CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
AFTER GARRETT DRIFTED OFF, Lauren eased out of his embrace.
She stared at him for a few minutes, her heart heavy. They loved each other, but he didn’t want to see her anymore. He refused to even discuss the idea of continuing their relationship after he went back to prison.
Even so, it was too late to reverse her feelings for him. Maybe Penny was right, and she’d have wanted him anyway. Maybe Garrett was right, and she’d known all along. She’d suspected something was off about him. She’d noted his similarities to Owen.
Had she been fooling herself? Although she wouldn’t have chosen to get involved with an inmate, perhaps a secret part of her had been excited by the illicit thrill. She wasn’t immune to animal lust. In a life-or-death situation, all senses were heightened. Like most women, she responded to muscles and pheromones and raw masculinity.
Maybe, deep down, she’d wanted to f*ck a war hero and a convict.
Troubled by the thought, she put on her clothes. She certainly hadn’t held anything back during their latest encounter. Before Garrett, she couldn’t have imagined screaming a man’s name or begging him to make love to her.
Flushing, she left the semi. As much as she’d like to discount their affair as purely sexual, she couldn’t. Her throat closed up at the thought of losing him. When they separated, she’d miss more than his touch.
Darkness had fallen inside the cavern. It was still and quiet.
Too quiet.
She hurried toward the triage tent, worried that Sam’s condition had worsened. As she traversed the open space beneath the crevice, a dark figure dropped from above, scaring the hell out of her. She jumped backward, drawing a breath to scream. He advanced, cutting off her terrified cry with a gloved hand.
Even though she knew Mickey and Jeb were dead, her mind went blank with panic. She struggled to free herself, kicking her legs as a pair of strong arms engulfed her upper body. Another man appeared before her, holding his palm up. He was dressed in army fatigues, with a mask and helmet.
They were soldiers.
She stopped fighting, realizing that these men were here to help. Finally—a rescue crew had arrived.
The first soldier removed his mask to speak. “Where are the convicts?”
“They’re gone,” she said, moistening her lips. “Dead.”
“All of them?”
“Well, no. Garrett is in the semi.”
Two more men climbed down from above. They had their own rope system, which appeared very efficient.
“Stay with her,” the first soldier said, gesturing for the others to follow him toward the demolished semi.
It dawned on her that they were going to apprehend Garrett.
“You don’t understand,” she called after them, her pulse racing. The second soldier had a firm grip on her upper arm. “Let me go!”
“We’re here to help, ma’am.”
“It’s not what you think! He saved my life.”
“Just stay calm.”
Lauren tried to jerk her arm out of his grasp, but he held tight. “Garrett!” she screamed, uncertain how he’d react to a group of military men invading his sleep space. He might have another flashback episode.
“Ma’am—”
“He hasn’t done anything wrong!”
“We’ll get it all sorted out.”
“Damn you,” she said, elbowing him in the stomach.
The soldier took her to the ground and wrenched her arms behind her back, securing her wrists with some kind of zip tie. It cut into her skin cruelly and she cried out, watching helplessly as the other men dragged Garrett from the semi.
He didn’t fight. Or maybe they didn’t give him the opportunity. Cuffing him with the same technique, soldiers flanked him on either side and lifted him to his feet, urging him forward.
“He has a gunshot wound,” she sobbed. “You’re hurting him.”
When Garrett saw Lauren on the ground, he halted in his tracks. “Let her up,” he said. “She’s the medic. Untie her.”
Whatever the soldiers had been prepared for, this wasn’t it. While they wrestled with Garrett and Lauren, Penny came out of the RV, carrying Cruz. Cadence followed close behind. The soldiers waited for her to approach, turning on their flashlights.
“Miss Sandoval?”
“Yes,” Penny said, squinting at the brightness.
“Your father sent us for you.”
Her shoulders sagged with relief. “Thank God.”
* * *
THE RESCUE EFFORTS took all night.
Penny paced the area in front of the RV with Cruz, anxious to see her father. She didn’t know if he was angry with her for using his name and influence. What would he think of Cruz? The last time they’d spoken, he’d called her a disgrace.
She kissed the baby’s head reassuringly. They were a package deal now. If her father didn’t accept them both, she’d make new living arrangements. Striking out on her own would be difficult, but she’d manage.
Somehow.
