Page 37 of The Pilot & the Athlete

“Apparently Benjamin owed Big T quite a few favors after he was exposed and lost most of his associates and resources. Getting Big T cleared of the current charges was meant to clear those debts.”

“Interesting. Here’s praying the perps in custody can help us find Benjamin.”

“For sure.”

“Thank you, Nick. We’ll be in touch.”

“Thank you,” Turner called out in a raspy voice before Nick could sign off. “Can you tell Jana I love her …” His voice broke.

“You can tell her yourself,” Nick said.

Turner straightened in the chair, hope filling his anguished features.

A pause, then... “Isaac?” A female voice came over the phone.

“Oh, love, you’re safe.” Turner was crying again. “Alaina’s okay?”

“She’s great. They didn’t hurt her.”

“Did they hurtyou?” Turner stood and, even with his shackled hands, he looked ready to rip the men apart who’d taken his wife and daughter.

Paul could only imagine how the man felt. The anguish he’d been through. Wanting to do the right thing but feeling as if he had no options.

“I’ll be okay,” she answered. “Where are you? Are you all right?”

Turner was shaking slightly. He obviously wanted to know what they’d done to his wife, but he answered, “Love, I’m going to be in prison for a while.”

“What?” she shrieked, and then a baby’s cries could be heard in the background.

“Oh, heart rip,” Shay whispered. Paul pulled her close and she cuddled into him again. It was a heart rip. It was easy to say that Turner should never have given in to the manipulation of Big T’s men, but Paul couldn’t imagine the anguish of having Shay in danger like that.

“Shh, shh,” Jana calmed the baby. “Isaac, what are you talking about? What’s happened?”

“Oh, love. I let them capture Meacham and kidnap our protection detail, Shay.” He glanced at Shay, his blue eyes full of remorse. “They had you and Alaina and my only hope was to do what they said and pray they’d let you go. They didn’t let you or Meacham go, even after they took Shay. I tried to track them down and rescue you. I failed. I couldn’t get through them to you, and they gave me one more chance.” His voice broke again. He cleared his throat and continued, “The only hope I had was killing Shay this morning or they were going to kill you, Alaina, and Meacham.”

“You didn’t,” she whispered.

“Almost. Her bodyguard took me out and Aiden Porter was able to finagle your rescue attempt. We owe Aiden and Nick and their men everything. I’m so sorry, love. So sorry. I love you so much. I couldn’t lose you or Alaina and I messed it all up. I didn’t know what to do.” Tears ran down his face.

There was a pause and the whole room felt tense. Paul’s stomach churned. He found himself praying for Jana and Isaac Turner. How would she respond? Could they ever heal? Turner’s words were exactly how he’d felt eleven years ago. He hadn’t known what to do or how to make it right. Now he was feeling the ability to forgive and be forgiven. He prayed Shay could someday forgive him, and maybe Darian could as well, but right now he was praying for Turner’s wife.

“I love you too, Isaac.” Jana sniffled. “I’ll talk to you soon.”

It was an olive branch; they all felt it. Paul felt a whoosh of relief fill him.

“Thank you. I love you. Kiss Alaina for me.”

“I will.”

The phone went dead. There was silence in the room, but it was more respectful than awkward.

Paul had hated this man who’d betrayed and almost killed Shay twice now, but he found he could only feel compassion for him and pray that he and his wife could heal and move past this. It was a lot.

Much more than his own mistakes and regrets with Darian and Carrie, and those had weighed Paul down for eleven years and made Darian loathe him and retreat into himself instead of moving on.

But Paul had watched Elizabeth Oliver forgive herself for being a pawn in her parents’ murderous ploys. It could happen.He’d felt it happen in his own heart a few minutes ago as he’d prayed with Shay.

Thank you, Heavenly Father.

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