chapter 33
Nate flew the copter through the storm, his heart thundering. Visibility sucked. “Lean back and take several deep breaths.” He had to get Audrey to a doctor. Now.
She nodded and leaned her head back, closing her eyes. Even so, a tear leaked out to wind down her face. “This is my fault.”
“No, it isn’t.” He needed both hands on the stick, or he’d reach for her. His hearing was off, and he couldn’t get his bearings. “You’ll be okay. I promise.”
A light glimmered up from below, and he followed it, setting down right outside his cabin.
Shane and Matt ran out through the swirling wind and angry rain, both loaded down with gear. The senator jogged out afterward, his arm in a sling.
Matt opened the back hatch.
Nate ensnared Audrey and gently lifted her, stepped into the storm, and into the hatch. “I can’t see to fly,” he muttered. The senator scooted in next to him.
Matt nodded, shut the door, and jumped into the pilot’s seat. Shane stretched into the passenger seat, and they rose back into the rumbling clouds.
Nate gathered Audrey close, his breath heating. She felt so small and defenseless in his arms, and for the first time, he didn’t know what to do. She huddled into him, her head on his chest, her knees gathered to her stomach.
“Audrey?” He leaned close to her ear.
She sniffed. “I hurt. Something’s wrong. Cramps.”
No.
Matt reached a low flying altitude and glanced over his shoulder. “We’ll reach the SUV we have hidden in five minutes. Be prepared to run for it.”
“No.” Nate swallowed, his ears buzzing. “We need a hospital, Mattie. Now.”
Matt stilled, his gaze lashing to Audrey. “The copter is probably tracked, Nate. We have to ditch it. Now.” The helicopter rocked to the side as the storm battered it. Lightning blazed outside.
Nate rubbed a hand down his face. “Drop us off and keep going. It’s the baby. Please.”
Matt cut Shane a look. “They’re tracking us right now. If we make a stop, they’ll know it. They’ll come after you.” He grimaced and turned back to the stick.
Audrey groaned, her body shaking.
Nate tucked her closer. “There’s no choice. Drop us off and get to safety.” He’d figure something out after seeing a doctor. Even if he had to call the real cops, he’d do it to protect her. As if they could.
The senator patted Audrey’s shoulder. “I’ll come with you.”
“No.” Nate shook his head. “You’ve disappeared, and you have to stay that way.” He leaned to better view Matt’s face. “Audrey shot the commander. He’s slowed down.”
“Dead,” Audrey moaned.
“No.” It wasn’t a kill shot. “You didn’t kill anybody, baby.” Even the soldier outside the room had been wearing a vest. “I promise.”
Her body relaxed against him as if she’d been carrying a weight. “Okay.”
Nate bit back a growl. He’d been so close to ending the commander, but he hadn’t had time with the soldiers descending on them.
Shane looked back at Audrey, concern cutting grooves near his mouth. “Inova in Falls Church has one of the best neonatal programs in the world. They have a heliport.” At Nate’s raised eyebrow, Shane shrugged. “I memorized hospitals from here to home just in case.”
Thank God for his brothers. Nate nodded, emotion tearing into him. “Drop us off and go hide the copter. We’ll meet you at home.”
Matt fought the storm while Nate fought the fire inside him. He’d been so cocky. So sure he’d be able to get Audrey out safely. Shane strapped on a headset, his deep voice making arrangements with the hospital.
Nate tuned him out, listening for the baby’s heartbeat. His vision sucked, and his hearing remained static. The drugs still thumping through his bloodstream messed with his entire system. The second they landed, he was going to hand Audrey to Shane to see if Shane could hear anything.
The city flashed by below them.
Matt glanced back. “Put on some clothes.”
Oh, yeah. Nate reached for a duffel with one hand and tugged on a dark shirt. He moved Audrey as gently as possible to the side, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead. The senator tucked her into his good side and murmured calming words.
Nate exchanged his jeans for clean ones and also threw on socks and boots. Reaching into another bag, he took out some antibacterial wipes and removed most of the blood and grime from his face and hands before slapping a Yankees cap on his head.
As smooth as silk, Matt landed the helicopter. Orderlies rushed toward them, and Nate lifted Audrey out before depositing her on a gurney.
Shane jumped to the ground and slid a gun in the back of Nate’s waistband.
Nate nodded, his throat clogging. “I’ll be in touch. Watch the videos on the laptop. Jory’s alive.”
Shane blinked and took a step back. His eyes blazed dark and gray. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.” Nate gripped his arm and leaned toward his brother. “I’m positive.”
Shane swallowed.
Nate turned to run after the gurney and his family.
Seconds later, the helicopter rose slowly into the sky.
Nate followed Audrey until a nurse made him stop and fill out a bunch of forms. He used one of his many identifications, citing a car accident that would explain both of their bruises. Then he had to wait. He sat in the waiting room on an orange chair, one eye on the hall for a nurse, the other on the door for the commander.
The outside door opened, and he tensed.
Matt and Shane jogged inside, their hair wet, jackets covering what had to be a cache of weapons.
“What are you doing here?” Nate whispered, leaping to his feet.
Shane frowned. “Where else would we be?”
Matt clapped Nate on the shoulder. “We deposited the helicopter in the middle of a grocery store parking lot, secured transportation, and high-tailed it back here.”
Nate shook his head. “Where’s the senator?”
“Waiting with the engine running,” Shane said, his gaze encompassing the entire room.
Nate had to get them out of the hospital. “The commander will know we stopped here.”
