“Are you sure you’re okay to work?”
Troy cocked his head and gave her his trademark smile.
* * *
The children were napping, and Wes was at physical therapy. After a hard ride with Kyle, Eleanor felt peaceful about Troy’s breakthrough. She stepped into the main offices to find Troy, Kip and Mike sitting with Josh Stone and Zach. As she got closer to the group, she rubbed her sweaty palms against her pants.
“Ellie, you don’t have to do this,” Mike said.
Eleanor pressed her lips together and forced her shoulders back before speaking, “I know, but if I don’t, I’ll never feel secure. It is my decision.”
“Okay, sweetheart. Here’s a pair of scrubs,” Troy said.
Eleanor left to change. Each step was firmer and stronger than the previous.
She returned and rejoined the group. “I’m ready.”
Zach stood and opened the main building door to leave. A yellow cab stood waiting, and Josh held open the door for her.
Eleanor looked down the road at the house Wes made her feel belonged to her too. After a reassuring nod from Zach, she slid into the cab.You’ve got this, she reminded herself.
A shadow caught her attention. She expected Josh to slide in beside her, but instead, Wes did. She shook her head wildly. “Wes, no,” she pleaded. “Your health. The babies.”
“That’s why I’m doing this. They need their momma and a life free of fear. You deserve that too.” Wes pulled the door closed. The look of determination and anger on his face frightened her.
Zach slammed his hands against the steering wheel. “What are you doing? This is insane. You can get yourself killed.”
“I remember saying something to you when you snuck out in the middle of the night. It’s my turn. You can catch me when I fall in my own elevator.”
“Elevator?” Ellie’s head tilted.
Wes shared with her the story of when Zach let go of all his pent-up emotion after almost losing his fiancée. He collapsed in one of the New York branch’s elevators. And Wes was there to catch him.
Zach turned in the seat. “You’re making this hard to say no.”
Wes’s voice was steady and lower-pitched. “I assume part of Josh’s cover is he’s a medical person of some sort. He has combat first aid under his belt. You know that’s not gonna cut it if they try to put him to work.”
“This goes against my judgment, but you’re right.” He rolled down the window and waved Josh over. “Give us time to clear the gate before going inside and letting Mike know.”
Josh gave him a curt nod. “Mr. Crockett, Ellie, watch your six.”
Inside the yellow cab, Eleanor watched as they began to pull away from the training center. Wes turned to face her, taking her hands in his. “Let’s go through this once more.”
Much as she did the day before with Ian, she undid her ponytail and opened her purse. With a hairbrush, she coaxed her hair into a wild mane. After applying lip gloss, her mouth took on a pouty look.
“Wes, you made my healing time in the hospital…inspiring.” She placed her hand on his crotch.
Wes inhaled deeply.
She caught Zach’s smile of approval in the rearview mirror.
“Remember, built into your necklace is a transponder that will give us your location. Wes, all our intel tells us the Divine End is still functioning on analog equipment or via cell phone. We believe they won’t be able to detect it. But there is a chance they will, or if you think they have, ditch it.” Zach handed Wes a pack of chewing gum with the addition of nearly invisible trackers inside.
“I understand. If they won’t let Wes come along, or if I need to ditch the transponder, I’m on my own. I need to stay safe until I can get away clean.” Eleanor lifted her chin.
Zach pulled up in front of the Leesburg house. He put the cab into park and popped the trunk. Wes, dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, grabbed two patient belonging bags and moved to the rear passenger door. He opened it and extended his hand to help Eleanor out, rolling her into his body like a choreographed dance move, and placed a kiss on her lips.
“It’s going to be alright.” His arm wrapped around her as he unlocked the door. The alarm did not buzz.
