Prisoner and Together: All of You series complete set (31 page)

She kisses my cheek gently, and places her hand in my hair, holding me against her.  “I love you, Tony.  But I’m not giving you a massage.”

“You’re gonna be huge in five or six months, and you’re gonna ask me to massage your feet, and I’m gonna remember this,” I murmur.

Burke sighs loudly.  This just feels right.  All of it, Lani beside me, seeing the kids, Burke being a jackass.  This new life is amazing.

Chapter Seventeen

Lani

“Tony, honey, your phone,” I murmur as I roll over and nudge him.

“Baby, I don’t have a phone,” he reminds me, in his rumbly morning voice.

I groan as I roll over to the other side of the bed, and read the clock.  It says eight o’clock.  My phone stops ringing, but it immediately starts ringing again.  “Grrrrr…  I can’t believe we slept so late.”  I groan, as I roll over and grab my phone.  “Detective Vaden.”

“Lani, we need you back in Winston, right now.”  I glance over at Tony, who’s rubbing his eyes and stretching.  I almost don’t want him to know that Barrett’s on the phone, or that he’s ordering me to return home.

“What is it, L.T.?”  That gets Tony’s attention.  His eyes grow wide, as he turns his head toward me.  I shrug my shoulders as I sit up.

“It’s Chief Vaden, he didn’t come in at six,” Barrett explains. 

I yawn loudly.  “Maybe he overslept.  Call him, not me.” 

“We did.  He didn’t answer.”  He sounds terse.

“Okay…”  My hand goes out to touch Tony’s forearm, and I slowly caress his skin.  He mumbles and smiles at me.

“Someone else did.”

“What?!”  My exclamation startles Tony, and we both sit straight up in the bed. 

“What’s wrong?” Tony demands, concern evident in his dark eyes. 

“They want you and Tony, or they’ll kill your dad.”  I sit dumbfounded, my mouth wide open.

“They, who?” I implore.  My voice is high, and loud.  I try to even it out.  “Who?”

“We don’t know, Lani.  They will call your cellphone in twelve hours, and if you don’t answer your dad is dead.  You have to get here now, Lani.”  He actually sounds worried. 

“Wait.”  I scramble off the bed, and look around on the floor for my clothes.  I slither into the jeans and t-shirt that I wore to dinner last night.  “Hold on,” I continue.  I walk into the living room, and open the door between our room and Killian’s, and knock.  He immediately opens it, and he’s already dressed with his cell phone against his ear too.

“I just got the call,” he says.  “The office in Oakville is already coordinating with the Winston Police Department.”

I take a step back, and feel Tony behind me.  “What’s going on?” he asks.

“Chief Vaden’s been kidnapped,” Killian answers him.

“Lani, I assume you’re with Special Agent Burke.  I’m going to let you go now.  I have a lot to do here.  Call me when your plane lands, we’ll have an escort waiting for you at the airport.”  With that he closes the line. 

“Tell me this isn’t happening.”  I don’t know what to say, how to react, or what to think.  I feel like the walls are closing in around me.  I can’t breathe.  I put my hands on my knees and lean forward.

Tony puts his hand on the small of my back, and bends down onto the floor beside me.  “Lani, whatever you’re thinking, you can’t.  I won’t let you.”

“You’re not letting me what?” I groan, as I inhale deeply.  I’m trying my hardest not to hyperventilate.

“You aren’t going to run off and do anything crazy, Lani.  You’re pregnant.”  His voice is hard, unwavering.  I’ve never heard him sound so dominant, so powerful.

I turn swiftly to glare at him, but his expression is as rigid as his voice, and his eyes are like burning coals.  “It’s my dad, Tony.”  I sob as I say it, but his eyes don’t soften.  He glances from me to Killian.

“How long do we have to plan?”  Tony asks, forcefully.

“Less than twelve hours,” he replies.  He seems a little awestruck by Tony’s attitude as well. 

“Lani, bring Riley in here.  We need all of our resources for this.  Burke, how many agents can you gather for a taskforce in twelve hours?” 

“Since the FBI has already been informed of the kidnapping, we have all of the Bureau’s resources.”  He’s holding his phone out from his ear, as if nothing else is relevant at this point except for Tony. 

“We also have the entire Winston police force at our disposal.  I need a cell phone, and I need Lieutenant Barrett’s number now.”  He finishes his speech with, “Lani, why are you still here?”

