Hero of Mine (19 page)

“Noah?” he called loudly, but the toddler didn't stir. The crazy witch must have drugged him. Tyler focused his attention back on Camila, his mouth set in a grim line.

“How much did you give him?”

“I told you to get out!”

“I need to know what you gave him and how much. He could be overdosing as we speak.” Tyler stared down the woman, noting her wide, wild eyes and the overstuffed suitcase on the bed. “You don't want him to die, do you? You went through all the trouble to steal him; there must be a part of you who cares.”

“He's fine,” she snapped. “I used to give it to Angel when he wouldn't calm down. I would worry more about your safety right now.”

“That's really nice, drugging your own kid and repeating it with your grandson. No wonder your son is a fucking addict.”

Camila took several steps forward, waving the gun around angrily, and a cold sweat broke out over Tyler's skin as he prayed it wouldn't go off.

“You shut your mouth. I was a good mother. I did everything for him. If I'm guilty of anything, it is indulging him. But now, I have a second chance.”

“A second chance? You stole a child from his mother. If you think you're getting out of this city with him, you're out of your damn mind.”

Tyler was already convinced she was off her rocker, but the last thing he wanted was for her to accidentally shoot Noah. Or him.

“José! Pablo!” she yelled.

“Sorry, my friends have got them a little tied up right now.”

The gun went off, whizzing by Tyler's arm and hitting somewhere behind him.

“I have five bullets left. Next time, I won't miss,” she said.

“I'm not leaving this house without Noah,” he said.

“You're going to leave in a body bag if you don't get out of this house.”

“Then you can add murder to the list of felonies that California is going to charge you with. Either way, Noah will be back where he belongs.” He shook his head, keeping his hands up so she didn't shoot. “Why in the hell are you doing this? You could have gotten a lawyer for visitation.”

“He is my son's child, and I have every right to see him! I won't let that little slut keep me from him.”

The sound of sirens in the distance reached him, and he smiled. “You won't have to worry about Dani keeping Noah away from you. A judge and a jail cell will.”

To his surprise, Camila unzipped the front pocket of the suitcase and crammed the gun in. As she was slipping it under the bed, Tyler took the moment to run to the other side of the bed, opposite Camila.

Tyler's heart hammered, as he expected Camila to snatch Noah before he could, but she didn't make a move. As Tyler picked Noah up, cradling the tiny child against his chest, he breathed in Noah's sweet scent and almost sighed aloud in relief. His eyes pricked as he realized how scared he'd been that he'd never hold Noah again. He hadn't just tracked Noah down for Dani.

He couldn't imagine his life without the kid.

“I've got you now, buddy. You're safe.”

Watching Camila suspiciously, he edged toward the open doorway, but she didn't move, just watched him like a hawk.

He climbed down the stairs two at a time as he heard the front door burst open. “Sacramento Police Department!”

“Don't shoot,” Tyler yelled from the last step. “I'm Sergeant Tyler Best, United States Marine Corps, and I have Noah Hill.”

Several officers stepped into view, their weapons drawn.

“I think he's been drugged,” Tyler said.

“Help me!” Camila screamed behind him. “That man is kidnapping my grandson! He threatened me!”

Tyler gritted his teeth as the officers tensed at her accusation. When Camila came into view, he could see their gazes turning suspicious as they looked between him and Camila, the hysterically crying woman.

“Put the child down slowly and move away,” one of the officers ordered.

Tyler caught Camila's triumphant smile and had to hand it to the manipulative bitch. She was very convincing.

“I'm not kidnapping him,” Tyler said, holding onto Noah more tightly. “I called you guys. Noah was taken from his mother two hours ago after she was attacked in front of their home. This woman has no legal rights to him.”

Officer Zack Dalton, the newest trainer at Alpha Dog, stepped past the others. “It's cool, I know him.”

Coming up behind him, he patted Tyler down. “Got any weapons, Best?”

“A knife on my right calf. You got an ambulance out there?”

“We do.”

Once Tyler was completely disarmed, Dalton held out his arms. “Why don't you hand him over to me. I'll run him out to the ambo.”

“Don't let her anywhere near him,” Tyler said.

Dalton nodded.

Tyler handed Noah off reluctantly, tears pricking his eyes as the child whispered softly, “Tywer.”

“On your knees,” another officer said, stepping forward with cuffs in his hand.

Tyler dropped and put his hands behind his head, watching Dalton carry Noah out the door and out of sight.

