Danger Deception Devotion The Firsts

by Lorhainne Eckhart

  “I’d do it again, you know,” Andy said. He wondered what the man would say to that. Maybe he’d leave, but Andy was too damn tired to care. He was playing nice, after all the crow he’d had to swallow to make things right with the hospital and Laura’s mother—and then there was Tyler.

  “Yeah, I know you would. I can’t fault you for what you did. Just don’t ever pull that with me again.” He reached out his hand to shake Andy’s. It was strong, solid, a man Andy had to respect. After all, he’d saved Gabriel’s life.

  Bruce patted his shoulder, and Andy moved on. After meeting a dozen neighbors, shaking hands, he spotted Laura, who was across the living room, speaking with a light-haired man wearing a black leather coat. He spotted Jeremy being cuddled by an older woman—and there was Candy, who looked as if she wasn’t about to relinquish Chelsea any time soon.

  Andy slid his arm around Laura, wondering who the charming man was. He had bright blue eyes and an easy smile. He was a little too dashing, young, and interested in his wife, and Andy had to suppress that possessive growl inside him, as the man was making him downright territorial.

  “Andy Friessen,” he said to the man, who flashed the same smile over to him and reached out a hand. Of course, he accepted and squeezed hard. The man didn’t flinch but seemed to find humor in what he did.

  “This is Pastor Johnson,” Laura indicated.

  “Jamie, please. We’re informal here. I was just telling your wife how excited we were to hear about the nice young family who moved here. We wanted to welcome you. It’s nice to see someone living out here in this place. It’s been empty a long time. Your wife tells me you’re going to raise cattle.”

  Laura was looking at him mischievously.

  “Yeah, that’s the plan, which was kind of put on hold, but yes, as soon as I can make arrangements.”

  “Well, if you need any help or anything, let me know. I grew up on a ranch in the Midwest. I was riding before I could walk. My father, his father—well, you can say ranching was in their blood.”

  Andy shook his hand again. “Thank you. I’ll keep that in mind. If you’ll excuse us, I’m going to borrow my wife for a minute.”

  The young pastor, who looked more like a biker wannabe, moved away to a couple of older gray-haired ladies who were all smiles and laughter as soon as he joined them.

  “So that’s the local minister, huh?” Andy had to admit he didn’t fit his idea of what a minister should be.

  “Yeah, kind of surprised me. He doesn’t talk like one I’ve ever met. He didn’t try to convert me.”

  “Interesting” was all Andy could think to say. The doorbell rang, and Neil called out to him and waved. “Guess more of the community is here,” he said. He kissed Laura and then left her, making his way across the room. He slowed when he realized Neil wasn’t smiling.

  “Tyler’s here,” his cousin said in a low voice. “He’s waiting outside.”

  Andy glanced back at Laura, who was speaking with another neighbor he hadn’t met yet. “Where’s Gabriel?”

  “Bathroom, with Candy. He’s fine,” Neil added. “Do you want me to come?”

  “Yeah, see what the hell he wants now.” Andy pushed the door open, really digging into each step. He was pissed and angry, and he couldn’t believe this punk-ass kid had the nerve to show up here, at his home, where friends were throwing them a welcoming party.

  “Tyler,” he bit out. He could feel Neil beside him as he took in Tyler, with his light face, his awkwardness, and the way he stood with his hands jammed into his pockets.

  “I’m sorry to just show up here, but I wanted to give you this,” he said. He was holding out a manila envelope. For what felt like an eternity, Andy just stared at it. Whatever was in it couldn’t be good. He kept his arms crossed, and it was Neil who reached over and snatched the envelope from Tyler’s grasp.

  “So what is this? You’re hell bent on fucking up my kid’s life even more? You’re not satisfied that he’s happy, that he has two parents who love him and whom he loves―”

  “Andy,” Neil said, stopping him before he could say anymore. “You need to see this.” He set the legal paper in front of him, and Andy blinked and read it again, because his brain didn’t register what it was saying. Termination of Parental Rights. He wasn’t sure he’d read it right. He looked up at Tyler, who appeared ready to weep.

