Protecting His Secret Son

by Laura Scott

  After pulling his weapon out of its holster, he grimaced as water drained out. He’d learned while attending the police academy that a submerged gun may still fire, but without much accuracy. He shook the river water out and carried the weapon anyway. Accuracy may not be great, but he figured the gun might act as a deterrent. He crouched behind a clump of bushes, peering through the branches to see if the gunman was heading over to find them.

  He listened intently, trying to pick out sounds different than the river. A movement along the shoreline on the other side of the bridge caught his eye and he narrowed his gaze when he realized someone was making their way through the trees toward the bridge.

  Other than tightening his grip on his weapon, he didn’t move. Tracking the gunman wasn’t easy since he disappeared from time to time behind trees and brush. From this distance Mike couldn’t even tell what the guy looked like.

  Had the gunman seen them in the water? Maybe not, since it appeared the guy was heading toward their stuck SUV.

  Unless there was more than one gunman. The thought made his blood run cold. Two gunmen would split up, each taking one side of the river.

  Mike faded silently back into the brush, his heart pounding with adrenaline. He needed to get back to Shayla and Brodie. He’d protect them with his own life, if necessary.

  Thankfully they were in the exact same spot tucked between the bases of two trees. With a frown, he realized they were shivering and instantly crossed over to kneel beside them.

  “I caught sight of one man making his way to the SUV,” he whispered, his mouth near Shayla’s ear. “We need to stay very quiet in case there’s more than one man looking for us.”

  Shayla nodded, although it was clear she was doing her best to keep her teeth from chattering.

  “Let’s sit together to stay warm, keeping Brodie between us.”

  She didn’t argue, shifting her position so that Brodie was sandwiched between them. Mike wrapped his left arm around Shayla’s shoulder, keeping the gun in his right, wishing he could do more. He hated knowing Shayla and Brodie were in danger. He knew they hadn’t been followed and wondered if the construction ploy was nothing more than a carefully laid trap.

  One that he’d driven right into.

  He should have turned around and found a different place to stay. But it was too late for regrets. He needed to stay focused on their current situation.

  Although he knew, only too well, that if anything happened to Shayla or their son, he’d never forgive himself. So he did the only thing he could.

  He bowed his head and prayed.

  * * *

  Despite their soaked clothing, Shayla reveled in the warmth radiating from Mike’s arm curled around her shoulders. And with Brodie warming up between them, she was relieved and thankful the boy had stopped shivering.

  Sitting on the hard ground was far from comfortable, but she forced herself to ignore the rocks and twigs poking at her.

  Mike’s report of seeing the gunman moving toward their SUV was sobering. Especially if there was more than one of them out there. She couldn’t hear anything above the rushing of the river and the thundering beat of her heart.

  Why was this happening? Shayla could feel a surge of panic bubbling up inside and took several deep breaths in an attempt to ward it off.

  Sensing her distress, Mike gently squeezed her shoulder and pressed a kiss to her temple in wordless support. She didn’t want to consider the possibility that the three of them could die here.

  Praying like the Callahans didn’t come naturally to her, but that didn’t stop her from trying. She wanted to believe that God cared about her and Brodie, despite their lack of formal religious teaching.

  Please keep us safe, Lord. I’m sorry I never attended church, but I do believe in Your strength and grace. I hope You provide me a second chance to do better, raising Brodie to believe. Amen.

  A low humming noise broke into her thoughts and she sucked in a harsh breath, glancing around in horror. Had they been found? Would the gunman silence them forever?

  Her heart was beating so fast she felt weak and shaky. Then she saw Mike pull the plastic bag with fish crackers and his phone from his breast pocket.

  “It works,” he whispered in an awed yet hushed tone. He quickly pulled it from the bag and lifted it to his ear. “Matt? Where are you?”

  Shayla couldn’t hear the other side of the conversation, but just knowing Matt was calling brought a sense of relief. Help was on the way and she continued praying that Mike’s brother would get there in time.

