Bearing It All (21 page)

As soon as Ronan was wheeled off the lift, he noticed the absence of guards outside Anisa's room. “Hurry!” He leaned over to open the door and the orderly pushed him into an empty room. Strong male cologne lingered in the air. It twitched his nose, the same as the Minister of Defense's had yesterday. He'd been here. The French bastard had taken Ronan's beloved. He tried to control his breathing, to keep from falling apart.

He stood from the wheelchair and went to the phone on the stand between the beds. Something sparkled and caught his eye. Anisa's necklace. She'd left it for him as a sign. She'd kept his ring, thank God, but she'd left behind something of great personal value to her for him—as an unspoken token of her love. He scooped it up and held it to his heart as he called a number he knew by heart.

“Detective Matheson. Make it quick, I'm having a helluva morning.”

“So am I, ye backstabbing bastard, since the French Minister of Defense took me woman while I was conveniently out of the room having tests done. And dinna tell me ye ken nothing of it, fer the guards were gone from her door. That's how I ken something was wrong.”

“I'm on me way over to explain.”

“Nay. Not while the anger's running hot in me veins. One of us will have to kill the other. Ye ken what she means to me, ye bloody bastard.” Ronan slammed down the receiver. A plan. He needed a plan to get her back. Nay Scot would allow his intended to be stolen from him, especially one he loved as deeply, as completely as his beloved. He stalked away from the phone, did a quick pivot, and dialed another number.

“Matheson Lodge. How can I help ye.”

“Creigh. Anisa's gone. Kendric called the French Minister of Defense and told him about the intel. Told him she was feckin' here. Hell, Kendric even escorted him to our room yesterday after Kenzie had the bairn. Chasen, whatever his last name was, questioned her fer hours. This morning, while I was going through a batch of useless tests, the French arse came in here and stole her away. The French bastard had the audacity to steal me woman!”

“Whoa! Kendric went against me wishes? He betrayed someone under me protection? Yer beloved? Wait, how do ye ken she was taken against her will?”

“She had a necklace that belonged to her grandmother. She always wore it. Never took it off. She left the piece neatly on me pillow. It was her way of telling me she didna want to go. I ken her, Creigh, and how she thinks. I asked her to marry me last night. She's still wearing me ring. She knew if she left it, I'd take it as a sign of rejection. But she didna. She left me something precious to her heart.”

“You think they're taking her back to France?”

“Paris. Aye. I'm working on a plan. 'Twould be better if ye were here to judge on the soundness of it. I'm so fookin' mad right now, I ken I'm nay thinking straight.”

There was the familiar squeak of Creighton's chair. “I'm on me way. I canna believe Kendric betrayed us like this.”

“Bring me clothes. One of me kilts. I dinna think I can handle the waistband of jeans yet. I'm checking out. I canna look for her from here.”

“On me way. I'll help any way I can, ye ken that.”

“Aye. I always have.” Ronan hung up and clasped the necklace around his neck. He would keep a part of her with him always just as she was keeping a part of him, the ring, with her. Although she may be carrying another part of him. How many times had they had sex with nay condom? Now came the difficult part—telling Brother Bear. He'd kept the shield closed during their talk, throughout the night while they made love over and over, and when he went through the strange-sounding testing machines.

He opened the shield and called for his alter ego.

“Brother Bear, I have some bad news.”

Wherever he was hiding, he came closer for his voice was louder. “What? Anisa?”

“Some men came and took her away. I dinna know where she's at.” He planted his elbows on his thighs, his hands on his cheeks, and his fingers spread over his ears. “I think they took her back to Paris.”

As he suspected, Brother Bear, or Magnus as Anisa called him, went into a fit of crying and wailing. His words of grief made little sense except fer one thing. “Bring her back!”

“If it takes me the rest of me life, Brother Bear, I will. I promise. I will bring her home to Mathe Bay—to us.” His fingertips rose to touch the sign of eternal love she'd left him. He refused to question his abilities. He stood and started to pace. There was nay room in his heart for doubt—only the burning need to plan a strategy, determination never to give up, and a love that brought joy to his life.

