by Hope White
Her left eye swollen shut.
Pain piercing across her torso every time she drew a breath.
Knowing that she’d lost her baby, even before the doctor had told her.
As she rocked with Eli in her arms, she decided she had to get out of this hospital before she completely lost it and burst into uncontrollable tears.
Snap out of it. Stop thinking about yourself, and focus on the little boy.
“Want me to hold him?” Matt asked.
She glanced up. They were alone in the examining area. The doctor and nurse had left and she hadn’t even noticed. She must pay more attention to her surroundings.
“Are you ready to go?” she said.
“Not quite. The nurse is getting me an ice bag and ibuprofen to take home.” He shook his head. “Home? What am I talking about?” he muttered.
“How’s your... Did you tell them about your memory?”
“No. Didn’t want to give them a reason to admit me.”
“Maybe they should do a CT scan.”
“Not necessary. You’re not the only one who’s suffered a concussion before.”
She sensed his comment was meant to be an opening for her to share more about herself. But that was not happening. Ever. The shame would choke her before the words passed her lips.
“It will be okay,” Matthew said.
He was offering comfort because he sensed how stressed she was, how nervous and maybe even terrified about what would happen next. The list of options flashed across her mind—she’d be arrested for kidnapping; Eli would be handed back to his abusive father and Jenna would be imprisoned for trying to save a child; or worse—she’d be found by Chief Billings.
The image of Chloe’s lifeless body dropping to the floor sent shockwaves of fear all the way to her fingertips. The little boy sighed and stirred against her shoulder. It gave her strength.
She stood. “I’m glad you’re okay, Matthew.”
“I hear a but at the end of that sentence.”
“I need to find Chloe’s cousin Marcus.”
“We can help with that.”
“But you won’t, will you? You’ll be required to place Eli back with his father.”
“As I said, if you have proof that he is harming the child—”
“Chloe’s word is enough for me.”
“I understand, but it may not be enough for the law.”
“The law.” She couldn’t stop a sardonic chuckle from escaping her lips. “I don’t care about the law. I care about protecting this little boy.”
“I can’t let you leave.” He shifted off the exam table.
Panic shot through her body. Not again. She couldn’t deal with another domineering man.
You’ll never leave me.
Her mind whirred with options as she clung tighter to Eli. Why had she trusted Matthew?
“Jenna?” he said.
She stared across the room at an IV stand, planning her escape. He placed his hand on her shoulder. She nearly jerked away, but didn’t want to upset the child.
“Don’t touch me,” she ground out.
He withdrew his hand and studied her.
“I’m trying to help,” he said. “I don’t want you to be arrested for kidnapping.”
She was about to fire back a retort when the nurse returned with an ice bag and pain reliever. “Everything okay?” she asked, glancing from Matthew to Jenna.
No, it wasn’t okay. She’d been trapped in a cage again, unable to break free.
“We’re good,” Matt said.
“Someone’s asking for you out front,” the nurse said to him and left.
As he headed for the door, he turned to Jenna. “Wait here.”
What did that mean? That he didn’t trust his own people—the agent who was asking for him?
The moment he left the examining room, she grabbed the diaper and messenger bags. There was an exit on the other side of the room. Perfect.
Was she overreacting? No, Matthew’s comment about custody and giving this precious child back to his father had strengthened Jenna’s resolve to keep Eli safe and away from that monster.
A monster like Jenna’s ex.
I can’t let you leave. Matthew’s words came back to her. Did he belong in the monster category as well?
Holding Eli against her shoulder, she went to the door and cracked it open to determine the positions of Matthew and the agent. The waiting area was empty. Strange.
“I can’t help you, sir,” a receptionist said. There was something in her voice...
Fear.
Jenna cracked the door a little wider. She spotted two things simultaneously—Matthew on the floor, and a man, wearing all black, pointing a gun at the receptionist.
Jenna snapped out of view. It wasn’t one of the men from the community center. Which meant there was a whole army of thugs looking for her and Eli?
Struggling against fear that threatened to consume her, she rushed to the other door, swung it open and started down the back hall. She had to get away. Find Marcus. Get this child into the hands of someone who could protect him.
Guilt snagged her conscience. She’d brought danger into a hospital full of innocent staff members and patients.
The minute she and Eli were safely away, she’d call police about the gunman in the lobby.
“Stop right there,” a male voice demanded.
FOUR
Jenna froze, her heart pounding in her ears.
She gripped Eli tighter, whispering against his knit hat, “I’m sorry, sweetie.”
No, don’t you dare give up.
“I’m sorry, but I can’t let you leave,” the man said.
Did he just say I’m sorry?
She turned and was relieved to see a hospital security officer walking toward her.