  “I wish things could be different, but I signed that because I do love him. I wish I could go back and change things. I wish I could be a part of his life.”

  “I don’t know what to say,” Andy added, feeling like a bastard for jumping down Tyler’s throat. He reached out his hand, and Tyler stared for a second. Maybe he was worried Andy was going to hurt him, but then he pulled his hand from his pocket, stuck it out, and gave Andy the weakest, limpest handshake before quickly pulling away.

  “Just promise me you’ll take care of my son. If you could send pictures, let me know how he’s doing…maybe one day you could tell him about me, when he’s older,” he said. Then he shuffled away, stepping off the porch, and Andy called out to him.

  “Tyler, thank you,” he said. The kid waved as he hurried back to a green minivan, where his mother was waiting behind the wheel, and they pulled away.

  “You didn’t promise him you’d send him photos or update him,” Neil said.

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “Hmm.” Neil set his hand on his shoulder. “So what are you going to do?”

  “Finalize the adoption,” Andy said, waving the paper in the air, “so no one can ever question my parental authority again.” Andy slid the paper back in the envelope. “Let’s go join the party.”

  ****

  Two days later, Andy was organizing his office after saying goodbye to Neil and Candy. He’d sent his lawyer the signed termination of rights, and she was moving the adoption process along. Tomorrow, he’d finally meet the man about some cattle.

  Laura called out from the kitchen, “Andy, dinner is ready!”

  “Coming, just need to put something away.” He patted the envelope he’d been looking for when they first arrived, the one that contained Aida’s tape, the evidence of his mother trying to get rid of Laura. He’d stumbled across it with Neil after the party, when he’d been poking around in some boxes, and he’d since made a copy.

  He slid open his desk drawer and pulled out a locked box, opening it and shoving the envelope inside along with a silver bank key and instructions to a safety deposit box at the bank in town. There was one thing Andy knew: He would always make sure his family was safe.

  THE END

  Next in The Friessens: A New Beginning, The Price to Love.

  In THE PRICE TO LOVE…I knew my husband wanted a baby, but I couldn’t give him one. When Neil paid for a surrogate and moved her into our home, he told me not to worry, but I couldn’t help but notice that she recognized the strong, sexy alpha male inside him, and I suddenly felt as if I was on the outside looking in.

  Then, one day, I met Cat, the young girl who stole my heart. I saw something in Cat that I couldn’t turn away from: a damaged, scarred soul filled with the kind of despair and hopelessness that should never have been in the innocent eyes of a child.

  Cat needed me—my voice, my hugs, and my love—and she captured my heart. However, neither Neil nor his family understood my need to help her. I found myself alone, and I knew I was the only one who could save Cat before it was too late.

  The Friessens: A New Beginning in order:

  THE DEADLINE

  THE PRICE TO LOVE

  A DIFFERENT KIND OF LOVE

  A VOW OF LOVE, A FRIESSEN FAMILY CHRISTMAS

  The Price to Love (Neil and Candy).

  “I love this series but absolutely despise what Neil is doing to Candy! If it was me, I would be out the door until he shaped up! Now I have to wait on pins and needles for what happens next! I love this author and will read every book she writes!”—Amazon Reviewer

  A Different Kind of Love (Brad
and Emily).

  “In this book, you feel the emotion and love that a mother has for a child she has raised as her own for years, who has autism, and then, on his thirteenth birthday, his birth mother comes back into their lives. It is an exceptional book. I highly recommend any book by Lorhainne Eckhart.”—Reviewer, Regina

  A Vow of Love, A Friessen Family Christmas.

  Sometimes families need a helping hand…Holidays are about family, love, and giving, but this Christmas, the Friessens are in for a rough holiday season.

  Or grab all the books in this romantic family saga in one box set collection, The Friessens: A New Beginnning, The Collection

  Book 4: Saved

  The Saved Series, Book 1

  Prologue

  Thursday June 19, 2004

  The Northern Arabian Gulf

  There was a point right at the break of dawn when darkness parted swiftly, much like a curtain drawn open making way for the coming day. On a typical morning, this was welcoming, a sign of a new journey to look forward to, but for Abby, today could very well be the last day of the rest of her life. She knew it, she felt it deep in her bones, but she also had hope.

