Anything for His Son
Ethan returned, shaking his head, but he was already on his cell phone. On the coffee table, she spotted the photo of Ethan with their son at a baseball game, picked it up and traced her finger over Jesse’s smiling face. Disbelief warred with hopelessness, but she fought through it, grappled for strength.
Their baby had to be all right.
She couldn’t survive losing her son.
ETHAN PRAYED SILENTLY AS HE phoned Eclipse teammate Ty Jones, whose day job was as a Secret Service agent. The note had said no cops, and Ethan would comply. But he needed help, and his cohorts from the Eclipse team were the best. He didn’t intend to sit idly by while some maniac stole his son and got away with it.
Fear niggled at the base of his spine. Why hadn’t there been a ransom note or a call yet?
What did the kidnapper want if not money?
Ty sounded winded when he answered the call. “Ethan, I’ve been trying to reach you. Dana phoned me and told me about your son.”
“There was a note warning me not to call the cops,” Ethan said gruffly. “But no ransom. Ty, I don’t understand.”
“Sit tight. I’ll be there in five minutes.”
Ethan hung up and moved to the window to study the street, searching the crowd and shadowy corners. He didn’t expect to see Jesse outside, but maybe he’d get a glimpse of someone watching the house. Someone he would chase down and beat into telling him where he had his little boy.
His fingers ached from gripping the cell phone in his hands. He willed it to ring, to be the kidnapper with a message relaying his demands. Where to make the drop.
How to get his son back.
His chest tightened painfully. He had to be strong for Rebecca. For Jesse. Had to hold it together until he found the bastard who’d done this.
Fury raged through his veins like fire ripping through dry kindling. Then he’d kill the maniac with his bare hands, making sure he suffered before he died.
A pounding on the front door jarred him back to motion. He rushed to let Ty in. His friend looked disheveled, rough around the edges as if he hadn’t slept all night.
Ty said hello to Rebecca, then leaned against the fireplace wall with his hands fisted by his sides. “I think I know who kidnapped your son.”
The air froze in Ethan’s lungs. Rebecca started to stand, but Ty gestured for her to remain seated.
“Who?” Ethan asked. “What’s going on, Ty?”
“I tried to reach you earlier, Ethan. To warn you.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Ethan’s patience snapped like a thin wire beneath too much pressure. “I want to know who has Jesse, and I want to know now.”
Ty sighed. “I believe Liam Shea is behind Jesse’s disappearance.”
“Liam?” The name caused a cold ball of dread in Ethan’s stomach. “What? Why?”
“Who is Liam Shea?” Rebecca asked.
Ethan scrubbed a hand through his hair. “Ten years ago, a group of us formed a select coterie of Special Forces servicemen in a high-profile rescue mission. Fifty-eight people had been taken hostage in a civil war-torn Middle Eastern nation, most of them American, including the Secretary of State, Geoffrey Rollins.” Ethan paused. “Commander Tom Bradley recruited seven of us to get them out alive. Liam Shea was the electrical expert, Shane Peters the security expert, engine man Chase Vickers, me and Ty, the demolitions man. Vice-President Grant Davis was the tactical specialist then, and Frederic LeBron, a prince from Beau Pays, was the language expert.”
“I don’t understand what any of this has to do with Jesse,” Rebecca cried.
Ethan sat down beside her and took her hands in his. “It’s a long story, Bec. Suffice to say the mission went awry. The timing was off, and the mission blew up in our faces. Cyanide gas was released. By some miracle, we lost only three hostages. Liam was wounded but Grant saved his life. When all was said and done, Grant was hailed a hero.”
“And Liam?” Rebecca asked.
“He was court-martialed, dishonorably discharged and has spent the past ten years in prison.”
“He’s out of jail now,” Ty cut in. “And he wants revenge.”
Rebecca gasped and dropped her head into her hands, breathing deeply as if she might pass out. Ethan stroked her back, although his own chest ached and his pulse raced with fear.
“The blackout,” Ty said. “We think Liam is responsible.”
“For the entire blackout?” Rebecca asked.
