In Protective Custody

by Beth Cornelison

  But she hadn’t.

  Well, the Powells had been wonderful, but she’d been ripped from that home within six months. Heartbreak number one in a long line.

  “Here’s your bottle, hon.” The waitress’s voice shook her from the memories of her childhood.

  Clutching the receiver with both hands, she turned to offer the woman a smile, but her lips only trembled.

  “You all right, ma’am?”

  Laura huffed her frustration with herself. “I’m fine, thanks. Could I have a glass of milk?”

  Maybe milk would settle the bite of acid in her swirling stomach.

  “Sure. Be right back.” The lady set Elmer’s bottle on the table next to the car seat.

  “If you’d like to make a call, please hang up and dial again,” the canned voice of an operator instructed from the receiver.

  Protect the baby.

  Laura pressed the receiver hook, and her money clattered into the change hole. She started over.

  “You’re doing the right thing.”

  But she was less convinced now.

  Quarter. Dime. Dial—5-5-5-6-3-0-0.

  How could she send Elmer to a foster home, let him get lost in the system, when she knew Max loved him?

  Her heart contracted. Pain sliced her chest, stole her breath.

  Max might be inept and awkward with the baby, might not even be Elmer’s real family, but he cared. He cared enough to risk his life to save him from the men with guns. He cared enough to learn to change a diaper. He cared enough to go into hiding in order to protect him.

  And dadgummit, she cared, too!

  Protect the baby! She knew what the voice in her head was telling her now. She couldn’t send Elmer to the police, to an unknown foster home. Not when she wanted to take care of him, not when she wanted to guard him and nurture him until he was returned to his rightful home.

  The phone rang once. “Sheriff’s operator. Can I help you?”

  She jerked the phone away from her ear and stared at it as though it were a snake, coiled and ready to strike.

  Elmer whined, and the sound of his whimper speared through her. She slammed down the receiver, her whole body now shaking convulsively. She’d done it. She’d grown attached to this baby and couldn’t break her tie to him. Not yet.

  How could she hand him over to a stranger when she knew in her own care Elmer would be protected and cherished? When she knew firsthand how it felt to be alone and adrift in an overwhelmed foster system?

  She’d already gotten in too deep. Her conscience, her heart wouldn’t let her turn her back now. She knew what it meant to be lost in the bureaucratic shuffle, and she wouldn’t do that to Elmer.

  Protect the baby. This baby needed her, and she wouldn’t let him down.

  With wobbly legs, Laura made her way to the booth and sat down. Elmer cranked his whine to a full cry, and she hurriedly unfastened him from his seat. She cuddled him to her chest, and his wails quieted as he rooted for food against her shoulder.

  Rubbing her cheek against his downy head, she swayed slowly, taking solace in his delicate baby powder scent. If this were her baby, she’d want someone like herself to stay with him, to be his advocate and defender. She could do no less for Elmer’s mother.

  The affection for Elmer she’d tried, and failed, to squash bloomed inside her, filling her chest with unbelievable sweetness. Though she knew how much she’d suffer when the time came to separate from him, she’d treasure every minute she had with the baby until then.

  Already she felt better about her decision, and her nagging conscience eased its grip on her gut.

  Until she remembered Max.

  “Max.” She sighed, guilt twisting inside her. Clearly he, too, had made it his personal mandate to protect and care for Elmer despite the odds against him, despite his inexperience with babies. Max cared, just as she did. The baby was a bond they shared, a common goal.

  “Here’s your milk.” The stout waitress set the glass on the table. “Let me know when you’re ready to order.”

  Thanking the older woman for her assistance, Laura settled into the booth and poked the bottle in Elmer’s mouth. While he eagerly sucked down his second meal of the day, Laura stewed over what to do next.

  Leaning her head against the plate-glass window, she gazed out at the parking lot and watched a sparrow hop across the pavement, pecking at trash for his breakfast.

  Elmer made a sweet cooing sound as he drank and, dropping her gaze to the baby, Laura smiled. “Don’t worry, sweetie. We’ll figure this out and get you back to your mommy.”

