Secret Agent Father. Laura Scott
Читать онлайн книгу.
“First we’re going to visit your other dad.”
“My other dad?” Confusion wrinkled his brow.
“Yes. You’re a very special boy, Cody, because you have two dads. The dad you’ve been living with and your other dad.”
“After the visit, then I’m gonna live with you?” he persisted.
She wanted him to. Very much. Not right after the visit, as Cody had said, since they were still in danger. But once all of this was over… Still, she had no way of knowing if Alex, his biological father, would have other plans. Stephan wasn’t listed as Cody’s father and he’d married Trina after Cody’s birth, which meant Alex would have the edge, if he wanted custody. The idea made her stomach hitch. She didn’t know anything about Alex. Would he be a good father? Maybe she should find a way to disappear, keeping Cody with her forever.
As much as she wanted to do just that, her conscience wouldn’t let her. The thought of the bad man knowing Cody saw him scared her to death. Would the man know Cody was with her? Was that why Trina had told her not to go back to her apartment over the day care center? She couldn’t take a chance. No matter what the future held, Cody’s safety had to be her first concern.
And regardless of who Alex was, he had a right to know about his son.
“I don’t know, Cody. I hope so. We’ll see.”
Instantly his face crumpled. “I don’t wanna go back to the marina! I don’t like it there. I wanna stay with you.”
“Shh. Hey now.” Shelby reached her arm back around the seat to rub his leg. Trina and Stephan had lived near the marina. It didn’t make sense that he was so afraid of going back there. “Cody, don’t cry. I love you. I’ll stay with you no matter what. I promise.” She wished she could pull him into her arms, inhaling the sweet scent of his baby shampoo. But they needed to get to the truck stop as soon as possible. “I love you,” she repeated. “I’ll stay with you always. Okay?”
Cody swiped at his eyes and nodded, stifling his tears.
It was a rash promise but she didn’t care. Because even if Alex claimed custody of his son, she wasn’t leaving Cody. Alex would just have to deal with her being an important part of Cody’s life, whether he liked it or not. She was not letting this boy go without a fight.
At the truck stop, she called Alex again on Trina’s phone.
“I’m sure I wasn’t followed,” she told him. “No cars stayed behind me and I passed the exit, before doubling back.”
“I’m sure you weren’t followed, either.”
She frowned, wondering how he could be so certain, but listened intently as he gave her specific instructions on how to get to the bed-and-breakfast where he was staying.
“I’ll see you soon.” Shelby snapped Trina’s phone shut.
The sun was high in the sky when she turned onto Oakdale Road. Covered with freshly fallen snow, there were no recent signs of a snowplow. She hoped her lightweight, fuel-efficient car wouldn’t get stuck.
She pulled into the bed-and-breakfast driveway, winding through the trees until she saw the house. She gaped in surprise at a huge log home lined with numerous windows. A massive deck encircled the house giving rooms on the second floor access to the outside. The grandness of the place intimidated her. This was a bed-and-breakfast in the north woods? She’d expected something smaller. Quaint. Cozy.
With a sigh, Shelby hefted Cody into her arms since he was without snow boots. Her jeans were quickly covered in snow up to her knees as she trudged up to the house.
A tall, rugged, dark-haired man answered her knock and seemed surprised to see her standing there with a child. His piercing green eyes weren’t at all welcoming.
“Alex McCade?” She shifted Cody’s weight on her hip.
“Yes.” A deep frown furrowed his brow.
“I’m Shelby.”
He hesitated, his eyes darting to the boy before he opened the door wider. “Come in.”
A welcoming scent of pine surrounded her as she stepped into a warm great room with a huge stone fireplace lining one wall. Through an arched doorway to the right, Shelby saw several tables draped with bright red and white checkered tablecloths. For a bed-and-breakfast, the place was notably vacant.
She stomped her feet on the braided rug, trying to dislodge as much snow as possible. Cody wiggled impatiently in her arms, so she set him on his feet beside her. Now that she was face-to-face with Alex McCade, she couldn’t seem to find the right words to tell him about his son. Especially since his tall, broad presence was more than a little intimidating. She cleared her throat. “My name is Shelby,” she said again. “And this is Cody.”
Cody suddenly clutched her leg, hiding his face against her jeans as he wailed. “No! I don’t wanna visit my other dad!”
She winced and tried to untangle Cody from her leg, casting Alex an apologetic glance. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean for you to find out like this.”
For a heart-stopping moment, the man stared at Cody. Then his cold, furious gaze cut to hers. “Is this some sort of sick joke?”
Swallowing hard, she thrust her jaw defiantly. “No, this isn’t a joke. Cody is your son and I need your help to keep him safe.”
TWO
His son? Alex stared at the woman, seconds stretching into a full minute. His heart froze in his chest. His stunned gaze fell to the child clutching the woman as if his life depended on her. The woman moved gracefully as she bent toward the crying child, quietly beautiful in a wholesome way, he noted as he continued to stare in shock.
Rational thought quickly soothed his initial panic. Her claim couldn’t possibly be true. Tall and reed thin, with long curly blond hair and bright blue eyes, she looked familiar. But not to the point where he could have possibly fathered a child with her.
“You’re lying.” He glared at her, as if willing her to tell the truth. “Was this why you called? To make these ridiculous accusations? I thought you needed help?”
“We do need your help. Cody’s in danger. But I wouldn’t lie. Not about this. I’m sorry, I know this must be a terrible shock to you.” The troubled expression in her eyes bothered him, as if she really cared what he thought and how he felt. “You have to believe Cody is your son.”
He didn’t have to believe anything. Alex’s steely control over his anger slipped. “Look, I don’t know what game you’re playing, but I’m not amused.”
“No game.” The woman sighed and placed a protective arm around the boy. “Let me start at the beginning. My name is Shelby Jacobson and this is Cody. We live in Green Bay and…”
“Wait a minute.” The pieces to this jumbled puzzle were finally sliding into place. He should have realized it sooner. Shelby Jacobson was Trina’s sister. He knew Trina and Stephan had a son but he didn’t know Shelby had a child, too. Not that he’d paid much attention to Trina’s younger sister, since Shelby wasn’t involved in the marina or the shipping business. She ran some sort of Christian day care center. “You’re Trina’s sister. That’s why she gave you her phone to call me, right? Did she tell you she was in trouble?”
Shelby nodded, looking relieved. “Yes. But we’re all in trouble, now. Trina promised you’d keep us safe. And she said you’d tell me what’s going on. Trina mentioned you’re her contact. What is she involved in? What’s going on at the marina? Exactly what is the source of the danger?”
He curled the fingers of his injured hand experimentally. The pain was better now. He wasn’t completely useless but he’d probably need to call Rafe if they were in danger. “I’ll answer your questions the best I can but right now, you might know more than I do.”
She