Page 35 of A Moment Never Forgotten
“No. He wouldn’t do that.” She sent another text.
“Would you like me to open the door?” He offered, reaching into his pocket for his set of picks.
She glanced at the small leather case. “Do it.”
It had been a long time since Micah had picked a door lock, so it took him a few minutes, and three tries, to get the right tools. He then had to unlock the deadbolt as well as the door handle. When he cracked open the door, he sniffed, praying he wouldn’t smell the familiar stench of death.
Relief washed through him as he exhaled. Although it smelled like too many men in a confined space and the maid hadn’t visited in weeks, it didn’t reek of rotting bodies or an overabundance of blood.
As they stepped into the foyer, his heart dropped has his gaze swept over the living room. Mak lay stiffly on the main section of the huge L-shaped couch, his eyes closed, breathing steady, completely covered by a blanket up to his chin. Two men were stretched out in recliners on the other part of the black leather sofa. A fourth slouched in a chair, snoring.
Berit immediately ran to Mak and kneeled beside him. “Son, tell me where you’re hurt.” Her hands hovered over his body as though she didn’t know what to touch.
All the other men in the room startled awake. Micah stood near the door, trying to piece this situation together.
“Shh.” All the young men shushed at the same time.
Berit glared at the men. “Don’t you dare shush me. I’m here to take care of my son. If you don’t like it, leave.” Her voice was loud and commanding.
“Mom, please” Mak begged in a whisper, barely turning his head toward her.
“Mak, is there something wrong with your neck?” Her gaze ran the length of his body then back to meet his eyes. “Are you…are you paralyzed?” Her voice cracked on the last word.
Her son scowled. “Hell, no. And keep your voice down. We had a hell of a time getting her to sleep. We’ve been up for twenty-three hours straight.”
Berit stood. “If you’re okay, then why the hell did I have to travel three hours at the speed of light?” She punched her fists onto her hips. “What’s the big fucking emergency?” Her voice echoed in the room.
“Can you please be quiet!” Mak slowly lifted the blanket a few inches, exposing his bare chest.
As he dragged the blanket further away, he revealed a small baby in nothing but a diaper, curled on his chest.
“I can’t move,” Mak whispered. “Every time I do, she wakes up and cries.”
Berit opened her mouth, then closed it. She opened it again, then glanced around the room. “You found a baby?”
All eyes shot to Mak.
The man in the overstuffed chair grinned and sat up as though he was going to watch an interesting television show.
Micah rolled to the balls of his feet, ready for anything.
“No, Mom, we didn’t find her.” Mak glanced at each of his friends, pausing as though gathering agreement. “She was brought to us.”
He slowly covered the baby with the blanket, and while holding her in place, sat up. He held his mother’s gaze. “She’s my daughter.”
Berit fell to her knees.
Micah was by her side in three long strides. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “Berit, you need to breathe.”
She stared at the tiny head on her son’s chest. Her hand moved as though of its own accord, until she stroked the baby’s fine hair.
“You’re telling me, this is my granddaughter?” Their gazes clashed.
“Who…where is her mother?” She held her breath.
“Annie.” He glanced down at the baby before returning his gaze to her. “She’s dead.”
“Did she—”
