Secret Delivery by Delores Fossen Page A

else?”
    Jack looked her straight in the eye. “You won’t take him from me.”
    She could have sworn that her heart stopped. “I can’t agree to that.”
    “I mean, you won’t do anything about the custody issue, not until I’ve discovered what the heck is going on.”
    “Sean probably set up that phony Sauder institution. He’s the one who’s behind all of this.”
    “Maybe. But until I have solid proof of that, I want you to promise me that you won’t challenge me for custody. I can’t handle that kind of distraction when I’m trying to work on this case.”
    Because she had no choice, she nodded. “But you know that eventually I will challenge you. I’ll do whatever it takes to get him back.”
    “I know. And I’ll do whatever it takes to stop you.”
    So they were at a stalemate. Well, sort of. Jack had the power. He had physical custody of her son. “Will you still bring Joey to see me?”
    “Yes.” Judging from the set of his jaw, it’d taken a lot for him to say that. “But I’m warning you, Alana, if you try to escape or try to pull anything funny, the visit is off. No more playing nice.”
    She had no intention of going anywhere. After the emotional firestorm she’d just endured, Alana felt drained and raw. But she also felt hope. Soon, she’d get to see her son up close. He would be in the same room with her.
    This would be the beginning.
    She’d follow Jack’s rules. She wouldn’t try to escape. And she wouldn’t do anything to break this tenuous, temporary agreement.
    “So, how soon can I see him?” she asked.
    He checked his watch, rubbed his eyes and mumbledsomething. “Aunt Tessie’s heading back to the ranch. I’ll give her a call and have her return.”
    “You mean now?”
    “Now,” he verified. He headed for the door and delivered the rest of what he had to say to her from over his shoulder. “Just don’t make me regret it.”
    Alana couldn’t promise that she would be on her best behavior. She couldn’t speak. Soon, she would get her own version of a miracle.
    She’d get to see her son.
    Alana thought of the day she’d learned she was going to have a child. Even though the pregnancy wasn’t planned, she’d been thrilled. But not Neil. He hadn’t wanted children, and the pregnancy had ended their relationship. Good riddance, was what Alana thought at the time. She still felt that way now. Neil was dead, out of the picture.
    But not Jack.
    Jack had stepped up to raise a stranger’s child. He’d prevented her son from going into foster care. And now it was all those good deeds that she’d have to challenge if she wanted custody. Which she did. But then, Alana glanced around the hospital room and considered her predicament. She wasn’t exactly in a good place to be fighting for her child, even though that’s exactly what she had to do.
    Since she was still feeling light-headed, Alana lay back on the bed. No one had brought her clothes yet, so that meant she’d meet her son while she was wearing a hospital gown. Since Joey was only eight months old, he wouldn’t notice. She, on the other hand, would commit every little detail about him to memory.
    The door flew open. Her heart jumped. But she didn’t even have time to make it off the bed before someone turned off the overhead light.
    “Jack?” she called out. She was about to ask why he’d done that, but a hand slid over her mouth.
    Her instinct was to scream, but the rough hand prevented that. Adrenaline ripped through her. Everything sped up. Her heart. Her breathing. The need to fight and stop whatever was happening to her.
    God, what was happening?
    “Make a sound, and you’ll die right here,” someone said. A man.
    A stranger’s voice.
    At least she thought he was a stranger. It was hard to tell—his voice was hoarse and whispered.
    “What do you want?” she asked, her own voice muffled beneath his hand. He wore a latex glove.
    “You’re coming with me,” he insisted.
    She was about to