Dangerous Abduction (O'Connor Brothers Book 2) (12 page)

Burgers and ice cream were apparently the best thing in the world according to Mason and Danny. Marina didn’t eat much, but she did manage to join in the conversation with the boys. James was glad they didn’t seem to notice her distraction.

“Why doesn’t Mason have a mommy?” Danny asked out of the blue, and Marina almost knocked over her drink at the question. James glanced down at Mason, and he was staring up at James.

“Do you want to tell him or will I?” Mason asked and James chuckled. James had made sure Mason knew about Sarah and answered any questions he had over his short life.

“You can answer him, if you want?” James glanced at Marina. She seemed surprised by Mason’s reaction.

“My mommy had to go to heaven when I was a little baby,” Mason started. “She was real special and couldn’t stay here for a very long time.” James shook his head for a moment since he had never said anything like that to his son. He didn’t know where on earth Mason came up with what he was telling Danny. “She’s my angel mommy, and Nanny Betty says she’ll always keep me and Daddy safe.” It all made sense now. It seemed Mason had been talking to Nanny Betty and as always, his grandmother explained people’s deaths with being needed in heaven. It was probably the better way to explain to a child.

“Do ya miss her?” Danny asked.

“I don’t remember her but I know Daddy misses her. Don’cha, Daddy.” Mason looked up at him.

“Every day, buddy.” James felt odd talking about Sarah with Marina at the table.

“My daddy went away,” Danny said and Marina instantly stiffened.

“Sometimes that happens, buddy.” James wanted to help, but he didn’t know exactly what Danny knew about his dad.

“Yeah, but I have Poppy, Unca John and you.” Danny grinned as he scooped the last of his ice cream into his mouth.

“You have lots of unca’s, Danny.” Mason stood up on his chair.

“I know.” Danny smiled.

“Could you excuse me for a moment?” Marina stood, and he watched her quickly disappear into the bathroom.

“I think Mommy misses my daddy,” Danny said when Marina made her quick exit.

“Why do you think that, buddy?” James needed to know what was going on in Danny’s head to think Marina missed the asshole.

“She’s always telling him to stop when she’s sleeping.” Danny sighed. “She gets real scared in her dreams.”

James knew Marina might have been having bad dreams because of the night that Danny had called him but if what Danny was saying was true, she was having them more often than he first thought.

“They’re just dreams, buddy.” He didn’t know what else to say to the kid. “Mommy will be fine.”

Danny nodded though something told him that the little boy had a lot more questions about his father but he didn’t want to ask. He probably thought it would upset Marina and if there was one thing James’ knew about Danny it was, he didn’t like to see his mother upset.

James rerouted the conversation by helping the boys assemble the small toy they got with their meals. Marina seemed to be gone a long while, and he was constantly glancing towards the bathroom area. He saw a couple of men and women enter and exit but Marina hadn’t returned. He checked the time on his phone. He was giving her one more minute and he was going to check on her.

Almost as if she’d sensed his panic, Marina opened the bathroom door. James tensed when a grungy-looking man stopped her. She spoke to him for a moment and although she didn’t seem afraid of him, she didn’t seem comfortable talking to him. He was about to go see what the guy was saying, but Marina smiled at the man and continued towards them.

She sat at the table and ruffled Danny’s hair. She seemed more relaxed but when the man that had stopped her kept staring on his way out of the restaurant, James had to ask.

“What did that guy want?” James cringed at the way he blurted out the question, but she turned and met his eyes.

“He told me I had a cute kid and I was a very lucky woman.” Marina told him.

“That you are.” James glanced at Danny, who seemed to be oblivious to their conversation since he and Mason were now completely concentrating on their new toys. “He’s a pretty lucky little boy too.”

Marina smiled and lowered her eyes as her cheeks flushed. It was nice to see the color back in her cheeks. It didn’t matter to him either way because to him she was absolutely beautiful. He couldn’t help watching her help Danny on with his coat. Her ponytail was hung over one shoulder, and the memory of how her hair felt between his fingers that morning when he tangled his hand in it made his body react the way it always did around her, and he was the biggest ass in the world. Here they were at a restaurant with their kids and all he could think about was how much he wanted to strip her naked and bury himself inside her.