“Sorry,” I reply, as I hurry off toward the door.

I hear Killian say, “Here’s my phone,” as I walk out into the hallway.

Tony

We are all on the plane.  Internet access is now available, even at cruising altitude.  I know I was in prison for a decade, but it might as well have been a hundred years.  Smart phones, tablets, and high speed internet access is available practically everywhere.  Lani set up an email for me, and I’m getting dozens of alerts on her tablet, mostly from Burke, who is sitting across the aisle from me.

“Was everyone brought in to be questioned?  And I mean everyone, even the nurse that worked at the prison?” I ask him.  He’s staring at his screen, and doesn’t answer.  Then I notice he’s wearing ear buds.  I sigh loudly, and tap him on the arm.  He jumps, startled, and glances at me.  I ask him my question again.

“It’s only been two hours, Tony.  They might need a little more time than that,” Burke counters.

“Time is what we don’t have.  Everyone needs to be accounted for as soon as possible.  Also, who’s questioning De Soto?”  I’m starting to feel like I’m back in my element, and it feels so damn good.

“Detective Johnson,” Lani replies, with a bit of a frown.

“Do you trust him with your father’s life?” I ask her.  There’s got to be a reason for the frown, and I need to know what it is.

“He has a lighter touch than I’d like.  But I think he can get through to him.”  I continue to gaze at her, trying to gauge her commitment to her partner.  “If not, then the FBI can take over.”

I glance at Riley, and he removes his ear buds too.  What is it with everyone and ear buds?  They wouldn’t even know if there was an attack on the plane.  “Okay.  Has the Winston County Sheriff’s department checked in?” 

“Yes, they are on board with the SWAT mission.  They’re all on call, waiting for the location,” Riley replies.  I nod at him.

“God, I wish I had a cigarette,” I groan.  Lani frowns at me, but I just shrug. 

Then she leans forward, and whispers in my ear, “You amaze me, Chief Petty Officer Roman.”  She kisses my cheek gently, and I feel like I’m in heaven.  Yes, this angel is what I went through hell for, and she’s worth every lonely, horrific moment of it. 

Burke actually seems a little jealous.  That makes me even happier.  I turn my face toward her, and kiss her lips softly.  “I love you, Melanie.  And I’m never going to let anything happen to you, or your family.  But when this is over, we’re coming back to Pittsburgh, and spending some time with my parents and my kids.  Deal?”

“Deal,” she says sweetly. 

“Sleep for an hour or two baby, because as soon as our feet touch the ground, we’ll be going non-stop for the foreseeable future.”  She snuggles against me, and closes her eyes.  I lean back in the seat, in the private jet Burke somehow commandeered.  We’re going to owe him, big time.  I’ll have to write something really nice about him in my book, maybe paint him as a demi-god.  And I’ll have to make sure some really hot actor plays him in the movie.  If there is a movie.

I have to make it through the next twenty-four hours alive before I can think about writing a book.  More importantly, I think as I push Lani’s hair off her cheek, I need to keep this woman and the baby growing inside her alive.  I don’t know how I’m going to do it, but I do know I’ll die trying if I have to.

Lani

“So, you really are pregnant?” Jamie asks, as soon as he sees me walking toward him.  He makes a move like he’s going to hug me, but his eyes stray to the huge man standing beside me, and he reaches out to shake my hand.  He also shakes Tony’s hand. 

“Yep, this time it’s for real.”  I grin as I say it, and my hand strays to my tummy.  I don’t want anyone thinking I’m not happy with this baby.  “How did you know?”

“Word travels fast in Winston,” he replies enigmatically, with his light blue eyes sparkling.  I wonder who else knows.

But I have more important things on my mind right now.  “Do you know where my father is?”  It’s the first thing I ask when I climb into the patrol car that Jamie is driving.  Tony is by my side, as always, and joins me in the back seat. 

“I think we’re close.  We just need a little more time.”  His words are clipped, and he’s using his cop tone, not his partner tone. 

“Be straight with me, Jamie.  Don’t bullshit me, please.”  Tony places his hand gently on my knee.  I grab it and squeeze it.

“We have cops banging on every door in Winston County, and half of Mason County.  We’ll find him, Lani,” Jamie assures me.

