LITMIR.BIZ

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stomach turned to lead. “Ty works as Secret Service for the vice-president,” he explained to Rebecca.

      “I still don’t see what this has to do with Jesse,” she whispered.

      “It’s part of Liam’s master plan of revenge,” Ty said. He angled his head toward Ethan. “Shane was there last night, too. He planned to test the security surrounding the Beau Pays sapphire on exhibition from Prince Frederick. The party was in full swing when the blackout occurred. It was a freaking nightmare for all of the Secret Service and guests.” Ty made a disgusted sound. “Shane received a message about that time. It said, ‘Are you afraid of the dark’?”

      Ethan gripped his phone with shaking hands. “I received the same message.”

      Ty didn’t seem surprised. He continued, “As soon as the lights went out, goggled men swarmed the building and took everyone hostage. They threatened to kill the attendees if the president and vice-president didn’t show themselves.”

      “What happened?” Ethan asked.

      “Stack and Grant handed themselves over. The men tried to leave with them, but in the confusion, the president escaped. He’s fine now, but Grant is still missing.”

      “This crazy man has the vice-president?” Rebecca asked in horror.

      “We think so,” Ty confirmed.

      “Liam targeted Grant for revenge,” Ethan said, the full picture forming in his mind.

      Ty nodded again. “The entire Special Forces team is being targeted, Ethan. Shane and Chase have already been hit.”

      Ethan dreaded the answer to his next question. “Are they all right?”

      “Shane survived. But not before having to deal with Colin Shea, one of Liam’s sons.”

      “His sons are involved?” Ethan asked.

      “Up to their eyeballs.” Ty shifted.

      “Liam’s sons were close to their father,” Ethan continued, “and blamed the Eclipse team for his arrest. They think we betrayed Liam.”

      Ty sighed. “Colin wanted the sapphire. Shane tried to protect the stone, as well as Princess Ariana. Thankfully, Ben Parker, one of the FBI agents Shane has worked with in the past, managed to divert the shooter and Shane escaped.”

      “Thank God,” Ethan said. “What about Chase?”

      “Liam’s other son, Aidan Shea, climbed into Chase’s limo, pretending to be a dignitary. He pulled a gun, threatened Chase, then escaped.”

      Ethan propped his elbows on his knees and leaned into his hands. “Is Chase all right?”

      “Yes. But Aidan claimed he’d lose everything that mattered to him.”

      Ethan contemplated the threat. For him, it meant Jesse. For Chase? “Lily?”

      “I’m afraid so. Chase managed to get to the hospital before Aidan got to her.” Ty grunted. “She was pregnant.”

      “Hell, don’t tell me Aidan killed her.”

      “No, they went on the run. Finally Chase called Ben Parker for help. Unfortunately Parker was killed. Chase called me to warn me about what was going on, that Liam Shea was involved, and that he suspected Liam had something even bigger planned.”

      “And now Jesse is missing.” Ethan released a string of expletives.

      Rebecca’s soft cry twisted his heart. “He took our son to get back at you?”

      Guilt slammed into Ethan. Rebecca was right. It was his fault their son was missing. That mission ten years ago had brought this horror on them now.

      He remembered Liam’s fury at the court-martial hearing. The rage in his eyes when he’d been sentenced to prison. His vow of revenge.

      Liam didn’t care whom he hurt, as long as he paid them back for what he saw as their betrayal.

      And poor little Jesse was being used as a pawn in his twisted plan.

      Ethan shook with the force of his fear. He knew Liam well, had witnessed how irate and focused he could be.

      God help them.

      He didn’t want to tell Rebecca, but Liam was coldhearted enough to kill Jesse to get back at him.

      Chapter Four

      Rebecca lowered her head into her hands and inhaled a deep breath, trying to calm her raging emotions. Yet her head spun with the implications of Ty’s comments.

      One look into Ethan’s face, and the turmoil and guilt in his eyes robbed her breath. She had never seen her strong, tough husband look so terrified. That alone magnified the fear mounting in her chest.

      His work for the military had been important and top secret. Though he’d never spoken of it, she’d known it had been dangerous.

      But she’d never contemplated the fact that her son’s life might be in jeopardy because of what Ethan had done.

      Ty’s explanation for the blackout confirmed how twisted and desperate this man Liam was. And his sons…they must have been planning their revenge for years. They’d undoubtedly covered their tracks, knew what they were doing, how to orchestrate their plan without being detected.

      Which one of them had taken Jesse? What were they doing to him now? They could be anywhere in Boston—the seaport district, Cambridge, the North End, Chinatown—or he could have hopped a plane and taken him someplace far away.

      Was he alive or had they killed him?

      No, don’t think like that. He has to be all right.

      Memories of Jesse’s smiling face at the ballgame yesterday flitted through her mind. He’d been so disappointed that Ethan hadn’t shown, but as soon as the game had started, he’d gotten swept up in the excitement, and he’d yelled and pounded his small hand into his glove, hoping to catch a foul ball. Later, she’d laughed as he’d crammed a hot dog into his mouth, and ketchup and mustard had dribbled down his chin.

      And when the game had ended, he’d jumped up and down, shouting that he wished his dad could have been there to see the win.

      She’d been so angry at Ethan…

      Now Jesse might never have the chance to see another game or his father again.

      She closed her eyes and summoned her courage. She remembered the way he’d tucked his small hand inside hers as they’d woven through the crowded stadium on the way out. The gleam in his smile when he’d spotted one of the players signing autographs.

      He’d trusted her to take care of him, but she had failed. Now he was all alone.…

      A strangled sound clogged her throat, and she jumped up and ran to the bathroom. Inside, she splashed cold water on her face, trembling violently. She didn’t want to blame Ethan, yet his past had brought this horror on their innocent little boy.

      She leaned against the sink, again seeing Jesse’s trusting small face in her mind, and a sob escaped her. After the first memory came, others followed, and she sagged onto the floor in a heap, raised her knees, propped her arms on them and let the tears fall.

      A second later, the door squeaked open, and Ethan sank down beside her, took her in his arms and held her.

      “I’m sorry,” she whispered, hating herself for falling apart. She needed to be strong, yet she couldn’t control the flood of emotions.

      “Shh, he’s our baby,” Ethan said gruffly. “You wouldn’t be a mother if you weren’t upset.”

      She gulped back tears and leaned into him, savoring his strength and comforting arms. He rocked her, soothing her with gentle strokes and whispered promises that he would find Jesse and bring him safely home.

      But his

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