“Daddy, are you okay?” Mason was standing in front of him with his head tilted to the side. He glanced up from where he was still sitting to make sure his ridiculous reaction was hidden from view.

“I’m fine, Mason.” James turned himself in the chair and zipped up Mason’s jacket but as he glanced out the window he caught a glimpse of the man that had stopped Marina, sitting in a car just outside the window. He was leering at Marina and it sent chills through his entire body. The good thing was it helped his previous situation because now he was more concerned with the way the guy seemed focused on Marina.

“You see him too,” Mason whispered.

“Who?” James noticed Mason had seemed to pick up on the man as well.

“That creepy guy is staring at us.” Mason pointed towards the guy and when the man saw Mason point, he backed away from the window and sped out of the lot.

“Okay, so that wasn’t creepy at all.” Marina glanced at him, the concern was clear on her face.

“He’s gone now, and there is no way he’d get near any of you.” James motioned for her to stay behind him and he held tightly to both boy’s hands. “Just stay next to me in case.” Something about the whole incident gave James a bad feeling but he wasn’t going to let Marina know that or the kids. He just wanted to get them out to the truck and home safe. Maybe he was over reacting but his instincts were usually pretty good.

They walked out of the restaurant, and he scanned the lot as they walked to the truck. He opened the door for Marina and the boys to pile in. He’d worry about getting the boys buckled in when they were all safely in the truck. He ran around to his side and scanned the lot as well as the road. The guy was gone and James puffed out a breath as he climbed into the truck.

“Well that was fun.” Marina tilted her head to the side and stared at him.

“Do we have to sit in our seats?” Danny asked.

“I’m afraid so, buddy.” James said as he twisted around and help each of the boys into their seats. It was awkward, but he managed to buckle them in and turn back around in his own seat.

“You know it would have been easier if you’d let me do that,” Marina said.

“Why is that?” James buckled himself in and glanced at her. She was grinning at him.

“Well you aren’t exactly a small man.” She moved her hand up and down. He knew she meant his height.

“Are you calling me fat?” James feigned outrage and she laughed.

“You are anything but fat, but you are tall and wide.” She said.

“So you are calling me fat.” James held his hand over his chest. “I’m so wounded.”

“Oh God, and you talk about A.J. being over-dramatic.” Marina rolled her eyes.

“Dear Lord, don’t compare me to him.” James chuckled as he started the truck.

“A.J. is sweet, but he doesn’t even come close to his big brother,” she said so low that he almost didn’t hear it. He glanced over at her to see her staring at him.

“I’ll let John know you think he’s sweeter than A.J.” James smiled.

“I wasn’t talking about John, and before you list the long list of big brothers A.J. has, I’ll narrow it down for you. I was talking about you.” She gently slapped the back of her hand against his arm and he caught it before she pulled away. She raised her gaze to meet his and felt an odd tightness in his chest as he took in her true beauty. She seemed to be doing the same as her bright green eyes scanned his face.

“Are we gonna go anytime soon?” Mason whined.

Marina pulled her hand from his and turned her head to look out the side window. She rubbed her hands against her thighs and cleared her throat.

“We’re going now.” James put the truck into drive and pulled out of the parking lot. He knew what was happening to him and he was terrified to admit. The last time he’d felt this way about someone he’d lost her. Going through that again would probably kill him, but the draw to Marina was becoming stronger every day. He’d started falling in love with her the day he met her, but admitting it was his problem. Was he ready to admit it?

J
ames rushed to unlock the front door as the shrill ring of the land line could be heard from the front step. He ran to answer it as soon as he threw the door open while Marina helped Danny and Mason out of their coats. They clambered into the living room as she kept her focus on James. They’d had a moment in the truck and if Mason hadn’t spoken she knew she would have kissed him but kissing him again wasn’t going to be enough. She needed him so badly that she ached.

