping in the wind, the woman made a motion to open the window. Shelby only hesitated a moment. She unlocked the window and raised it. Just as Wade had predicted, the wind gushed into the room swirling papers and knocking over a lamp near the desk.
“Hurry. Get out.” Ava already had the screen off.
Shelby didn’t hesitate and lifted her leg over the opening, nervous at how hard the wind made it to get through. One of the men gave her back a little push, and she finally stumbled out. Alan came next, followed by Wade.
“Quick,” Wade said. “They’re at the door.”
“We have to get you away from here.” Ava took Shelby’s arm and began towing her away from the building, the wind now at their backs and pressing them forward.
She stumbled along with the bodyguard. Her eyes adjusted to the dark, until flashes of lightning blinded her temporarily. Ava pressed on. Shivering, Shelby looked over her shoulder. Where were Wade and Alan?
“Where are you taking us?” She didn’t know if the other woman heard the words because Ava didn’t stop. Shelby pulled her arm free and turned back. A branch whipped by and nearly struck her in the face. She ducked and staggered back.
“Do you want to get caught?” Ava shouted, keeping Shelby from falling.
“Where are Wade and Alan?” Shelby shouted back, peering into the darkness. Nothing. A sick knot twisted in her gut. Had they been caught?
Then a sharp glare of lightning showed two men, one with his arm around the other, stumbling toward them—and another larger group approaching from behind. Her whole body seemed to turn to ice. What had happened to Alan? She dashed toward Wade and Alan, sensing Ava running along with her.
The bodyguard took up position at Alan’s other side, but Shelby shouted, “You lead us.”
She watched with gratitude as the other woman didn’t hesitate but moved ahead and cleared their path. Shelby didn’t even want to think what might be wrong with Alan. He had to be okay.
He didn’t say anything, but his weight seemed to get heavier as they walked. They just kept plodding along, and she had no idea how far they’d gone. All she felt was cold and wet and fear. Then, at another flash of lightning, Ava shoved her to the side. Like a domino set, they crashed into some bushes.
“What the—” Wade began.
“Shh,” Martinez snapped. “They’ll be blinded.”
Shelby understood then; Philip’s men must be close. So they crouched in the copse like scared little rabbits, listening for the sound of Philip and his henchmen. She held her arm around Alan. Her father. Had he had a heart attack? But she didn’t dare speak, even in a whisper, for fear of discovery.
After what seemed an eternity, Ava signaled for them to follow her out the other side of the copse. Alan roused and tried to help them get him to his feet again, but that little effort seemed to take everything out of him. He shuffled in the mud, seeming unable to lift his feet. Wade hefted him over his shoulders in a fireman’s carry.
Ava led them up a narrow trail, finally stopping before what looked like another copse of bushes. She brushed aside some hanging vines. Shelby recognized the old, abandoned concrete building. Brilliant. Ava opened the door, and Wade stumbled inside.
“Careful,” Ava said. “We left a mess in here.” She turned on her phone, the light nearly blinding them.
As Shelby and Wade made their way through the labyrinth of crates to the back corner, she told herself not to think of rats. He eased Alan onto the cot. She knelt on the small space beside her father and touched his cheek. The skin felt cold even against her frigid hands.
“Masters, help me move this in front of the door.” Martinez struggled with a large crate.
“Let’s stack a few on top of each other.” Wade hurried to help her.
“Most of them are empty, but okay,” Ava said.
“Alan?” Shelby touched his face again, not sure if the chill to his skin came only from the rain. Her father. Hadn’t she wanted this, Alan to be her father? With his obvious mortality staring back at her, something seemed to click inside. She just didn’t care anymore. “Dad?”
“I like that.” He lifted his hand to her cheek, and she clasped it, pressing it against her.
“What do you like?” she asked.
“Hearing you call me Dad.”
“I like calling you that.”
He started to say something, but it came out as a groan. His body tensed, then went limp.
“No!” She clutched him to her. “Don’t you dare leave me. Do you hear?” Her last word came out in a sob.
Wade appeared at her side. He dropped the blanket he held, knelt, and pressed two fingers to the side of her father’s throat. “His pulse is irregular but strong. Does he have heart problems?”
“Not that he’s ever mentioned.” Shelby shivered. “What happened to him back there?”
“He couldn’t get his breath and said he was dizzy. Let’s get him warmed up and see if that helps.” Wade picked up the blanket and spread it over her father. “You know, if he had a heart attack, he’s lucky.”
“How so?” Shelby tucked the blanket in.