With every step he made, he shoved the fear deeper and deeper. He couldna allow the worry to control him. The anger. aye. But not the panic.

Kendric had feckin' balls. Ronan would give him that fer he marched into his hospital room, big as ye please. “Look, I had nay idea the Minister of Defense would steal her from this hospital and take her back to France. Yesterday, he made it sound as if he'd be interrogating her again today, here in this room.” Kendric ran a hand through his short dark hair. “Honest, I'm as shocked and pissed as ye. I spoke to both of me guards on the way over and the Minister told them I'd sent orders over fer them to stand down. That Anisa was under French protection now.”

Ronan jabbed a hard punch to Kendric's stomach and when he bent over, Ronan fisted an upper cut to his cousin's eye, causing his head to snap back. “Ye are a traitor to our sleuth. I dinna want to speak to ye ever again. And back the fook away before me fist makes contact with yer chin. Fer I could beat ye to a pulp and nay think anything of it. I'm engaged to that woman ye allowed them to steal from me.” He spun, stepped to the window's ledge, and leaned his fists on the sash. Fists he wanted to use to punch his backstabbing cousin's face in. If not fer Kendric, his woman would still be here—safe with him in his dual existence, part of which was sobbing and mourning like a bear cub who had lost his mama. Exactly the way Ronan had for his da.

Thane rushed into the room. “What the bloody hell is going on? Is yer bear in pain? He sounds emotionally distraught. I could hear him as soon as I left the cafeteria in the basement.”

Ronan turned to lean against the window as he filled the doctor in. Kendric stood with his hands in his pockets and his chin meeting his chest. The tension in the room was so thick, it was hard to take a breath.

“Ye ken yer bear wants to die. If he does, ye will, too. I could have ye close yer shield, but I fear that willna help yer bear. 'Twill only cut him off from having human interaction to listen to. The isolation will only drive him deeper into his depression. I'm calling Uncle Earnan. See if he's ever had experience with this, fer I have'na.” He jerked his cellphone from the pocket of his white coat.

Ronan swiveled around to stare out of the window again. Where was his beloved? On a plane? Dear God—in handcuffs? “God help ye, Kendric, if they torture her.”

The door burst open and Ronan pivoted in time to see Creighton wrap his huge hands around Kendric's neck. “Gutless traitor! Ye bloody well violated the decision the members of the sleuth made?” Creighton shook him and roared. “Ye put me brother's intended at risk, ye jumped-up little shite. Why, dammit? Where's yer feckin' loyalty?”

“Under the fookin' black eye yer brother just gave me.” Kendric fought to pry his laird's hands from his neck, his face growing redder by the second.

Bryce charged into the room. “What the bloody hell is going on? Me bear is upset, listening to Ronan's bear crying as if his heart is broken.” He spun. Shock was evident in his expression. “Holy fook! Has everyone gone bloody mad? Creighton, why are ye trying to choke Kendric?”

“Ronan and I will handle this. Ye go back to yer beloved and yer new bairn.”

Bryce fisted his hands at his waist. “Why, because I'm the baby of the family?”

“Nay, ye spoiled shite, because ye have responsibilities.” Creighton shot Bryce a scowl. “If ye must ken. Kendric called the French Secret Service, who came and took Anisa away. We dinna ken where she's at. This by-the-book policeman went against our sleuth, and I want to ken why.”

“Well, how the hell's he going to answer after ye've choked him to death?” Bryce strutted toward Ronan and put his arm around his shoulders. “Less than a year ago, I was in yer spot. Scared, pissed, and at me wit's end. We stood together, as brothers, and got Kenzie back. We'll do the same fer ye and yer woman. I'll go talk to me wife and explain. Then I'll return to help with the planning.”

Ronan nodded. “I wasna verra nice to ye that day. I was bloody worried over ye and showed it by acting like an arse.”

Bryce grunted. “Hell, brother, think I didna ken that? Yer grumpiness gave me the mettle to forge ahead. In the end, ye helped. I'll be back soon. Kenzie and Linsey are to be released later today. Colleen canna wait to have them home.” He hurried out of the room.