  Outside the sparrow took flight, and the flurry of motion caught Laura’s attention. Turning back to the window, she saw a large sedan pull into the diner parking lot. The driver climbed out and yanked off a pair of dark sunglasses.

  The man was huge. His imposing height and wide, muscular shoulders normally wouldn’t make an impression on her. But combined with his surly expression, which boded ill, something about him reminded her of the older man who’d stalked her with a gun in Max’s backyard. A chill of apprehension slithered up her spine, made her neck prickle with fear.

  He sauntered over to her car, examined the bullet holes on the driver’s door and looked inside.

  Her heart thudded a frantic cadence. Gut instinct told her the man was one of the thugs who’d shot up Max’s house. This giant’s manner screamed danger.

  She hugged Elmer closer, her nerves jumping as the man stepped in the front door of the diner and scanned the room. His gaze found her.

  And stopped.

  Chapter 7

  Why, oh why, had she ditched Max? Laura realized, in the absence of his reassuring presence, how much she’d appreciated Max’s solid strength and protection last night. Without Max, facing the threat this thug posed, her vulnerability hit home, left a hollow pit in her stomach.

  Don’t tip him off by panicking.

  Holding her breath, Laura turned back to the window. She tried to act natural, not stare, despite every impulse she had to gape at him in horror.

  She had to get Elmer out of here, away from the goon. But how? Even if she could sneak to her car, buckling Elmer into the backseat would take precious time.

  She felt his menacing stare like a gathering storm blocking the sun. She hazarded a quick glance as the man moved to a booth. He caught her looking and gave a subtle nod, his expression stony. Without a word, he said, “I have you now.”

  “Can I get you anything else?”

  She gasped and jerked nervously when the waitress spoke. Fighting to calm her ragged breathing, Laura made some quick calculations.

  “I—I need…” She swallowed hard to clear the hoarse sound from her voice. “I need a favor.”

  “Yeah?”

  The waitress was grinning at Elmer, and Laura waited until she had the woman’s attention before she spoke. Could the goon read lips?

  Taking the woman’s order pad from her, Laura scribbled,

  The man at the next booth is following me. Meet me in restroom.

  She forced herself to smile as she handed the waitress the pad. “And a small orange juice. Thanks.”

  To the woman’s credit, the waitress didn’t gawk at the man and give Laura away. Instead, she smiled and said, “I’ll have your order in just a minute.”

  When the waitress left the table, Laura sucked in a deep breath and slid out of the booth. She gathered Elmer’s bottle, blanket and car seat together on top of the table so she could grab them quickly when the time came. The thug’s gaze drilled into Laura, but the waitress—bless her—stepped between them and poked an open menu in front of him, blocking his view.

  Laura took her cue. Cradling Elmer close, she darted into the ladies’ room. She didn’t draw an easy breath until the restroom door swung closed. Laura knew the thug was smart enough not to hurt her or snatch the baby here at the restaurant with so many people around, so many witnesses. He’d wait her out. Follow her. Run her off the road or attack her when she
was alone.

  She squelched the urge to panic, to fly apart at the seams. These men—Max had called them the Rialtos—had been willing to kill Max to get the baby. She knew she stood little chance of surviving if they tried to take Elmer from her.

  She drew a deep breath and counted to ten. Elmer needed her to think rationally, to stay calm. She had to think of a way to leave the restaurant undetected.

  Again she wished she had Max beside her. Why hadn’t she considered the dangerous men chasing them when she’d dumped him at the side of the road?

  Her heartbeat tripped. Max was alone, unarmed, along the side of the highway. What if the Rialtos found him? If they killed him, it would be her fault. She’d stranded him, left him vulnerable and at their mercy.

  Dear God, what had she been thinking? She had to go back for Max before the thugs who’d threatened his life found him.

  If they hadn’t already.

  Swallowing the bile and self-reproach that rose in her throat, she battled for composure.

  The bathroom door swung open, and the waitress barreled in. “You all right, honey? What’s all this about that man following you?”