Her mind was so jumbled with the whole day. First her lack of sleep was making her an emotional basket-case, then the way it started, her break-down at the park, and then the creepy guy at the restaurant. Just thinking about him made her shudder. He’d seemed harmless when he told her she had a cute kid but when they’d noticed him staring, she was glad she was with James. Then again she was glad to be with James period.

James spoke quietly into the phone, and she couldn’t read his expression. When his eyes met hers, he smiled, but there was tension in his jaw that said he was getting news she probably didn’t want to hear. He hung up the phone and jerked his head towards the kitchen. Goose bumps popped up all over her body. This wasn’t going to be good.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

“That was Greg Harris, the lead investigator looking into the break in at your house last night.”

Marina nodded.

“They ran the fingerprints through the database.” He stopped. “I think you better sit down, Marina.” He pulled out the chair, and she lowered herself into it. James crouched in front of her and cupped both of her hands into his.

“What is it, James?”

“Marina, the fingerprints belong to Marc.” She’d never felt so cold in her life and her stomach lurched, but she managed to keep down the contents. She gripped his hands so tightly that she was sure she was going to break his fingers.

“No.” Her voice was a whisper.

“That’s not all. They found an envelope in your mailbox. It was from Marc.” James squeezed her hands. “He said he wants his son.”
No!
“I think he may have that missing picture from your room.”

“No... No... No!” With every time she said the word, her voice got louder.

“Marina, please, don’t worry. I want you to stay here until we find Marc. If he does have that picture, then he knows what Danny looks like, and I’d feel better knowing you’re where I can keep you both safe.”

“James, you’ve got to work, and there is no way on God’s green earth that he is getting Danny.” She tried to keep her voice low so the kids wouldn’t hear her.

“I’m off until next Friday.” James passed her a napkin from the table. It wasn’t until then that she realized she had tears running down her cheeks. “I’ll help you keep Danny safe from him and keep you safe too.”

“Mom and Dad will be home in a few days. When they come home, I’ll go stay with them until Marc is found.”

“No!” James’ voice resembled a growl. “I mean; he’d expect you to go there. He wouldn’t know you’d be here.” That made sense, but why did he sound so desperate? She wanted to stay with James. God, did she want to stay, but the longer she did, the harder it was going to be to leave.

“James, I’ll be fine with my parents. Trust me Dad will not let Marc near his house.”

“You’re not going to argue with me over this, Marina. You’re staying here.” His voice was stern. “No arguments. I’m going to call Mrs. Ray to come watch the boys for a bit. We’ll go to your house and see what we can salvage for you and Danny.” He stood.

“James, you don’t have to do this, but I’m going to say this once and once only. Don’t try and tell me what to do. I’ll stay for now because honestly, I don’t want to leave.” Her gaze met his.

“I don’t want you to leave either, Marina.” He crouched again and cupped her cheek. “I need to make sure nothing happens to you or Danny. Just don’t argue with me about this.” He was such a good man, and Danny loved him. If she was being completely honest, she was falling in love with him too.

“I guess there’s no sense in arguing with you, is there?” Marina sighed when he traced her lower lip with his thumb.

“No, there isn’t. I do have my grandmother’s stubborn streak.” James smiled.

“I guess I’ll never win an argument with you in that case. Maybe I need to take some lessons from that grandmother of yours.” She smiled.

Marina stood in front of the kitchen window staring out at the waves crashing against the small islands in the distance, waiting while James called the babysitter. The back of James’ house and all the houses on the street had a beautiful view of the Atlantic Ocean. James’ view was even better than hers. Still, it was hard to enjoy at the moment. Why was Marc back, and why did he suddenly want Danny?

She had the documents he signed giving up his parental rights. She’d even changed Danny’s last name to Kelly, so there was nothing of Marc connected with her son. The documents were one hundred percent legal. She knew this because another of the O’Connor brothers checked them for her. Mike specialized in family law and assured her Marc had willingly signed the papers and was fully aware of what he did.

There wasn’t any way in hell Marc was getting Danny. She’d make sure of that even if she had to leave Newfoundland again. Her son wasn’t going to have to be around his drug-addicted, abusive father. The day he left, she’d made a vow to her unborn baby that his father would never put a hand on him.