Thane placed his hand on Ronan's shoulder. “Earnan's on his way to see what he can do to help yer bear.” The young doctor spun toward Creighton. “I've got a horse enema in me doctor's bag. Don't think I canna hold ye down and shove it up yer arse. Now let go of Kendric, and we'll all sit down and talk about this until Uncle Earnan gets here.”

Creighton released his chokehold on Kendric, who rubbed his neck and practically collapsed on Anisa's bed. An evil grin changed Creighton's features. “Was he with Effie?”

“Aye. He said he'd bring her along. Maybe she could help.”

Creighton and Ronan looked at each other, enjoying the first moment of levity of the day. “Open yer bag of clothes, brother. I put a bottle of single malt whisky and some paper cups on top of yer things. I think we could all use a healthy three-fingers. Och, me bear aches fer yers, Ronan. Maybe he can talk some sense to him.”

Ronan lined the cups on the bedside table. “I doubt me bear will hear any of it. He's in a full-blown tantrum. He thought of Anisa as his mother and best friend. He doesna ken what to do, but weep and wail—and grieve.” He poured the single malt in one cup and downed it. Then he added more in his, poured some in the rest of the cups, and passed them out.

Kendric showed surprise when Ronan extended a cup to him. “Thank ye,” he croaked, his throat no doubt sore from Creighton's punishing hold.

“We'll drink in silence,” Thane suggested. “We humans need to calm down.”

Ronan sipped his tipple and filled his cup again. “Calming down is not on me agenda, cousin. Me beloved's been taken from me. I dinna ken what's going to happen to her. I'd promised that sweet woman she'd always be safe with me.” He tipped his cup toward Kendric. “He's made me break me oath.”

Thane grabbed the bottle before Ronan had a chance to reach fer it again. “Some of the medicines I've got ye on won't mix with all this whisky. Ye've had enough tipple fer a few hours.”

Ronan didn't think there was enough whisky in the world to numb the pain, so he started talking. “What will they do with her when they get her back to Paris, do ye ken? Throw her in jail? Interrogate her fer days? Hold a court-martial? What?”

Thane jiggled the iPad from the large pocket of his medical jacket. “Let me see if there's anything on the news about her return to France.” He swiped the screen a few times. “Here's something. ‘Chasen Laroche, the Minister of Defense, captured ex-Major Anisa Brosseau in a small Scottish community.' ”

“They've taken her rank from her already.” Ronan stood and paced. “After all she went through to earn her title. Is there more?” He glanced at Thane.

“ ‘Although originally charged with treason, two American CIA agents have been arrested for this offense and jailed, pending further investigation and trial. Ms. Brosseau is expected to arrive in Paris this afternoon, where she will be jailed for theft and destruction of a drone and being Absent Without Leave. More details to follow.' ”

Creighton clapped his hand on Ronan's good shoulder. “At least we ken she's alive and the worst of the charges have been dropped. Now we need to figure out how to get her back.”

The door opened and Earnan strode in, holding Effie's hand. She wore a pair of pink sweatpants—inside out—and a Jimi Hendrix sweatshirt. Her baffies were on the wrong feet. From her wrist hung pink furry handcuffs, one end closed around her wrist and the other cuff dangling open.

“Geesh, Uncle Earnan, I never thought to ask if ye were in the middle of anything.” Thane looked at his watch. “And in the middle of the day, too.” His face was beet red.

Earnan brushed him off. “Hell, nephew, what do ye think retirement is fer? Me Angel and I can finish our playtime later. But this fellow here”—he moved to stand in front of Ronan—“is in a bad emotional place.” He glanced around the room. “Have any of yer bears been able to reach him?”

They all shook their heads.

“Ronan, lie down. I'm going to hypnotize ye so yer thoughts do not interfere with his. Then me bear will communicate with yers on a deeper, more experienced level.”

“He responds best to Magnus, the name Anisa called him.”

“Good to ken. Now I ask ye all be quiet. Angel, I ken ye want to tear Kendric a new arsehole, but ye must wait. I'll need silence in this room.”

She clicked the empty, open handcuff on Kendric's wrist. Then glared at him as she whispered, “If you feel any shrinkage, I'm only changing your pecker into a snail.” Her gaze swept to her beau and she smiled. “We're ready, Stud Muffin. No one will utter a sound.”

