CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Hope looked around at all the people gathered in the big kitchen of the main lodge. Ellis was due to leave today, deploying with his team, his first time in command. Clearly, the rest of the family hated seeing him go.

She couldn't imagine how hard it would be to say goodbye to someone headed off to a place where they would be in danger of being maimed, disabled, or even killed. Now that she knew Ellis, she worried about him and hoped he would return home safely, as well.

Being a man not interested in the limelight, Ellis turned the topic of discussion to the last few days of the camp.

As people filled their plates, refilled coffee cups, and chatted, Hope took a seat, and a few seconds later, Brady sat beside her.

"Try this." He pinched off a hunk of a muffin and held it out for her.

She sampled it, closed her eyes, and hummed her appreciation. "Oh my, that's good. And it tastes just like the muffins my mama makes."

Brady looked across the table at Audrey, who smiled and winked. "You're gonna need to make more of these, Ms. Audrey."

"I might be persuaded," she teased in reply and winked at Hope.

"Where did you two get off to last night?" Jud asked. "We called but didn't get an answer on either of your phones."

"We were occupied," Brady responded with a deadpan expression.

"Ah, yes, occupied," Jud remarked.

"Has anyone heard about Eli?" Hope asked. "I wanted to call but was too nervous."

"She's home and doing great," Grace answered. "They released her last night and said she and the baby are both in tip-top shape."

"Oh, thank the heavens," Hope said with a relieved smile.

"Thank Hope," Clay said, and when Hope looked at him, he added, "This family owes you, Hope, and we'll never forget that you gave Cal and Eli back their child. We're in your debt."

"No, you're not," Hope argued in a non-confrontational tone. "You'd have done the same."

"Maybe," he agreed. "If I had that power, but it's one thing to put yourself on the line for a child or grandchild and another entirely for someone you've just met."

"I didn't consider that," she admitted. "I like Eli and Cal, and I know all too well how terrifying it is when you think you're going to lose your child. Joe saved me from that, and thanks to him, I was able to pay it forward."

"Well, we're all more grateful than you can imagine," Ivy said, then yelped as Jackie knocked a glass of juice over.

"Oh shoot." Ivy looked over at the bar where Jud was dishing up a plate of food. "Jud, can you take Jackie so I can—"

"I'll take him," Hope offered and hurried to add, "If that's okay?"

"You bet," Ivy agreed without hesitation and rose to deliver Jackie into Hope's arms.

"Well, hello there, handsome boy," Hope cooed to him as he stood on her legs and grabbed for her face.

He laughed, squealed, and blabbered a mile a minute, and every time she laughed, so did he. "He's really taking a shine to you," Brady commented.

"And I'm taking a shine to him," she replied. "I always hoped I'd have a houseful of kids, but it didn't work out that way. Being able to spend time with Jackie makes up for that."

"Well, it's not too late," Brady said. When she looked at him, he leaned over and kissed her.

"Okay, something's definitely up." Ivy returned with wet and dry towels to clean up the mess. "So, spill."

Hope felt like a hare staring down a snake. She didn't know what to say and was terrified to even speak. What if Brady's family objected to them being involved.

"What's going on is I've decided to take my family's persistent advice and retire," Brady spoke up.

The room went silent, and he looked at Hope as he continued. "I think it's time for me to start a new chapter here."

"And does that mean—" Grace was cut off by the entrance of Cal and Eli.

Eli ran over to Hope and hugged her and Jackie, who wanted in on the hug action. "I can never thank you enough, Hope, but I want you to know that you'll always be family to me, and I will always be here for you."

"You don't have to thank me. I'm so happy you and the baby are okay. That's all that matters."

"You put yourself on the line for me, Hope. I know what you did was extraordinary, and I hope there was no cost to you. And I want to return the favor in a very screwed up way."

The room had fallen silent. Hope looked around and noticed that the others seemed apprehensive. Ivy hurried to take Jackie, and Eli reached for Hope's hand. "I know it's not my place, and everyone will probably be pissed at me, but it's your right to know."

Hope felt a sudden chill descend on her, and she shivered. "Are you okay?" Brady asked.

She nodded and looked at Eli. "Know what?"

"That guy, Robert Wingate? Andy's sperm donor? He heard about Andy winning a place in this conservation camp and is trying to convince people that you kept Andy from him and wouldn't let him have anything to do with his own son.

"He has people raising money for him online, ostensibly to pay for legal representation, but according to Jud, he's probably just grifting. The Blackstone Group is looking into him, and at present, it appears that he's little more than a low-class grifter, a conman who makes his living off cheating people.

"Now he has a big con, and those donating funds have amassed millions of dollars."

Hope felt like she'd been kicked in the gut. All the air whooshed from her lungs the moment she heard Rob's name issue from Eli's lips.

He was going to try and take Andy from her.

"He wants my son?" She bolted to her feet and looked around at everyone. "He wants to take my son, and you all knew? You knew, Mom? You knew and didn't tell me?"