“No shit.” Matt frowned and brushed water from his hair. “But we didn’t want to block the heliport with his piece of crap. We moved it.” He reached under his jacket and drew out the laptop. “Any news on Audrey?”
“No.” Nate swallowed, too much emotion swamping him at once. “You need to go.”
Matt’s eyes darkened. “Never alone, Nate. Period.”
The back of Nate’s eyes stung.
Matt glanced down at the dented silver computer. “This shows Jory is alive?” Matt’s voice broke on the end.
“Yes.” Nate patted his older brother’s arm. “Watch it. You’ll see.”
A nurse hurried down the hallway toward him. “Mr. Jones?”
“Yes.” He moved toward her. “What’s going on?”
“Mrs. Jones is all checked in.” She smoothed back gray hair and looked up a foot toward his face. “You can go sit with her until the doctor comes in.” Sympathy glimmered in her eyes. “You look like you need medical attention, too.”
“I’m fine.” He turned and followed her, his gut clenching. Something was really wrong. He could feel it.
When he reached Audrey’s room, he paused at the doorway. She lay in the bed, covered by a white blanket, a bruise on her cheekbone. Fragile and soft, she didn’t belong with bruises.
She turned. “Hi.”
He forced himself into the room and took a chair by the bed, taking her hands in his. “I’m so sorry, Audrey.”
“Nothing is your fault.” She took a deep breath. “The doctors did a physical exam, and I am still bleeding. He went to get an ultrasound machine. I’m so scared.”
“Me too.” Nate kissed her hands, tears gathering in his eyes. “I was so sure I could rescue you and find out about Jory.” Not for a second had he doubted his plan. Idiot. For the first time in his life, he felt true helplessness. There was nothing he could do to save his own baby. As much as he tried to focus and listen for a heartbeat, all he heard was the thunder outside. When would his senses return?
The commander had wondered how to break him. This was it.
A tech rolled a machine into the room, and seconds later a man in a white lab coat followed. He stuck out a hand for Nate. “Dr. Shawnesee.”
“Nick Jones.” Nate shook the doctor’s hand, careful not to bruise it. The doctor stood a foot shorter than Nate and appeared to be all of eighteen years old.
“You look like you need an examination. That must’ve been some car accident.” The doctor moved a rolling seat into position.
Nate swallowed. “I’ll get checked out after you’re done here.” He couldn’t even say the word baby.
“Okay. Let’s take a look, shall we?” The doctor did something with a wand and handed it to Audrey with instructions.
Nate’s world fuzzed, and he dropped into the seat, his head in his hands.
All of a sudden, a rhythmic thump, thump, thump filled the room.
Nate lifted his head slowly, not wanting to believe. His heart thumped so strongly against his broken ribs he winced. His breath actually stopped.
“Yep. There he is.” The doctor pointed to the screen. “Heartbeat is good. Let’s check out the amino sac.”
Audrey reached out and grabbed Nate’s hand. Hard.
Hope. The feeling spread through Nate until his body refused to move an inch. Not one inch.
The doctor pointed out organs one by one and spent several minutes making sure Audrey and the baby were perfectly healthy. Finally, he printed out a 3-D picture of the little guy. “Your son is doing well.”
Audrey half sat up. “What about the bleeding?”
“You have two bruised ribs from the car accident. My guess? That caused bleeding.” The doctor stood. “You need rest, Mrs. Jones. I recommend you stay here overnight, and then it’s bed rest until you don’t bleed for two days straight.”
Audrey burst into tears.
Nate reached for her with one hand and shook the doctor’s with the other. “She’s just relieved,” Nate said. He couldn’t describe his own feelings—they went way beyond relief. His hands shook, and deep inside, emotion welled. The baby. The baby—his baby was all right.
“I know, although I’d like for your wife to take it easy for the next few months. Bed rest isn’t strictly necessary, but it’s time to take it easy.” The doctor shook his hand. “Tell the nurse when you’d like to be examined, Mr. Jones.” With a happy wave at Audrey, the doctor skipped out of the room.
Nate hugged her tight, a prayer he hadn’t realized he knew tumbling from his lips. “You’re all right.”
“I know.” Audrey wiped off her face. “The baby is okay.” Her blue eyes seemed dazed.
“He’s fine.” Nate eyed the door. “You can’t stay here tonight.”
Audrey swung her bare legs toward the floor. “We should go. Now.”
Matt and Shane instantly appeared at the door.
“Well?” Shane asked.
“Baby is fine,” Nate said, a smile welling up. “Audrey needs bed rest.”
“Awesome.” Shane bounced back on his heels. “Two Humvees just rolled up outside. We need to go. Now.”
Nate helped Audrey to stand. “If you saw two, they’ve already covered the other exits.”
Matt nodded. “Get ready to fight, gang.”
Audrey cleared her throat. “Why?” She pointed to the window across the room. “We’re on the first floor, right? Where’s the car?”
Matt eyed her and then the window. “In the parking area over there.” He frowned. “Let’s go.”
Nate opened the window and jumped out first. Audrey tried to swing one leg over, but Matt caught her, lifting her. “Bed rest,” Matt said, handing her over to Nate.
Nate held her tight, hunching his body over her to shield her from the blustering wind and rain. He had to get her somewhere warm. Now. Shane and Matt jumped out silently.
They made it through a tangle of shrubs and dying flowers before a bright light descended on them.
Guns cocked and echoed louder than the storm.
Nate’s shoulders tensed, yet he gently set Audrey on her feet, pushing her behind him.
Soldiers in black surrounded them.