BILLIONAIRE BIKERS: 3 MC Romance Books (67 page)

After a few days, Lucas was gaining more mobility in his arm, and he began to wean himself off of the pain medication. He felt better physically, but his mind felt like a spinning top. No matter how much he tried to reason out a solution regarding the exchange, he could not. Dead end scenarios simply whirled around and around in his mind. At last he had no choice but to bring others in on it. He decided to talk to Jerry first.

“Wait, wait, wait! So you’re telling me Ethan is alive?” Jerry asked after hearing Lucas’s story.

“That’s what I’m telling you. And they want me to exchange Audra for him.”

“You can’t do that.”

“I
know
I can’t do that. But what am I going to do? I can’t just say, ‘Oh, no, sorry, this is my job. I don’t care about my kid.’”

“Nor can you say, ‘Oh, no, sorry, this is my kid, I don’t care about the witness.’”

“Well, I could, but I think you know that she’s more than a witness to me. At this point it would be like someone asking me to exchange Elena for Ethan. It’s just not possible.”

“So, you don’t think they know the ramifications of all of this for you?”

“I thought they did because Michaelson inferred that he knew about Audra’s and my relationship. But I think they would have worked out a different deal knowing that.”

Jerry shrugged. “What different deal? They have what you want; you have what they want.”

“Except that I want both.”

“How sure are you that this kid is actually Ethan?”

“I talked to him. He knew his mother’s name.”

“It wouldn’t be that difficult to tell him what to say.”

“But what else do I have to go on? What could I request that would prove it one way or the other?”

“Wait. You buried the body, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Can’t you have the body exhumed and DNA tested?”

“That could take weeks to get all the court orders I need for that, and in the meantime, what do I tell them…I’m trying to make a decision whether or not to turn their witness over to the cartel?”

“No, buddy. You just tell them you have reason to believe your son is alive, but you need proof as to whether the child you buried is Ethan.”

“But I’ve arranged the exchange for two days from now.”

Jerry’s eyes grew big. “What were you thinking?”

“I wasn’t. I’ve been on pain meds, remember?”

They talked for a long time, exploring several scenarios but not coming up with anything that might actually protect all of them.

Finally, Jerry heaved a sigh and said, “I think your only solution right now is to tell Audra that you are going to make a ruse of the exchange and let us back you up.”

“How do you plan to back me up?” asked Lucas.

“I don’t know yet. I have to talk to Gordon.”

“I wish someone could just go rescue my kid without all of this other bullshit.”

“This ‘other bullshit’ being putting your and Audra’s lives on the line?” said Jerry.

“Exactly.”

“Our most careful planning could go awry, or maybe they would just shoot us all on sight. I don’t trust any of them about anything.”

“As well you shouldn’t.”

“But what can I do?” asked Lucas.

“I think we’re back to square one, buddy. I don’t know what to tell you.”

# # #

Lucas just left the dome and started walking. He walked in a straight line until he began to tire. The dome hadn’t been in sight for quite some time when he stopped, and he simply dropped down and sat cross-legged on the ground.

He was surprised to find that he had a cell signal. He didn’t know how good it would be or how long it would last, but he would use the window he had.

He pressed to repeat call the number Michaelson had given him.

“I want to postpone the exchange for two to three weeks.”

“Why?” Michaelson asked.

“Why not? What’s the hurry? Blanco’s under lock and key, not going anywhere, and the Grand Jury won’t meet for another month yet.”

“I don’t like that you’re stalling.”

“I don’t like that you’re pushing.”

“Hey, I simply asked you to call me when you were ready to deal. You made the call.”

“Okay, so I’m no longer ready.”

“You’re going to try to pull something.”

“Why would I? You’ve got my kid.”

“Which is why I wonder why you don’t want to be reunited as quickly as possible.”

“It’s complicated,” Lucas said.

“It’s not. You bring us the girl; we give you the kid. End of story.”

“In case you’ve forgotten, Michaelson, I’m injured. I can’t really drive, and I’m quite a ways from the exchange spot.”

“Have the girl drive.”

“I want to be stronger. I’m still on pain meds. I’d like to think I was at least able to make a rational decision if I’m going to do this.”

There was a few seconds of silence, and Lucas thought the call had dropped.

“Okay. Two weeks. That’s it. Don’t call me again. Same time, same place exactly two weeks from the original date and time.”