“There’s a man with a gun—”
“Take it easy.” He put out his right hand as he approached, like he was calming a wild stallion. His left hand rested on a club at his hip.
“In the lobby—a gunman is threatening your staff.”
In a placating tone he said, “I need you to come with me.”
Her gaze darted toward Matthew’s exam room. Any second now the thug would figure out Jenna was close, and he’d come bursting through the door.
“Please, ma’am,” the security officer, a gray-haired man in his midsixties, said.
Every inch of her body screamed to get out of here. If she ran she wouldn’t get far, with two bags strapped across her shoulders and clutching a toddler in her arms. The security guy would chase after her, probably sound the alarm, drawing even more attention to Jenna and Eli’s presence.
“Why do I need to come with you?” she said.
He sighed and took his hand off the club resting at his hip. “I received an informal request to keep an eye out for a young woman and a child who went missing from Cedar River.”
“That’s not me.”
“Then I’m sure we can clear it up quickly. Please, I need you to come to my office.”
The problem was, his office was in the same building where a kidnapper—probably more than one—was looking for Jenna and Eli.
“Let’s go,” he said.
Refusing would make her look guilty. All she needed to do was act innocent and agreeable, and once he went to check on the situation out front she’d sneak away.
With a nod, she walked alongside him, fearing he’d pull out cuffs, but he didn’t. Of course not—he wouldn’t cuff a woman carrying a child.
As he led her down the hall, her instincts remained on full alert, and her mind calculated options, solutions. When they made a left turn, she spotted an exit up ahead. Not wanting to give away her thoughts, she turned her attention to Eli, whispering sweet words against his cheek, acting like
a loving mom.
A sharp pain lanced through her chest and she shoved it aside. She had to convince the guard she was Eli’s mother, not some crazy woman who’d kidnapped a child.
He opened the door to his office and motioned to a chair beside his desk. “I’ll be back shortly.”
“Aren’t you going to call the police about the gunman out front?”
“I’ll check it out.”
“No, he’s dangerous, he’s—”
He shut the door on her protest. Foolish man—he wasn’t capable of dealing with these violent criminals.
She grabbed the doorknob and twisted. It was locked.
Shaking her head, she fought the frustration welling up inside for letting herself be caught, locked up. For all she knew, the request to keep an eye out for her had come directly from Chief Billings with a generous finder’s fee attached.
She needed to get out of here. She needed help.
Grabbing the office phone, she found an outside line and called 9-1-1 to report the gunman because either the guard was an accomplice, or he was making a dangerous mistake by confronting the man.
Then she called Patrice.
“Hello?” the older woman answered.
“It’s Jenna.” She put it on speaker.
“What’s wrong?”
“I’m sorry to be calling.”
“You never have to apologize to me. How can I help?”
“My friend was murdered and I’m watching her little boy, and now they’re after him too, after us, and—”
“Take a breath.”
She paused, inhaled a deep breath and exhaled.
“If you want to think clearly you need to be calm, lower your heart rate and get grounded, remember?”
“Yes.”
“What’s the immediate danger?”
“I’m locked in a security guard’s office at a hospital and I can’t get out.”
“Yes, you can. Look for paper clips, something to use on the lock.”
“If I get out of here—”
“When you get out of there?”
“When I get out of here, I may need your help again.”
“There’s always room for you at the cabin, Jenna, you know that. Now look for paper clips. Who knows, you might find a spare office key in his desk drawer.”
She did her best to one-handedly search drawers, thankful that Eli was sound asleep against her shoulder.
“You’re caring for a little boy?” Patrice asked.
“Yes.”
“How old?”
“Eighteen months.”
A knowing silence filled the line.
“I’m okay,” Jenna assured her friend.
“Where is he now?”
“I’m holding him.”
“They have these nifty baby carriers that you strap to your body. The motion soothes the child and it would make carrying him a lot easier. You can pick one up when you get out of there.”
“Okay.”
“What’s his name?”
“Eli,” she said, sifting through a top drawer. “He’s a super good boy.” She found a tray of paper clips. “Do you really think I can—?”
Someone rattled the doorknob.
Jenna spun around. “They’re trying to get in.”
“Can you find something to defend yourself with?”
Jenna grabbed scissors and hit the off button on the phone, not wanting Patrice to hear what might happen next. Because Jenna would surely die before handing this innocent child over to killers.
She swallowed back her fear, gripping the child with one arm while clutching the scissors with her other hand.
The door unlocked with a click.
* * *
“Jenna, it’s me,” Matthew said before entering the office.
He opened the door...
To the sight of Jenna wielding eight-inch scissors in her hand.
He anticipated she’d be panicked, which is why he announced himself. He also knew she’d probably commit assault in order to protect the child.