  “Matt will be here in a few minutes.” Mike opened the bag to replace the phone when Brodie lifted his head, staring at the crackers.

  “I’m hungry,” he whispered.

  If not for still being in mortal danger, Shayla may have laughed. Trust Brodie to be distracted from his fright by food.

  Mike dropped several fish crackers into Brodie’s hand, promising him more if he was a good boy and stayed quiet. As Brodie’s mouth was full of food, the being silent part of the deal wasn’t difficult.

  “Stop! Police!” Matt’s sharp tone, accompanied by a dog barking, made her jump. She glanced around but still couldn’t see anything from their cocoon within the trees.

  “Take Brodie,” Mike whispered, pressing their son more fully into her lap. He took his phone out and handed her the bag of crackers. “I’ll be back with Matt and his K-9 partner, Duchess, soon.”

  “Okay.” Shayla hadn’t known that his brother was a K-9 cop, but that explained the dog barking. She rocked Brodie back and forth, feeding him crackers until she heard the sound of footsteps.

  She froze but relaxed when a large German shepherd came running over to them, sniffed the ground around them and then plopped down on its haunches, looking at her, tongue lolling to one side.

  “Good girl,” she whispered, trying to remember the animal’s name. Queenie? No, Duchess. Having the dog was an added layer of protection and it was only another couple of minutes before Mike and his brother arrived.

  “Doggy,” Brodie said, reaching out to the German shepherd.

  “She’s not a pet,” Mike quickly interjected.

  “It’s okay. Duchess is good with kids.” Matt set a blanket down and knelt beside the K-9. “Friend, Duchess. Friend.” As he spoke, he put a hand on Shayla and then on Brodie.

  Duchess leaned over to sniff at them, her tail wagging. Then she licked Brodie, making him giggle.

  “It’s all clear,” Mike said.

  Shayla gratefully stood, grunting with the effort. Mike took the blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders. “You okay?” he asked.

  She nodded and leaned into him. “Thanks to you.”

  He drew her close, making sure not to squish Brodie, and planted a kiss on her temple. She found herself wishing he’d kiss her properly although, of course, he couldn’t do that with Brodie between them. “Time to get out of here,” he said in a low tone. “Unfortunately they got away.”

  “‘They’?” she echoed. “Two of them?”

  “I only saw one.” Mike glanced at his brother. “What about you?”

  “One perp, wearing black. And I only saw him from a distance. After I identified myself as a cop, the guy took off. I considered sending Duchess after him but worried he’d shoot her. Besides, it was more important to make sure you were safe. The minute I saw the cluster of trees, I headed over, figuring this is where you’d be hiding.”

  “Thanks, I appreciate you getting here so quickly.” Mike clapped his brother on the shoulder and the look they exchanged, silent sibling communication and appreciation, made her wish Duncan was there.

  “Let’s get out of here,” Mike said. “Matt, you’ll need to lead the way to your car. I didn’t see it anywhere.”

  “That’s because I hid it and came in on foot.” Matt’s tone was smug. “Duchess doe
s her best work on foot. Don’t you, girl?”

  Duchess wagged her tail again.

  “Doggy.” Brodie shifted in her arms, trying to reach down to pet the animal.

  “Not now, Brodie.” She shifted his weight in her arms in an effort to ease her sore muscles. “Later.”

  “Brodie? May I carry you for a while?” Mike asked.

  Brodie immediately shifted toward Mike, raising his arms in wordless agreement.

  The minute Brodie’s weight was lifted from her arms, she wanted to snatch him back. Mike gazed at Brodie with a mixture of wonder and joy, making her eyes sting with tears.

  Guilt washed over her, filling her with regret over the way she’d kept Brodie from his father. Oh, blaming Mike had been easy; after all, he’d pushed her away. He’d become obsessed with finding the person responsible for his father’s death.

  Accusing her father and brother of being involved in killing the chief of police had been the final straw. Even after that, she’d tried to call him.

  But after that disastrous and one-sided conversation, she’d given up. She’d stayed in Nashville, rather than come home to force Mike to acknowledge the truth.

