Chapter 42
Courtney
The next couple of hours are pure torture.
My head is killing me, but not getting any news about Micah is much more painful.
I alternately pace, lie down, and spend time with the twins since none of this is their fault.
Lennox is a jittery mess too, pacing, constantly on alert, looking out the windows.
There’s a go-bag by the door. In the event of an attack, she’s briefed me on the protocol and where to go.
We have two options for tunnels if we have to go that route, and she says it’s better not to use the one in their apartment—anyone who has any inkling of the layout will look there first.
It’s a little frustrating to be in a situation like this again.
I truly hoped this trip would be calm, a genuine opportunity to spend time with Daniil.
Instead, we’re in the middle of another mess and it’s becoming painfully obvious that this really is his life.
The whole reason I didn’t want to tell him about Micah in the first place.
Now someone’s kidnapped my son, Lennox is pregnant and in danger, and I’ve got a cracked skull that’s keeping me from being able to do much of anything.
Natalia has taken Casey and Levi to a safe house, someone picked up the older children from school and transported them there as well.
Xander got Elen and the baby to a different safe house in the city, and extended family have all been told to either hunker down at the palace or request transport to another location.
Erik refused to leave until the very last minute, running point since Joe is distracted and uneasy.
Lennox is planning to leave too but she’s waiting for Sandor, who won’t go until Erik does.
In her condition, she’s not comfortable taking the twins on her own, and I don’t blame her. Normally, I would help but with my skull fracture, I’m not nearly as astute as I usually am.
When the twins go down for their nap, Lennox sinks onto the couch.
“You okay?” I ask her.
“Apparently, bad things only happen when I’m pregnant, so this is definitely my last pregnancy.”
“I thought that was already the plan?”
“It is. I’m just being silly.”
“Are you scared?” I ask softly.
“No.” She shakes her head. “Not really. I am worried, though. They haven’t been able to find Jesper, so that means he’s on the run.”
“Potentially with my son in tow,” I mutter.
“I don’t believe he’d hurt him,” she says, squeezing my hand. “I mean, he’s using this for leverage, but I refuse to believe he’d actually hurt an innocent baby.”
“But we don’t know for sure.”
“We don’t.”
“I don’t know how you do it,” I admit. “I’m literally crawling out of my skin. I know you love Sandor, but is it worth the risk to your children?”
“He’s worth everything,” she replies. “But as we’ve discussed before, it’s not black and white.”
“You’re pregnant,” I say quietly. “And once again, he’s not with you during a potential attack.”
“I’m not ready to give birth this time,” she says.
“That’s our agreement. Once I reach thirty-two weeks, he doesn’t travel, and he doesn’t go more than fifteen minutes away.
And even if he’s with Erik, if something were to happen, he would come to me.
Erik knows this and for the most part, he can take care of himself.
He’s more concerned about Casey and the kids. ”
“That still doesn’t keep you safe.”
She sighs. “Look, I know what’s going on now is the worst-case scenario. I’m not going to try and sugarcoat anything. You must be terrified—I would be too.”
“I’m angry,” I admit. “I trusted him and—”
“And what? He didn’t do this intentionally.
” She meets my gaze with a frown. “I understand how scared you are, so it makes sense you need someone to blame, but this isn’t on him.
Deep down, you know that. We can’t control what other people do.
And there are always going to be bad people in the world.
That’s why we surround ourselves with the people we love and trust.”
“How do I trust a man who’s always involved in…something dangerous.”
“Only you can answer that question.” She jumps as her phone rings and immediately lifts it to her ear. “It’s Sandor—hi!” She listens intently. “They found him…thank fuck… yeah? Okay, good. Keep me posted.”
She disconnects and smiles. “They found Jesper—and it only took Grim about two minutes to make him talk. They know where Micah is, and they’re going to get him.”
I stare at her for a beat.
Then I burst into tears.
* * *
Despite the relentless pounding in my head, I’m waiting in the garage when the SUV pulls up. Landon called to tell me they were on the way and that they had Micah. Daniil joins me a moment later and we run to the SUV together.
“He’s fine,” Landon says, getting out with Micah in his arms.
Micah turns and immediately holds out his arms—to his father. I don’t care, though, and snatch him up before Daniil has a chance. I bury my face against his soft, warm body, holding him tightly.
“Mommm…” He murmurs over and over, fisting a lock of my hair.
“I’m right here,” I whisper.
“You motherfucker!” I look up as the expletive leaves Daniil’s lips and then his fist connects with Jesper’s face and blood spurts everywhere.
I turn so Micah can’t see it, but I have zero sympathy for Jesper.
“I didn’t hurt him!” Jesper yells, holding his face.
“You fucking took my son!” Daniil yells, throwing up his hands. “My six-month-old baby—are you kidding me right now? Anything that was left between us needed to be settled like adults, not using the children!”
“This wasn’t about us!” he snaps. “There are bigger things than you, Dan, though I’m sure you don’t think so.”
“This is about the pipeline?” he demands. “You risked my son’s life over money?”
“I wasn’t going to hurt him! Jesus, he was with my great aunt. He was happy as a clam and perfectly safe.”
“You scared me—and nearly killed Courtney. They fractured her skull, you stupid son of a bitch.”
He has the grace to look embarrassed. “She wasn’t supposed to be hurt—she shouldn’t have fought back.”
Daniil stares at him like he’s an idiot. “Did you think a fucking soldier—a god damn marine—would just sit there and let someone take her child? Do you not know who she is?”
“How was I to know she’s another tough guy? That’s your type, though, right? A woman who’s more like a man?”
I wince at that comment, but Daniil backhands him hard enough to turn his face completely to the side.
“I’d keep my mouth shut if I were you,” he snaps. “Because I can do this all day.”
He doesn’t respond and Landon gives him a little shove. “Okay, play time is over. Where are we taking him?”
“Erik wants to see him,” Daniil grunts. “Marcus knows where interrogation is—call me if you need anything but I’m going to spend a little time with my son.”
He comes over to me, puts an arm around my waist, and guides us toward the elevators. We ride up to the floor where my suite is located in silence, other than Micah’s babbling, and I let him take him once we get to the room because it feels like there’s a drum line performing behind my eyes.
I sink onto the couch and try to breathe through the pain. Now that I have my son back, I can think about resting.
“You don’t look good, Courtney,” Daniil says softly.
“I’m not. My head is killing me.”
“Should I call the doctor?”
“No. I haven’t been taking the meds they gave me because I refused to sleep until we found Micah. But now… I have to.” I’m so tired I can barely think. Barely function.
“What can I do?”
“Just stay here with Micah so I can close my eyes for a few hours.”
“I can do that.”
“I need to be able to see you when I open my eyes,” I whisper. “If you take him out of the room…”
“I won’t.”
“Thanks.” I don’t know what else to say because things are never going to be the same between us. I’m just in too much pain to vocalize any of that.
“Go lie down,” he says softly, as if he senses my turmoil. “I’ll be right here with the baby. I won’t go anywhere. They can handle the situation with Jesper.”
“All right.”
I get up and pad into the bedroom, digging out the pills the doctor gave me. As much as I want to hold my son and never let go, I’m barely functional. Without rest, I’ll be of no use to him, and as soon as I’m able, I plan to be on the first flight back to Vegas.