first-aid supplies. But if she doesn’t fully regain consciousness, we’ll have to take her somewhere.”
“Agreed. Pull off when you see that shopping center we passed on the way to the warehouse.”
Jenna glanced at Cade’s profile, which seemed carved from stone. He could be so caring and engaged with her and Gavin and then turn into...this. It worried her, but she supposed this cool, calm detachment trumped wailing and gnashing of teeth.
His cool and calm had kept them alive so far.
She squeezed the steering wheel and blew out a breath. “Do you know her well—Beth?”
“She joined Prospero about the same time I did. She’s good with numbers. She’s a good analyst. She’s the one who found a place for us based on statistics and probabilities. I guess she didn’t adequately calculate the risk of meeting us in a deserted warehouse.”
“Does she have family?”
Cade gave her a sharp look. “Why this sudden interest in everyone’s families?”
“I just can’t help thinking if you were on an assignment and got injured or—worse—would someone know to contact me? Would some agent just abandon your body?”
He clasped his hand around hers. “Prospero knows all next of kin. All agents and support people know the risks, and we’re willing to take them.”
“But you don’t own the risk, not alone.” She pounded her chest with one fist. “We share the risk—your spouses, your children, your siblings and parents.”
“Do you want me to say I take it all back? Do you want me to say I wish I’d never met you, married you, had this incredible boy with you?” He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand. “I won’t do it. Call me selfish, but I won’t do it.”
Jenna let out a little sob, and then she sealed her lips. That ended the self-pity. That ended the blame. She loved Cade fiercely. If she had to share him with this life of his and all the danger and uncertainty that came with it, she’d do it. But Gavin...Gavin deserved more.
“That big shopping center is coming up. Take this exit.”
Jenna pulled off the highway and curved around to a parallel street. She read off each lighted sign until she found one for a drugstore.
When she parked, Cade dropped his heavy weapon in her lap. “You know how to release the safety, right?”
She nodded. “I take it I’m staying here.”
“Keep an eye out. I’ll run inside and get some first-aid supplies for Beth. Anyone approaches the car, shoot first and ask questions later.”
Tracing the butt of the gun, she said, “Nothing like drawing attention to yourself.”
Cade exited the car and waited while she locked it. She eyed the pedestrians crisscrossing the parking lot from store to store, shopping for books and groceries, and heading to the movies in the corner of the lot. She hoped none of them decided to ask her for directions.
Beth exhaled and coughed.
Jenna jumped and twisted in her seat. “Beth? Beth? Come out of it, Beth.”
The woman groaned and raised a hand to her head, brushing dark brown hair matted with blood from her face. “No. Jeff.”
“Beth, it’s okay now. You’re safe.” Jenna unsnapped her seat belt and placed one knee on the console as she extended a bottle of water to the wounded woman in the backseat. “Can you drink?”
Beth’s eyes fluttered open. She widened them in terror and put up her hands.
Catching Beth’s fluttering hands with her own, Jenna soothed. “It’s going to be fine. Cade’s with us. You know Cade Stark, right?”
Beth went limp and smacked her lips as if trying to get them to work properly.
Jenna pressed the bottle of water into the other woman’s hand. “Drink this.”
Beth put the bottle to her mouth and drank deeply. She coughed and a trickle of water dripped off her chin. Her eyes filled with tears and one rolled down her cheek to join the water.
Jenna scrambled for her purse on the floor of the car. “Are you in pain? I have some ibuprofen.”
Beth whispered. “A-are you Cade’s wife?”
Relief made Jenna feel lightheaded. “Yes. I’m Jenna. Do you remember now? You and...Jeff were meeting us to give us new IDs.”
“I remember—that part.”
Uh-oh. If she didn’t remember the rest of what happened in that warehouse, Cade would be sorely disappointed. She finally popped the lid off the small bottle of ibuprofen and shook one into her hand, glanced at Beth and shook another one into her hand. “Take these. That’s a vicious gash on your head. Must hurt like heck.”
Beth swallowed the gel caps with