  Worse, she’d convinced herself that she and Brodie were better off without Mike Callahan.

  But she’d been wrong. So very, very wrong.

  Tonight, she promised herself. Once they were warm and dry and safe, they’d tell Brodie the truth about Mike being his daddy.

  Postponing the conversation wasn’t fair to Brodie or to Mike. And the way he’d taken care of them, not just today but each time they were in danger, proved Mike would never do anything to harm them.

  At least, not physically. Emotionally? She still couldn’t say for sure. He’d agreed to listen to her brother’s side of the story, yet she was convinced he believed Duncan was intricately involved in the Dark Knights.

  She told herself she and Mike would work things out. They’d be fine, as long as she didn’t give him her heart. Which meant no more dreaming about kissing him.

  “Almost there,” Matt said encouragingly. “I left my car behind those trees.”

  Catching a glimpse of Matt’s SUV reminded her of the one they’d left behind. She turned to Mike. “We’ll need Brodie’s booster seat and may as well get the bag of groceries, too.”

  “Not a problem,” Mike agreed. “Once you’re all safe inside, I’ll head back.”

  “I’ll go,” Matt offered. “I have a nonwaterlogged gun and a K-9 partner. Won’t take but a minute.”

  “I thought you brought me a spare?” Mike asked.

  “In the glove box.” Matt tossed the keys in the air, grinning as Mike scrambled to catch them. “I’ll be back soon.”

  “Crawl into the back seat,” Mike told her. “We’ll crank the heat until Matt returns.”

  She wasn’t going to argue with that plan. Water still ran off their clothing in a seemingly endless stream, but she slid into the back seat anyway, then reached for Brodie.

  “No. I wanna stay here.”

  She was surprised by Brodie’s sudden attachment to Mike, although it made sense, after everything they’d been through.

  “I’ll start the car, then crawl in back with you,” Mike offered.

  She appreciated his gesture and scooted over to give him room. They huddled together, soaking up the warmth from the hot air blasting through the vents.

  “I wish you were my daddy,” Brodie said, leaning against Mike. He let out a sigh, his eyelids fluttering closed as exhaustion claimed him.

  “Me, too,” Mike whispered. His gaze clashed with hers and the hint of moisture there was almost her undoing.

  “You will be,” she whispered back.

  “Really?” His expression filled with hope. “How? We live in different states.”

  “I don’t know, but we’ll find a way to make it work.” They had to.

  Her son deserved a father. And he’d clearly chosen Mike to fill the role.

  EIGHT

  Brodie’s words, I wish you were my daddy, echoed over and over in Mike’s head. He was humbled by the boy’s deepest desire and, for the first time since learning the truth, Mike was filled with hope and anticipation.

  He was certain the look he and Shayla had exchanged was her way of agreeing to tell Brodie the truth. She’d said they’d find a way to work it out. Mike looked forward to telling Brodie he was his father and that they’d be a real family from now on.

  Matt arrived with two bags of groceries dangling from one hand and the booster seat tucked under his gun arm. Duchess remained at his side, on alert.

  Mike reluctantly shifted the sleeping boy into Shayla’s arms so he could slide out of the SUV. He helped secure the car seat and then assisted Shayla in getting Brodie buckled in. The child woke up, rubbing his eyes with his fists.

  “Doggy!” Brodie leaned forward, chafing at the buckle holding him back.

  As if knowing what he wanted, Duchess jumped into the car, tail wagging as she licked at Brodie’s face. He giggled and grabbed at her tail. Mike winced, but the K-9 didn’t seem to mind.

  “Come, Duchess,” Matt called. Instantly the animal whirled around and jumped onto the ground to stand beside Matt.

  “Is the doggy comin’ with us?”

  “For now,” Shayla said, making no promises.

  “I’ll take these.” Mike took the grocery bags and tucked them on the floor behind the front passenger seat. Shayla buckled herself in beside Brodie, leaving him to take the front with his brother.