“How long before they call us?” I ask, even though I’m wearing my watch.

“Seven hours,” Jamie replies.  Tony glances down at his wrist, and twists his fingers around the width of it. 

I glance at Tony, still unsure of what will happen in the next few hours.  “Do you think your plan will work?” 

“It’ll work, Lani.  We’ll get your dad,” he assures me.  His eyes hold a purpose, a goal.  I feel safe, and I feel like he’s capable of taking care of me, and any situation that might come our way.  “I’ll always take care of you, Lani.”

“I know.”  He is here beside me, just like he has been every time I’ve needed him over the past few months.  He is strong and steady.  He is my rock.  I hope he sees in my eyes that I trust him.

Tony

She looks so scared.  I know she’s upset, and I know she’s hurting.  I wish I could do something to take away her pain, and really reassure her that everything is going to be okay.  She looks at me like she wants to believe me, but she still has some doubt. 

Finally, we pull up to the Winston Police Department, and she doesn’t even wait for him to turn off the car before she jumps out.  She glances back at me, but doesn’t wait until I get out before she rushes into the building.  When I finally enter, next to Detective Johnson, I see Lani being comforted by her mother, Liberty.

“Roman,” I hear in a booming, overbearing tone.  I turn toward it, and I see Lieutenant Barrett standing in his doorway, waving me toward it.  I glance back at Lani, and she is whispering with Liberty.  Liberty smiles brightly, then wraps Lani in her arms.

I glance back at Barrett, who jabs at the air as he points at me, then motions toward his office.  I assume that means he doesn’t want Lani to join me.  This feels every different kind of wrong.  As soon as I am close enough, he reaches out to shake my hand with a terse, “Roman.”

“Lieutenant Barrett,” I respond, pointedly.  As soon as I’m in his office, he shuts the door behind me.  I notice Burke, Riley, and Johnson already sitting in chairs in front of Barrett’s desk, and as there are no more empty seats, I cross my arms and lean against the doorframe.

“We know where Captain Vaden is being held.”  His eyes are ice blue when he says it, and he’s staring right at me.  He wants me to respond.  I remain silent.

“That’s great, let’s go get him,” Johnson replies.  Then he glances at me, and his eyes move to the empty spot beside me.  “Where’s Lani?”  He actually says it out loud.  Barrett tried to get that exact response out of me, but I didn’t fall for it.

“How did you find out where he is?  Is the information credible?”  Of course Burke is the one to ask the logical questions.  I like him more and more all the time.

“The sister of Elliot Cruickshank, the guy who broke Hughes out of our custody, gave us the information.  She folded like a sheet when we questioned her.  She told us exactly where her brother is, and she even told us that she’s been providing meals for Cruickshank, Hughes, and Chief Vaden.”  Barrett looks pretty proud of himself.

“We’re suiting up in five.  The County’s SWAT team is leading the charge.  We’d like the FBI with us as well, Burke.”  Burke nods.  “We could use someone with your skills, Roman.  You’re coming with us, if you want.  Detective Vaden is not.”

I’m supposed to just suit up and risk my life to go with them, and I’m pretty sure I’m also the one who is supposed to tell Lani she’s not joining the rescue mission.  And Barrett is challenging me to say no.  Great.

Poor Jamie looks confused, and Burke looks almost sympathetic. 

Barrett’s attention is on me again.  Sure, he’s good looking, but he also seems extremely cocky and self-absorbed.  What did Lani ever see in him?  I mean, he’s married for God’s sake.  “You’ll let Vaden know, won’t you?”  He’s testing me.  I don’t like it.

“I’ll let her know.  But how am I supposed to stop her from joining us?”

“You’ll just have to figure that out yourself.”  He chuckles as he says it.  Fucking asshole.  I’m trying not to react, but Barrett’s blonde eyebrow arches, daring me.  He doesn’t think I can do it.  He doesn’t think I can deal with Melanie Vaden.  Well, I’ll just have to show him that I can.

“Alright, guys, five minutes,” Barrett states.

I open the door, and scan the bullpen.  She’s sitting at her desk, facing away from Barrett’s office, but she turns slightly, and sees me exiting her lieutenant’s office.  Her eyes grow wide, and she gives me a slight smile.  Looking at her, and knowing she’s mine, still makes my heart skip a beat.  Fuck, no, I can’t deal with her.