“Yes. I just want away from here.”
“We’re going, buddy. Going as fast as I can,” I told him. I started scanning the road for cars going in the opposite direction. “Use my phone and text Daniel. Tell him we’re on the road, heading south on 222, taking the long route back to Stockholm. Tell him I need him to find a way to either return the rental SUV that’s under my alias or get rid of it.”
I could feel Taylor’s eyes on me, and when I glanced at her, I nodded to confirm what I wanted her to tell Daniel. While I trusted Daniel, the conversation with him yesterday about knowing that other people were looking for Jensen still didn’t sit well with me. I couldn’t risk anything happening to jeopardize Jensen or Taylor.
“Tell him my rental is still at Wade’s. See if he can dispose of it.”
“Got it. Get rid of the rental SUV,” she repeated as she typed.
“Let the pilots know we’re on our way and we need to get off the ground fast.”
“Already done.”
Good, Taylor.
What I found interesting was that we’d made it to the bridge leading into Stockholm, and so far there hadn’t been any sign of Wade. Was he really not heading home?
“Ask Daniel where Wade is,” I told Taylor. A few moments later the phone chimed with an incoming text.
“He said he went into a bank.”
I pulled into the rental return, parked, and hopped out. I leaned back across the driver’s seat and grabbed my cell phone and shoved it in my pocket. Taylor helped Jensen out of the SUV while I took off my shoulder holster. I hurried to the back, pulled out my suitcase, and quickly put the holster and both guns in the bag.
“Jensen, I’m going to carry you to the jet, buddy.” I handed Taylor the handle to my suitcase before I picked Jensen up.
As we briskly walked toward the terminal, a car rental attendant walked toward us.
“How was the vehicle?” he asked.
I tossed him the keys and didn’t slow my walk.
“It was great. Please excuse us. We’re late to board, and our child is ill,” I said.
We made our way to the door where the pilot met us last time. And as expected, he was right there waiting for us. He led us to the stairs of the jet and climbed ahead of us. I glanced at the tail of the jet and recognized the Top Cage Fighters logo. I was starting to feel the weight of Jensen as I climbed the steps.
“Almost there,” Taylor said from behind me.
She placed her hand on my back to encourage me to keep going. I had no intention of stopping or relaxing until this jet was off the ground. The pilot waited until we had stepped inside and then he detached the stairs from the cabin opening. He shut and secured the door as Holly greeted us and ushered us into the cabin.
“Take a seat and get buckled in. We’re clear to proceed and then take off,” one of the pilots said before stepping into the cockpit.
I set Jensen down and sat in the seat beside him while Taylor took the seat next to me, but in the opposite aisle. Holly quickly brought a blanket over and wrapped it around Jensen as he put his seat belt on. She then hurried to take her seat.
“You doing okay, Jensen?” I asked him as he leaned his head against the seat.
He nodded.
“Thank you for coming back for me and taking me away from him,” he said quietly.
“No problem,” I said. Jensen’s eyebrows were furrowed, and he looked tense. “Hey.” He looked up at me. “You’re safe to close your eyes, Jensen. No one is ever going to hurt you again. Relax. You’re safe now.”
“I just sent Michael a text and let him know the three of us were safely on the jet and heading home,” Taylor said.
“Thank you.”
“You should clean up.” Taylor gestured to my hands and the front of my sweatshirt. I hadn’t noticed the blood splatter before, and no one had brought it to my attention. Most likely no one saw it because I had been carrying Jensen.
“I will. I just need to sit for a few minutes,” I told her.
