Page 79 of The Night Belongs To Fireman

“You will,” Marsden said grimly.

Rachel didn’t doubt it. But none of that was the point right now. “You want to shut down the Refuge?”

“I want to, yes. I don’t think it’s safe anymore. But I won’t if you agree to let us handle this. I can’t permit you to risk your own life for some … hired help.”

For Rachel, staring at her father’s face on the flat-screen, time seemed to stop. Electric fury performed a sort of catalytic conversion inside her, burning away her fear, her obedience, her caution. Once, she’d watched an oak leaf catch fire, until all that was left was a burning skeleton of veins traced in glowing red. That’s how she felt now.

“That’s a shameful, despicable way to try to control me,” she said in a low, shaking voice. “This is my decision, Dad. Not yours.”

Her father looked past her. “Marsden,” he said quietly. “Take care of this.”

Rachel swung toward the security guard, who wore a look of deep regret. Would her oldest, most loyal guard, the only one she’d ever truly trusted, try to stand in her way? Would he really do that to her?

She addressed him and her father equally, clutching her cell phone like a lifeline, speaking in low, vibrating tones. “If either of you try to stop me, you’re no better than the man who kidnapped me.”

“Rachel, listen to me,” Marsden said softly, holding up his hands to show he wouldn’t use force. “We’re tracking down the Escalade. As soon as we get the other two men apprehended, we’ll know where the kidnapper is, and we’ll go in and put things right so no one gets hurt. There’s no need to do something you can’t take back.”

Despite herself, she wavered. She’d fought so hard for each precious bit of autonomy. Would she have any freedom left once she exposed her identity to the general public?

Marsden pressed his advantage. “Why don’t you trust your security team to do our jobs? I’m on your side. I like Fred. Respect him. I don’t want to see him hurt any more than you do.”

He’d almost convinced her, but then her father spoke up. “We’ll make sure Fred gets a bonus when all this is done.”

At that, all her determination came flooding back, along with her fury. Money couldn’t fix everything. It hadn’t gotten her free from her kidnapper, and it wasn’t going to free Fred. She snatched up the remote control for the TV and clicked the off button. Her father’s image disappeared.

The power of that one simple act registered with a kind of shock. She’d never dared to do that before. He must be going crazy onboard his jet somewhere over the Midwest, where he couldn’t control things. Couldn’t control her.

With Rob Kessler’s overwhelming presence suddenly removed, she and Marsden faced each other. He was a military-trained, battle-tested, mentally superior warrior. They both knew she couldn’t best him in a physical fight. It would take a lot more than some Krav Maga lessons to make her equal to him.

She could think of only one way to beat him. “Marsden, you’ve been guarding me for what, fifteen years now?”

He nodded warily.

“I’m grateful for every moment you’ve protected me. You know me better than almost anyone. Maybe even my own father. You’ve kept me safe. You’ve been the best guardian anyone could have.” She reached deep, calling on the bedrock truth of her soul. “But if I don’t do something to help Fred, it won’t matter how safe I am. Because I won’t be able to live with myself. I’m asking you as one human being to another. Let me do this.”

After a long, endless moment, he gave a slow nod. When she dialed the phone number she’d already put into her phone, the one that would change everything, he didn’t stop her.

Chapter 23

“Now we’re talking.” Kale said gloatingly, from across the room. “If only you could see all the reporters out there. It’s nuts, man. They’re going crazy.”

“I don’t know if that was such a good idea, calling the news. How are you going to get out of here without getting arrested?”

Fred heard quick footsteps, then felt a whack across the side of his head. He’d received quite a few such blows since he’d been captured. But all his martial arts training was standing him in good stead. He knew how to maintain his focus through pain.

“You’re a hostage,” said the guy in that whiny, know-it-all voice that was really starting to grate on Fred. “That’s the whole point of taking a hostage. They won’t do anything to me while I have you. And you’re not just any old hostage. You’re one of the Bachelor Firemen. Not just that, but you’re everyone’s favorite. Fred the Bachelor Hero. I couldn’t have planned this better. The media’s eating this up. This’ll put the pressure on Rachel. Big-time.”

Fred ground his teeth. He hated being helpless to correct this ridiculous situation. He didn’t mind being tied to this chair, didn’t mind the occasional blows, didn’t mind the cramps in his legs from being in the same position so long. If the guy hadn’t called all the local news stations, he’d be in pretty good spirits.

---