Page 59 of Capturing Hearts

Chapter Thirty-Five

Brendan

Mark’s rental car: going the fastest it’s ever gone.

The high, red peeks of the Golden Gate Bridge zip by above us, but not fast enough for me. I push the pedal to the floor and speed around someone doing eighty.

Rebecca’s gripping the dashboard, has been for miles, her knuckles bone white. “You don’t want to get pulled over.”

“Let them try and give me a ticket,” I growl. Mark, in the back seat, doesn’t say anything. He understands. “I told you ladies you didn’t have to come.”

Rebecca flicks an impatient glance to me. “No, I mean, you don’t want to waste the time it would take to explain, and then they’d follow you there if they knew, right?”

“Fuck!” I hit the steering wheel hard with my left hand, taking my foot off the gas a little, as much as my sanity will allow, which ain’t much. “I should have told them. I should have fucking told them! Mark, what would you do?”

Nicole’s eyes flick to mine in the rearview, from where she’s sitting beside him. Sharp-jawed and staring out the window, Mark says, “I’d try to grow wings. And no, I wouldn’t tell them. I couldn’t chance it.” He’s got Nicole’s hand in his. We’re all strung tight.

Rebecca’s body sways as I swerve around a slow-moving white sedan. “I wouldn’t have either, if that makes you feel any better. I know you’re asking him for what a man would do in this situation, but...anyway.” She stops talking.

“We’re going to have to get a cab for the way back. We won’t all fit back here,” Nicole mentions. Mark nods and for the rest of the bridge we drive in silence. As soon as we hit land, my heart picks up speed. Turning onto the street, I share a look with Mark through the rearview.

His expression is like my own, determined and ready. “I can’t believe he took her here. What a putz.”

“He’s still holding onto the old days,” I mutter with disgust. “Tommy is about to grow up.” As the road winds upward, no cars compete with us for space. No one’s been here at the Army post for a long time, and as for the cave, its location has been passed down to only select people at State, a privilege that must remain secret. I haven’t been here since shortly after graduation, and if anyone’s been here since then, it’s just college kids.

With San Francisco Bay shimmering in the sunlight ahead of us, the tires screech to a stop and I jump out, muttering, “I’m going to kill him.”

“The baby first, Brendan,” Nicole warns, climbing out.

Rebecca jumps out of the car and runs after me. “Brendan! The baby is more important.” I’m already running.

I growl, “Don’t you think I know that?” Looking up at the hill, I shout in the direction of the cave, “ANNIE!! ANNIE, I’M HERE!”

Mark’s right behind me, carrying the large tote bag. We start the climb, our feet pounding the dirt and sending dust clouds behind us.

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