The Return of Connor Mansfield. Beth Cornelison

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СКАЧАТЬ can’t do that, Sam,” Deputy U.S. Marshal Gerald Raleigh, a fiftyish man with thinning hair, a long, jowly face and the body of an aged football player, countered. “The program only works if you—”

      “My name is Connor. Not Sam,” he argued, feeling peevish.

      Raleigh sighed. “Connor Mansfield is dead. You’re Sam Orlean now, and if you want to stay alive—”

      “I understand what going back there means. But I found out today that I have a daughter.”

      Raleigh exchanged a startled glance with his partner, Deputy U.S. Marshal Jamal Jones. “How did you hear about your daughter?”

      Connor stiffened and faced Marshal Jones. “You knew about Savannah?”

      Jones, an African-American of approximately Connor’s age, with closely shaved hair and a short Vandyke, didn’t answer, but the twitch of muscle in his jaw and self-conscious lift of his chin said all the federal marshal didn’t.

      Raleigh dragged a hand over his face. “How did you find out?”

      Connor bit out a curse. “You knew, and you didn’t tell me? What right did you have to keep something like that from me?”

      “For exactly this reason,” Raleigh said. “That part of your life is over, Sam, and knowing about your daughter would have only made it tougher to—”

      “She’s sick. Or did you know that, too, and not tell me?” He divided a glare between his handlers and ground his back teeth until his jaw ached. “She has cancer and needs a bone marrow transplant. I may be her best chance for a match.”

      Jones shook his head. “I’m sorry, Sam. But Gale’s men are still a threat to you. They could be watching Darby Kent’s house, waiting for you to show up. We’ve been monitoring Darby since you entered the program, in case Gale or his men made a move on her. That’s how we knew about the baby.”

      Connor shook his head, confused, a chill coiling in his gut. After everything he’d sacrificed to protect Darby, could Gale’s men still be watching her?

      “Why would they watch Darby if they believe I’m dead? She had nothing to do with Gale’s prosecution. You said you tied up all of the loose ends. I’m officially dead, right? So why—”

      Jones raised a hand. “Connor Mansfield, witness for the state, is officially dead. And as long as you stay dead, there is little chance Gale can find you. You are safe, and Ms. Kent will be safe.”

      “But if you suddenly come back from the dead,” Raleigh added, leaning forward and poking the coffee table for emphasis, “your cover is blown, you become a target again and you put Darby and her daughter in the line of fire.”

      “Our daughter. She’s my flesh and blood, too!”

      “Exactly.” Raleigh spread his hands. “So why would you put her in danger by returning from the dead? Think about her safety—”

      “I am thinking of her!” Connor shoved his hands through his hair, gritting his teeth in frustration. “Savannah could die if she doesn’t get my marrow!”

      Jones stood and jangled the keys in his pocket. “You don’t know that you’re a match.”

      “What if I am?” Connor blew out a heavy sigh. “I have to try to save her. I can’t sit here, knowing she needs me, knowing I might be the one who could save her life and not do anything!”

      “I understand your frustration and concern, Sa—”

      “Do you?” Connor spun to face Raleigh. “Do you really understand? Giving up the woman I loved to enter the program nearly killed me. Not a day goes by I don’t think about chucking it all and going back, consequences be damned. Darby’s safety is the only reason I haven’t gone back before now. My life means nothing without her.”

      “Sam, I know it is hard to leave behind—”

      “You had no right to withhold the truth from me!” Connor jabbed a finger toward Raleigh, punctuating his point. “If I’d known I had a daughter on the way, I don’t know if I’d have ever agreed to entering WitSec without Darby.”

      Jones shook his head. “We’ve explained why that was a bad idea. To make it believable that you’d died—”

      “—the woman I loved had to believe I’d died, too. Yeah, yeah. I remember your reasoning, but...” Connor turned to pace again. “But things are different now. My daughter is sick. I have to go back.” He planted his feet and squared his shoulders. “I have an appointment Friday with Savannah’s doctor. There’s a chance I could be a marrow donor for her, and the doctor insisted on a face-to-face consult and more tests.”

      Raleigh shook his head. “Sam...”

      Connor firmed his resolve. “I have to try to help Savannah.”

      “Even if it puts all of your lives at risk? Not just yours, but Darby’s and Savannah’s. Your brothers. Parents. Anyone close to you could be at risk, because Victor Gale hasn’t forgotten the man who brought down his father’s money laundering scheme and put ole Pop behind bars. He has a history of vigilante justice and revenge against those who cross his family.”

      “I’m aware of that, but I am going. The question is, will you help me get in and out of town without detection?” When his handlers hesitated, Connor dropped heavily onto a wingback chair and propped his elbows on his knees, his face in his hands. “I’ll be careful, use disguises. But I can’t sit here, knowing I have a daughter who needs me. Savannah will die without a transplant.” Connor gritted his back teeth and revisited the option he’d rejected years ago, for Darby’s sake. “Is it too late for Darby to join WitSec with me?”

      Even as he asked, his gut tensed, knowing what a difficult move that’d be for Darby to make. Asking her to give up her life, her family, her home to be with him would be so horribly selfish. Did she even love him anymore? Perhaps she’d moved on, found someone else...

      Raleigh grunted. “Hiding a child who’s as sick as Savannah would be highly dangerous, full of pitfalls. Besides the high level of medical care she needs, tracking you through her medical records, through treatment facilities would be far too easy. There’d be too many doctors and nurses and other patients involved who could talk and blow your cover, even if accidentally...”

      “So then I have no choice. My mind is made up.” Connor divided an even stare between the two marshals. “I know the risks. I hate the risks, of course, and I’ll deal with them somehow. But my baby needs me, so I’m going home. I’m going to save my daughter.”

      * * *

      That Friday, with help from her longtime friend and almost-brother-in-law Hunter Mansfield, Darby packed Savannah’s bags, preparing to take her daughter home following the last chemo treatment. When her cell phone rang and the caller ID showed Dr. Reed’s office, she assumed the call was about Savannah’s discharge papers and directions concerning her at-home care. Darby answered, relieved to have the chance to ask questions. She hadn’t felt this nervous about taking Savannah home from the hospital when she was a new mother with a one-day-old baby.

      Hunter had Savannah distracted, animating her stuffed rabbit to make her laugh as Darby took Dr. Reed’s call. “Hello?”

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