The Marine's Virgin Lover (3 page)

Glancing down, he sighed in relief that Brianna was still out. She had been so distraught at the discovery of Marco’s deception that the doctor had given her a sedative. Brianna had begged Trent to keep the doctor from giving her the injection, but she wouldn’t calm down and the medical team was afraid she would rip her stitches in her attempts to get out of bed. Her C-section had been routine, but she was still on bed rest for the next several days.

Slowly getting up from the side of her bed, he watched her carefully to ensure she didn’t awaken, before letting himself out of her room and heading towards the small patio at the end of the hall. The hospital had called a Code Pink, and were still diligently searching for his daughter, but if they hadn’t found her yet, chances were she was no longer in the hospital.

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he put a call in to Shawn Marshall. Aside from being his best friend for years, Shawn was also married to Trent’s cousin – Janet, who was also the head of Human Resources for Coldwell Enterprises. Shawn ran a very successful private security firm, and while child abductions were not his specialty, he had no doubt that Shawn’s team of specialists could help.

“Hello?”

“Shawn.”

“Trent, hey how’s Brianna? Janet called and said you were to call if you needed anything. I can’t believe this is happening.”

“Thank her for me. Brianna’s fine given the circumstances. They sedated her a few minutes ago, she wouldn’t calm down.”

“We’re going to find your child, man. Seth looked at the video footage and thinks he might have a lead.”

Trent laughed derisively, “I can’t believe he walked into the hospital and took my daughter before anyone was the wiser.” Trent pushed his fingers through his hair in frustration. He hated being out of control. “Shawn, I don’t care what it costs, but find my daughter.”

“Trent, you know I’ll do everything I can. Maria wants to know if there’s any chance Marco might be planning to take her out of the country?” Maria was married to Trent’s brother Tristan, and currently seven months pregnant. The news that Brianna and Trent’s baby had been abducted had angered her to the point where Shawn had briefly considered sending her home. Knowing that would only add fuel to the fire, he had contacted Tristan and then given her plenty of research to keep her busy.

“Man, I don’t know. According to the head of security at the hospital, even those travelling on private planes have to go through customs and show their papers. I don’t see how even Marco could pull that one off, not this soon.”

“I’ll check with DIA and see if his jet is still there. Has the media been notified?”

“Yeah, but I managed to get the PR woman to withhold most of the information. The only thing the media has been told is that a newborn was stolen from the hospital, the time, and a description of the child. No other details are going to be released at this time.”

“How are you going to keep the media from finding out Brianna is there?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t gotten that far. She’s supposed to be here for 48 hours and then I’ll figure it out.” Trent didn’t even want to consider trying to take Brianna home without her baby in her arms. This was all his fault and it tore him up as he remembered the despair on her face when she recognized Marco on the video feed.

“Give me an hour and I’ll head back to the hospital. Anything else you need when I come up?”

“No.” Nothing other than Marco Bresi’s head on a spike. If Marco were smart, he would be planning to return to Italy. If he stayed in the states, either Shawn or Marco would hunt him down and then Trent would exact a bit of his own revenge.

“Mrs. Panturo, are you sure you have everything you need?” Marco asked once again. He had introduced the nurse to her young charge and was pleased that she seemed competent. He had also once again gone over the details with Mrs. Panturo.

Mrs. Panturo had been Marco’s housekeeper for over thirty-five years. Now widowed, she had travelled with Marco whenever he planned on residing someplace new for more than a few weeks. She had no living children and therefore was free to travel at a moment’s notice.

When Marco had first decided upon his plan of revenge, he had spoken with Mrs. Panturo about it and been pleasantly surprised at her support. Serena had been like a daughter to her, having been raised from birth by the household staff. Marco’s wife had died during childbirth and while he enjoyed the company of women, he had never seen the need to find his daughter a new mother, or himself a new wife.

Mrs. Panturo had informed him that she would do whatever it took to avenge Serena’s death. Marco was confident that between her and Bruno, they would be able to care for the little girl until he returned to the States in a few weeks.

