“Oh, my god. Really?” Jenna’s guarded eyes lifted to his again. “Yeah.” She huffed another breath. “That is hard to believe.” A few seconds of silence passed before Jenna’s shoulders fell, and her expression softened. “It’s not your fault, Elle. I know you’d never purposely involve me in something dangerous. Although I should probably warn you, there will be a hefty dose of I-told-you-so’s when I see you again.”
Jenna smiled then. The sight caused something to stir inside Adrian’s chest. Refusing to identify the strange feeling, he held out his hand and wiggled his fingers. “That’s enough. Tell her bye.”
With a snarky scrunch of her face, Jenna huffed out an exaggerated sigh. “The asshole’s telling me I have to go. Take care, Elle. I love you.”
Adrian took the phone from her hand. Ignoring the electric pulse striking his skin when his fingers inadvertently brushed against hers, he put the phone up to his ear and muttered a low, “Thanks, Doc,” before ending the call.
“So what now?” Jenna crossed her arms at her chest.
Pretending not to notice how the move pushed her breasts together beneath the thin scrub top, Adrian put on a forced smile and said, “First, I’m going to deal with him. Then you and I are going to get ready to make a trade.”
Chapter 18
“What if this doesn’t work?” Ellena looked up at Gabe. “What if I do something that pisses this Price guy off and he hurts Jenna? What if—”
Gabe was walking across the grass pulling her into his arms before she could finish. “Shh... Told you before, Elle. The what ifs will just tear you up inside.”
She relished in the warmth of her husband’s strong embrace. Once everything had been hashed out, she’d come outside for some fresh air and to try and clear her thoughts. Gabe had followed, and they’d been out here, together, ever since.
It had been several hours since Adrian had called so she could explain things to Jenna. She’d never heard her friend sound so utterly terrified, and it killed Ellena to know she was the reason.
No, not you. Daniel Price and Henry Radcliff are to blame. Not you.
She’d been telling herself that over and over again since her conversation with Jenna. It was an exercise she often had her patients practice, because there was validity in the old wives’ tale.
If you tell yourself something enough times, eventually, you start to believe it.
But now thatshewas the one needing to believe the unbelievable, Ellena was starting to realize it wasn’t as easy as she’d always thought it would be.
“I know you’re right. Logically, I understand that line of thinking is a waste of time, but if anything happens to Jenna…” Her voice cracked. Heart aching, she rested a palm against his cheek. “God, Gabe. If anything happens to you or any of the others…I couldn’t live with that.”
“Baby, stop.” Dark eyes pierced into hers as Gabe gently brushed his hand along her hair. “Don’t do this to yourself. Ghost and his team are already in place, and Ryker’s there, too. My men and I are trained for this sort of thing. It’s what we do. I promise you we’re not going to let anything happen to you or Jenna, or anyone else.”
He kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose, and finally her lips. Resting his forehead against hers, they stood like that for the next several minutes, until Gabe raised his head, and said, “It’s time to go.”
Ellena stared back at the man who meant everything to her. There was no sign of fear or doubt in his eyes. He truly was the bravest man she’d ever met.
Now it was time for her to be brave, too. She had to be. For everyone’s sake.
Taking in a long, deep breath, Ellena let it out slowly and smiled. “What are you waiting for? Let’s get this show on the road.”
The drive was painfully quiet until Nate finally turned on the radio. He purposely found a station playing up-beat, big hair bands. Ellena guessed it was his way of pumping himself up for what was coming. She had to admit, it was better than silence.
Sitting in the back of a blacked-out SUV Ryker had provided, Ellena kept her head resting on Gabe’s shoulder the entire way. Matt was in the passenger seat next to Nate, who was behind the wheel. Kole and Zade were following behind them in an identical vehicle.
Ellena had brought up the idea over lunch, suggesting that if they had two cars, then once Jenna was out of harm’s way, one of the guys could take her back to Kole’s cabin so at least they’d know she was safe.
Gabe decided Zade would be a good man for the job, citing his softer nature and ability to show empathy and compassion. Ellena knew the real reason Gabe had chosen him was because the guy was still too amped up over what went down between him and Adrian a few months back, and Gabe wanted his teammate away from the volatile situation as soon as possible. Just in case.
Zade wasn’t happy with the idea, but since Gabe was the team leader, he didn’t really have much choice.
As they turned onto the road leading to the small airstrip, Gabe sat up straight. He instructed her and the other men to put in their earpieces while he did the same. He’d shown her how to use the tiny device back at the cabin, which only added to the surrealness of the situation.
The hangar and small parking lot came into view and Ellena’s heart pounded hard against her chest. Sensing her fear, Gabe squeezed her hand and said, “What do we got, Ghost?”
Ghost?
Startled, she jumped at the sound of the other man’s voice in her ear.