Ty nodded. “Liam has blown up two BP and L power plants in town.” He turned to Ethan. “He’s just beginning. Last night LeBron’s daughter, Princess Ariana, was in town for the celebration of an international trade agreement. She joined dignitaries from around the world at the John Hancock Tower. President Stack and the vice-president were there, too.”
Ethan’s stomach turned to lead. “Ty works as Secret Service for the vice-president,” he explained to Rebecca.
“I still don’t see what this has to do with Jesse,” she whispered.
“It’s part of Liam’s master plan of revenge,” Ty said. He angled his head toward Ethan. “Shane was there last night, too. He planned to test the security surrounding the Beau Pays sapphire on exhibition from Prince Frederick. The party was in full swing when the blackout occurred. It was a freaking nightmare for all of the Secret Service and guests.” Ty made a disgusted sound. “Shane received a message about that time. It said, ‘Are you afraid of the dark’?”
Ethan gripped his phone with shaking hands. “I received the same message.”
Ty didn’t seem surprised. He continued, “As soon as the lights went out, goggled men swarmed the building and took everyone hostage. They threatened to kill the attendees if the president and vice-president didn’t show themselves.”
“What happened?” Ethan asked.
“Stack and Grant handed themselves over. The men tried to leave with them, but in the confusion, the president escaped. He’s fine now, but Grant is still missing.”
“This crazy man has the vice-president?” Rebecca asked in horror.
“We think so,” Ty confirmed.
“Liam targeted Grant for revenge,” Ethan said, the full picture forming in his mind.
Ty nodded again. “The entire Special Forces team is being targeted, Ethan. Shane and Chase have already been hit.”
Ethan dreaded the answer to his next question. “Are they all right?”
“Shane survived. But not before having to deal with Colin Shea, one of Liam’s sons.”
“His sons are involved?” Ethan asked.
“Up to their eyeballs.” Ty shifted.
“Liam’s sons were close to their father,” Ethan continued, “and blamed the Eclipse team for his arrest. They think we betrayed Liam.”
Ty sighed. “Colin wanted the sapphire. Shane tried to protect the stone, as well as Princess Ariana. Thankfully, Ben Parker, one of the FBI agents Shane has worked with in the past, managed to divert the shooter and Shane escaped.”
“Thank God,” Ethan said. “What about Chase?”
“Liam’s other son, Aidan Shea, climbed into Chase’s limo, pretending to be a dignitary. He pulled a gun, threatened Chase, then escaped.”
Ethan propped his elbows on his knees and leaned into his hands. “Is Chase all right?”
“Yes. But Aidan claimed he’d lose everything that mattered to him.”
Ethan contemplated the threat. For him, it meant Jesse. For Chase? “Lily?”
“I’m afraid so. Chase managed to get to the hospital before Aidan got to her.” Ty grunted. “She was pregnant.”
“Hell, don’t tell me Aidan killed her.”
“No, they went on the run. Finally Chase called Ben Parker for help. Unfortunately Parker was killed. Chase called me to warn me about what was going on, that Liam Shea was involved, and that he suspected Liam had something even bigger planned.”
“And now Jesse is missing.” Ethan released a string of expletives.
Rebecca’s soft cry twisted his heart. “He took our son to get back at you?”
Guilt slammed into Ethan. Rebecca was right. It was his fault their son was missing. That mission ten years ago had brought this horror on them now.
He remembered Liam’s fury at the court-martial hearing. The rage in his eyes when he’d been sentenced to prison. His vow of revenge.
Liam didn’t care whom he hurt, as long as he paid them back for what he saw as their betrayal.
And poor little Jesse was being used as a pawn in his twisted plan.
Ethan shook with the force of his fear. He knew Liam well, had witnessed how irate and focused he could be.
God help them.
He didn’t want to tell Rebecca, but Liam was coldhearted enough to kill Jesse to get back at him.
Chapter Four
Rebecca lowered her head into her hands and inhaled a deep breath, trying to calm her raging emotions. Yet her head spun with the implications of Ty’s comments.
One look into Ethan’s face, and the turmoil and guilt in his eyes robbed her breath. She had never seen her strong, tough husband look so terrified. That alone magnified the fear mounting in her chest.