After checking on the child and nurse once more, he summoned his driver and headed for the airport. His private jet was waiting and he would catch some sleep during the flight. It was important to complete his business as quickly as possible so that he could return and get back to exacting his revenge on Trent Coldwell.

      
      
      
      
      
*****

Brianna’s head felt full of cotton and she came awake slowly, blinking her eyes to clear the sleep from them. She was just trying to remember where she was when the events of the day came rushing back at her. Her daughter! Marco had stolen her daughter! How could he!

Looking around frantically, she was a little surprised to see that she was alone, but no matter. She spied her phone lying on the table next to her bed and slowly reached for it, beginning to feel the full effects of her C-section stitches. Her pain medicine had evidently run out if the pain she was feeling was any indication, but she pushed that thought aside.

Taking a shallow breath, she scrolled through her contacts until she found Marco’s number and pushed the button to connect the call. While she waited, she tried to relax her muscles, hoping the pain in both her body and her heart would diminish enough that she could calmly speak to the man holding her child hostage.

Marco heard his cellphone buzz and retrieved it from his pocket. When he saw the identity of the caller, he hesitated before answering it. It wasn’t Trent calling him, but Brianna. Or was Trent merely using her phone in a deceptive move?

Shrugging his shoulders, he connected the call, “Brianna?”

“Where is my daughter?”

He heard the catch in Brianna’s voice and firmly tamped down on the emotion that threatened to undue his plans. “It’s good to hear from you. Are you well?”

“Cut the crap, Marco. I saw you on the video footage. Where is she?”

Marco paused for a moment, “Is Trent there?”

“No. He’s not here right now. Marco, bring my baby back to me, please.” Brianna wasn’t so proud that she wouldn’t beg when necessary. “Your fight is with Trent, not me and certainly not with my child. Did you know I haven’t even really seen her yet? Or held her?”

Marco hadn’t known that and his resolve lessened somewhat, “Brianna, I’m only righting the wrong done to me and my family. Trent took both my daughter and my grandchild. He should be lucky I’ve only taken his child.”

Brianna was aghast and struggled to sit up in the bed, “Ouch! Oh...”

“Brianna? Brianna! Are you okay, what’s wrong?” Marco demanded over the phone.

“What’s wrong, you asshole? You took my baby. I just had surgery and I’m in pain. Isn’t that enough?” Brianna hadn’t managed to scoot herself up in the bed at all, and gave up, not wanting to cause herself any further pain.

“Marco? Please, I’m begging you. Please bring back my daughter.”

Marco was silent. Things were not working out the way he had planned. He hadn’t anticipated speaking with Brianna, only Trent. Hearing Brianna plead to see her daughter was doing things to his heart and soul. “Brianna, I wish I could….”

“You can,” she interrupted him. “Just tell me where to meet you and I’ll come get her. I promise we won’t file charges…”

“I could care less about charges. The problem is that I am about to board a plane for Italy and will not be returning for three weeks.”

Brianna pushed herself up in the bed, screaming in pain as she did so, out of breath she tried to communicate, “No…Marco…please don’t…take…her out…of …the…”

“Brianna. Calm down. I did not say that I was taking your daughter with me. I am leaving to take care of some important business. Don’t worry; your daughter is being cared for by the best. I will consider your request while I am gone, and upon my return will let you know the answer. I must go now, goodbye.” Marco disconnected the phone, heart heavy and wondering if his revenge was worth it.

Brianna stared at the phone in her hand in outrage. What did he mean that her child was being cared for by the best? She was what was best for her child! Unable to contain her rage any longer, filled with pain and the need to hurt something as badly as she was hurting, she hurled her cellphone at the opposing wall, cringing when it made impact and shattered before dropping in pieces to the floor.

The emotions boiled up and spewed forth in great heaving sobs. That is how Trent found her, huddled in the bed, holding onto her incision site, crying her heart out in fear and despair.

