A Baby Before Dawn

Ugly thoughts entered his mind, and Chase hesitated. No one knew about his half-brother’s house in New Hampshire. It was a virtual fortress.

 

But while his half brother’s compound offered safety for Lily, it was the last place Chase would ever want to go himself. While he and Shane worked well together on their Eclipse missions, it had been years since they’d had a brotherly relationship. Chase resented his half brother. Shane reminded him of a time in his life he’d rather forget. A time when he was ten years old, alone for the first time, and powerless to change any of it. He’d worshipped his older brother. But Shane hadn’t cared. Hadn’t even noticed. And when their mother had died, Shane had gone off to college and Chase had been relegated to foster care where he traveled from family to family until he was eighteen and joined the military.

 

Was he willing to set the injuries of his past aside? To keep Lily safe, he was. Chase turned to her. “Shane’s,” he finally replied. “My half brother. He lives in New Hampshire. He’s a security expert. The best, in fact. His house is the only secure place I can think of.”

 

“How do you know these gunmen haven’t gone after him, too?”

 

“They have. But I can tell you it didn’t happen at his house. If we can get out of town, I can stash you there. Make some calls, try to figure out what the hell is going down.”

 

She stared at the cup of tea that had long since gone cold. “This baby means everything to me. I can’t let anything happen to her.”

 

“I’m not going to let anyone hurt either of you.”

 

She raised her eyes to his. “You can’t guarantee that. No one can.”

 

He leaned close. “I said I’m not going to let anything happen to you. I mean that.”

 

Her gaze searched his. After a moment, she pursed her lips. “So, do you think we can make it to your brother’s house?”

 

“We have to try.” He glanced toward the window. “Sooner or later they’re going to find us. We have no communication, no means of transportation. Limited ammo. Our best bet is to run.”

 

Tightening her mouth as if in determination, she nodded. “Let’s do it.”

 

“You sure you’re up to it?”

 

“I’m not going to sit around and wait for them to ambush us again.” Rising, she crossed to him, her eyes direct and burning bright. “But let me tell you something, Chase. Once we’re safe, I want you to go. I want you out of our lives for good. I can’t let you or your lifestyle place this baby in danger again.”

 

Chase thought he’d been prepared; he’d known that when this was over they’d go their separate ways. But hearing the words aloud cut with a brutality he hadn’t expected. The pain that followed sucked his breath right out of his lungs.

 

The instant he’d realized she was pregnant, that the baby was his, he’d resolved to provide for them financially. Monthly support. A college fund for the baby. Maybe a house. It was the very least he could do. After all, he’d been paid handsomely for the work he’d done for Eclipse. He lived simply, had few needs. The money he’d socked away would more than take care of the baby. And Lily, if she’d let him.

 

He didn’t allow the next thought to materialize. The one where some treacherous little voice told him he wanted more. That he wanted to know his child, to be part of his child’s life. Part of Lily’s life. He wasn’t going to go there. Damn it, he wasn’t.

 

Chase shoved the thoughts away, jammed them into the deep dark hole where the rest of his emotions lay stagnant. He didn’t need them. He didn’t need anyone.

 

Picking up his cup, he took it to the sink and dumped it forcefully. He could feel Lily’s eyes on his back, but he didn’t turn to face her. He didn’t want her to see the pain and anger he knew were in his eyes.

 

He was about to escape above deck when movement from outside the tiny nautical window caught his attention.

 

“What is it?” Lily whispered.

 

“They found us,” Chase said, and slid the revolver from his waistband.

 

 

 

 

 

Chapter Eight

 

 

 

 

Footsteps from above deck made the hairs on Lily’s neck prickle. Someone was on board the boat. At least two of them; she could hear them talking in low voices.

 

She swallowed a gasp when the doorknob to the cabin rattled.

 

“Damn thing’s locked,” said a male voice with a strong Bostonian accent.

 

“Kick it in like you did the other one,” said another voice. “Boss told us to find them, so we gotta search all the boats, not just the easy ones.”

 

“You sure this is the boat?”

 

“How do I know? Kick the damn thing in.”

 

The next thing Lily knew she was being pulled backward by Chase’s strong hands. A crash sounded in the general vicinity of the door. Then she was in the fore sleeping quarters. Next to her, Chase worked frantically to unhinge and open the deck hatch, his eyes never leaving the thin door he’d latched behind them.

 

Linda Castillo's books