His work for the military had been important and top secret. Though he’d never spoken of it, she’d known it had been dangerous.
But she’d never contemplated the fact that her son’s life might be in jeopardy because of what Ethan had done.
Ty’s explanation for the blackout confirmed how twisted and desperate this man Liam was. And his sons…they must have been planning their revenge for years. They’d undoubtedly covered their tracks, knew what they were doing, how to orchestrate their plan without being detected.
Which one of them had taken Jesse? What were they doing to him now? They could be anywhere in Boston—the seaport district, Cambridge, the North End, Chinatown—or he could have hopped a plane and taken him someplace far away.
Was he alive or had they killed him?
No, don’t think like that. He has to be all right.
Memories of Jesse’s smiling face at the ballgame yesterday flitted through her mind. He’d been so disappointed that Ethan hadn’t shown, but as soon as the game had started, he’d gotten swept up in the excitement, and he’d yelled and pounded his small hand into his glove, hoping to catch a foul ball. Later, she’d laughed as he’d crammed a hot dog into his mouth, and ketchup and mustard had dribbled down his chin.
And when the game had ended, he’d jumped up and down, shouting that he wished his dad could have been there to see the win.
She’d been so angry at Ethan…
Now Jesse might never have the chance to see another game or his father again.
She closed her eyes and summoned her courage. She remembered the way he’d tucked his small hand inside hers as they’d woven through the crowded stadium on the way out. The gleam in his smile when he’d spotted one of the players signing autographs.
He’d trusted her to take care of him, but she had failed. Now he was all alone.…
A strangled sound clogged her throat, and she jumped up and ran to the bathroom. Inside, she splashed cold water on her face, trembling violently. She didn’t want to blame Ethan, yet his past had brought this horror on their innocent little boy.
She leaned against the sink, again seeing Jesse’s trusting small face in her mind, and a sob escaped her. After the first memory came, others followed, and she sagged onto the floor in a heap, raised her knees, propped her arms on them and let the tears fall.
A second later, the door squeaked open, and Ethan sank down beside her, took her in his arms and held her.
“I’m sorry,” she whispered, hating herself for falling apart. She needed to be strong, yet she couldn’t control the flood of emotions.
“Shh, he’s our baby,” Ethan said gruffly. “You wouldn’t be a mother if you weren’t upset.”
She gulped back tears and leaned into him, savoring his strength and comforting arms. He rocked her, soothing her with gentle strokes and whispered promises that he would find Jesse and bring him safely home.
But his words only triggered her anger. He’d muttered false promises before. Hadn’t he sworn he’d be there when Jesse was born? Instead he’d been away on business and she’d almost delivered their baby all alone. The other times he’d disappointed her and Jesse came crashing back, making the pressure in her chest unbearable, and she pulled away.
“You’ve made promises before, Ethan. How can I trust you now?” The need to blame someone, to vent, surged through her. “This is all your fault. You and your job. It was always more important than us. And now our son’s life is on the line because of it.”
Ethan’s face hardened and he balled his hands into fists. “I promise you, Bec. I may have let you both down before, but this time I won’t. I swear it.”
Pain thickened his voice, but Rebecca saw other images in her mind. The disappointment in Jesse’s eyes the night Ethan hadn’t come home to help them decorate the Christmas tree. His silent tears another time when Ethan had missed Jesse’s first Little League game. The crude family sketch Jesse had drawn this year in kindergarten, a picture of the three of them and a new baby, the little brother Jesse had asked Santa for last year.
A baby they would never have, living on opposite sides of the country and divorced.
“I know you mean that, Ethan. But what if we—what if you—can’t save him? What if it’s too late already?”
He flinched. “Don’t talk like that, Bec. Besides…”
“Besides what, Ethan?” she asked coldly.
“Jesse is more useful alive.”
“More useful?” Shock stirred her temper. “What’s wrong with you, Ethan? You’re talking about Jesse like he’s some object, not your own son.”
“I didn’t mean it like that, Bec, and you know it. I’m trying to think like a cop.”
“All I know is that you let us walk out of your life once before. You were ready to sign the divorce papers, so I assume you want me out of your life.”
