Chapter 13 - The Night He Finally Chose His Family
"Stay alive," Sloane said.
Rafe closed his eyes.
"Anything else?"
"Let the authorities do their jobs."
He almost smiled through the fear.
"You know that's difficult for me."
"I know."
"Then I'll learn."
For several seconds, only their breathing filled the call.
Then Sloane whispered, "I didn't leave because I stopped loving you."
Rafe leaned against the wall.
"I know that now."
"I left because I was starting to stop loving myself."
Those words hurt more than any threat Mercer could have made.
"I'm sorry, Sloane."
"I know."
"But you don't have to forgive me."
"Not yet."
"I understand."
The investigators moved on the freight terminal while Rafe remained at their coordination center.
He supplied access records, shipping manifests, and security codes.
For once, he wasn't trying to control the operation.
He was helping other people complete it.
At 1:06 a.m., the first officers entered the terminal.
At 1:11, they found Daniel Bennett inside a locked office.
Alive.
Weak.
But alive.
Mercer tried to flee through a maintenance passage.
Malik had already provided the authorities with the terminal's original construction plans.
An arrest team intercepted Mercer before he reached the exit.
No shots were fired.
No one was injured.
When the investigator told Sloane her father was safe, she covered her face and sobbed.
Rafe received the news moments later.
Then his phone rang.
Sloane.
"They found him."
"I heard."
"He's alive, Rafe."
"He is."
Her voice broke.
"I don't know what to do."
"You don't have to know."
She cried harder.
Then suddenly gasped.
Rafe straightened.
"Sloane?"
Another breath.
Sharper this time.
"Something's wrong."
"What happened?"
"My stomach..."
The phone shifted.
Someone shouted for medical assistance.
Rafe's entire body went cold.
"Sloane, talk to me."
Her voice returned, thin with pain.
"I think... I think the baby's coming."
She was only thirty-one weeks pregnant.
May you like
And as the investigators called an ambulance, Sloane whispered one sentence that nearly destroyed him.
"Rafe, I'm scared she's too early."
