HIS BABY TO BEAR - TWENTY ONE

C H A P T E R T W E N T Y

"It can't be that bad," Raven said, nudging Libby's nose with a cup of coffee.

She couldn't even get a whiff of it. If she could have tasted it, she bet it was delicious. Libby pushed it out of the way a little and checked her phone for the millionth time in the last hour, hoping for an update from Jerome. However, there was still nothing. She'd resent the address a few times to make sure he got it, but all she could do now was wait. It had only been a few hours, but with each passing second, she was losing her mind more and more easily.

"Where, after all, is Reid Andrew?" Don't tell me he's hanging out with your hunk! "You still haven't really told me anything about him, you know," Raven continued, cheerfully grinning.

Libby shot her a look that she hoped conveyed how exhausted she was and how little she wanted to talk about anything. Raven's grip tightened around hers, warming them in her palms.

"Oh, Zay, come on. Please explain what's going on. You appear to have seen a ghost. What's that dark substance on your shirt? " she inquired, her gaze drawn to Libby's sleeves.

Libby groaned as she noticed a thick splatter of blood running up one arm. When Jerome thrust the blade into the guy's chest, she must have been too close.

Is it appropriate for me to call the cops? But what can they do? I can't even tell them who kidnapped Reid Andrew. I have no idea!

This time, there were no tears. She was angry and empty, but unlike the previous time, she was not afraid for her life. She only desired the return of her child. Jerome, too. There was a heavy knock on the door just as she was about to offer Raven some sort of explanation to appease her. Libby was up and running through the condo to the front door before Raven could react.

For a brief moment, she peered out the peep hole, confirming that it was Jerome. Pulling the door open, she whispered a prayer, but when Jerome entered without Reid Andrew, Libby crumpled to the floor. There was that uneasy feeling that she had gone missing. The agony and the agonizing pain. Tears did not fall from her eyes, but her entire body felt as if it had been sucked through a vorTom, jumbling everything around.

"You didn't find him," she said softly, her words choking.

"No," he said, lowering himself to his haunches in front of Libby. "No, I didn't. But I'll do it. I'll find whoever those jerks are, Libby. "I'll get our child back."

"Is that your child? What is he on about, Zay? And why is he addressing you as Libby? " Raven inquired, her brows knitted in perplexity.

Neither Libby nor Jerome were interested in her.

"It's all my fault," Libby explained.

"Don't even think about it. You couldn't have predicted that those animals would attack you in such a ferocious manner. Or that they were looking for Reid Andrew. "You were supposed to be safe," Jerome snarled, scooping her into his arms and pressing her against his chest.

He was cold to the touch. His skin was almost ice-cold. She'd never known him to be anything other than scorching hot when she'd laid her hands on him before. When she looked into his eyes, the faded blues she was used to were replaced by dark orbs that were almost entirely brown. They glowed a little. It was the first time she'd seen his bear so close up, skulking beneath his human side.

"No, it was my fault," she said, reaching for her purse, which was on a table next to the door.

She drew the pictures from her purse and shoved them into his hands. He flipped through them, his expression surprised with each one he looked at. Jerome came to a halt in front of the one where Libby was opening the door and walking in with him.

"I believe it was both of us," he admitted. "At the very least, I didn't make things any better." They must have known who I was, which accelerated their plans. I don't believe they wanted Reid Andrew to be on his own. I believe they were looking for a way to gain control of you. So you'd tell them whatever they think you're aware of."

"But I'm not sure," Libby said, clutching her head with both hands.

"Raven, could you please give us a moment?"

"What?! No! Someone has Reid Andrew, you say? We must immediately contact the police! Come on, Zay ! Get to your feet! " Raven exclaimed, her face turning pale.

The last thing Libby needed was to explain to someone why she couldn't hold their hand while her life fell apart. Fortunately, Jerome was there to assist her.

"Raven. Please wait a moment. Enter the kitchen. Please do not come out unless we summon you. "Now," he barked, putting all the military authority that years of being a SEAL and a commander of troops had distilled into him into his voice.

If Libby had been in Raven's position, she would have jumped at the chance to comply. There was no threat in his tone of voice, only a promise. A promise that she would not like the consequences if she did not do as she was told.