Sweat beaded on Kendric's forehead while Effie's pink lips silently muttered words. His other hand reached for his crotch, the strangest expression altering his face.

Anisa's helicopter flight from the helipad at the hospital in Mathe Bay to Paris was a continual duration of interrogation about her stealing the drone and flying to Scotland. At times, she was asked the same things over and over, no doubt hoping she'd deviate from her original answers. She was informed she'd already been stripped of her rank in the French army and removed from her position in ICAT.

No surprise there. She knew her military career was over. All that remained was the fear of what lay ahead and the devastating loss of who she'd had to leave behind. The heart beats in two steps—lub-dub, lub-dub—but without her Ronan, hers beat with only one sound, a lonely, desolate sound.

The bird landed at a spot near the
Préfecture de Police
, a huge building at the opposite end of the huge courtyard in front of the Notre Dame Cathedral. Hordes of press waited.

As the rotors slowed down, the Minister of Defense told her he believed in her innocence as a mole within the agency and that both Mitch Anderson and Todd Franklin were under arrest and currently being held in solitary confinement in a French jail. When she asked what her charges would be, he shrugged and claimed it would depend on a trial.

The door of the copter opened and cameras clicked and whirled. Reporters, holding long-handled microphones near her face as she exited, yelled questions. Was she aware of what the CIA was up to? How did she find the confidential information? Did she use her looks to gain access to restricted files? Would she be court-martialed? Did she flee because she felt her life was in danger? She was bombarded with question after question. Many of them were downright asinine.

The soldiers who helped her out of the aircraft grabbed her elbows and led her inside away from the media frenzy. Thank God for some semblance of silence. Her nerves were ready to snap because she kept thinking about Ronan and Magnus.

To her surprise, the first place they took her was the dispensary. A French doctor examined her injuries, asking many questions. She told him about the CIA sending someone to poison her, and what toxin was used.

He spun his stool around and entered information into a computer. “Yes, that rare frog is very poisonous. You're lucky to be alive and functional.”

How is the name of a poisonous rare frog in Australia as familiar to a French army doctor as the mumps? Do I want to know the answer?

“Have you had your systems checked? Lung function? Kidneys? Spleen and colon?”

How does he know the exact systems the doctor at the hospital in Mathe Bay checked?

When she told him the doctor in Scotland had ordered those tests, the French physician waved an open hand as if to erase the competency of Scottish doctors. “Oh, but our equipment is far superior. I will order more. Any chance you are pregnant?”

“Yes. I've been having unprotected sex for a week, or more. Some of the condoms had holes in them.”

His eyebrows rose for a second before he noted this new information on her computer form. “I've ordered an early pregnancy test. We may do a D&C just as a precaution.”

“No. I don't want a damn D&C. If I'm pregnant, I want the child.” Her hands curled into fists and her heart hammered as if she'd just finished a ten-mile run.

The doctor stared at her for a minute. “I realize this is a new situation for you, but you have no say in what we do with you. I'll want you confined to the hospital for a couple days while we run these tests.” He picked up his cell, ordered a room for her at the American Hospital in Paris, and arranged for an ambulance to take her.

At least she wouldn't have to face the cameras and questions again. Would they really give her a D&C against her wishes? No way in hell. Her body tensed on the outside while it trembled on the inside. She'd study the building and plan her escape.

After she was wheeled into the hospital, checked in, and given a patient bracelet, she asked if she couldn't walk. She explained she was merely there for tests. The guards agreed provided they escort her given her condition, which she had expected. She scanned the names above the doors to rooms until she came to one that read “Library.” She stopped, peeked in, and saw the typical shelves of books and a long table of computers. “Could we go in here? Would I be allowed to check out a book or two to read, so I don't go crazy waiting for all the tests?”

The guards looked at each other in question.

“Come in with me while I ask. I promise not to be long. You can check to see if they have any erotic magazines. If you're into that kind of thing.”

To her relief the guards consented and accompanied her into the library. They made a beeline for the magazine section while she chose a book by Maeve Greyson on time-travel romance and asked the librarian if patients were permitted to use the computers and during what hours. Were they allowed to use them to send emails?