He didn’t move, simply met her look with a dark, piercing gaze that sliced through her, reopening painful wounds.
“You’re the one who wanted the papers signed so you could get on with your life,” he said bitterly.
Only because he hadn’t wanted them enough to try.
She ached for him to hold her now, yearned to believe that he could make this right, but she couldn’t allow herself to believe in him again, to trust him. She and Jesse had been hurt too many times before.
So she wrapped her anger around her instead. She’d come here to end their marriage. And she would—once they found Jesse.
ETHAN SPUN AWAY FROM REBECCA, his chest aching. She was right to blame him. The situation was all his fault. He was responsible for the agony in Rebecca’s cries, the fear in her eyes. And the fact that his son was in the hands of a madman.
“I know you hate me, Rebecca, but I love our son and I’ll do everything in my power to bring him back.”
“I don’t hate you, Ethan,” she said, although her look condemned him in his soul. “But I can’t trust you, either. When this is over, it might be best for you to stay away from Jesse.”
Her soft voice twisted the knife of guilt piercing his chest. But she was right.
He was a failure as a father and husband. As much as he’d loved her, he hadn’t been able to give himself wholly.
And Jesse deserved to be safe. He didn’t deserve to be in the hands of Liam Shea, to be a ploy in his revenge plot.
The cold wave of terror settling inside him hardened his jaw. But could he really let them both go forever when he got Jesse back?
Rage sparked his temper, pushing the guilt and heartache into the back of his mind. He had hoped to talk to Rebecca today, let her know that he was going to cut back on his hours, spend more time with his son. His software company had attained the level of success he’d hoped for; he could delegate work and be with Jesse. But now he might never get that chance. And Rebecca didn’t want him in their lives at all.
“Ethan, do you have a plan? Some way to contact Shea?”
He pivoted, resorted to what he did best.
He might not be a good father, but he was damn good at tracking down terrorists and bad guys. And when it came time to kill, Ethan would have no problem taking out Liam or his sons.
“No, but I will.”
Ty poked his head in with a frown. “I need to go, Ethan.”
“What do we do now?” Rebecca asked.
A computer ace, Ethan knew how to dig up information.
“Let me see what I can find out about Liam and his sons.” Grateful he still had some battery left in his computer, Ethan booted up his laptop and typed in several commands, searching the databases Eclipse had access to.
“What are you looking for?” Rebecca asked.
“Everything I can find on them.” Ethan scrubbed a hand over his neck. “Where Liam and his sons have been the past few years. Jobs. Addresses. Friends or associates. Anything that might give us a clue where they’re hiding out, or where they’ve taken Jesse.”
A photo of Liam appeared on the screen. Ethan frowned, his mind sweeping him back ten years to that fateful mission.
The hostages, mostly engineers, teachers and missionaries, were being held in a densely populated downtown, in the cavernlike basement of a closely guarded building. The world had prayed for their release for weeks. Every country from which the hostages had hailed—the U.S., England, Australia and the Alpine nation Beau Pays—had attempted a rescue and failed.
Ethan’s Special Forces team had been the last hope.
The men had methodically outlined their plan. Just as Ty ignited a minor explosion as a diversion, Liam was to kill the power to the building, plunging it into darkness to provide cover for the team’s entrance. The eight of them, armed with high-tech surveillance to see where the hostages were being held, were in place to take out the guards in precision timing down to the nanosecond.
Previous rescuers had reported that the captors had scrambled all frequencies in the building, allowing no communication between team members. Commander Bradley was supposed to give a visual cue.
But something had gone wrong.
Sweat rolled down Ethan’s neck as he remembered the events. Shea, claiming he’d seen Bradley’s signal, had killed the lights prematurely, causing the captors to release cyanide gas. Among the chaos, it was a miracle anyone had gotten out alive.
“Ethan?”
Rebecca’s soft voice jerked him from the traumatic memory. When he glanced up, he saw her watching him warily. “What is it?” she asked.
“Nothing.” He turned back to the computer, clicked a few more keys, and photographs of Liam’s boys spilled onto the screen.
Which one of them had Jesse? Liam or one of his sons?
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