"Zay, are you all right?" Raven inquired, his voice trembling.

"Nothing's wrong with me. Please leave us alone for a moment."

After a brief moment of thought, Raven shuffled into the kitchen, closing the door behind her. Libby despised herself for behaving in such a way to her only remaining friend, but this wasn't the time to be polite or concerned about anyone's feelings. She was too preoccupied with going over everything that had happened leading up to that damn night at Jonah's house, trying to figure out what she could possibly know that would cause someone to do something as heinous as kidnapping a baby. Her child.

"I believe you don't know anything, but you most likely do." Now, please bear with me. It's not something obvious, in my opinion. However, it must be something for which people are willing to die. But this isn't the time or place to discuss it. I'll make a few phone calls. We'll go meet with my team and get the right people working on this."

Libby nodded blankly as she rummaged through her memories. She'd been Jonah's personal assistant for years, and it hadn't been a particularly exciting job. From what she could tell, he was a small-scale businessman who lived fairly lavishly and kept himself in excellent shape despite his advanced age. Libby could recall countless days of running errands for him, such as picking up groceries, responding to correspondence about several of his charities, and managing his laundromats on a daily basis. There was nothing that stood out.

Libby had always suspected that Jonah was hiding something, but she wasn't the one to probe. He was a tall man with piercing eyes that bored into her at times. He'd been a scientist, a biochemist, when he was younger, but he'd mostly left that life behind as something that brought him more heartache than joy.

He'd have heated meetings with people Libby didn't know, but he'd calm down just as quickly as he'd gotten angry at them. He never let on that any of those heated debates meant more to him than the weather or what he was having for lunch that day.

She could have gotten a better job, but she never did because she liked Jonah and he kept raising her pay. He gave her time to study and focus on other activities that helped her grow as a person, such as her writing. The only thing he'd ever asked for was loyalty, that she tell him if anyone approached her with another job offer or anything, and that she be cautious about who she communicated with.

It had seemed like a quirk to her-an odd, deepening sense of paranoia that she didn't understand-but she had made allowances for in him. He was a man full of quirks, and this was just one of them. Nothing else stood out to her. He'd never requested that she hide any files or keep anything safe. He never told her about his long-lost love, his wife Rachel, who died a year before Libby met him. Things that friends discussed.

She sighed and shook her head. She couldn't think of anything she hadn't already told the people for whom Jerome worked. And she'd gone over every detail of her memories a million times between that night and now, looking for hints but coming up empty-handed.

Libby hadn't realized she'd been sitting on the ground, staring into nothingness for quite some time. She was deaf to Jerome's words, and it wasn't until he yanked her up on her feet that her world began to come back into focus. Her chest felt tight, as if she were seconds away from having a heart attack, and her body convulsed with heaves that could have been breaths or just panic.

Reid Andrew, what have I done? My baby is out there, all alone...

"It'll be fine, honey. "We'll fix this," Jerome said, wrapping his arm around her waist and leading her out the front door, grabbing the pictures and her purse.

Raven was just going to have to put up with it.

***

Jerome's destination was nothing more than a bunker. It was definitely underground, though Libby wasn't sure if it was in or out of Batangas; she hadn't been paying attention on the way there. When they'd exited, a man with broad shoulders and a crooked, worried smile had pulled up in front of Raven's house, and Jerome had ushered her into the big Jeep, introducing the man as Alvin. She could have said hello, but she couldn't be sure.

She was now sitting in the back of the room, cradling a cup of hot chocolate brought to her by one of the guys. She hadn't even drank a sip. They'd filed in through the door one by one, gathering within half an hour of Libby, Jerome, and Alvin's arrival. They were all imposing men who seemed to fill the small space with their egos as much as their bodies. The testosterone in the room was almost palpable to her.

All five were looking at Jerome with anticipation, occasionally casting compassionate glances at Libby.

She reasoned darkly that word must travel quickly.

"So, lieutenant, what's the deal?"

"Jordan inquired, chewing on some tobacco and crossing his arms across his chest.

She was puzzled as to how that camo shirt stayed on him with his muscles bulging through it. The same question could be asked of each and every one of them. She'd found herself in the company of six of Batangas' hottest men, and she couldn't even enjoy it.

