Race Against Time Read Free Page A

God.
    Spoon and spatula clacked together in rhythm as they fenced their way around the giant granite-topped island. The stress on his shoulders eased as his stepdaughter took his mind off the AMI facility and test coming up.
    Andie lunged, smearing sticky dough on the side of his face. “Oh really? I think you’re goin’ down—”
    Jenna appeared out of nowhere and plucked the spoon from Andie’s hand. “No one will be going down today, I’m afraid.” She grabbed his spatula. In one swift move, the utensils clattered into the sink where Jenna tossed them and she wiped her hands together in the air. “That’s that, you two.”
    “Awww, Mom!”
    “Awww, hon!”
    Cole erupted into laughter at the whine duet he and Andie produced.
    Andie waggled her brows at him. “You should thank her.” She snitched a piece of cookie dough out of the bowl and popped it into her mouth. “’Cause you would’ve lost.”
    As if anticipating his next move, Andie shot out of the kitchen.
    He was in full chase mode and already around the island when Jenna caught the back of his T-shirt.
    “Honestly, babe. It’s like having two toddlers.”
    “And you love it.” He winked at his bride of four months.
    The twinkle in her eyes gave him all the encouragement he needed. Wrapping his arms around her, he nuzzled her neck.
    Andie appeared and swiped another chunk of cookie dough.
    “Nope, no way. Think you can just worm your way back into my good graces with—” Jenna glanced at her teenager then pulled back and crossed her arms over her chest. Trying to look all stern.
    Too bad it didn’t fool him.
    She took another step back. “You”—she pointed a finger in Cole’s chest—“are a stinker.”
    Andie hopped up to sit on the counter. “Or a very tall toddler.” She chucked a chocolate chip at him, laughing.
    “And you”—Jenna continued, her gaze fixed on Andie’s blue eyes—“need to clean up this mess. Have you seen my red duct tape? All I can find is purple, teal, and plaid . . .”
    The ringing of the phone saved them from Jenna’s scolding and search for the tape. As she headed to answer it, Cole reached over and flicked Andie’s nose.
    Giggles permeated the air around him as Andie defended herself with flying chocolate chips.
    “So you think you can distract me with the chocolate, huh?”
    Andie climbed off the counter. “Yep. It worked, too!” She darted back around the island, challenge in her eyes.
    “As much as I want to win this war, you heard your mom, we need to clean it up.” He could hear Jenna’s reprimand that someone needed to be the adult. Too bad that someone had to be him.
    “You’re right. Would you put those cookies in the oven for me? You know how well hot ovens and I go together.”
    Good ol’ Andie. Always finding a way to laugh her way through her rare disorder. “No problem, Squirt.” Even at thirteen years old, the intelligent, independent, young lady still had to be careful. Cole learned more each day about things to watch out for, and how he could protect this precious kid without smothering her. Jenna was gifted at protecting and guiding. Giving Andie her space to grow into an adult, yet always cautious and vigilant about Andie’s surroundings. Showed him how inadequate he was at this whole father thing. But he was learning. He often tried to put himself into Andie’s shoes. Being unable to feel pain and unable to regulate your own body temperature could be a real bummer. Not to mention life threatening.
    After sliding the pans into the convection oven, Cole spotted Jenna as she barreled into the kitchen. Her face a pasty-white, eyes brimming with tears.
    She chewed on her bottom lip. Jenna’s eyes darted to their daughter and then back to his face. “We need to get to the hospital.”
    Andie nestled up against his side. “What—”
    “It’s Zoya. She’s been shot.”

CHAPTER TWO
    SEAN
    January 2
    North Pole, Alaska
    3:25 p.m.
    The black of the sky at such an hour in