Forever Incredible: The Incredible Series, #4

By Cin Medley

In this final book, Megan and Sean learn just who their friends and allies are. It is non-stop action, with 4 children hanging in the balance, their fight for their lives is very real.
Deception is closer than either of them thinks, and it is the worst kind of betrayal when it comes from the heart.
Ian Daniels is raising two of Megan's children, struggling with the fact they will never be his. He puts into motion a scheme he soon regrets and which tears him apart. His daughter knows what he did, and for that, he will pay the ultimate price.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cin Medley
• Release date: Aug 22, 2022
• ISBN: 9781734269093

Book preview

Prologue

Trust is a strange word. It has so many different meanings. You trust the ones you love. You trust the airbag will deploy in an accident. You trust the pilot of the plane you are sitting on. You trust your husband. You trust that your children will make the right choices. You trust people with your life when you are hurt. Trust means something different in every situation in life.

Comfort is the same way. When you become comfortable with things or people, you tend to overlook behaviors or actions you would otherwise be cautious of. Like when you become comfortable in your relationship, you would not see the telltale signs that your partner was cheating. You become comfortable in the old chair you love and don’t realize the cushion is sagging and the springs are shot. Like you become comfortable in your favorite jeans that you don’t realize the material is so thin you can just see your skin under the worn denim.

In this life, we trust, and we are comfortable. I have found that when this happens, there are definitely bad things rising just in the background of life. Things that make you jump in the night, things that would scare you to death if you knew they were just outside your door.

I guess, being who I am and living the life I have, I don’t trust, and I can’t get comfortable. I am always wondering what is outside my door. Even with my husband who lives in a constant state of fear for us, for me, I don’t trust.

Chapter One

Her eyes fluttered open as a smile drew slowly across her face. Everything hurt, but her thoughts of Sean brought a soft giggle. He must be reading books or watching movies. Her arm hung off the edge of the bed, she slowly moved her legs across the other side of the bed to feel for her husband, but the bed was empty. A smile crossed her lips at the soreness in her legs and body. The clock read eleven as she moved to sit up. A little giggle escaped her lips when she stood to move to the bathroom. After dressing, she headed downstairs to find her husband and children.

The house was eerily empty. Sean, she called out. Looking for a note, she found nothing. Running out the front door, she saw the car was in the driveway, so she ran back inside. She ran to the garage to see if he was working out, but it was empty. Going back to the kitchen, she picked up her phone and called Ian.

Ian, is Sean there?

No, he dropped the kids off about three hours ago. He said he wanted to let you sleep in and he had a few things to do.

Ian, his car is in the driveway, and he’s not home.

Do you want me to come down there?

No, I am going to leave him a note, and I will be there in a few minutes.

She disconnected the call and left him a note.

Sean,

Went to Ian’s looking for you.

Very worried.

Megan.

Grabbing the car keys off the hook, she went out the door, trying her hardest not to run down the street to Ian’s. Not knocking, she just walked in the door to see Jenny feeding the boys. Ian was in the kitchen. As she walked through the living room, she could see the girls playing in the backyard.

Megan, what’s wrong? Jenny asked.

I can’t find Sean.

Ian came into the family room. He said he was going to pick something up and then you guys would come down when you got up. He walked up and hugged her. Meg, I have no idea where he went.

She felt her panic building. Having been in some scary situations, she couldn’t remember ever feeling like this. Something wasn’t right. Ian, I’m scared. Jenny didn’t know anything about their life before. Can we go outside and talk for a minute?

He looked at Jenny and smiled; she was such a part of their family that Megan didn’t need to worry about how she thought. She smiled. Go, I got this. Jenny nodded.

Ian, what if something happened? What if someone took him?

If that was the case, there would have been a struggle. If they took him, it had to happen between here and your house. Call your dad. See if he knows anything.

Tell Jenny I am so sorry, but can you keep the kids?

You don’t have to ask. He leaned in, to whisper in her ear, I am going to make my move with her soon. I think I am ready.

She smiled. I am so happy for you. She is wonderful and I am glad you found her. Turning, she headed home.

Ian went inside the house, and Jenny was on the phone. He didn’t mean to overhear her, but he did. She knows he’s gone. Got it. She put her phone back in her pocket and walked out of the kitchen. Is she all right? she asked Ian.

He smiled at her. No, she is freaking out. He couldn’t help the strange feeling, but there was no way he was going to say anything with all the kids there.

