intimacy of the car wrapped around her. “Where are the babies?”
“Safe in another car with two officers watching over them until CPS can get here.”
Glad to hear the babies were safe, she searched his face and asked, “How did you find me?”
“Your phone has GPS,” he explained. “That was smart thinking on your part.”
“I was afraid the call hadn’t gone through.”
“It did. And we were able to follow the signal to the docks.”
“Where you rescued me.” She squeezed his hand. “My hero.”
He lifted her hand to his lips and gently kissed each knuckle. “You weren’t exactly a simpering princess waiting to be rescued.”
“I didn’t stand a chance, though. Those men were going to sell Georgina and the babies.” Her voice shook as she added, “And me. If they didn’t kill me first.”
Ryan’s expression darkened. “When that goon had his hands wrapped around your throat…I went a little crazy.”
“You did.” She shuddered as the moment replayed itself in her mind. “It was a little scary.”
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have lost control like that. I can’t stand to see anyone, especially a woman, abused.”
“I would imagine you see it a lot in your line of work,” she said.
“Not that much in Fitzgerald Bay, thankfully. But in college-” He broke off, his lips pressing together.
“In college?” she prompted. “What happened while you were in college?”
His expression darkened, his gaze taking on a faraway glaze. “I witnessed my best friend beat up his girlfriend.”
She winced with empathy. “Was she okay?”
“In time,” he said. “I stopped him, but not before he’d busted a few of her facial bones.”
Meghan cringed, knowing the pain firsthand. “That’s painful.”
“Yeah, she had to have reconstructive surgery.” He shook his head. “But she wouldn’t press charges. So I did.”
“You did?” She stared at this man. How could she have ever doubted him? His sense of justice, of right and wrong, defined him, made him the man he was. A man full of integrity and honor.
A man worth loving.
She swallowed hard on that last thought. She’d never thought she’d find a man like him. Wasn’t sure they even existed. Maybe in fairy tales. But not in real life. Not her life.
He nodded. “I sent my best friend to jail because she wouldn’t.”
This she understood, too. “She was too afraid he’d do worse the next time if she filed a complaint.”
Ryan searched her face. “You’re right, she was afraid. How did you know that?”
Averting her gaze, she watched Georgina play with the buttons on her blouse. Her pulse kicked up as she confessed, “Because that was what kept me from reporting my husband.”
When he didn’t respond, she glanced up to see stunned anger on his face.
“Your husband beat you?”
“My ex-husband,” she said with emphasis. “I finally found the courage to divorce him.”
“I knew you’d been married and divorced, but I had no idea…”
She frowned at the self-recrimination in his tone. He took so much responsibility onto himself. Responsibilities that weren’t his to bear. It didn’t surprise her in the least that he’d run a background check on her. He was thorough that way. “There were no police reports filed, so how could you have known? And what would knowing have changed?”
He blinked. “I don’t know.” His expression turned puzzled. “You’re so brave and strong willed, I can’t imagine you letting anyone take advantage of you.”
She shrugged. “I was young and weak then.” She wasn’t that person anymore. “But the pain and suffering toughened me up. That and a nurse named Justine. She helped me get to a shelter. Helped me find my way back to God.”
“Praise God for that,” he said, his gaze soft and tender.
“Yes. Praise God.” Affection for this wonderful man made her smile. “I’ve never had someone fight for me before.”
“I’ll always fight for you,” he said quietly.
Her heart jumped. She wanted to believe him. But she’d had promises made to her before. Promises that were broken in the worst possible way. “I hope there’s never a need for that again.”
Ryan slipped an arm around her and drew her to his side. “You’re safe now.” He chucked a wide-eyed Georgina under the chin. “So are you, little one.”
Georgina ducked her head and buried her face in Meghan’s shoulder. Meghan gently patted her back in a soothing rhythm as yearning and care filled her.
“Did they capture Roman?” she asked with a shiver of dread, thinking about the soulless man who’d made it clear she’d earned his wrath.
“No. Unfortunately, the leader, Roman Wykoski, escaped. He’s wanted by the FBI as well as Interpol.” Ryan tightened his hold on her.
“He was very angry that I’d messed up his plans.” The threat of his wrath hung over her like a dark cloud.
Ryan frowned. “Don’t worry. He’ll be captured. He won’t bother you ever again.”
She wanted to believe that but a tight knot of apprehension formed in her chest. She wouldn’t truly feel safe until the man was caught. Thankful for Ryan’s steady presence, she leaned her head on Ryan’s shoulder. She even didn’t mind his damp shirt or odor from his swim in the river. She was glad he was there.
She didn’t know what the future held, but for this moment, she would take the comfort he offered.
“Meghan, honey,” Ryan’s voice held a new note of tension.
She sat up abruptly, fear jolting through her system. “What is it?”
He nodded toward another sedan that had roared to a halt a few feet away. “Child Protective Services.”
Frowning she watched a man and women emerge from the car. Panic twisted in her stomach. She turned to face Ryan. “Please, don’t let them take Georgina from me.”
The sad and resigned expression on his face didn’t bode well. “They have to. It’s protocol. I’ve broken enough rules today that I won’t have any sway.”
“But Olivia wanted me to have Georgina,” she insisted. “Christina’s in jail. Georgina has no one else.”
“I’m sure the authorities will take Olivia’s wish into account as well as Christina’s role in the human trafficking.” He glanced away, his jaw tightening.
She knew what he was thinking-making Olivia’s revealing letter public would hurt his father and his reputation. Empathy twisted in her chest, but she forced it down. His father had lied and covered up his part in her cousin’s death. Christina Hennessy had bought Georgina illegally and now sat in jail, accused of killing her husband and suspected of killing Olivia. Meghan was Georgina’s last living relative.
The only way she stood a chance at gaining custody of Georgina was to reveal the truth in a court of law.
She would do what she had to do. No matter the price she would pay.
“They’re coming,” Ryan said.
She made a distressed sound and hugged Georgina to her chest.
“You have to do what’s best for Georgina,” he stated gently, “and right now it’s going with CPS. They will care for her until we can get her back.”
We. She hoped he meant that.
Meghan’s eyes filled with tears. “I want to adopt her. And the other babies if their parents can’t be found.” They needed her. She needed them. She’d always wanted a family of her own. When she’d been married she’d longed to have a child, but her ex had refused. Then after the divorce she’d resigned herself to a lonely, solitary existence. But now she had a chance to be a mother.
She stared into Ryan’s blue eyes. He brushed a lock of hair away from her face. “You’ll make a great mom. I’m sure a judge will see that.”
His praise sent pleasure gliding through her. If only he thought she’d make a good wife…but she didn’t even know how he felt about her. And after her article hit the front page… She didn’t want to even think about that yet.