Hurt stabbed with a tangible force, doubling her over. How could they all have betrayed her that way? The hurt was strong, but the fear was stronger. She felt it might destroy her, so she reached out for strength. She had to protect her son. Please, help.

It came in a blistering wave of heat that felt like fire running through her. She gasped in terror. Not because she feared being obliterated but because she felt its power. Evil reared its head right then, offering what she sought, the ability to destroy Rob.

That horrified her. Not that evil had entered the picture, but that she was so tempted to take what it offered. To her shame, she realized that when it came to protecting Andy, she'd throw in with the devil himself if she had to.

The horror of it hit her, and consciousness started to fade. She struggled to hang on, to not let the darkness hold sway but felt herself being pulled into it and, in desperation, called out.

"Brady—help!"

Then everything went dark.

"Oh, God," Eli cried as Hope collapsed.

*****

Brady lifted her limp body and carried her into the family room. He sat on the sofa, cradling her on his lap. Everyone followed, looking around at one another while he only looked at her.

"Hope?" He patted her face. "Hope, honey, wake up. Please, I'm here. Wake up."

When nothing happened, he felt the first fingers of fear creeping up his spine. "Dad?" He looked at his father.

Clay looked at Grace, who exchanged looks with Sadie and Audrey. "I can find her," Grace directed the statement to Audrey, and Audrey nodded.

But Brady wasn't having any part of that. "No. No more of that today. She'll come back. She just needs assurance that Andy will be safe."

"And how do we assure her of that?" Grace asked.

"We don't," he said, looking her straight in the eye. "I do."

Grace didn't say a word; she just nodded and remained silent.

Then Sadie spoke up. "Grace, we have to—"

"No," Grace interrupted. "Brady's right. He's the one she cried out for and feels will save her and Andy. It has to be him."

She looked at Brady as she continued. "Hope's in love with Brady, and it seems Andy is, too, in his own way. They trust him, so let him do what he needs to do."

Hearing her say Hope was in love with him filled Brady with a surge of emotion. He would bring her back, and then he wanted to hear her say it to him again, this time in front of his family.

He held her close enough he could whisper in her ear. "You don't have to be afraid, Hope. I won't let him hurt you or Andy. And you can take it to the bank; he'll never take Andy from you. My family won't allow it. I won't allow it. I'll see him dead before I let that happen. I know you believe me because we don't lie to each other, so it's safe for you to wake up. I promise it will be okay."

He paused, then kissed her cheek. "Hope, honey, it's time to wake up."

Hope heard only the wind and the distant call of an owl as she sat at the entrance of the unconventional home, watching and waiting, standing guard over Andy, who slept in the darkness of the cave, wrapped in a thick wool blanket.

The home was secure, as secure a place as she could possibly find. Built inside what was once a cave, it had everything she and Andy needed to survive. Rob couldn't see her or Andy, so why was she still scared?

A face flashed in her mind, bringing a rush of emotion that threatened to zap her strength. Brady. If only he were with her. She'd feel safe then. He'd protect them.

As if in answer to that thought, she heard his voice. Hope turned round and round, seeking the source of the sound but seeing nothing.

It suddenly dawned on her. The voice wasn't from outside herself; it was in her mind. She closed her eyes, straining to hear what his voice was saying.

"…it's time to wake up."

Her eyes opened to see Brady, his gaze searching hers as she blinked. "You're back."

"Yes." She reached up to put her hand on his face. "I was scared until I heard your voice."

"I'll never let anything or anyone hurt you or Andy, Hope. I promise you that."

"And I promise you that no matter what happens, there's one thing you can always depend on for your entire life. I love you and will be true to you until my last breath, and fate willing, after that last breath fades, nothing will ever change that."

The smile on his face was like that one ray of sunlight that pierces a violent cloud in the midst of a storm. God, he was beautiful.

"You just gave me my wish," he lifted her hand to his lips.

"I did?" She could barely speak, and the words were almost a squeak.

"You betcha." The smile morphed into a full-blown grin this time. "Now, maybe you'd like to turn your head and let everyone see that you're okay?"

Hope had forgotten all about the other people in the room and suddenly felt self-conscious. What a dolt. She'd just professed love to Brady in front of his entire family and her mother.

To her surprise, the faces of the people gathered all wore happy smiles. Eli ran over and hugged her. "Now, we're really family."

Hope nodded, not trusting her voice. At the moment, she was overwhelmed. First with fear of what Rob might try to do, and second, at all the love she felt for the people around her and Brady.

And finally, she felt Brady. He held and sheltered her, making her feel safe and protected. He truly was her hero.

But she wouldn't rely solely on him. She cut a look at her mother and saw a simmering anger that matched her own. No one would take Andy from her. No one. She had the power of love on her side.

And if love failed, she knew how to call the darkness now. If all else failed, she'd sacrifice her soul. She'd open herself to that fearful power and become the darkness.

And then she'd end him Once and for all.