Jenny walked up to him and put her hand on his chest, then kissed him. I need to get going. I got a call, and I’m needed at the hospital. I’ll call you later.

Ian kissed her goodbye, and she just left. He stood there looking at the door as she closed it. She didn’t say goodbye to the girls. If he had learned anything from Megan, he learned that if it didn’t feel right, then it wasn’t. Turning, he went to the back door. Girls, come on, we need to go. He got Jack and Max ready, and they all got in his car. As he drove down the street, he looked at their house and noticed the car was gone.

He followed the protocol that was set into play just in case something happened. He drove to the mall, took the kids out of the car, and went to the clothing store to buy all new clothes. Then he dropped the old ones in the trash can along with his cell phone. He took the kids through the mall and to the bus. He went to the car dealer and bought a new car with stashed emergency cash and then headed to Lloyd’s. When he pulled into the garage, it was late. Lloyd met him, and they took the kids inside the house.

What’s going on, Ian?

I’m not sure, but Sean has disappeared. I need to leave them here. You know what to do, right?

Yes, we’ll go to the lake house and wait for one of you to come.

All right, give me twenty minutes and then go. You know what to do?

Trust me, Ian. We will disappear. Go and do what you need to do.

Ian kissed them all goodbye and left in a different car out the back way. He drove through the woods in the four-wheel drive and came out on the highway forty miles away from Lloyd’s. If anyone was following him, they would believe that he was still at Lloyd’s.

Lloyd and his wife took the tunnel and made their way to the hidden underground garage that Sean had built. From there, they made their way to the lake house with the kids. They were safe. Megan headed to the boat house and called her dad. When he finally showed up, her old crew was following him into the room.

Dad, someone took Sean. He dropped the kids off at Ian’s this morning and never made it home.

Baby girl, I have heard nothing on the wire about this.

Looking at Brent, she asked, Who is out there that would want him, or who would want to hurt me?

He smiled a half-smile. It could be anyone.

She slammed her hand down on the table. Someone has my fucking husband. Then looked at her dad. We have to find him.

Her phone vibrated in her pocket. Pulling it out, she didn’t recognize the number. Hello?

Popcorn, and the line went dead.

Looking at her father, then at Brent, her tone serious. We need to go now.

Megan, what is wrong?

Something terrible, Dad. You guys stay here. I will call you. Ian set popcorn into motion; something is very wrong.

Shit. You go, and we’ll do some searching and see what we come up with.

Bent and Megan ran out the door and got into one of the cars. They drove for about an hour and pulled into a parking lot of the clock tower just outside of Rockford. Ian was sitting low in his car. Flash your lights, she said to Brent. Ian flashed his lights, and Megan got out of the car and moved to Ian’s, and they drove away.

What the hell happened?

After you left, I came back in, and I overheard Jenny whispering on her phone in the kitchen. She said, ‘She knows he’s gone. Got it.’ When she came out, she acted like nothing was wrong, then she put her hand on my chest, which she never does, and she kissed me. She has never just kissed me. But she lied to me and said she needed to go to work, that someone called in and she needed to cover their shift. Meg, she didn’t even say goodbye to the girls. It felt wrong. It felt off, so I did what we talked about. The kids are safe at the lake house.

Are you fucking kidding me? We need to get back to Brent. You go and continue with the plan, Ian. Do not go back home. Just leave and disappear. I know where you’ll be, and I will find you.

Hey, I think when you find Sean, we should take that key of yours and use it.

Yeah, I’m thinking you are right. She hugged him. I’ll find him. You need to stay safe for our kids. I’ll see you soon.

She moved from one car to the other, looking at Brent. This is what I know. He hit the call button and then speaker. All right, start with Jenny Cooper. She is the nurse from the NICU.

I remember her, nice girl, her dad said.

Not so nice. She is the lead we have. She’s in on this, and we need to find her. We’ll be back soon.

Don’t worry, Megan, we will find her.

Thanks, Dad.

Megan sat looking out the window, trying to figure out who the hell had gotten to Sean. When they pulled up at the boathouse, Megan couldn’t help but notice the extra cars parked on the street. She looked at Brent, but he just shrugged his shoulder. Walking in, she found Jenny handcuffed to a chair. Her dad moved in front of her.

Megan, please stay calm.

She knew that tone in his voice. Pushing past him, she looked at Jenny, who was smiling at her. What did you do?