“He could have just dropped dead like my grandfather. He’d been complaining about indigestion and then was … just gone. We found out that one in three people who have a heart attack die right away.”
She put her face in her hands.
“Shel, I’m sorry. I only meant it’s a good sign he’s still here. You need to eat again.” Wade pointed to the bag still wrapped around her wrist. “You’ll feel bett
er.”
She opened the bag and pulled out a package of trail mix.
Wade took it from her and used a pocket knife to open it before handing it back. “Is there enough to share?”
“Yes.” She handed him the bag. “We have to get my father to the hospital.”
“I have help coming,” Ava said. “But they can’t get here until the storm clears.”
“How did you get through to them?” Wade rose and took the bag over to the bodyguard. “I thought they’d done something to the communications.”
“They did, but I don’t put all my trust in one system.” Ava pulled a second, larger phone from the pocket in her trousers. “I like to carry my own backup.”
“Satellite phone?” Wade grinned and handed her a package of cookies. “But does kid Shang know you have that?”
“Nope. A girl has to have her secrets.”
“How long before help can come?” Shelby asked.
“Well, I told Grantham security that the boss’s primo project was under a terrorist attack, and the boss himself was here.” Ava sighed, pulling out a cookie. “So, Mr. Bradley really is Grantham? And you didn’t know?”
“I didn’t.” Shelby brushed aside a wet strand of hair from his forehead.
“No offense, chica, but you got one messed up family.”
“Tell me about it.”
Ava turned on the phone and dialed a number. She updated whoever she was talking to on their whereabouts and status, including Mr. Grantham’s situation. When she finished the call, she looked back at them. “See if you two can get some sleep.”
Wade came back with another blanket. He handed it to Shelby and lifted Alan’s feet. She sat on the cot, and Wade joined her, resting her father’s legs on their laps. She pulled the blanket around them, grateful for the warmth of the scratchy wool.
She reached over to squeeze Wade’s hand, and he kissed her temple. Dear Wade. All those years, she’d clung to her anger and hurt like some prize she’d won. The weight of what she’d lost sat heavy on her shoulders. She hoped they’d have a little more time together.
Shelby must have fallen asleep, because she woke with a start, stiff and confused. It all came flooding back. Alan stirred, and Shelby bent closer. “Dad?” His eyelids fluttered, and he mumbled something. “What did you say?” She turned her ear closer to his mouth.
“I’m so proud of you.” His words faded out.
“It’s all because of you.” She kissed his forehead. “Promise me you’ll stay with me.”
“Just keep calling me ... Dad.” His voice turned into barely a whisper with the last word.
“I will. I—”
“Shh!” Ava hissed, suddenly alert.
Shelby snapped her mouth shut, straining to hear. Ava rose, the blanket around her shoulders dropping to the floor. The storm had died down while Shelby slept, because she had no trouble hearing voices now. Someone jiggled the door, and Ava backed away from it, pulling out a revolver Shelby hadn’t noticed before. She reached over and clasped Wade’s hand.
“This must be that place Ava mentioned,” Shang Junior said.
Ava cursed softly.
“Well, do you think they’re in there?” Definitely Philip, and he sounded angry.
“They must be. She didn’t lead them to the Cave,” Shang Junior said.
“Break down the door,” his father commanded.
Ava had already pulled out the sat phone. “They’ve found us,” she said softly into it. “I’m putting this on speaker so be sure to record it.” After setting it on a crate, she said, “You two, cover your heads with the blankets.”
Something big and heavy hit the door with a thud, and they all jumped. Ava picked up her revolver again. Did she think to put herself between them and Shang’s men?
“What are you doing, Ava?” Shelby struggled to stand.
Another blow hit so hard the crates shook.
“Do you really think they’re going to let any of us live?” Ava asked, glancing back at them over her shoulder.
“Do you really think they’re not going to find us hiding under the blankets?” Wade asked.
“At least get out of the line of fire.” She faced the door again.
The next heavy thud made a terrible creaking, as though the strike had hit some living creature that groaned with pain.
Shelby found her feet and positioned herself in front of her father. No more hiding. Wade stood beside her and took her hand. She relaxed her knees, her body ready to move like she’d been taught in tennis.
“Shel?” Wade whispered.
“Yeah?”
“If we live through this, will you marry me?”
Shelby blinked and looked up at him. “Even with all this baggage I bring?”
“You know me, the thrill junky. At least there’s never a dull moment in the Grantham household.”
