Secret Agent Father (15 page)

His gaze trained on Holden, Alex fired again and again.

Holden stumbled backward, a shocked expression on his face moments before he finally hit the ground. Alex realized he’d finally hit Holden in the center of his forehead.

If only it wasn’t too late.

“Shelby!” Alex rushed over to Shelby’s side, dropping to his knees, his worst fears clawing to the surface when she didn’t move. His heart thundered in his ears, filling his head with a strange roaring sound. He couldn’t be too late. He couldn’t! He pressed his fingers against her neck, feeling for a pulse. Nearly fainted with relief when he found the thin, thready beat. “Shelby? Please don’t die. Please don’t die.”

Urgently, he ran his hands over her body, searching for any sign of an injury. Maybe she was suffering from shock? But then his fingers stumbled upon something wet, warm and sticky.

Blood. From a small wound in the lower part of her abdomen. He balled up a fistful of her jacket, pressing it against the oozing wound.

“Call an ambulance!” he shouted, using all his weight to stem the flow of blood. “Hurry!”

“Aunt Shelby!” Cody cried. Rafe must have let him go, because the boy came running over, tears streaming down his tiny face. “Aunt Shelby!”

Alex held out a hand to his son, catching him up against him, holding him close with one arm even as he held pressure on Shelby’s wound with the other. “She’s alive, Cody. She’s going to be okay.” He wasn’t sure which one of them he was trying to convince.

“Daddy,” Cody wailed, burying his face into Alex’s neck. “Don’t leave me, Daddy!”

His heart squeezed painfully in his chest as his son called him Daddy for the first time. He turned and pressed a kiss to the top of Cody’s head.

“I won’t leave you,” he promised. “Your aunt Shelby is going to be all right, and I will never leave you.”

Cody’s arms snaked around his neck, clinging tightly. Alex closed his eyes as a sudden, overwhelming surge of love enveloped him.

He couldn’t face losing them. Either of them. Cody or Shelby.

His family.

What had made him think he could let either of them go? As Alex held onto the two most important people
in his life, he knew he’d never voluntarily walk away from them again.

He could be a father. Not just because he loved them. But because he’d accepted the Lord. With God’s love and guidance, he was certain he’d be a good father to Cody. And a faithful husband to Shelby.

If she’d have him.

“Stay strong, Shelby,” he whispered, as the reassuring sounds of sirens filled the air. “Hang tight, my love. Help is on the way.”

A
lex was forced to move out of the way, placing Shelby’s care in the hands of the paramedics once they arrived.

“Nice shot,” Logan said, nudging Holden with his toe.

Alex shrugged, holding Cody against his shoulder and barely sparing his fellow DEA agent a glance. “I missed the first few times. God helped me in the end.”

Logan raised a questioning brow. “You didn’t miss,” he said. “He was wearing body armor. I found three slugs, one in the chest, another one in the gut and the last one dead center in his head.” He flashed a crooked grin. “Congratulations, I’d say you have your shooting arm back.”

Alex simply shook his head. He knew that without the Lord’s help, this night may have ended very differently. “Doesn’t matter, I’m finished with the agency.”

Logan looked surprised, but he didn’t say anything.

After being treated for a minor injury on his right hand from one of Holden’s wild shots, Russ Jacobson walked over. He eyed Alex suspiciously. “Did I hear my Grandson right? Did he call you daddy?”

Alex smoothed a hand down Cody’s back and nodded. “Yes, sir. Cody is my son.”

A fleeting expression of sorrow darkened the old man’s
gaze. “Never did understand why Stephan and Trina acted the way they did, letting Cody stay all the time with Shelby. And there isn’t a bit of Stephan in the boy.”

The sight of the paramedics lifting Shelby onto a stretcher diverted Alex’s gaze. “Excuse me,” he muttered, before hurrying over. “Wait. Where are you taking her?”

“The closest hospital.” The paramedic barely glanced at him, shoving Shelby inside the back of the ambulance and closing the door before Alex could try to jump in beside her.

“Come on,” Russ came up to rest his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “They’re not going to let you and Cody ride along. I’ll drive.”

“McCade, where are you going?” Rafe asked testily from his seat near a second ambulance. He held an ice pack to the wound at his temple. “You can’t leave until the scene has been cleared and all our statements have been given.”

“They can come to the hospital to take my statement,” Alex told them. “And I’m not with the agency any more, I quit.”

Rafe and Logan gaped at him, as he followed Russ Jacobson to the church parking lot where he’d left his car.

Cody held tightly to Alex, as if he were afraid all the people he loved might leave him. He decided then and there to make another appointment with that child psychologist Shelby had found. Cody would need all the help and support he could get.

There was a strained silence in the car, as Shelby’s father drove to the hospital.

“I’m sorry about Marilyn,” Alex murmured.

Jacobson’s mouth thinned and his expression was full of pain. “Thanks. Me, too. No matter what she was guilty of, she didn’t deserve to die.”

Alex winced, thinking about all the lives that had been lost. Trina, Bobby Drake and Marilyn. He prayed God would spare Shelby.