“Done,” Lucas said. The call disconnected.

The next call he placed to the chief.

“I know you don’t owe me anything,” Lucas said, “but it would be a whole lot simpler if I could get some support. I need something rushed--given the highest priority--and I don’t know anyone other than you who could do it.”

“I’m listening,” the chief said.

Lucas told him about Ethan. He didn’t mention Michaelson; he simply cited one of Blanco’s men, which Michaelson clearly was.

“Two weeks? It could take two weeks to get the exhumation order alone.”

“I understand that, but that’s the timeline I’m on. I’ve already asked for more time once, and the caller said I could no longer use the number he had given me originally, so I have no way to contact him again. I have to figure that it’s a disposable cell. I’m just asking you to do what you can do with a great sense of urgency.”

“Call me back in ten days and I’ll tell you where we are.”

“Fair enough,” Lucas replied.

Ten days later, all the chief could tell him was that the exhumation had been done, and a DNA sample had been taken and sent to forensics. No news beyond that.

“Roberts,” he said, “why are they telling you about Ethan? What do they want?”

“Money.”

“Money? I doubt that. Cartels don’t extort ransoms from parents. And why now? Why not three years ago? There’s something else they want.”

Before Lucas could protest further, the chief continued.

“Jesus Christ, Roberts. They want you to exchange the girl for your son, don’t they? Why the fuck didn’t you tell me that before?”

Lucas couldn’t respond.

“Just don’t do anything stupid. Don’t promise anyone anything. I’ll get back with you in two days.”

“I’ll have to call you. You can’t reach me where I am.”

“Fine. Call me in the afternoon two days from now.”

# # #

Lucas could hear strain and upset in the chief’s voice as soon as he answered.

“I’ve got good news,” he began, “which is bad news, and then I’ve got a lot worse news.”

“Shoot,” Lucas said.

The chief cleared his throat. “First, the boy they are holding is not your son.”

Lucas’s heart beat a little faster, and he felt a millisecond of elation until he realized what that meant.

“Of course,” the chief said, “that means that the child in the grave is Ethan.”

The news struck him with fresh sorrow, as if he were receiving the news of his son’s death for the very first time.

“I…I can’t imagine,” Lucas faltered, “what news could be worse?”

“Blanco escaped during a transfer between two facilities. The
Federales
were besieged, leaving four of them dead.”

Lucas closed his eyes. Months of work--the deaths of Bill Taylor and Fetsko, the ordeal over Ethan, his own wounding--all for nothing.

“Are you still there, Roberts?”

“Yes.”

“The other thing I have to tell you is that they want Audra in Phoenix to give her deposition before the Grand Jury next Tuesday.”

“What time?” Lucas asked, numbly.

“You need to have her there by 8 a.m.”

“She’ll be there,” Lucas said.

# # #

Lucas and Audra departed the complex early Monday afternoon. Audra drove since Lucas still didn’t have full mobility. They drove to Kingman, stopping before dark. They rented a sedan, leaving Gordon’s jeep at the rental company, then checked into a motel for the night.

It was still dark when they left Kingman the next morning just before five o’clock. Audra was on the frontage road, just pulling onto Highway 93.

“So why is it again that I’m going now to give deposition if he’s not even in custody?” she asked.

“He’s still under arrest even though he’s a fugitive. They want to continue with the deposition so they can…Jesus! Is that guy going to stop?”

Audra looked out her window to see headlights bearing down on them.

“Oh, God!” she said.

The broadside impact spun them to the right, bringing the car up against a guard rail. The airbags deployed, knocking her back against the seat. She was unconscious.

Lucas shook his head to clear it and looked toward the offending vehicle. Two men with drawn pistols approached their sedan. Lucas reached for his gun but couldn’t get around the airbag.

Now, the perpetrators were on either side of the car, one with his pistol to the glass on Lucas’s side, the other reaching through Audra’s shattered window to press his pistol to her temple. His thumb drew back the hammer with a sickening click.

A banshee-like shriek of metal on metal pierced the air as a third vehicle breached the space between the two wrecked cars. Lucas heard a crunch of glass and metal as the new car struck the broadsiding car, pinning Audra’s would-be shooter between vehicles.  His weapon spun out of his hand, landing on top of the deployed air bag, while his top-heavy body flopped over onto the hood of the rented sedan with a nauseating thud.

