.

she grabbed a tissue from the box on the nightstand, wiped down the mouth-and earpiece and then pulled it to her head.

      Kendrick chuckled ever so softly.

      Joy painted her expression as she dialed, and Kendrick heard the device finally ringing on the other end. But the excitement on her face diminished quickly. Obviously, there was no answer and she must have reached her mother’s voice mail instead. She took a deep breath and left a quick message. “Hi, Mama! It’s me, Vanessa. I just wanted you to know that I’m okay. I’m with...” She hesitated as she tossed him a quick look. “I’m with a friend right now and I will call you back as soon as I’m able. I love you, Mama!”

      As she hung up the receiver she looked as if she were struggling not to burst into tears. Sensing her distress Kendrick moved to her side. “Are you okay?” he questioned as she lifted her gaze to his.

      “Do I look like I’m okay?” she hissed behind clenched teeth.

      He grinned, holding his hands up as if surrendering. “Sorry,” he said softly as she pushed past him, moving back to her seat.

      Gabi shifted against the bed, rolling onto her side as she pulled her legs to her chest. She curled her body into a fetal position. Kendrick and Vanessa stopped to watch her, both holding their breaths that she wouldn’t suddenly wake up. The little girl deeply inhaled and then snored ever so softly. Eyes wide, their gazes shifted back toward each other and held the stare. Kendrick found himself smiling and unable to contain herself, Vanessa smiled with him.

      She shook her head. “This won’t last too much longer,” she whispered. “You better enjoy it while you can.”

      Kendrick nodded. “I need you to unpack some of your things. Hang something on those racks over there. Leave your toiletry bag, a pair of shoes, whatever. We’ll replace them later. And most of the baby’s things, too. Leave a few diapers on the bathroom counter. Maybe a bottle. It needs to look like you were here and you’re planning on coming back,” he said as he moved to the second bed and pulled back the covers.

      He pulled a second phone from his pocket and dialed. “We should be there in the next two hours,” he said into the receiver.

      “I needed to make sure we didn’t pick up a tail,” he was saying. He paused to listen before speaking again. “I’ll contact you when we get to our final destination,” he responded. He took a deep breath, his gaze meeting hers as Vanessa stared at him.

      He ended the call without further comment, dropping his cell phone against the pillow. “Just pack some bare necessities for the two of you in that small bag. We’re going to leave the rest,” he said as he moved to the bathroom and turned on the water faucet.

      Minutes later he moved back into the room dressed in a pair of black denim jeans, black Timberlands and a bright white V-necked T-shirt. He then moved to the television, adjusting the volume just loud enough for others to know it was on.

      Vanessa’s expression was incredulous but she didn’t bother to question him. When she had done as he’d asked, he scooped Gabi back into his arms and they left. Vanessa was headed in the direction of the car when Kendrick stopped her. “This way,” he said. “We’re taking the bus.”

      Vanessa hesitated, her eyes blinking rapidly as she stood staring at him. “The bus?”

      Kendrick nodded. “What? Haven’t you ever ridden a bus before?”

      * * *

      By the time they reached their final destination Vanessa was exhausted. The bus ride, with two transfers, had landed them in front of a taxi stand. A taxi ride later they were at a private hangar at the airport. The private plane was more to Vanessa’s liking, and she’d even been able to catch her own nap while Kendrick entertained Gabi, who seemed to be enamored with the buckles on the seat belts.

      “Where are we?” Vanessa asked when they finally landed, a team of technicians pushing the plane into another private hangar.

      “Everything’s going to be fine,” Kendrick said.

      She clutched Gabi a little tighter to her chest. “That’s not what I asked you,” she snapped.

      Kendrick met her stare.

      “Eat, eat!” Gabi suddenly exclaimed as she pulled a thumb into her mouth. “Eat, eat!’

      Vanessa shook her head. “What was I thinking? She is so off schedule. It’s well past her lunchtime and I don’t have anything else left in this bag. She’s hungry and I need to get her something to eat.”

      Kendrick smiled again and Vanessa, despite her reservations, found herself instantly comforted by the gesture. He tickled a finger beneath the folds of Gabi’s chin. “We need to get you something to eat, baby girl!”

      He pulled a cell phone to his ear, depressing the speed dial. Vanessa could tell by the change in his tone that he was talking to a woman. The thought suddenly irritated her. How dare he call some other woman when he was supposed to be focused on her? She felt herself stiffen with resentment. He caught her staring and tossed her another smile, oblivious to her sudden stress. Then he turned and walked toward the other side of the room, moving himself out of earshot. “Really, I need to get her something to eat,” she persisted when he finally moved back to her side.

      “I know,” he said. “And probably a diaper or two, as well. It’s being handled. But right now we really need to go.”

      Annoyed, Vanessa heaved a heavy sigh. “You still haven’t told me where we are.”

      “New Orleans,” Kendrick said.

      “We’re hiding in New Orleans? Really?” Her tone was just sarcastic enough to imply that he didn’t have a clue what he was doing.

      Kendrick laughed.

      “No, we’re just making a pit stop. We need to pick up some supplies.”

      Vanessa’s gaze narrowed. “I thought you were taking me to some safe house. Why do we need to pick up supplies? I’d think the house would already have them.”

      Kendrick continued talking as if he hadn’t heard her question. “If anyone asks, you and I are old friends. They don’t need to know any of your personal business and do not, under any circumstances, tell them anything about what happened in Miami or that I am with the Secret Service.”

      “Who’s them? Who are you talking about?”

      “My sisters,” he said as he guided her to a luxury BMW.

      Confusion washed over Vanessa’s expression. “Hold up. I thought we were going to some safe house.”

      Kendrick cut an eye at her. “Trust me. You’ll be much safer where we’re going than you’ll be anywhere else for the moment.” He plucked Gabi from her arms and secured the baby into a car seat, then gestured for Vanessa to get into the car.

      “Look, Agent,” Vanessa started.

      “Kendrick. Just call me Kendrick. Please,” he said, cutting her off midsentence.

      Vanessa opened her mouth with a snappy retort but Gabi interrupted them both. The little girl started to cry, a loud boo-hoo-hoo that vibrated throughout the car. “Want eat!” she screamed as she kicked her legs in frustration.

      Kendrick laughed. “That one has a set of lungs on her! Baby girl better catch a clue before she’s riding on the roof!” he teased.

      Vanessa didn’t find anything funny. “She’s a baby. Her entire world has just blown up and now we can’t even find her something to eat. This is ridiculous!” she cried, her own tears finally falling over her cheeks.

      Her frustrations had finally boiled over. Vanessa sobbed as he maneuvered his way through the streets of downtown New Orleans.

      * * *

      Kendrick took a deep breath and then another. As he pulled into the driveway of his family home his friend Zak was standing