  “He’s dangerous. I have to get out of here without him following me. And when he does come after me, ’cause I know he will, I need something to slow him down.” She sucked in quick, shallow breaths, knowing she was about to hyperventilate but not sure how to prevent it.

  “Okay, hon. Take it easy. We’ll get you outta here. Now let’s put our heads together.”

  Laura lifted Elmer to her shoulder and rubbed the baby’s back while she thought.

  The waitress twirled her limp ponytail around her finger while chewing her bottom lip. “I have it. Leave everything to me. You just be ready to get when the gettin’ is good. Ya hear?”

  “How will I know when that is?”

  “Keep an eye out from here. Peek out the door without lettin’ him see you. Then go out through the kitchen to the back door. Okay?”

  “Right. Oh, and here…” Laura balanced Elmer while she dug in her pocket and pulled out a few bills. “For the milk and your help.”

  The waitress winked. “My pleasure, hon.”

  With that, the older woman breezed out of the restroom like a soldier with a mission.

  While she waited in the bathroom, nervous tension coiled tightly in her stomach.

  Laura’s thoughts turned to Max again. He had to be all right. Had to be. She couldn’t bear the thought that, because of her, he might have been gunned down or dragged off and beaten or…

  Blinking back tears, she tried to shove those thoughts aside with happier ones. Burying her face in Elmer’s soft pajamas, she recalled the way Max’s hair had tickled her hand when she’d helped him with his shirt. She hugged Elmer closer and remembered the warmth in Max’s eyes as he’d looked deeply into hers. She recalled the firm determination that set Max’s lips and wondered how it might feel to kiss that hard, stubborn mouth.

  If for no other reason, she wanted to live long enough to find out how Max Caldwell kissed a woman. If the consideration he’d showed her and his gentleness with Elmer were any indication, Max’s kisses would be sweet, passionate, earth-shaking. The flutter that stirred inside her now couldn’t be blamed on nervous tension.

  Max, please be all right.

  Opening the door a crack, she peered out. She watched the waitress pick up a pot of coffee and approach the table where the menacing-looking man sat. He lifted his gaze to the woman and spoke to her, shaking his head. But the waitress didn’t give up. She leaned forward, as if reaching for something on the table, and tipped the pot of coffee. The hot drink poured into the man’s lap, and he shouted a curse.

  During the flurry of attention to the spill, Laura whipped the bathroom door open and hurried to grab Elmer’s car seat. Without looking back, she fled for the kitchen. Darting past the startled kitchen help, she ran out the back door and rushed around the building to her car. Hands shaking, she fumbled to buckle Elmer in then hopped behind the wheel.

  The Rialtos’ thug appeared at the front door as she cranked the engine. His angry gaze narrowed on her.

  Panic exploding in her chest, she stomped the accelerator. The car rocketed backward.

  The man scurried for his sedan, but a large pickup truck had been parked squarely behind him, blocking him.

  Laura whispered her thanks to the ingenious waitress and sped down the highway in the direction she’d just come. She had precious little time to find Max before the Rialtos’ goon freed his car and came after her.

  He wasn’t in the desert, so the white Honda pulling off the road in front of him couldn’t be a mirage.

  The kidnapping little wench had second thoughts, huh?

  Max balled his fists and marched toward the car with long, stiff strides. Fury was a living beast inside him. Both with Laura and with himself.

  Laura stopped the car and climbed out. Her wide-eyed, worried expression was probably intended to soften him up.

  Yeah, lady, you better worry. ’Cause when I’m through with you…

  “Max!” she cried, running toward him and flinging her arms around his neck. She clung to him as if her life depended on it. “Thank God you’re all right!”

  Not the greeting he’d expected.

  He was learning, however, that Laura Dalton was nothing if not unpredictable. He also learned now that the press of her body against his could make certain parts of his anatomy forget her betrayal. The strawberry scent of her shampoo filled his senses, scattered his thoughts, and the crush of her soft breasts to his chest caused a delicious ache in his groin.

  Although her enthusiastic hug caught him off guard, the anger he’d nursed for the past two hours quickly simmered to a boil again. He seized her by the waist and pushed her away.

