“Whatever you want.” It was such a beautiful moment that she was having trouble keeping back the tears. “Crazy man.”

“That goes without saying. It took me long enough to get you to let me stick around.” His hand stroking her belly paused for an instant. “I just want you to know that it will be worth it. I won’t always do the things you want me to do. We won’t agree all the time. But there won’t be a time I won’t love you and keep you and our family safe. Will you remember that?”

“I think it’s possible.” She turned over in his arms. “If you’ll stop talking and make love to me.”

“It’s a deal.” He was over her, then coming closer still. “As long as you promise not to call my daughter Hepzibah…”

*  *  *

1:35 A.M.

Caleb silently let himself out the front door of the castle and then moved swiftly down the steps and headed for the courtyard stable. He reached for his phone to call Palik as he was going down the curving staircase leading to the boat dock.

“You must have gotten my text,” Palik said. “You could have answered.”

“No, I couldn’t. I was busy. You said that you’d located where they took Campbell. Still only two guards?”

“At the house where they’re keeping him. And we haven’t run across any other of Bohdan’s men in the vicinity. That doesn’t mean he hasn’t arranged to turn loose his hounds and surprise us when he gets the chance.” He concluded, “I don’t like this, Caleb. It stinks of a trap. Don’t go in alone. Let me send in a unit.”

“And if it’s a trap, the first thing they’ll do is kill Campbell the minute they see a unit that poses a threat. I have a better chance of getting him out by myself if there are only the two guards. When was the last time your men caught sight of Campbell?”

“About four hours ago they took him outside the shack to pee. He was a little beat up, but he seemed okay.”

“Just so he can walk and move once I get him out.” He’d reached the boat dock and headed for the speedboat he’d put there in readiness for departure before he’d gone to help MacDuff. “And you do your job to get me an escape hatch when everything goes south.”

“When, not if?” Palik asked mockingly. “You don’t like the odds, either. I’ll get your ass out. When can you get here?”

“I’m on my way. I’ll meet you on the south beach at Kilgoray, and make sure you’re ready to give me maps of the entire area.” He jumped down into the speedboat. “I’ve only one more thing to do and that’s to call Rodland.”

“You’re bringing Rodland?”