The librarian gave her the hours and explained how to log on, giving her a slip of paper with a password written on it. She slipped it in the romance paperback to set aside while Anisa looked for two more books.

She walked to another section and pulled down a book on Impressionist painters in Paris and a history book on the Vikings.

The librarian scanned the bar code on Anisa's plastic bracelet and the spine of the books. Pretending to be pleased with her choices, she carried them over to the guards. “Thanks, fellas. I'm ready to go now.”

A nurse waited in her assigned room and gave her a gown, robe, and slippers. “I see you made use of our library already.”

“Yes. I hope that was okay. I knew I'd go stir-crazy without something to read. I've always got my nose in a book. I tried to hurry so I wouldn't be late.”

“Then you did a wise thing,
mademoiselle.
Change into your gown. I will tuck you in bed, take your vitals, and leave you to your books.” She smiled. “Dinner will be served in two hours or more.”

Ten minutes after the nurse left, Anisa hurried down the hall to the library. She used the written instructions from the librarian on how to log on to the computers. The first thing she did was look for the website for Matheson Lodge. She set up a new email account with an address she hoped would draw someone's attention. Her fingers fairly flew over the keys.

To cover her absence in case she got caught, she snatched another book from a shelf—
The Life and Times of Charlemagne.
Her heart soared as she hurried back to her room. She'd found a way to reach Ronan, for a couple of days, at least.

Ronan slowly woke from his hypnotic state. Brother Bear was relatively quiet except for his gentle chanting: “We will get her back. Sometime.”

“Earnan, what did yer bear say to him? He's so much better.”

“That, Ronan, is between me bear and yers. I think he'll be okay fer now.” Earnan shook a finger at Ronan. “But he's been promised to hear all the plans we make to rescue her. Ye canna close the shield until ye have her in yer arms.”

“I understand. Thank ye.” What a mental relief to have Brother Bear subdued. Ronan would be able to think clearer now.

Earnan turned to Effie and removed a key from his pants pocket. “Now, me Angel, I will unlock the handcuffs and ye will undo whatever spell ye put on Kendric. I'd say he's learned his lesson.”

Her eyebrows rose to kiss her pink curls. “Stud Muffin, you know I don't like being told what to do.”

He shook the key in front of her nose. “Will ye be accompanying Kendric to the lavy? Will ye sleep with him tonight? Fix whatever ye changed, and I'll unlock the cuffs.”

Kendric's pained expression was replaced with a smile. “Thank ye, Effie. I owe ye all an apology. I thought only of the feckin' international law and ignored our sleuth's bond, the pledge we made to one another. I thought getting Anisa signed up for amnesty would help keep her safe and with Ronan.”

Creighton had calmed down during Earnan's hypnosis of Ronan. His voice was calmer and the redness of rage gone from his face. “I suggest we move this to the lodge. We can talk freer there and use the computer to check flight times and the news. I'll call Mum and tell her to expect us. She and Cook Edweena can prepare a snack and dinner, if we work into the night. Ronan, get dressed while I call home.”

Thane checked his phone. “I have a couple patients to see and then I'll be there.”

“Will I be welcome?” Kendric glanced first at Creighton and then Ronan.

“Can I trust ye to keep our plans to rescue me woman a secret? It'll be awhile before I can trust ye like I always have but, aye, ye'll be welcome.” Ronan snatched his bag off the bed and sauntered into the bathroom to change.

“Effie, Angel, do ye feel up to some playtime with the twins while I help with the organization of things?”

Her eyes sparkled. “You come up with the best ideas. Just let me put my baffies on the right feet. I was in such a hurry to get over here, even my sweatpants are on wrong side out. I'll wait until Ronan is through in the bathroom and then I'll go in to set myself to rights.”

At the Matheson castle turned lodge, the men worked on idea after idea, abandoning each one with much argument. They watched the news to hear anything of Anisa, where she was kept, and what her future held. In Ronan's opinion, there were too many chiefs trying to be in charge.

A knock sounded at Creighton's office door. “Enter.”