“Let’s go,” he said, ignoring her terrified expression and the white-knuckled grip of the weapon.
She didn’t move at first.
“We’ve gotta get out of here, and I mean yesterday.” He motioned with his hands. “Is the baby okay?”
That seemed to redirect her attention. She glanced at the child leaning against her shoulder. “Yes, he’s fine.”
“Good, then let’s go.”
She started toward the door.
“I don’t think you’ll need the scissors.”
She glanced at her hand.
“Unless you want to bring them, which is fine. We’ve gotta make tracks here, Jenna.”
“Right, of course.” She dropped the scissors on the desk and followed Matt. “I saw you on the floor. That man with a gun, and then...” She glanced at him with a question in her eyes.
“I was able to neutralize him.”
“So the security guard wasn’t working with him?”
“No. I flashed my ID and told him the woman and child who accompanied me to the hospital were being taken into protective custody.”
They reached the exit and she hesitated.
“What?” he said.
“I won’t let them take Eli away from me.” She took a step backward. “I won’t return him to his father.”
“I know, and I understand. Right now I need to get you and Eli safe. That’s all I’m concerned with. I’m not sure I can trust my own people at this point. But you and me? We have to trust each other. What do I need to do to make you trust me, Jenna?”
“You won’t take him back to his father?”
“No.”
Matt had just made a promise, one that might require him to break the law. He didn’t know what compelled him to say it, but he had to get Jenna and the child out of here. He doubted the guy out front was alone.
She studied him with that contemplative look of hers. “Fine. I’ll try trusting you.”
“You’ll try?” he said, pushing open the door.
“I haven’t had much success trusting people.”
He guided her through the back lot, his gaze assessing, searching for signs of trouble. “Have a little faith.”
“Haven’t had much success in that department either,” she said softly.
He couldn’t look at her, didn’t want to see the devastating sadness he knew would be reflected in her eyes.
“Was that guy working for the chief?” she asked.
“That would be my guess.”
“And you think someone at the FBI gave him our location?”
“I can’t rule it out. You have my keys?”
“You sure you should drive?”
“I’m better now, thanks.”
She passed them to Matt. The brief contact shot warmth up his arm.
They walked in silence—a good thing because he wanted to evaluate their surroundings and the danger that could be waiting for them. Three squad cars were speeding toward the hospital. He shifted her behind him and hesitated. “That should keep everyone busy so they don’t see us leave.”
“Where are we going?”
“Someplace safe.”
Without looking at her, he gently placed his hand on her arm, and this time she didn’t pull away. He guided her toward the truck.
Officers rushed into the ER entrance, where he hoped they’d arrest the gunman, whom Matt had fastened with the security guard’s cuffs to a desk. Matt still wasn’t sure how he’d found the physical energy to subdue the guy.
But he didn’t need to wonder for long. He was focused on Jenna and the little boy, on making sure they were safe.
Jenna quickly buckled Eli in his car seat and climbed into th
e passenger seat, and Matt pulled out.
Neither of them spoke for a good ten minutes, almost as if they were both still holding their breath, waiting for the next attack.
“What happened back there?” she finally asked.
“The gunman had everyone cornered and ordered me down. It didn’t look good. Then the security guard showed up, distracting the gunman, and I tackled him without incident.”
“With a concussion and bruised ribs?” she said with awe in her voice.
“Once I cuffed the guy, the guard said you’d told him about the shooter, that you were locked in his office. I assumed it was for your own safety.”
“No, the guard said someone informally requested he keep an eye out for a woman who’d kidnapped a child from Cedar River.”
“At least it’s not an official BOLO,” he muttered.
With a nod, she gazed out her window. She looked so...lost.
“You were smart to try to escape once you saw what was going on in the waiting room,” he said, trying to offer encouragement. He glanced at her, but she didn’t look proud. She seemed ashamed. “What’s that look?”
She shook her head.
“Jenna? We’ve got to trust each other, right?”
“The moment you left the examining room I was planning to escape.”
“I don’t understand. You didn’t know—”
“I was scared of you.”
He gripped the steering wheel tighter. “Scared. Of me?”
“Yes.” She fiddled with a silver ring on her right hand.
“You’re going to have to explain that. Please.”
“As you’ve probably guessed, I have a rather tragic past.”
Tragic. The word conjured all kinds of images, images he struggled to ignore.
“I’ve made some foolish choices I wish I could take back, but I can’t.”
He waited patiently, wanting her to feel comfortable enough to share her story at her own pace.
“The last time I was in a hospital,” she said with hesitation, “my ex-husband put me there.”
Things started to make sense: her anxious behavior and the wariness in her eyes. Especially around men.