“So how long have you known about…” Russ Jacobson’s voice trailed off as he glanced at his grandson.

“Not even a week,” Alex said, not wanting to remind Cody of the night Trina had died.

“Hmm.” Russ glanced at him. “And Shelby?”

Alex couldn’t help but smile. “About the same time frame.”

“So she’s not seeing that coast guard guy?” Russ demanded.

“No, sir. Rafe was there to help protect her.”

“From Holden?”

“From anyone who might want to hurt her.” Alex frowned a bit. “I’m sorry to say, I suspected you might be in on the drug running operation.”

Russ’s mouth thinned. “I guess I can’t blame you. I’ve been a fool. I discovered the drugs and was working closely with Holden to try to find out who was stashing them on my ships. I suspected Marilyn might be involved but Holden convinced me she was only hiding that she was fooling around with Bobby Drake. I never suspected he was the one behind the drugs all along.”

“Don’t feel bad, he had us fooled, as well,” Alex said grimly. “He was Rafe’s liaison inside the Green Bay police department. He had access to a lot of inside information.”

Russ Jacobson pulled into the parking lot of the
hospital. He shut off the car and turned toward Alex. “What’s your name, son?”

It felt strange to be considered this man’s son, but he held Jacobson’s gaze steadily with his. “Alex McCade. I used to be undercover for the DEA.”

“But not any longer?” Jacobson asked.

“No. I love your daughter, sir. And if she’ll have me, I promise to take good care of my family.”

Russ Jacobson held out his hand and Alex took it. “I’ll hold you to that promise,” Jacobson warned. “My daughter and my grandson deserve the best.”

“I know.” Alex reached for the door handle, anxious to find out news about Shelby. “Let’s go.”

Once inside the hospital, they’d discovered Shelby had been taken straight to surgery. Alex finally convinced Cody to eat something, buying cheese and crackers from a nearby vending machine. When the doctor, who looked barely old enough to have finished medical school returned to the waiting room, Alex warily rose to his feet.

“Miss Jacobson’s surgery went fine,” he informed them. “We’re going to watch her overnight in the ICU but only because the wound was so close to her spleen. We need to make sure she doesn’t have any more bleeding. If all goes well, she’ll be transferred to a regular room in the morning.”

Alex closed his eyes on a wave of relief. “Thank You, Lord,” he whispered.

“When can we see her?” Russ asked.

The young man glanced at his watch. “She’ll be under the effects of anesthesia for about an hour or so. The nurses are getting her settled in the ICU as we speak. Generally visitors are limited to immediate family.”

Alex opened his mouth to protest, but Jacobson beat him to it. “He is immediate family,” he said in a firm tone. “And this boy is her son.”

“No children,” the doctor began but when he saw Russ’s steely gaze, threw up his hands in defeat. “Just a quick visit then, no more than ten minutes.”

“Thank you. We appreciate everything you’ve done,” Alex said, smoothing things over.

“All in a day’s work.” The young surgeon shook both their hands and then left.

When they were finally allowed in the ICU, one glance at Shelby had Alex sucking in a harsh breath. She was hooked up to several IV pumps and a heart monitor was lit up above her bed. She looked so pale against the white sheets.

Holding Cody, he leaned over to take her hand, a lump forming in the back of his throat. “Shelby? Can you hear me?”

Her eyelids fluttered and she blinked, finally opening her eyes to look at them. “Cody?”

“He’s right here,” Alex said, holding Cody so she could see him. “See, Cody? I told you Aunt Shelby would be okay.”

“I love you, Cody,” she murmured, trying to smile.

“I love you, too.” Cody’s lower lip trembled. “Get better soon, okay?”

“I will.” She glanced up at Alex. “Thank you.”

He wasn’t sure what she was thanking him for, and he leaned over to take her hand in his. “Shelby, everything is going to be fine. Holden is dead. He can’t hurt anyone ever again.”

She nodded, her eyelids fluttering closed.

The nurse hurried forward. “I’m sorry, but she really needs to rest. You’ll have to come back in the morning.”

Alex nodded and gently pulled his hand from her grasp. His eyes were suspiciously moist when he turned away.

“So, Cody, how would you like to come and stay with your grandpa tonight?” Russ asked when they’d left the ICU.

Cody tightened his grip on Alex’s neck.

“If you don’t mind, sir,” Alex said. “I’d like to spend some quality time with my son.”

Russ’s smile was sad and Alex felt a little guilty, knowing the man was going home to an empty house. “Guess I can’t blame you for that,” Russ murmured.

Alex asked Russ to drop them off at the hotel, knowing that Rafe and Logan would know where to find him.

Exhausted, Cody protested going to sleep alone in his bed. Knowing the child had been through a lot, he kept Cody in his arms, as he sat back against the pillows on the bed.

And Alex found he didn’t mind one bit, holding his son while the child slept.

Shelby’s left side felt as if it were on fire. The doctors were pleased with her progress, though, explaining how lucky she’d been that they were able to save her spleen and that other than the blood she’d lost, she’d be fine.

“What does a spleen do, anyway?” she asked.