Stephanie Belkins had been walking past Brianna’s door when she heard the crash in her room, peeking inside, she spied the broken phone and the distraught woman and headed to find Trent. Seeing him out on the patio, she hurriedly retrieved him and asked him to try to calm his wife down while she located the doctor

“Brianna, honey what happened?” Trent asked, approaching her and carefully stepping over what remained of her phone.

“Marco…..he has her…”

“Shush. I know he does. I’m doing everything I can to find him.”

Brianna shook her head, “He’s leaving…. Italy…,” was all she could get out between sobs.

Trent stopped.
Had Brianna spoken to Marco while he’d been out of the room? Was he so vindictive that he had called her cell phone?

“Honey, how do you know Marco’s leaving for Italy?”

“Because… because he told me so.”

Trent held onto his temper and asked in a very controlled voice, “Did Marco call you?”

Brianna shook her head. “No, I called him.”

Trent was taken aback. Swallowing his need to demand to know everything that had been said, he instead asked calmly, “Did Marco admit that he has her?”

Brianna nodded her head, but then said, “No. He doesn’t have her.”

Trent was confused and trying to figure out what information Brianna had obtained from her phone call, “Yes, Marco did admit to taking her?”

When Brianna only nodded he continued, “But he doesn’t have her right now?”

Brianna nodded again as fresh tears started.
What the hell!! Had Marco dropped his newborn daughter off at an orphanage or what?!

“Brianna, honey I need you to tell me what Marco said. Did he tell you where he took our child?”

“No. But he’s headed for Italy. He doesn’t have her, someone else does. He said she was being cared for by the best.” Brianna caught herself, trying not to start sobbing again. How could Marco have done something like this?

“Brianna, you need to calm down. I called Shawn and he’s got his team working on this and he’s on his way back over here.”

“But what if Marco didn’t tell me the truth? What if he’s taking her out of the country? What then?” Brianna stopped herself, covering her mouth with her hands. The logical part of her brain knew that becoming hysterical wasn’t going to solve a thing, but the emotional part of her wanted her child – Now!

Trent understood her frustration. Even after speaking with Shawn, and taking several deep breaths, the urge to punch something was barely contained. He had tried to give Marco space these last several years, letting him come to grips with his daughter’s death, but it seems that the time only served to fuel his anger. Trent had been willing to ignore Marco’s threats and innuendos in the past; this time he had gone too far and he would most definitely pay the price.

Stephanie Belkins contacted the doctor and then headed back to the Coldwell’s room. Just as she rounded the corner, she watched one of the men from earlier exit the elevator. Stopping, she waited for him to come even with her before asking, “Have you found anything yet?”

Shawn shook his head, “No. But several of my men are following up on some new leads. With any luck we’ll know where the baby was taken before nightfall.”

Stephanie sighed in relief, closing her eyes briefly. Opening them again, she saw that the man was still staring at her and she gave him a small smile, “I’m glad. I’ve worked in this hospital for a number of years and while one often hears of things like this happening in other places, things like this don’t happen here. Not on my watch!”

“It’s okay. Marco Bresi is a smooth talker and a very powerful man. If he hadn’t gained access to the child here, he would have gained it elsewhere.”

That information didn’t make her feel any better. “Well, I’ll let you visit with your friends. Please let me or anyone else on staff know if there is anything else we can do to assist you.”

Shawn nodded his head, “We’ll be sure to do that.” Turning, he headed towards
the room
where Trent consoled his wife. His thoughts turned towards his own wife, and he was thankful that she was not having to endure such misery.

Stephanie watched him walk away before calling him back, “Mr. Marshall?”

“Yes?” he replied, turning back with his hand on the doorknob.

“Please find her.” Stephanie hated the plea in her voice, and once again tamped down the tears that threatened to break free. She had managed to hold it together, but when it was all said and done, it was her fault that this child was not with her parents.

“I will. Thank you for your assistance.”

      
      
      
      
      
*****

It had taken less than thirty minutes to review the hospital footage and discover how Marco had both arrived and left the hospital. Seth had also been able to confirm that Marco did indeed have a child with him when he boarded the helicopter, which had been waiting for him on the roof.