Page 40 of State of Denial

Shelby watched the scene with a sense of surreal disbelief. Was this really happening, or was she having one of the vivid dreams that’d been part of both pregnancies?

The woman returned with Shelby’s phone and handed it to her.

“Call him. Tell him his family’s life depends on him getting his ass home right away. Put the call on speaker.”

Shelby found his number first on her list of favorites and made the call.

“Baby,” he said, sounding distraught. “Are you all right?”

“There’re some people here to see you. They said to tell you my life and Noah’s depends on you getting home soon.”

“I’m two hours out.”

“Okay.”

“Are you…”

“We’re fine,” Shelby said with a defiant look for the man named Willy.

“For now,” Willy said, “but your old man needs to hurry home before someone gets hurt.”

His words struck terror in Shelby’s heart, but she refused to let him see that. She tightened her hold on Noah, who’d dozed off while drinking his bottle. She’d do whatever it took to protect him and the baby.

CHAPTER NINE

Sam and Nick had just finished tucking in the Littles when her phone rang with a call from Dispatch. Technically, she didn’t have to take it because she was on leave, but apparently, no one had told the dispatchers that.

“Holland.”

“Lieutenant, we received a call from Agent Hill letting us know that his wife and son are being held hostage in their home.”

The words took a second to register, and then she was on her feet, running to the bedroom to unlock her bedside table, where she kept her service weapon.

“Agent Hill is on a flight home from Cleveland, and we’ve dispatched our Special Response teams to assist the FBI, but he said you’d want to know.”

“He was right. Thank you.” Sam slapped the phone closed and put on her shoulder holster with trembling hands that didn’t want to work the way they were supposed to.

“What’s wrong?” Nick asked from behind her.

Sam spun around. “Shelby and Noah have been taken hostage in their home. Avery is on a flight back to DC. Our Special Response teams are assisting the FBI. He asked Dispatch to notify me.”

Nick looked stricken. “I want to go with you.”

“You can’t. I’ll keep you posted.” She kissed him quickly and then ran from the room, grabbing her coat from where she’d left it, slung over a chair, when she got home.Shit, she thought as she descended the stairs.I need to notify the Secret Service.She’d promised Nick she’d never again leave without a detail, and she intended to keep that promise.

At the bottom of the stairs, she ran into Nick’s lead agent, Brant.

“I need a detail,” she said. “Right now.”

“Yes, ma’am. Give me one minute.”

“I have less than a minute.”

“Understood.” He walked away and ducked into a room down the hall.

While she waited, Sam forced herself to breathe, hoping she could calm down and get her emotions in check. The numbness from earlier was long gone, replaced by a searing ache in her chest for Shelby and Noah, whom she loved with all her heart.

Avery must be out of his mind.

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