No One to Trust - Iris Johansen [10]
She nodded. “Call your helicopter, Galen. Have him here at first light.”
“I believe we have some business to transact first. You made a deal with Forbes.”
“Oh, yes, his pound of flesh. Don’t worry, it’s here.”
“Show me.”
She looked at him for a moment and then deliberately turned to Forbes. “I’ll show you. Come with me.”
“Go on, Forbes.” Galen followed them into the house. “You won’t mind if I just trail along?”
“I do mind.” She threw open a door down the short hall. “But you don’t care about that, do you?” She lit the oil lamp beside the door. “Don’t raise your voice or I’ll cut your heart out.” She moved toward the bed across the room. “It’s okay, Barry. Don’t be scared.”
“Mama?” The little boy threw himself into her arms. “Dominic didn’t tell me you were coming.”
Her arms tightened around him. God, he felt so good. Warm and safe and wonderful. “He didn’t know. How are you?”
“Fine. I’m learning to play Dominic’s keyboard. He says I’m old enough now. I know one song. I’ll play—” He pushed away from her and wrinkled his nose. “You don’t smell good.”
“I know.” She gently brushed the dark curls back from his forehead. “That’s why I tell you that you should take your bath every night. I haven’t gotten a chance to do that lately. But you really shouldn’t be so rude as to tell me about it.”
“I didn’t mean—” His brow furrowed. “I didn’t make you sad, did I?”
“No. You never make me sad.” She gave him a hug. “Go back to sleep, love.”
“You’ll be here in the morning?”
“Yes, and there may be a surprise for you.”
“A present?”
“An adventure.” She kissed him on the forehead. “A wonderful, splendid adventure like none you’ve ever dreamed of.”
“Who are they?” Barry was looking beyond her at Forbes and Galen.
“Friends.” She tucked him in and stood up. “You’ll meet them tomorrow. Good night.”
“G’night.” His eyes were already closing. “G’night, Mama.”
“Your child?” Forbes asked as she shut the bedroom door and led them outside the house. “How old is he?”
“Five.”
“He’s quite beautiful.”
“Yes, he is.” Her smile was radiant. “Inside and out.”
“You probably did some damage to your stitches hugging him like that,” Galen said.
“I didn’t feel a thing.”
“Oh, I think you were feeling all kinds of emotions in there,” Galen said. “I suppose you want me to take him with us?”
“There’s no question that he goes with us.” She paused. “He’s the prize. He’s the magnet that you wanted, Forbes.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand.”
“Barry is Rico Chavez’s son.”
“What?”
“You heard me. Any blood or DNA test would prove it.”
“Wait a minute. You stole Chavez’s son?”
“I stole nothing. He’s my son. Chavez didn’t even know he was alive until two months ago.” Her lips tightened. “But that won’t stop him from trying to take him away from me.” She met Forbes’s gaze. “Or from coming after him.”
“I’ve heard he has a wife and children of his own,” Galen said.
“He does. Three beautiful little girls. His mistress in Bogotá also has a little girl. He was tested by a specialist after she was born and told that there was something wrong. That he might not be able to father sons. He was furious. It damaged his self-image. He sees himself as a conqueror, and a conqueror has to have sons.” She paused. “Then he found out he did have a son.”
“How?”
“It doesn’t matter. All that should concern you is that he’ll follow him to the United States. I’ve got something that he can’t get anywhere else.”
“We only have your word for that,” Galen said.
“What can you lose? You wouldn’t be here if you hadn’t intended to make a deal with me, Forbes. Take us to the United States, give us protection, and then wait and see. Chavez will come.”
“Maybe.”
“Wait.” Forbes frowned thoughtfully. “It makes sense that Chavez would want a son and heir, and he has an extraordinarily macho reputation. There may be something in what she says. If it’s the truth.”
“He’ll come,” Elena repeated.
“And what do you want out of this?”
“Protection. United States citizenship and enough money to keep us