  As she watched the bright orange and yellow reflection at the edge of the water, she wondered if maybe today would be different—maybe today she had a chance, maybe today she’d finally make it. She’d come this far against all the odds, so she needed to hang on just a little longer. She rested her head against the stiff side of the rubber dinghy and shivered under the dark abaya, damp and sticky from her sweat. It was so humid, the air thick and heavy, that she struggled to breathe as she stared at the miles and miles of open water, still with nothing in sight. She probed her tongue gently to the side of her chapped, swollen lips. She was so thirsty she’d do anything for a cup of cool water. It was painful, horrible, being so thirsty, because that was all she could think of. Staring at miles of open water only tempted her. How long could she go without water before her body started breaking down? The dew clinging to the side of the dinghy glittered like a handful of diamonds, and, like a starved woman, she licked it with her tongue and gagged from the saltiness. She dropped her head to the side again.

  She was so tired. She’d lived in fear for so long that it had become her constant companion, keeping her on her toes, awake in an instant, as if her soul knew it wasn’t safe to sleep. As always, she felt it slice out of nowhere, the buzz that ripped through her, keeping her body and mind on the edge of sanity. She couldn’t rest, even though she needed to. Abby peeked over the side, her eyes burning into the shadows, and she squinted, wondering if she was seeing things. Was he coming for her? Was that a boat on the horizon? She swiped her palms hard across her eyes and looked again, and for a minute she stopped breathing, moving, but she couldn’t still the thudding of her heart. It had a mind of its own and pounded the walls of her chest so hard she thought her ribs would crack. She waited and blinked again.

  “It’s just water. Come on, get a grip.” It hurt to speak, but she needed to believe it. Those brave words weren’t convincing her at all, though, because it was only a matter of time—and time was not on her side—until he found her. She knew he’d search to the ends of the earth to find her. He never let go of what was his, ever.

  Abby had no idea where she was, as she was floating with no paddle. Being at the complete mercy of the waves meant just one more thing she had no control of. Each minute the sun rose higher, she could feel the heat climb. Out here it was so intense, rising as though someone had switched on a furnace, slowly building until it scraped her lungs as she struggled for each breath from air that was so thick and humid that she’d swear a knife would have trouble slicing through it. Out of nowhere, a sharp gust of wind blew from the northwest, rocking the dinghy up and over the waves, and for a moment the breeze was unexpected and welcome. Then the dinghy bounced faster, higher, moving through the water and crashing down as the water slapped the sides, awakening her again to the reminder that she wasn’t safe. Any minute, he could appear on the horizon, and there was nowhere to hide. Maybe that was why she didn’t think as she dropped down and curled onto her side. A burning jab poked her ribs, shooting shards of fire through her, and she bit on her lip, drawing blood as she fought not to scream. “Don’t move, stay still and you’ll be fine,” she whispered to herself and panted out huffs of air. Even though there was no one to hear her breathing, she was still afraid.

  The skill she had survived on, always being on guard, wouldn’t let her stay still, so she peeked up again, her shoulders taut and wound so tightly her head was starting to throb. She couldn’t think about tomorrow, only now, this moment, because her future wasn’t anything tangible—it was a speck of ashes that could disintegrate in an instant. She stroked her dry, chapped hands over her rounded belly and blinked back tears. Their future right now wasn’t looking like a mother and child’s should. It should have been a magical time when Abby dreamed of holding her tiny baby, whispering her love while planning their future. But what possible future could her child have?