D
ANI WOKE UP
to the sensation of tap-dancing elves stomping on her brain. She could barely open her eyes, as a white light burned every time she tried.

“Can someone”—God, why was she so thirsty?—“get the light?”

“Oh, she's awake. George! She's awake.”

Dani opened her eyes this time and was able to take in her surroundings groggily. “What happened?”

“You were attacked. You have a concussion and a few broken ribs, but the doctors told us you're going to be fine.”

Flashes of memory came back to her. Pain . . . a hateful voice . . . Noah's crying.

“Noah . . . Where's Noah?”

“He's in the pediatric ward. He's fine. Your friend Megan is with him.”

Dani tried to sit up and winced.

“Honey, don't move. You're pretty banged up,” her dad said.

“But I want to see my son.”

“You will, as soon as he wakes up,” said her dad, patting her shoulder.

Relaxing slightly, she asked, “Where's Tyler? Why isn't he here?”

She might have been out of it, but she didn't miss the look that passed between her parents.

“Mom?” she prodded.

“Tyler's at the police station, baby.”

“What—” she started coughing and moaned, as her whole body ached—“what happened?”

“He's the one who found Noah, but the police are holding him and his friends for questioning.”

“Why? What are they questioning him for if he saved Noah?”

“From what Blake said, the police are just trying to sort everything out, and he should be released soon.”

“Where's Blake? Is he with him?” Dani asked.

“Not anymore. They released him, but Tyler was armed and coming down the stairs with Noah in his arms when that woman started making all kinds of accusations. Blake said they arrested him at first, thinking he was the kidnapper—”

“He did not kidnap Noah!” she cried.

“No, but from what an Officer Dalton told us, it shouldn't take them much longer to release Tyler.” Her father's lips pinched into a grim line. “Although, Blake told me that the little weasel, Angel, is claiming Tyler threatened to torture him after breaking into his house. Tyler's friends are saying all they did was talk to him.”

Dani stared at her parents, shock rolling through her. Tyler had gone on a full-on rescue mission to get Noah back. Noah was safe because of Tyler.

Suddenly, Dani was laughing and crying at the same time.

“Danielle, are you all right?” her mom asked.

She nodded wordlessly, trying to catch her breath to speak. “I just . . . I love him so much.”

Her mom seemed at a loss, while her dad just stood up and said, “I'm gonna get some coffee.”

“Dad, can you stop by and ask Megan to find out if Tyler's parents know where he is?”

“Sure, sweetheart.”

Dani started to scoot forward, ignoring the pain. She needed to get out of there and see Noah. To help Tyler.

“Wait, what are you doing? The doctor said you needed to rest.”

“I am going to see my son, and then I am going to find a way to get Tyler released.”

“Danielle, you get back in that bed right—”

“
Mom
!” Dani tried to stand, but she ended up gripping the side of the bed when the world tilted. “I am leaving this room, even if I have to crawl out of here. So, are you going to help me or not?”

Her mom huffed at her. “I'll go get a wheelchair.”

“Thank you.” Dani sat back down on the bed, taking a painful breath. Once she held her baby and knew he was going to fine, she could work on getting to Tyler.

T
YLER SAT IN
the holding cell, staring straight ahead. It was nearly seven in the morning, and he had already been interviewed twice. He'd called his parents first, then the hospital to check on Noah and Dani. Her father had told Tyler they were both fine, but Tyler couldn't wait to find out for himself.

He wondered if Dani was awake yet and if she knew where he was.

If they did believe Angel, he could be looking at obstruction and maybe even assault with a deadly weapon, though he hadn't hurt the little turd. His friends had all been released already, but he was the last one. He'd told the felony assaults detective everything, except the threat of torture, and explained that all he needed the detective to do was talk to Dani.

Tyler couldn't regret his current situation. If he had to do it over, he wasn't sure he'd change anything. Even if the cops had traced the kidnapping to Camila, Angel might never have told the cops where his mother was, and if he had, it might have been too late. Camila would have been gone with Noah, and Dani would have been devastated.

Tyler would have been devastated.

Noah was safe, and he couldn't regret that. Even if it meant he lost everything, it was worth it.

“Tyler Best,” an officer called from the edge of the cage. “Stand up. The rest of you, turn and face the wall.”

Tyler got up and went over to the cell door. As the officer let him out, he asked, “What's going on?”

“No charges are being filed.”

Tyler followed behind the officer, shocked. As he gathered up his personal effects—except for his knife—he was escorted out to the lobby, where Martinez and Sparks stood waiting for him.