Cal slid a folder across the table to her. Opening it up, she started reading. Her eyes moved to Jenny, who wasn’t Jenny Cooper, but Anissa Arafa Abadi. Slowly, Megan raised her eyes, connecting to Jenny’s. Her smile pissed Megan off. No one saw her move. She was over the table with a knife to Jenny’s throat, pressing on her jugular. She could feel her fear; the woman was shaking.

Where is my husband? I will not ask you again.

If you kill me, you will never know.

Pressing the blade harder against her artery, she could feel the blood trickling down her neck. Do you think it matters to me? Where is Sean?

Megan, Brent said.

Pressing harder, she felt the tip of the blade go a bit deeper. Jenny swallowed harder. He’s being kept in a container buried in the ground in the woods, east of here, just off Highway 20.

Who has him?

My brother. You killed my father.

When you see your father again, tell him good night for me. Megan slit her throat, then looked at her father. Figure out how to access the thermal satellite and get me some intel on that area. Brent, are you coming with me or staying here?

He smiled. Always with you, baby girl.

Megan, you better be careful. These guys are extremists.

No offense, Dad, but I don’t give a fuck who they are. He is my husband, the air I breathe, and I am going to get him back.

He didn’t say anything. Megan moved to the wall and got her belt and vest. Brent, Cal, and Stevens got prepared. Her father hugged her. Please be careful.

Driving out there, all she could think about was Ian. He had liked Jenny so much, and she had pretended to be so sweet. Megan punched the dashboard. Fuck! No one said a word. They came up on the exit, pulling off the road into some bushes hidden from view. Megan called her dad. Did you find him?

We are tasking the satellite; it’s coming around. Megan, are you sure about this?

Dad, you have never asked me this question before. Why are you now?

You have never been in love with the target.

She closed her eyes. I need him.

I know, baby girl. I know. All right, I have you on the map. You need to drive ten miles south. She looked at Brent, and they pulled out, heading south. When you get to the exit, find a place to park. They pulled off the road about a mile down from where Sean was being held. They all put in their earpieces. Okay, Dad, we are on the ground.

Go west about two clicks, and you should be coming up on some kind of farmhouse. There are at least twenty heat signatures there.

What about Sean?

Another two, maybe three clicks further west, we can see a faint heat signature in a horizontal position, surrounded by four others. Be careful, baby girl. These guys will kill him.

Looking at Brent, Silent, she said. They all nodded. They worked their way to the farmhouse. Taking their positions, they sat, watching and waiting. One by one, they took them down. Eighteen in all, with her father talking in their ears the entire time. When there were just two left, Cal and Stevens went after them, while Megan and Brent headed to Sean.

As they approached the men, Megan heard someone talking on the radio in Arabic, telling the guy to kill Sean. Megan threw three knives before Brent got off a shot. Once they got the all-clear from her dad, after making sure there were no explosives, they started digging. It took the better part of thirty minutes to reach Sean. Her heart racing when they hit the box, she looked at Brent as Cal and Stevens came through the woods with Abadi, throwing him to the ground.

Bitch! he screamed at her.

Reaching for the handle, she pulled the box open. Sean lay unconscious on his side, beaten and bound. Pulling out one of her knives, she cut him loose. Brent and Cal pulled him out, laying him on the ground. Dad, we need a chopper.

On its way, baby girl.

Looking at Abadi, she stated, Your sister is dead, and it was such a shame. You will be joining her.

We will not stop coming for him, for you. There will be no place you can hide. Our brother will see to it.

She smiled at him. Bring it on. Grabbing him by the shirt, she threw him in the hole. I’m not going to be so nice. There will be no air hole for you. Slamming the lid shut, she looked at Cal. Bury him.

Turning to Sean, she knelt on the ground and touched his face. Come on, baby, wake up. She just needed to see his beautiful blue eyes. Megan fought back her tears when he moaned. That’s it, listen to my voice. Come on, Sean, open your eyes.

When his eyes fluttered, she couldn’t stop herself. Leaning in, she kissed him. Her tears fell on his dirty face, streaking the dirt. His hand came up and cupped the back of her head, holding her closer. Brent cleared his throat, which caused Megan to giggle.

How did you find me? Sean asked.

Your wife is a force to be reckoned with, Brent said and laughed as he pulled Sean off the ground.

That she is, Sean agreed as he turned to her. How did you know? How long have I been gone?

Just a day. She looked up at the sky. Come on, the helicopter is here.

Brent helped them move towards the helicopter, and the medic met them halfway. After checking him out, the medic cleared Sean. He has a few bruised ribs and some cuts, but he’ll live. They made it back to the