He launched into a lengthy explanation that quickly flew over her head. He’d ended the litany by explaining that without a spleen, she’d be on pills the rest of her life. She silently thanked God for sparing her life.

She was glad to be sent to a private room the follow
ing morning. From what she could tell, the other patients in the ICU were far worse off than she was.

Her father showed up early that morning. “Hi, Shelby,” he greeted her, giving her a hug and a kiss. “I’m so glad you’re doing better.”

“Me, too.” She smiled, determined to ignore the stabbing pain in her side.

“You must have been so frightened,” he said, with a dark frown.

“Not really,” she told him. “I know you never liked me to talk about my faith, but I wasn’t afraid because I knew God was with me.”

Her father stared down at her for a long moment. “You sound just like your mother when you say things like that.”

“Mom?” Shelby was surprised. “I guess I do remember going to church with her, especially before she died.”

Her father let out a heavy sigh. “I’m sorry, Shelby. I know I’ve been unfair with you, especially when you found strength in God. But your mother kept believing in God’s love, right up until cancer stole her last breath.”

Understanding dawned. “So that’s why you didn’t want to hear me talk about faith.”

He hung his head. “I was wrong, I realize that now. I should have been smarter, but instead I made even more mistakes. Like marrying Marilyn. A woman who was helping Holden bring illegal drugs into the country on my ships.”

She didn’t know what to say to that, especially since she’d never liked Marilyn much. “It’s not too late, Dad. God is always there, waiting for you.”

He nodded slowly. “Maybe you’re right. I think I’ll
have a talk with the church pastor about it. But for now, I’d better get going. I have to make some arrangements for Marilyn’s funeral.”

“Do you have to?” She struggled to sit up. “Wait a few days, I’ll help you. You shouldn’t have to go through that alone.”

“Relax, Shelby.” He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder, easing her back against the pillows. “I’m not mourning Marilyn, not in the way you’re thinking. But I need to do this, to close this chapter of my life, once and for all.”

“Oh.” She felt bad for her father, but she was also impressed. He was handling the truth much better than she’d ever expected.

“Take care, Shelby. I’m sure your young man will bring Cody over to see you soon.”

“I hope so. I miss him.”

“Who? Your young man? Or Cody?”

She blushed, knowing she’d meant both. “Cody, of course. I’m sure he must be traumatized with everything that’s happened.”

“You’re a good mother to Cody,” he said. “The way you are with him, well, you remind me of your mother. In many ways. I love you, Shelby. I know I haven’t always shown it, but I do.”

“I know, Dad.” She felt her eyes prick with tears. “I love you, too.”

He left and she must have dozed because Alex gently shook her arm a short time later.

“Shelby? Wake up. Cody wants to say hi.”

She shifted on the bed, wincing a bit when her stitches pulled. She focused on the tiny face peering at
her from beside her bed. “I’m awake. Hey, partner. How are you?”

“Aunt Shelby!” Cody tried to climb up the side rails into her bed, holding one of the figures from his animal kingdom in one hand. Alex caught him under the arms, and swung him back down to the floor.

“Oh, no, you don’t. You need to talk to her from here,” he said, giving Cody a stern look.

“But, Dad,” Cody protested.

“No buts,” Alex interrupted. “You don’t want to make her tummy hurt, do you?”

“No.” Cody reluctantly gave in.

Shelby watched the two of them interact with a sense of shock. Cody had called Alex
Dad.
It seems they’d grown much closer in the time she’d been stuck in the hospital.

She swallowed hard, realizing God had brought father and son together. They didn’t need her any more. She tried to quell the sense of panic.

“Shelby, are you really doing all right?” Alex glanced at her anxiously. “We’ve been so worried about you.”

“I’m fine, really. And it seems you’ve been doing pretty well yourself.”

“Me?” Alex’s eyes widened. “I’m not the one lying in a hospital bed.”

“No, but you’ve obviously spent time with Cody. He listens to you like a father.” She hesitated, not wanting to bring up his career, but since they were talking about Cody’s future, she steeled her resolve. “Have you thought about the future?”

“I already resigned from my job, Shelby. My boss has agreed to give me a reference so I can get a job in
the training facility. You don’t have to worry, I won’t leave you and Cody alone.”

Really? “You won’t?”

“No.” He glanced down at Cody who was trying to crawl under the bed. “I know this isn’t the time, but you need to know, I’m not afraid to be a father to Cody. Not any more, although I was before. My own father, well, let’s just say he wouldn’t win any father-of-the-year awards.”

She sucked in a quick breath. “Oh, Alex. He hit you?”

He shrugged and the way he avoided her gaze told her all she needed to know. “A bit, but he also drank. A lot. I’ve resented him for a long time. And I thought about giving up custody because I was a little afraid I’d turn out like he did.”

Suddenly, everything made sense. She realized Alex wasn’t avoiding being a father to Cody because he didn’t love him, but because he didn’t want to hurt him. “Oh, Alex. You’ll be a great father to Cody.” Her voice thickened with tears. “All he needs is love.”

Alex nodded. “I know, because God showed me the way.”

She couldn’t have been happier to hear that.