  If it was a boy, maybe. For a girl, there was no hope. Not here. Not now. “One day at a time, Abby.” She stripped off the dark abaya and took in the pale blue cotton of her loose dress. The front was splattered with blood, and she couldn’t remember if it was hers. If it wasn’t… she might very well come to wish she were dead. Her body seemed to follow her mind, as it started shaking and couldn’t stop. It had too much adrenaline, and she recognized that her fight or flight instinct had been all that was keeping her running for so long now. As she stared up at the blue sky, she wondered about the inevitable and whether she’d have the strength to jump in the water when the time came. Could she do it, allow the weight of the abaya to pull her under? Drowning herself would be better than the alternative, if she had the courage to do it, to end her life and her baby’s, too.

  “How will I ever survive this?” She ran her tongue over the swell of her bottom lip. It was split, and she tasted dried blood. “Ugh.” She touched it with her fingers, and, pulling them back, she stared at the fresh blood. She pressed her fist to her mouth. “Shh,” she whispered, but she was so tired she didn’t think she could stay awake much longer. She had to stay awake, though, and keep watch, even though she didn’t have a clue what she’d do if she spotted his boat. Her eyes ached, and she’d swear sand coated the whites of her eyes. When she shut them, the back of her lids scraped her eyes like broken glass. Closing them seemed almost worse, but her lids were becoming so heavy it hurt to keep them open, so she gave herself a minute, and then another, until warmth and a bright light surrounded her, and for one moment she felt peace. She breathed softly again, and again, until there was nothing more.

  Chapter One

  Alarms sounded and buzzed over and over, louder and louder. Footsteps pounded up the stairwells and ladders as emergency lights flashed in the passageways. The five-hundred-foot guided missile destroyer cut a wide path through the waters of the Northern Arabian Gulf, and the roar of the engines against the power of the water slapping and vibrating against the steel hull had his every instinct buzzing and ready to react in an instant. The speed of this ship could let them easily overtake their enemy. Captain Eric Hamilton braced his hand on the wall as he ducked his head, making his way onto the bridge of his ship, the USS Larsen. Hamilton took everything in as he moved, and his crew snapped to attention. He shouted, he commanded and ordered, and he didn’t ever consider whether he’d hurt someone’s feelings. This was the US Navy—he didn’t coddle his crew. He expected loyalty, and his crew would do what he expected or they’d find themselves on the wrong side of a man whom many feared. Oddly, knowing how he was seen by his crew didn’t bother him at all.

  By the time he crossed the bridge, the hair on the back of his neck was poking up like sharp wires that sent a chill through him, a warning that kept him on his toes. It was a warning that had saved his butt time and again, a warning he lived by, and he swore he’d die before ever ignoring it. The crew were on ed
ge, alert. He could always pick up the change in their voices. They shouted above the alarm that continued to buzz over and over, their eyes wide. With an instinctive reaction at the snap of his fingers, his crew jumped as one to respond. Eric could feel the adrenaline pumping from all of them. Everyone was at their stations. Even though the humidity was at an all-time high this early in the day, he knew the beads of sweat trailing down his back and soaking his shirt were from the unknown that they were racing into. This damn war around them kept him pumped and his adrenaline surging like a shot of high caffeine. He lived for it and couldn’t imagine any other way. To him, this was normal. He loved this, life and death, power in his hands and under his command.

  By the time he reached the windows spanning the width of the bridge, binoculars had been thrust into his hand. Up until now, he hadn’t said one word, as his officers knew their parts and their roles.

  “Captain, there’s a raft just off the starboard side. Can’t tell from here whether there’s anyone or anything on it.” Lieutenant Commander Joe Reed approached from behind. The man was Eric’s good friend and the current XO, executive officer, on this deployment.

  He didn’t need to turn as he raised the binoculars and zeroed in on a black dinghy that appeared empty at first sight as it rocked up and over the waves. For a minute, he felt sick, and his pulse pounded harder and faster still when the thought of the USS Cole bombing popped into his head. No, it couldn’t be that again. He wouldn’t let it happen.

  He glanced at Joe beside him. “What the hell are we walking into?”

  Joe shook his head. He was never one to talk out of turn or to guess. Joe was Eric’s right-hand man and more often than not was the voice of reason among him and the crew—and just about everyone else.

  Eric raised the binoculars again and stared at the black dinghy. He didn’t know what he expected.