Run, Hide - By Carol Ericson Page 0,53
“Sleep here.”
She lifted one brow at Cade. “Welcome to fatherhood.”
Cade pulled the covers down, so Gavin could slip beneath them. “I can handle this.”
Jenna sighed and rested her head on Cade’s shoulder as the images from the TV flickered across her face. He kissed her again and adjusted his arm so that Gavin’s head nestled in the crook of his elbow.
He could handle this.
The following morning, they left before sunrise. The crisp, cool air needled his skin as he loaded up the car with their meager belongings. How long would they have to hide out? It went against his nature, but he wanted to keep his wife and son safe. And this time, he wanted to stay with them.
He had to stay with them.
Jenna snapped on her seat belt and hitched her seat back in a reclining position. “Where are we meeting them?”
“At a warehouse.”
“That sounds...weird.”
“It’s more private, out of the way. No cameras, no crowds.”
“Is it going to be safe?”
“We’re going to meet members of Prospero. We’ll be safe.”
“That’s what we thought about that outpost in Arizona.” Her gaze etched into his profile. “You’re putting up a good front, but I can tell you’re worried. Do you think they’ll ambush you?”
He lifted his shoulders. “If they do, they’ll just bring me in. Isn’t that what we want, anyway?”
“That would mean they don’t trust you.”
“In our business, trust is in short supply. If they think I have the plans, all they can do is question me. I don’t have them.”
“What will they do with us? With me and Gavin?”
“They’ll settle you like they’re supposed to.”
“But without you.”
Over his dead body. “Once I’m cleared, I’ll be joining you. Besides, we’re jumping the gun here. Curson told me they have our new IDs, and I have to believe that.”
“Until we find out otherwise.”
“You’ve gotten suspicious over the years.” He chucked her under the chin.
“It comes from being married to a spy.”
“It’s not a bad quality to have—even if you’re married to an accountant.”
She laced her fingers and stretched her arms in front of her. “Where do you think we’ll get settled?”
“I have no idea. That’s the point. Beth does a good job. She’ll make sure it’s someplace secure.”
“I still won’t be able to contact my family.”
“Do you want to?” Jenna’s family must’ve been the least of her worries when she went into hiding. She’d practically disowned them even before he’d met her.
She shrugged and hummed along to a song on the radio.
Maybe that’s another reason why the two of them had bonded so quickly—they’d both given up on their families. He and Kyle still had ties, but distance and his career had made it difficult for them to keep in touch. Jenna and her sister still had a civil relationship, but her sister kept in close contact with their parents and Jenna didn’t want any part of them.
How could her parents be any worse than Kevin?
Cade winced, the wound of his father’s betrayal still fresh. His gaze wandered to the rearview mirror, where he caught a glimpse of Gavin, head tilted to the side in blissful sleep already. He’d had a terrible role model for parenting in Kevin, but Jenna could be his new role model. She’d done a great job with their son so far.
A golden hue washed across the horizon, and Cade reached for his sunglasses. He had to be a better father than Kevin. He couldn’t possibly be much worse.
They had to make their way back through New Mexico and Albuquerque, heading down the 25, and Cade couldn’t help it if his foot got heavier on the accelerator as they sped through the cold, dry landscape.
He’d never forget the look in Kevin’s eyes when he’d proposed they trick Zendaris out of some money, putting Gavin at risk. The man had been dead inside even before Zendaris’s men took his life.
They could make a few stops along the way to their final destination in Arizona. Cade had suggested meeting at eight o’clock to make sure he and Jenna had enough time to get there. He’d still held off on telling Curson their current location. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off.
Cade had no intention of staying at a hotel close to the warehouse where the meeting was taking place. He needed distance and independence.
In case something went wrong.
After fiddling with the radio to find a station, Jenna tapped his wrist. “I can do some driving. You’ve been at it for hours.”
“I’m not tired.”
“Maybe not, but you could stretch