The soldiers had released Lauren’s wrists immediately. Garrett remained bound and guarded, as if they thought he might try to escape. Although Penny and Lauren had explained the situation, the national guardsmen claimed they were following protocol. Garrett was a dangerous criminal who had killed two men. His fate was out of their hands.
Rather than freeing the survivors from the top of the structure, the rescue crew created a safer escape route down below. They cleared a space outside the collapsed wall and started drilling a large hole in the concrete. By dawn, they’d broken through the south side. Sam and Don were taken out first, and airlifted to a nearby hospital.
Cadence cried because she couldn’t go with her grandpa.
Penny clutched Cruz to her chest as she was escorted from the rubble, refusing to let anyone else hold him. The early-morning sunshine stung her eyes. Squinting, she continued to move forward, into the light.
She’d been trapped in a hellhole for nearly a week. Oddly, she felt no joy upon coming out. Her strength was sapped.
Guided by the soldiers, she made her way across a patch of uneven ground, toward a large group of people. The stench of gasoline fires and dead bodies burned her nostrils. Crashed cars crowded the edges of her vision. Cruz started wailing, already overwhelmed by the strangeness of the outside world.
She covered his face with the blanket, shushing him gently. As she got closer, a man stepped out of the crowd. Her father.
“Mija,” he said, grasping her shoulders. My daughter. He stared at her for a long moment, seeming amazed she was alive.
Penny burst into tears.
He pulled her into his arms, making the same sound she’d used to comfort Cruz. For some reason, that made her cry harder. Now that she was a parent, she had a different understanding of their last conversation. Her father wanted the best for her. When she was in pain, he was in pain.
“¿Quién es?” he asked, looking down at the bundle she was carrying.
She tucked back the blanket. “This is Cruz.”
“Cruz,” he repeated, smiling a little. “He’s beautiful.”
Penny let out another sob. “I thought you’d—hate him.”
His mouth twisted with regret. “No,” he said, his voice breaking. “I made a mistake. These past several days, I’ve prayed for the chance to see you again. I prayed for my baby girl to be alive, so I could say I’m sorry.”
“You’re not ashamed of us?”
“No, mija. I’m ashamed of myself.”
Cruz continued to wail, and so did Penny, surrendering to her emotions. When her tears dried up, she gave her father another hug, and he led her to a military-style vehicle. She climbed inside with Cruz. Owen was sitting there.
He was handcuffed, like Garrett.
Penny knew he’d been watching them. His feelings were written all over his face. Although he tried to rub his cheek against his shirt, there was a telltale track of moisture running from his jaw to his tattooed neck.
“Can they remove his cuffs?” she asked.
With a wave of his hand, her father granted the request. After a soldier unlocked him, Owen winced and moved his arms forward, rubbing his chafed wrists. “Thank you,” he said, looking from Penny to her father.
“Thank you,” her father replied.
“It was nothing.”
“It was everything,” Jorge said. “How can I repay you?”
“You can’t,” Owen said simply.
Her father studied Owen with begrudging respect. He seemed floored by the fact that he owed a debt of gratitude to a young man with a swastika mark on his hand. “Very well,” he said, dropping the subject.
The driver started the engine and they were off, cruising over battered terrain. When Cruz continued to fuss, Penny gave her father an apologetic glance. “I need to feed him,” she said, unbuttoning her top.
He cleared his throat. “Oh.” Appearing uncharacteristically flustered, he turned his head to give her privacy.
She put the baby to her breast, draping the blanket over her shoulder for modesty. When he started nursing, she felt some of her tension ebb away. Owen, who had gotten used to this activity, didn’t bother to avert his gaze. His eyes met hers and they exchanged a smile, sharing the intimate moment.
Her father loved her, and he might come to love her child. But her connection with Owen was unique. He’d brought Cruz into the world. That was special. They’d forged a strong bond based on unconditional acceptance.
She reached out to squeeze Owen’s hand. He grasped hers tightly. Her father noticed, and said nothing, but she sensed his disapproval. Perhaps he thought Owen was good enough to save his daughter’s life, but not to hold her hand.
* * *
LAUREN RODE IN a Humvee with Cadence and Garrett.
It had been a rough night. After interrogating her for hours, the National Guard troops had collected evidence, taken photographs and bagged the bodies.
She prayed that Garrett wouldn’t get more prison time for what he’d done. On the positive side, the soldiers had brought food and medical supplies. She was able to make Sam and Don more comfortable while they waited.