“Come on, dude. There's a lot of people waiting for you,” Sparks said.

Tyler followed behind them as they walked outside and climbed into Sparks's truck.

“Yeah, a whole crowd looking to welcome back the conquering hero,” Martinez said.

Tyler shook his head in the backseat. “I'm nobody's hero, man.”

“I don't know. You rescued that little boy, and the people responsible were arrested today. Makes you a hero to me,” Martinez said.

“Plus, I know at least two people who think so, too.” Sparks got on the freeway and headed east.

“Where are you going? I want to go to the hospital and check on Dani and Noah.”

“They aren't at the hospital. They're waiting for you at your place,” Sparks said.

Tyler had never heard sweeter words in his life.

D
ANI STOOD OUTSIDE
of Tyler's house with Noah in her arms, surrounded by Tyler's friends and family. Some of the kids who had gone through the Alpha Dog Program, including Jeremiah Walton, stood in a group with banners and signs. Most had trickled in overnight, and had been waiting for word on when Tyler would be released. Noah had been up for an hour, and Dani hadn't slept at all since she'd woken up in the hospital a little before midnight.

Megan stood next to Dani—well, hovered over her was more accurate.

“Why don't you let me hold Noah?” Megan asked for the tenth time.

“Because I'm not ready to give him up yet.” Dani kissed her son's forehead, more than aware of how close she'd come to losing him today.

“Then at least sit in the chair before you both fall down.”

Dani sank into the folding chair with a sigh. “I'm fine, Megan.”

“Yeah, so you keep saying. Don't make me get your mother.”

Her mom was standing off to the side with Gloria Best, gushing about Tyler, and the two women kept hugging and holding hands as if they'd been friends forever. Gareth and her dad stood with Blake, talking intently, and Dani could only imagine football was the topic.

“Here they come,” one of the boys hollered as the truck rounded the corner.

Dani started to get up again, and a hard hand on her shoulder pressed her back down. She glared up at Megan.

“It will take a minute, so you might as well keep your ass in that chair.”

Noah lifted his head and grinned up at Megan. “Ass.”

“Way to go. You're never babysitting,” Dani said, not even bothering to correct Noah now.

Dani couldn't see over the group as it surged forward. The truck pulled into the driveway, and ignoring Megan, she stood up with Noah.

“Tywer!” Noah shouted when he saw him.

Dani waited for him to find her with that deep blue gaze, and once he did, she wanted to run. Wanted to vault over the crowd and into his arms.

But he was already pushing past everyone and rushing toward them.

His arms closed around the two of them, and she ignored the pain in her ribs as Tyler's mouth found hers, his kiss filled with desperation.

He pulled back and stared into her eyes intently. “Are you all right?”

“Yes, sore and my head is killing me, but I'm good. Better now.”

Tyler took Noah from her without asking, and she watched his eyes close as he hugged her son until tears blurred her vision.

“And how about you, Noah? You okay?”

“Okay,” Noah said.

“Thanks to you,” Dani whispered.

It didn't even feel like there was anyone else, just them in their little bubble.

“Come on, everyone, let's move the party inside and let these two have a proper reunion,” Sparks said, leading the way inside.

As the crowd trickled past, Dani held Tyler's free hand to her cheek. “I am so sorry about last night. I called you and was headed to your place when—”

“I know. Blake already told me he talked to you—”

“But I knew before he showed up—”

“Baby, I don't care. I don't care about one stupid misunderstanding in the grand scheme of things. Today, I could have lost you. We could have lost Noah.”

She loved the way he said
we
. “And Noah and I could have lost you. I still can't believe you were crazy enough to go all
Die Hard
on Angel and his cousins.”

“It wasn't like that. They weren't exactly hardened criminals,” he said.

“Still, things could have gone really bad today.”

“Instead we're all here. All together.” Caressing her check, he continued, “I used to think that fate was a bunch of bullshit, but I'm beginning to believe there's got to be something higher guiding us. Leading us to where we're supposed to be.” Kissing her again, he pulled back enough to whisper against her lips. “My place is with you and Noah. You're my everything.”

She wrapped her arms around Tyler's waist and leaned her head onto his chest, looking up into Noah's smiling face.

“Are you two gonna be much longer? There's a celebration in your honor, you know!” Dereck yelled from the front of the house.

“So much for enjoying the moment,” Tyler groused.

Dani pulled away. “That's okay. I have a feeling we're gonna have plenty of moments.”