The other shooter jumped back as his accomplice struck the hood, his gun going off. The bullet pierced the windshield, deflated Lucas’s airbag, and whizzed between Lucas and Audra’s heads to lodge itself in the metal over the backseat driver’s side door. With the air bag deflated, Lucas grabbed his own weapon and leveled it at the second shooter.

Suddenly, like ghost-faces out of nowhere, the cars were surrounded by officers who took control of the scene. Ambulances and fire trucks poured down the highway. The emergency techs opened Audra’s door and deflated her airbag, handing over the superfluous weapon. They stabilized her neck with a cervical collar and lifted her gently from the car onto a gurney.

They asked Lucas how he was doing. Pressed up against the guard rail, they were unable to get to him until Audra was removed. His legs shook from the adrenaline rush. They brought him out, sitting him on the tailgate of the ambulance, taking his vitals and checking him for shock.

Lucas saw them loading Audra into the ambulance. He jumped up, his knees nearly buckling beneath him. “I need to go with her,” he said.

An officer who appeared to be in charge of the scene nodded, and they boosted Lucas into the back of the ambulance.

“He has a prior injury,” the tech who had been examining Lucas told Audra’s tech. “He needs to be checked out at the hospital, too.”

The tech nodded, and the door slammed. Sirens began to wail, as they pulled from the side of the road back toward Kingman.

# # #

Lucas was in an ER holding room, waiting for the doctor when the curtain was shoved aside and another ghost walked in. It was Fetsko.

“Son-of-a-bitch!” Lucas cried, attempting to stand, but still too shaky to accomplish it. Fetsko grabbed him around the neck.

Lucas pushed him back so he could look at him. “Michaelson told me he killed you.”

“Michaelson was in too big a hurry. He was running for his van to get your dead-weight self in the vehicle. I shot once at him. He returned fire and caught me in the shoulder. I went down, and he didn’t bother to see what kind of damage he had done. Look! Twins!” he said, waving a sling at Lucas.

“I thought you had left earlier in the evening.”

“I had a feeling something would go down that night, so I waited around. I saw Michaelson pull into the parking lot.”

“Why didn’t anyone know where you were afterwards?”

“I just patched myself up and waited. I’ve been keeping tabs on what’s going on with Blanco’s men.”

“Marlena?” Lucas asked.

“She’s pulling through. She’s still in the hospital, but I want her to stay there until she’s completely healed. I have some plans for that girl.”

Lucas grinned.

The doctor examined Lucas and suggested he remain in the hospital for observation.

“Can you put me in the same room with the woman that came in from the car accident?”

“We don’t put different sexes in the same room. Besides, she’ll be going upstairs, and we’ll probably just keep you here.”

“I’m a deputy marshal, and she’s my charge. It will save the hospital a whole lot of money if you just put us in the same room. That way you don’t have to pay for a guard outside her room.”

“I don’t think we’re worried about the cost, Mr. Roberts, but considering the situation, I’ll see what we can do…although I don’t know that you’re in any position guard her.”

“I’ll just hang out, too,” Fetsko said. “She’s assigned to both of us.”

“Do you have any idea who Miss Donahue’s next of kin are?”

“She has none.”

“None?”

“No husband? No significant other?”

“Why? Is she going to be okay?”

“She is okay, other than a slight concussion, but….”

“But what?”

“You’re sure she has no next of kin?”

“No. All of her family has been killed.”

The doctor’s eyes opened wide.

“She’s a federal witness and has experienced some pretty horrific things.”

“How long has she been under your protection?”

“Nearly three months.”

The doctor rocked back and forth on his heels, looking from Lucas to Fetsko and back again.

“Exclusively under your protection?”

“Well, under mine, specifically,” Lucas said. “Fetsko here was just hired on to replace another officer. He hasn’t even had a chance to meet her yet.”

The doctor’s eyes bored holes into Lucas. Then, he turned to Fetsko. “Officer, would you mind leaving us alone for a few minutes?”

“No. No problem.” Fetsko glanced at Lucas, and then walked back out toward the waiting room.

“I could probably get you in a lot of trouble if I wanted to,” the doctor said. “I’m sure the Marshals Service wouldn’t be impressed.”

Lucas’s alarmed look was nearly enough to tell the doctor what he figured anyway.

“Let’s just say that my examination of Miss Donahue has brought some of your activities to light.”

“My activities?”