  Matt opened the back hatch of the SUV and Duchess gracefully jumped in. She pressed her nose against the wire mesh to sniff at Brodie. Mike closed the back and glanced at his brother.

  “Shayla O’Hare and her son, Brodie, huh?” Matt murmured, lifting a quizzical brow. “Didn’t you date her for a while a few years back?”

  “Yeah.” Mike shrugged and avoided his brother’s keen gaze. “She’s been living in Nashville but came home because her father is having open-heart surgery. She and her son are targets in this mess because of her brother, Duncan, or their father. Or both.”

  “Hmm.” Thankfully, Matt didn’t say anything more as they slid into the front seats.

  Mike’s brothers and sister were aware he’d dated Shayla, but he didn’t think they knew how serious things had got between them. Which meant there was no reason on earth for Matt to suspect Brodie might be his son.

  But even if his brother happened to traipse down that path of logic, this wasn’t the time to explain the truth.

  Mike found himself wanting to protect Shayla from the scrutiny of his family. What had happened between them was mostly his fault. He’d been the one to turn his back on his family and faith, seeking solace in her arms. He’d owned up to his mistake by proposing marriage. Not because he’d had to but because he’d loved her. And thought she’d loved him.

  But then his father had been murdered.

  Her father and brother became his prime suspects.

  Which had shattered their relationship beyond repair.

  “Where to?” Matt asked once Mike started the car. “Hawk’s cabin?”

  He rubbed his hands over his face. “Yeah. We’ll need to pick up dry clothes, though. Hawk may have some stuff at the cabin that I can use, but nothing for Shayla or Brodie.”

  “Good point.” Matt looked thoughtful. “I should have thought to ask Lacy for some of her things, although nothing Rory has would fit Brodie.”

  “It’s fine,” Mike said. “New clothes are probably better anyway.”

  “I’ll drop you off at Hawk’s cabin first. You and Shayla can provide a list of what you need, including sizes.” His brother looked at Shayla in the rearview mirror. “Is that okay with you?”

  “That works,” Shayla agreed. “But what about the SUV?”

  “I called Noah,�
�� Matt said. “He and Mitch are going to pull it out of the muck and bring it to Hawk’s cabin.”

  “Noah is Maddy’s husband,” Mike explained. “And Lacy is Matt’s wife, and Rory is their one-year-old son.”

  “Wow, sounds like your family has grown since the last time I saw you. Lots of settling down.” Shayla’s smile was lopsided.

  “Everyone except the Lone Wolf here,” Matt said, lightly punching his brother in the shoulder. “He’s been antirelationships for a long time.”

  Mike could feel his ears burning with embarrassment. Why did his siblings have to keep harping on his love life or lack thereof? His personal life wasn’t any of their business. “Knock it off,” he said gruffly. “Shayla doesn’t understand your warped sense of humor.”

  “It’s not warped,” Matt protested.

  “Lone Wolf,” Shayla repeated from the back seat. “The nickname fits.”

  Mike swallowed a groan. “Just because I long for the occasional stretch of peace and quiet away from our rapidly expanding family doesn’t make me a lone wolf. Now, can we please focus on something important? Like who the gunman is and why he wants to kill us?”

  His brother’s expression turned grim. “You have a good point, Mike. How did you end up near Cranton, Wisconsin, anyway?”

  “The highway was blocked off with orange construction barrels and a detour sign was posted. Following the sign took us pretty far out of the way from the direction we were headed. I’m wondering now if the orange barrels were nothing but a trap.”

  “Could be,” Matt agreed. “But that would mean the gunman would have had to figure out you’d be on the stretch of the highway in the first place. Which seems odd to me.”

  “I know.” That part of the equation was bothering Mike, too. “The initial shots were aimed at Shayla and Brodie. They’re the ones in danger.”

  “Start at the beginning,” Matt suggested.

  Mike reiterated the events that had taken place over the past two days. “I’m sure we didn’t pick up a tail from the hospital because I kept a close eye on the cars around us.”

  “Could the gunmen have figured out you’re helping Shayla?” Matt asked.