Nari coughed out a laugh. “Well, it feels cozy and is safe. It’s the safety that lets Angus sleep at night.”
That was sweet. “It’s kind of you to help us.” Gemma swayed. “I don’t suppose you have an aspirin?”
* * * *
Jethro looked over the toddler at her mother, who’d gone pale. “Areyou all right?”
“There’s a migraine about to hit,” she said, holding a hand to her left temple.
“I have aspirin.” Nari leaned forward and dug in her purse, pulling out a small packet and handing it back. “Do you have migraine medication? I didn’t see any when we packed upthe bathroom.”
Gemma took out four pills and swallowed them dry. “No. Iused to, but…”
But she’d obviously been on the run and had probably avoided medical offices. Jethro wanted to be angry with her, but she didn’t owe hima bloody thing.
Angus slowed down and pressed a button to open a gate to aprivate drive.
Even through the furious storm, Jethro could make out cameras as the gate connected to fences that disappeared into the snowy abyss. “Private drive?”
“Yes,” Nari answered, tugging on her shoulder strap as it choked her. “We have about a hundred acres and have turned this into a private, gated subdivision.”
Jethro had never been out this way and didn’t know what type of security they had in place. Hopefully Wolfe hadn’t planted anything that could detonate. Considering that Angus’s dog was known to explore, the surrounding area was probably free of explosives. He had no doubt it was mined with cameras, floodlights, and sensors in every direction. “How many homes?”
Nari smiled. “It started with two in a cul-de-sac. One is owned by Mal and Pippa, while the one next to it is now Wolfe and Dana’s. They added on this summer while Serena and Raider and Brigid built across from them. Angus and I built a house at the same time, and there are more lots available if we add on to the team.”
“We’re halfway through building a clubhouse but had to halt because of supply chain issues,” Angus said, passing through the gate and driving at least five miles to another gate. “It’s next to our house at the very end of the cul-de-sac.”
Clubhouse? Jethro cocked his head. What was Angus up to?
The second gate opened and Angusdrove through.
Gemma turned to watch it shut behind them. She rubbed her arms as if suddenly cold, although she wore the ugly wool coat.
Jethro glanced in the back at most of her possessions. About 90 percent of everything they’d brought was Trudy’s. Books, toys, bedding, and clothing for the little girl filled most of the boxes. Gemma only had a duffel of wigs and a borrowed outfit of Serena’s that she said she could combine and alter for the week. Whatever that meant. She also had her gun.
He’d misjudged her from the beginning. She gave everything to her daughter and seemed to exist on very little. Was she so thin because she lacked money, or had that been another way to alter her appearance? He had no right to her, but he couldn’t let her be in harm’s way now. He would take care of whatever was haunting her.
Maybe she didn’t even need to know what he was doing.
They pulled to the right to the first house, which had lights blazing.
“Here we go.” Angus pressed a button on his dash and the garage door opened. “I had to let the contractors in while Serena worked, so I have access. We’ll unload from inside so we don’t get everything wet.” He pulled in and cut the engine.
Gemma nodded and reached to unhook Trudy.
“I want Jet-ro.” Trudy pouted, her facescrunching up.
“Sure thing,” Jethro said, reaching for the little girl.
Gemma started.
“If it’s okay?” he asked, having no clue what he was doing.
The girl plastered herself to him and wrapped both arms around his neck,holding tight.
“It’s okay,” Gemma said, turning and exiting the vehicle.
Jethro stretched out and hurried into the house, where it was warm. The interior door led to a combo mudroom and laundry room, and he continued on through a modern kitchen with white marble countertops and cupboards to the living room, which only had a fireplace and no furniture. Same with thebreakfast nook.
