Page 11 of Ransom for His Secret Son

“Sorry to interrupt,” she said softly, offering a small smile. “But we need to get that blood sample.”

Brody’s jaw tightened. He didn’t like the idea of anyone poking at the baby, but he knew it had to be done. He forced himself to nod and slowly pulled back his hand.

The baby let out a soft sound of protest, shifting against the blanket.

The nurse moved in to get to work, rolling the baby’s blanket down just enough to expose one tiny foot. “We do a heel stick for newborns,” she explained. “It’s the safest way to draw blood at this age. Just a quick prick, and I’ll have what we need.”

Brody watched as she picked up a small lancet, then gently pressed it to the baby’s heel. The baby cried out, a high and thin sound that felt like a punch to Brody’s gut.

He clenched his fists. He’d seen grown men take bullets without making a sound, but this—a helpless infant reacting to pain—cut him deeper than he expected.

The nurse was quick, dabbing away the small bead of blood before wrapping the baby’s foot in a soft bandage. “All done,” she murmured.

The baby let out a fussy whimper, his little face red now. Without thinking, Brody reached out again, resting his palm over the baby’s blanket-covered chest.

The cries softened almost immediately.

“Looks like you’ve got the magic touch,” the nurse said, glancing at Brody with something like approval.

Brody didn’t respond to her. He was unable to tear his eyes away from the tiny boy in front of him.

“Dr. Patel will call you with the lab results,” the nurse went on, gathering up her things. “She said I’m to tell you that you’re free to go once you’ve given the hospital a copy of the protective custody order.”

As the nurse walked out, Brody pulled out his phone. His fingers felt stiff as he messaged Jolene.

Need a copy of the protection order. Text it over. Also, have a cruiser fitted with a car seat. We’ll need to transport the baby soon.

The response came almost immediately.

On it, boss. Give me a half hour.

He exhaled, tension coiling low in his gut. This wasn’t just any protection order. It was a direct response to the danger he felt closing in around them. His child had been used as proof, but his twin was still out there. Vulnerable. At risk.

The baby let out a soft sigh, his tiny body finally settling, and Brody glanced up to find Remi watching him.

She hadn’t said a word since the nurse left, but her expression spoke volumes. There was something in her eye. Something softer than he’d seen in years. Maybe regret. Maybe something else.

Something he didn’t want to see, so he looked away. Fast.

Brody’s phone dinged again, and he thought it might be a response from Jolene. But there was no name. Just Unknown Caller.

His stomach dropped. His heart began to pound. And he forced himself to look at the message.

If you want your other son, find Tarrant Eddington. Bring me his head on a silver platter. Then we’ll talk.

Brody’s grip tightened so hard on the phone his knuckles went white and the edges of the screen blurred. The person who had his baby wanted him to do something that no one else had been able to do. Hunt Tarrant down. And kill him.

For his son.

He forced a slow breath, swallowing back the rage threatening to rip through him. His baby, his other son, was out there, in the hands of someone willing to use an innocent child to get what they wanted.

He lifted his gaze to Remi. She was watching him.

“What?” she asked, dread in her voice.

Brody turned the phone so she could see the message.

Her expression barely flickered, but he saw the quick inhale, the way her body stiffened. “Tarrant Eddington.”