“Activities between the two of you. I’ve said all I’m going to say. I’ve said too much already, so I likely won’t report you. But I can’t say it doesn’t upset me considering the position you hold.”

The doctor turned on his heel and walked out.

Fetsko saw the doctor exit and came back in. “What was that about? He was acting strange.”

Lucas shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. Will you see if you can get any update on when she’ll leave the ER?”

Fetsko was back in just a few minutes. “It looks like they’re getting ready to take her upstairs now. I got her room number. Are you still waiting for something?”

“I guess not,” Lucas said. He got up, testing his legs. They walked up just as Audra was being transported to her room. She looked up at him.

“Lucas,” she said, her eyes filling with tears. “I’m glad you’re here.”

“I’m glad you’re all right.”

“Yeah,” she said, “just a bump on the head, but since I was unconscious, they want to keep me for observation.”

“Me, too,” he said. “I think they’re going to let me stay with you.”

Audra glanced over at Fetsko.

“It’s Fetsko, Audra. He’s alive.”

“I see that,” she said. “Glad to meet you…”

“Nick,” he said. “Nick Fetsko.”

“Glad to meet you, Nick.”

They were on the elevator and then onto her floor. The men were asked to remain outside while they transferred her to her bed, but once she was settled, they were permitted to enter.

The two men stood near her bed, and she looked up at Fetsko.

“Nick, can I talk to Lucas for a little while by myself?”

“Sure. Sorry. I don’t mean to be in the way. Seems like I’m always in the way.”

“It’s okay, buddy,” Lucas said. “Just give us a little bit. I’ll let you know when you can come back.”

“You know, I don’t need to be in here. I can probably be more useful stationing myself outside the door.”

“Actually that would be helpful,” Lucas said.

“I’ll check with the chief to make sure I’m cleared to stay; then, I’ll talk to the floor personnel.”

Lucas nodded. As Fetsko exited, Lucas pulled up a chair and sat down beside Audra. He looked at her, and her eyes were brimming again.

“It’s okay, baby,” he said, trying to soothe her. “You’re just shook up. You’re probably still in a little bit of shock.”

She shook her head. He reached over and gently stroked her arm.

“Lucas,” she said, swallowing back her tears, “I wasn’t going to tell you, but….”

“What, baby?”

“It shouldn’t be a big deal, and maybe I shouldn’t even be upset…” her words came tumbling out, “but…but…I…I had a miscarriage. I was four weeks pregnant.”

Oh, God
, Lucas thought.
That’s what the doctor had been talking about.

He had this strange sense of loss for a moment then wondered how could feel a loss over something he hadn’t even known about. Was it because of losing Ethan for a second time? Then, he realized that if he felt that, even for a moment, that it would really impact her.

He got as close to her as the hospital paraphernalia would allow. He reached up and brushed her hair back from her face. “Audra. Don’t say it shouldn’t be a big deal or that you shouldn’t be upset. Feel what you feel. Feelings aren’t right or wrong.”

She closed her eyes, and a tear ran from each eye.

“Maybe I’ll feel relieved pretty soon. I mean with our circumstances…oh, god, with our circumstances….”

He leaned over and kissed her lips. “I know,” he whispered, “but somehow I understand. You would think that as a guy it wouldn’t….”

“But having been a father, it does.”

He nodded, reached across her, picked up the hand that wasn’t encumbered with an IV, and held it between his.

“Thank you,” she said at last.

“For what?”

“For not making me feel foolish or dismissing my feelings.”

The door opened, and the doctor swept in. Lucas casually relinquished her hand and sat back in his chair. The doctor looked from one to the other. “I take it you two have had a chance to talk…about certain things.”

Audra nodded.

“It looks like you won’t have to have a D&C. We found the tissue.”

Audra looked relieved.

“If you feel all right, we can release you in the morning, but if you need more time, just let your nurse know. She’ll contact me.”

“Thank you, doctor,” they both said, as he left the room.

Audra looked at Lucas. “I guess I missed the deposition, huh? What will happen now?”

“I don’t know, Audra. These guys are so desperate. I’m going petition that they allow us to return to Gordon’s. I can swear you in, and you can give your testimony via video. It’s not done very often, but I think when all the evidence is presented as to why, they will allow it.”

Audra nodded. She lay her head back, and he bent over, resting his forehead on the side of the bed. When he looked up, she was asleep.