"As I stated in the message, I need your assistance. This is entirely optional. I know you're all scheduled to go on a mission tomorrow. I walked away from it a few hours ago. Here's why," he said, raising his hand and putting an end to Tim's protest.

"You've all met Libby. She was our mark in Manila more than a year ago. We found her trail at Jonah Ramos house after he summoned the cavalry. I'm sure I don't need to remind you what happened there."

"No, but what's happening now?" " Tom inquired, his brows knitted together.

"Libby's... the mother of my child," Jerome said, his voice clear and his expression steady. "And the boy has been abducted."

The room's tension and silence could have been cut with a knife. The men became completely silent and solemn. Libby had completed her shifter research. She was well aware of the significance of any Alpha shifter's first-born son, and that each of these men would recognize the tragedy of the situation. But, unlike humans, there were no awkward questions or judging glances.

Jerome's team was aware. A shifter and his mate were a sacred couple, and whatever fate threw in their path was unavoidable, or so they were taught. So, while Libby was struggling to keep her emotions in check, the men in the room appeared to be entirely focused on the new mission that had been assigned to them.

"Do we have any idea who did it?"

Alvin inquired, always the one to get right to the point.

Libby assumed Jerome had already told him about her and Jerome's past, which meant he recovered faster.

"I believe it's the same jerks who chased Libby in Manila. Those crew cuts can't be missed."

"Wolves, always the biggest fuckwits," Mitch growled, low and menacing. "No offense," he said casually, glancing at Tim and Tom.

"None taken," Tim chuckled. "Is there any way to find out where they took him?" What is the strategy? "

"I don't think they wanted Reid Andrew, my son." I believe they came for Libby, but I arrived before they could take her. "I was too late for the boy," Jerome admitted.

Libby raised an eyebrow, sensing the strain and anguish in his voice. Alvin pressed his hand against Jerome's shoulder, tightening his grip.

"Lt. Col., we'll get him back."

Jerome cleared his throat and nodded briefly. "I believe they suspect Libby knows something about her former boss." Something no one else does, but we're not sure what it is. I followed the scent downtown, but it vanished into thin air. I'm not sure where they took the boy, but I'm sure they'd come after Libby if given the chance."

"So, we've got a new mission?" Tim inquired, his brow furrowed.

His lips were pressed into a thin line, his body rigid. Just one look at him told Libby that whatever was They were keeping him loaded like a spring inside that man's thoughts. If she had the time to think about it, she might have wondered what he was hiding.

"This is, without a doubt, my problem. I will not order any of you to remain. If we all abandon the mission, The Firm will undoubtedly be alarmed. However, I will gladly accept any assistance I can get. I need to reclaim custody of my son. "I need to keep him safe," Jerome said, his posture stiff and his expression solemn.

"We're with you, lieutenant," Mitch nodded.

A round of nods ensued, with Tim being the last to do so.

"If we settle this tonight, we'll be able to board the plane tomorrow," Jordan joked with his slow drawl. "No one has to be wiser."

"Right, as if we've ever solved a problem without blowing up half a city block," Tom, the resident explosives expert, said.

"To be fair, it's usually you blowing things up when they could be solved just as well with one clean shot," Jordan shot back, a round of chuckles rising.

Mitch was the only one who didn't laugh. When the bantering subsided, he looked up, his face brightening.

"I believe I may know someone who can assist."

"Who?

"Jerome inquired.

"Ace," Mitch explained.

The room fell silent once more, and Jerome's face twisted in disgust, his team looking at him with similar expressions.

"That b--son of a b--son of a b--son of a

"Yes," Mitch cut through, "but he was the intelligence contact on that mission." "I despise the fucker just as much as you do, but he has the information and we don't."

"You know for a fact that Hemingway will be notified if you go to him," Alvin cautioned.

Jerome seemed to ponder that for a moment, and Libby felt the hot chocolate in her hands become colder. She despised waiting like this, feeling completely useless and helpless in a situation that was entirely her fault. She bit her lower lip to keep from yelling at the insanity of it all; the sheer rage that wanted to wash over her tied her vocal chords together.

"That motherfucker had better play straight with me," Jerome grumbled.

And with that, the wheels started turning.