Their mum hurried in and headed for the computer. “I was checking reservations on our website. I think there's a message from Anisa.” She brought up the email screen for the lodge. “Look, ‘[email protected].' It has to be from her. Ronan, open it and read it.”

Ronan and My Magnus,

I love you both. I didn't want to leave you, but they gave me no choice. The first place they took me was the military dispensary where the doctor there seemed to know all about the rare frog that someone got the venom from to poison me. Now, I'm in the American Hospital of Paris on Boulevard Victor Hugo for more testing from the effects of the poison. They are also planning on doing a D&C in case I am pregnant. I've told them I don't want one, but I don't seem to have any rights. My rank has been stripped. Once they know I am healthy, I will stand trial for stealing the drone and being AWOL. I don't know what lies ahead and I don't know why I have to go through all these tests again. What are they looking for? I'm scared. I just know I love you both.

Your Woman

P.S. I am using a computer in the hospital's library. I had to sneak out of my room to use it.

Earnan scribbled a quick note and waved it in Ronan's face.
Keep calm so yer bear stays calm. He doesna know what a D&C means. Do not speak of it to upset him!
Ronan nodded and then passed the paper around the group of men assembled.

“If we go to the hospital to snatch her away, the French will only come back here fer her.” Creighton sat in his leather office chair. He glanced at Kendric. “Ye spent more time with the Minister of Defense than any of us. What was yer take on him? If I were to call and ask that Anisa be given a discharge so she can return to us, would he listen to me reasoning?”

“He's verra impressed with himself. Ye'd have to do a lot of groveling.”

“Fer me brother's beloved, I would. I think a lot of Anisa meself. She's got a good head on her shoulders and a kind and generous heart.”

While half-listening to the discussions going on behind him, Ronan read and reread the email. Bloody hell, his woman was scared. Fer her to sneak out of her hospital room to use the computer in the library and to admit she was scared was a strong sign things were'na sitting right with her. He ken his intended. She wasna a woman to jump with fear at everything. She hated admitting to any weakness.

Brother Bear, Anisa sent us an email. She said she loves and misses ye. We're going to get her back. I promise.

Anisa needed him.

And he was damn well going to her.

“How safe will it be for me to email her back? I want her to ken I got the email and am nay angry with her.”

Kendric scratched the back of his neck. “Be somewhat cryptic and use things only she would ken.”

Ronan stared at her email and began tapping the keys:
Me luv, thank ye fer yer email. I ken ye fear being alone in the hospital. Be brave. Earnan and I are going on vacation soon. Think of me before ye go to sleep as I do ye, beloved. The man with the biteable arse.

She should ken from reading it that he understood she had no choice in leaving Mathe Bay or him.

“Kendric, how soon can ye have one of the police helicopters fueled so I can fly to Paris to be with her?”

“Have patience, brother. We're working on plans now to get us all there to bring her back.”

“I ken that, Creigh. I ask ye keep doing it. But between every line of this email, I feel me woman's fear. I'm going to her just as ye'd go to Paisley. If I canna use one of the police department's helicopters, I'll fly commercial. But it'll take longer.”

Kendric was on his cellphone. “It'll be ready in an hour.”

“Good,” Earnan chimed in, “that'll give me enough time to go home, pack a bag, and put on me kilt. When all of ye come to Paris, be in yer kilts and strut around in Scottish pride. Aye, show them we are nay barbarians, but united in our goals. Meanwhile, I'll be with Ronan to act as her doctor here in Mathe Bay. I'll nose into her files.”

“Can ye do that?”

The auld man winked. “Ronan, ye've never seen me toss me medical weight around. Och, 'tis a sight to behold, let me tell ye. Now I must go tell Effie I'll be gone fer a few days. She'll pout and bluster.”

Creighton laughed. “Tell her I said she can stay here with the twins. That'll smooth things over. Meanwhile, I'll call this candy-ass Minister of Defense.” He tossed Ronan his cellphone. “Take this since yers was destroyed at the cabin.” He unplugged the charger and handed it to him. “Here, ye'll need this, too. I'll beg Paisley for the use of hers while ye're away. Text me at her email address or Bryce's. We'll keep in touch. Aye?”