The army medic agreed that Don’s leg couldn’t be saved, which was disappointing. But he also marveled at Sam’s recovery, and was amazed by some of the techniques Lauren had used to keep her patients alive.
Sam woke up once more during the night, again asking for Melissa. He had no recollection of finding her ashes. He knew that he was in San Diego, and he recognized Lauren. But he couldn’t remember that his girlfriend was dead.
It was heartbreaking. She didn’t offer the information, because she wasn’t sure how it would affect him.
Cadence had spoken with her mother and father on a satellite phone. Both parents had thanked Lauren profusely, their voices thick with emotion. They’d arranged to pick up the girl at the National Guard station.
In the Humvee, Lauren spoke with her mother, as well.
“What happened?” Hillary asked. “I’ve been worried sick.”
She glanced at Garrett, over the top of Cadence’s head. He arched an amused brow, as if he could hear her mother’s shrewish voice. “I’m fine. I was just...working.”
“Working?”
“Yes. A lot of people needed help after the earthquake.”
“You couldn’t call?”
“Phone service has been out.”
“Are you hurt?”
Lauren rubbed her eyes. “No, Mom. I’m just tired. My coworker...Joe...didn’t make it.”
Her mother sucked in a sharp breath. “Joe, with the new baby?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, Lauren. That’s terrible.”
“I have to notify his wife.”
“She’ll be devastated.”
“Yes,” she said dully.
“Call me right back.”
“I’ll try.”
“Okay,” she said. “I love you, Laurie.”
Her mother hadn’t called her Laurie in ages. Not since the summer she’d broken her ankle running track in high school. Hillary had waited on her hand and foot while she’d healed. It occurred to her that she’d chosen her career path based on that experience. “I love you, too, Mommy,” she choked out, and hung up.
When she looked again, Garrett was still watching her. She closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths, trying to pull herself together. Then she dialed the ambulance service number. It was temporarily unavailable.
Her stomach in knots, she handed the phone back to the soldier who’d let her use it. They arrived at the station a few minutes later. She squinted as she exited the vehicle, still sensitive to the bright sunlight.
Lauren was ordered to stay at the station for another round of interrogations. “Where will Garrett be taken?”
“Santee Lakes,” the soldier replied. “The prison sustained only minor damage. Both inmates will be returned shortly.”
“They’re injured,” she said, her temper rising.
“Yes, ma’am. We’ve got our hands full with civilian injuries. I’m sure they’ll get the care they need at the facility.”
What bullshit.
“You don’t want to question him again?”
“If we do, he’s not going anywhere.”
Two soldiers led Garrett away to a smaller vehicle. Owen was already seated in the back. They hadn’t even offered her the chance to say goodbye. “Excuse me,” she said, striding forward. “Can you give us a minute?”
Penny and her father were standing near the vehicle. Mayor Sandoval nodded his permission, and the soldiers retreated a few steps. Lauren couldn’t believe that Penny was related to Jorge Sandoval, a staunchly religious conservative. Now she understood why the family had tried so hard to keep her pregnancy under wraps.
She focused on Garrett, feeling self-conscious. The troops knew about their sexual affair. They seemed amused by her request.
Ignoring them, she put her arms around Garrett. “I love you,” she said, for his ears only. Tears rushed to her eyes, and she forced herself to let go. He stared at her for several seconds, his throat working with emotion. Then the soldiers stepped forward to end the tender moment by urging him into the back of the truck.
Penny gave Owen a hug and a kiss on the cheek before they left. Her manner was friendly, rather than passionate, but Mayor Sandoval’s lips pursed with displeasure. He probably didn’t want his daughter falling for another bad boy.
They stood at the side on the road while the truck carrying Owen and Garrett pulled away.
Lauren turned to Penny. “Are you going home?”
“Yes,” she said, glancing at her father. “Cruz, too.”
She smiled at the news. This was what Penny wanted. “Good luck,” she said, hugging mother and baby tight.
“Thank you for helping Penny,” Mayor Sandoval said, shaking her hand. “I’m so glad someone was there in her time of need.”
Lauren didn’t have the heart to tell him that Owen had delivered the baby, not her.
“We’ll keep in touch,” he promised. “You’re a hero, Ms. Boyer.”
No, she thought. Garrett and Owen were the heroes. But they were headed back to prison, their good deeds unrecognized.