“I think so,” Wolfe said, his gaze still on the sleeping child. “Dana wants the gender to be a surprise, but I wouldn’t know what to do with one of those, so it has to bea boy. Right?”
Jethro nodded. “Right.” It made as much sense as anything else did right then. His neck prickled with the need to get moving, just in case Fletcher was near. But Nari knew what she was doing, so hewouldn’t push.
The front door opened and Ian and Oliver walked in, looking battered and bruised. They’d ridden with him to Gemma’s neighborhood and then had searched the immediate vicinity for any threats. If they both were present, there were no threats anywhere near this house. Angus had the place covered, but they still needed to move fast.
Wolfe cocked his head. “No threats?”
“No threats,” Ian said, adopting a Midwestern accent. “Saw you when we jumped out of Jet’s truck. I’m Fred and this is Ethel.” He jerked his headtoward Oliver.
Oliver sighed.
“Wolfe,” Wolfe said. “I’m Jet’s best friend.”
Jethro paused and then just let themoment unfold.
Oliver’s dark eyebrow rose as he also adopted a flat Iowaesque accent. “Jet doesn’t usuallyhave friends.”
“I’m special,” Wolfe drawled, no doubt meaning it. “Want to tell me why you and Fred are faking American accents?”
Ian studied him and Oliver grinned.
Yeah, Wolfe was no dummy. Oh, he was batshit crazy sometimes, but he was solid, and he was smarter than he let on. Even so, Jethro wasn’t giving out names if his former teammates wanted to remain under the radar.
“I’m Oliver and he’s Ian,” Oliver said in his British accent. “We used to work with Jethro back in the day.” He looked at the little girl. “Before he carried toddlers around. Do you know what you’re doing with that cutie?”
“No,” Jethro gritted out.
Wolfe scrubbed a hand through his hair again. “It’s nice you headed over the pond to helpout my friend.”
“Of course,” Oliver said. “He was ourfriend first.”
“Fair enough,” Wolfe said generously. He ducked to pick up a box. “Why don’t you two make yourselves handy?” He tossed the box to Oliver, who caught it easily, not letting on that he’d probably just pulled his stitches.
Jethro sighed.
Chapter Twenty
Gemma sat against the window in the back of Jethro’s SUV with Trudy’s car seat in the middle and one of the two British twins on the other side. He had stitches down his neck, and she thought that meant he was Ian. Oliver sat in the front and Jethro drove.
Who the heck were these massive men?
Trudy kicked out her feet, wide awakenow. “Jet-ro?”
“Yeah, honey?” Jethro asked, his hands capable on the steering wheel as he drove through the blizzard.
“You hafta keep the secret,”Trudy chirped.
The tension in the vehicle rose.
Gemma patted the blanket into place around her daughter, her vision narrowing. This entire night was crazy. “Go tosleep, Trudy.”
“What secret?” Jethro asked, his tone still gentle.
“About Mama’s hair and eyes,” Trudy said, kicking happily. “It’s a grown-up secret. Only we know.” She angled her head to look at Ian. “Andyou know, too.”
Ian looked at her, his eyes softening. “We’re good with secrets, little Trudy. Youcan trust us.”
She grinned. “I like your talk.”
