Rebecca Zanetti - Blind Faith

Isobel reached for her cell phone.

Audrey jumped from the helicopter, gun out and pointing. Her ribs ached. Bad. “Drop the phone, Mother.”

Nate stood next to the helicopter, his gaze going from one woman to the other. “Nobody has to get hurt here,” he said through swelling tissue.

Audrey swallowed and set her stance. “I will shoot you. Drop the phone.”

“You will not.” Isobel sighed and glanced at Nate. “Where’s the commander?”

“I shot him.” Audrey’s knees began to tremble. She’d shot two people. Her breath caught, and she tried to remain standing.

Isobel’s eyes widened. “Where?”

“Down there. Go check on him but drop the phone first.” Audrey’s knee buckled, and she kept upright only through pure stubbornness.

Isobel’s gaze darted to the far doorway and back to her daughter. She glanced at her phone. “You won’t shoot me.”

“I will.” Audrey’s hands trembled, and she tightened her hold on the gun. Another pang rolled through her abdomen, and she swayed. “I don’t want to shoot you, but to protect this baby, to protect Nate, I will. I swear, Mother. I. Will. Shoot. You.” She meant every word, but she hoped she didn’t have to shoot.

“Audrey, don’t,” Nate said softly.

She kept her aim steady and turned slightly to look at his battered face. “I love you. I love this baby, and nobody is going to hurt either one of you. Get in the helicopter, Nate.” If a choice had to be made, she’d choose her baby and Nate. “I’m sorry, Mother. But I’m taking a stand.”

Her mother’s eyes blazed a light blue. “I can’t believe you’re mine.”

Audrey sighed and allowed sorrow one brief moment. “I’m not.” She turned toward Nate, wincing at her aching stomach. “Let’s go.”

He eyed her and nodded before hitching his bulk around the front of the bird. Audrey turned back to her mother. “Drop the phone. Now.”

Isobel’s eyes flared. “I will never understand you.” She threw the phone onto the ground.

“I know.” Sadness filled Audrey as she turned and lifted herself back into the bird. “Go check on Franklin. He may be dead.”

With a soft cry, Isobel ran for the back door.

The world exploded outside. Even protected by metal, Audrey felt heat. Oh, no. What was happening? Even though she had emotionally let her mother go, she was pathetically grateful Isobel had headed downstairs in the metal shop and hadn’t been caught in an explosion. Maybe Audrey hadn’t let go completely, but who could?

She hurried to shut the door and turned toward Nate.

He frowned. “That was more than five minutes. I had my brothers set the explosives and get back to safety where they could remote detonate.” He leaned over and pressed a hard kiss against her mouth. “I love you, too.”

She gulped as he flicked a bunch of levers. “Your brothers?”

“Bombs and other explosives set around the entire perimeter. The commander’s forces won’t know where to concentrate.” Nate pressed a button, and the ceiling folded in two. “We’ll go pick my brothers up now.”

“Okay.” Audrey buckled in, her mind reeling, her abdomen undulating. Something bad was happening, but they had to get free. “Um, can you see to fly?”

“Sort of.” He ignited the engine, and a second later, they lifted into the air.

Audrey’s stomach cramped, and she squeezed her abdomen. “Oof.”

“What?” Nate kept his gaze outside.

She tried to take several deep breaths, her gaze outside at the fires billowing up from all around. Soldiers scurried to and fro, shooting, but not at anybody. “I’m not sure.” Trying to remain calm, she pressed a hand to her inner thigh. “I’m bleeding. The baby.”

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.