  Turquoise eyes gazed up at him with unshed tears sparkling in the sunlight, but he steeled himself to their effect on him.

  “Where’s Elmer?” he growled through gritted teeth.

  “In the car, of course.”

  He brushed past her, bumping her shoulder, and stalked to the back door to see for himself. He leaned in and checked the baby, who had found his thumb and was sucking contentedly.

  He had Elmer back. Thank you, God.

  A huge weight lifted from Max’s shoulders, and his knees buckled in relief. Straightening from the backseat, he spun to face Laura and nailed her with a hard, unforgiving glare. “Do you have any idea the hell you’ve put me through in the last two hours?”

  “I’m sorry, but I—”

  “Sorry?” he roared, and she winced. “Sorry! I— You kidnapped Elmer!”

  “No!” she shrieked.

  “I will not let you screw this up for me.” He jabbed a finger at her as he railed. “Do you understand? That baby is Emily’s reason to live. I won’t let you or anyone else take that reason from her!”

  “Max, we can argue about this later. We have to go now!” She grabbed his arm, tugged him toward the front door.

  He shook her off. “No, we’ll have it out now. You had no right to take him from me!”

  “But I—”

  “I don’t give a damn what your reasons were. That baby belongs with me.” He punctuated this statement by slapping his palm to his chest. “He’s my responsibility, damn it!”

  Her eyes pleaded with him. “We don’t have time for this now. He’s coming! Get in the car!”

  “I promised Emily to protect her son, and, by God, I’ll die before I break that promise.” He stuck his nose in her face to drive home that point.

  She pressed her lips in a thin line, and fire flashed in her aqua eyes. “If you don’t quit arguing and get your butt in the car, you may do just that!”

  “Are you threatening me?” It was almost laughable. Almost. “You took my nephew, and you’re threatening me?”

  “No! Max, listen to me!”

  “No, you listen, lady! That kid is my flesh and blood. I don’t care what noble intentions you have for hi
m. I’m all he has until Emily gets well—”

  “Max!” she screeched, her body trembling.

  “What!” He paused, his chest heaving as he sucked in one irate breath after another.

  “They found us.” Tears puddled in her eyes, and he braced himself for one to fall and land a sucker punch to his soul.

  “The Riantos or whatever their name—”

  “The Rialtos.” His gut pitched. Iciness washed over him as his anger drained away in a heartbeat. He grabbed her by the arms, his gaze sweeping over her. “Dear God, are you all right? Did they hurt you?”

  She shook her head, and the first tear fell. “It was just one man. A big, mean-looking guy. He saw the car and—” She drew a shaky breath. “We have to go! He saw me get away and came after me. I don’t know how much time we have before he catches up.”

  She tugged on his arm again, pulling him to the front seat. Max turned the tables on her, shoving her into the seat instead. “I’ll drive this time.”

  Slamming her door, he ran around to the driver’s side, a tight fist of anxiety squeezing his chest. The Rialtos’ thug had tracked them this far. He’d known Anthony Rialto wouldn’t give up.

  Even as secluded as his friend’s cabin was, would it be enough? And for how long? For now, though, the cabin in North Carolina was their best option.

  “I am sorry.” Laura’s softly spoken apology broke the tense silence as he drove toward the interstate, taking an obscure side road. “I only wanted what was best for Elmer.”

  Max clenched his teeth, biting back the ugly response that sprang to mind. He gave her a resentful look. “I am what’s best for Elmer. At least for now. Get that through your head.”

  “I know that. Now.”

  He cast her another sidelong glance. “Meaning?”

  “I couldn’t do it. I was going to call the police, turn Elmer in, and I couldn’t do it.”

  He didn’t want to ask. He wasn’t finished being ticked off with her. “Why not?” he said anyway.

  “Because it’s obvious you love him.” She was silent for a moment, staring out her window. “Because I care about him. I couldn’t turn him over to a stranger. I still don’t know if I believe you’re his uncle, if you have any real right to have him, but…you care about him. You’d protect him with your own life and that says a lot.”