One last blow and the door hit the crate, toppling the empty top one to the floor with another crash. Dim morning light filled the room from the opening. Shelby blinked against the change.
“There’s something in the way,” a man’s voice said.
“Well, keep pushing.” The fatigue in Philip’s voice made Shelby smile grimly. They must have been wandering in the storm all this time.
“I’ll shoot the first man through that door,” Ava called. “And you know I don’t miss, Shang.”
“Now, Ava. How fitting that you should join us.” Philip’s smooth words didn’t fit the tightness in his voice. “I’m sorry to see you get pulled into this. You had a great future with Grantham Industries. There’s time to reconsider your position. I can make it worth your while to join my personal staff.”
“As your bodyguard? Hmm.” She paused as though considering it. “Yeah, you’ll need a guard in prison, won’t you? Especially for your pretty boy son. You wouldn’t want him to be turned into some con’s girlfriend, would you?” Shang Junior growled something, but Ava continued, “I think ... no.” She threw something out in Spanish, the disgust in her voice so rich it had to have been an insult.
Philip swore. “Get that door open.”
Ava lifted her revolver to the ready.
***
Wade’s mind ran in all directions. He’d never felt so helpless in his life, even more than when Shelby had walked away. It really ticked him off that he’d finally gotten her back and now this psycho wanted to kill them all. Wade steadied his breath; he needed to be calm for Shelby.
“Why don’t you shoot through the door?” he asked.
“They have semiautomatics.” Martinez continued to point her revolver at the door. “Do you really want me to invite them to open up on us?”
The older Shang yelled at his men to push harder.
“But if they need my dad, they won’t risk killing him, will they?” Shelby tightened her grip on Wade’s hand.
“Who knows what those nuts will do?” He glanced around the room, wishing they had something else to use to protect themselves.
Shang’s commands must have worked because the door eased open again.
Shelby heaved a deep breath as though preparing herself to go into battle. He’d seen her do it many times in the past, fighting for him. But those had been verbal battles. She slid her hand from his and stepped over to the small crate that must have served as a nightstand back in the day.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
She turned to face him, her eyes huge, her hands clasped around something. “You’ll see in a minute. Stay with my dad.” Quickly, she went to stand beside Martinez.
“What’s that?” Martinez eyed Shelby’s clasped hands.
“Let them come in,” Shelby said.
All of Wade’s “danger” senses fired up. “Shel, what—”
The door banged open with a hard shove. A rifle appeared in the opening.
“Don’t shoot, Ava.” Shelby kept her eyes pinned to the door.
“You want to just let them take us?”
“I want Philip in he
re.” Shelby continued to stare at the door, her voice tight. “Do whatever’s necessary to make that happen. Tell him we want to parlay.”
From his vantage point in the corner, Wade could tell from Martinez’s back that she wasn’t happy. Going down without a fight obviously didn’t sit well with her. What did Shelby have planned? Wade ducked down behind the crates and made his way to the small box that she had gotten into. He looked inside and choked.
Chapter 12
SHELBY’S HEART POUNDED SO HARD it made her lightheaded. She closed her eyes for a second, forcing herself to calm down. Philip had to feel confident in his win, so he’d come inside.
The guard had his rifle now pointed at them from around the door. He eased into the room and paused when he saw what Ava had pointed at his head.
“Remember,” she said. “I never miss. Tell your boss we want to parlay.”
“Mr. Shang,” the man called, “they want to talk.”
“Then have them come out—” Philip broke off when the bullet from Ava’s revolver hit the wall just an inch from the guard’s face, sending concrete chips flying into the open doorway. A little piece hit the goon’s cheek. A trickle of blood ran from the cut.
Shelby had jumped at the shot, and so had the man. For a second she thought he might open fire on them, but a sharp reprimand from Philip held him back.
“I spared your man at Ms. Nash’s request,” Ava said.
“Grantham.” Shelby kept her attention on the door and her hands hidden behind a fold of her skirt.
“At Ms. Grantham’s request.” Ava raised her voice.
“I want to negotiate terms, Philip. I can make it easy for you,” Shelby said, proud that the shaking in her hands hadn’t translated to her voice. “In here.”
“Is it safe?” Philip asked, his voice low.
“You mean except for the psycho pointing a gun at me?” the goon asked.
“Is Charles with you?” Philip raised his voice.
“He’s here, but he’s injured,” Ava said. “We need to come to an agreement so we can get him to the hospital.”
“Keep the rifle on Martinez,” Philip said, his tone none too pleased.
