Red Notice

98

A guard had been positioned the other side of the open door. He shouted down the passageway towards the first carriage. Another group of Laszlo’s gunmen shouted back. Some of the hostages started shouting too, and Delphine thought she could hear more of them outside on the track.

She cradled Tom’s head in her lap, gently smoothing his blood-caked hair away from his forehead. It was the only thing she could think to do; it was the only thing that didn’t appear to hurt him.

Tom had his good eye focused on her. A smile gradually took shape around his bruised and battered lips. He peeled them back, painfully slowly, displaying chipped and blood-stained teeth. ‘Delphine… we’re going to have a son!’

She felt tears well in her eyes and begin to fall. They splashed down onto Tom’s face. ‘You told me you didn’t want children while you were in the SAS,’ she blurted. ‘You said that it wasn’t the right time…’ She wiped some of her tears from his forehead, making a smear in the encrusted dirt. ‘I should have told you, my darling. I tried to tell you — but you didn’t make it easy for me, you stupid, stupid man. The mistress… Yemen… the team… your work life always seemed so much more important—’

Tom wrenched himself upright and brushed his fingers against her trembling lips, but she carried on, wanting to explain: ‘I was scared, Tom. So scared. I was afraid you wouldn’t want our child. I panicked. I thought… I thought I had to leave…’

With infinite care, Tom caressed her cheek, then held her against his chest. Delphine tilted her head so she could gaze into his eyes. There were tears there too.

‘It’s not your fault, Delphine. I’m so sorry. You’re right. You’re right. But not about everything. I want to be a father. I’m ready to be a father. We’re going to have a son!’ He kissed her gently on the temple and whispered in her ear, ‘You kept asking what I wanted from you.’ He didn’t wait for her answer. ‘I finally worked it out. I want you to be my wife.’

‘I’ve fantasized for so long about this moment.’ Delphine’s smile felt as if it filled her whole face. ‘Somehow I imagined it would be a little more romantic…’

‘I’ll make it up to you, Delphine. I promise.’

She nodded slowly. ‘And I will make sure you do. But right now I need you to do something. I need you to get me and your child off this horrible train.’