Amused, her lips curved in response. “Is Brent awake?”
Eli turned back to the window. “He will be soon now that you’re up and moving.”
“Brent said you like hot tea.” Jon set aside his laptop and crossed to the kitchenette. He poured hot water into a to-go cup and covered the mouth with a lid. “There are two bags of chamomile mint tea in here.”
“Thank you, Jon.”
He shrugged. “This is my wife’s favorite tea when she’s stressed or upset. Thought it might help you, too.”
The door to the second bedroom opened. Brent’s gaze locked on hers as he approached. “How do you feel?”
“Better. Any word from Zane on Carstairs or the kidnappers?”
“I just checked with him. There’s been nothing so far. He’ll keep monitoring the electronics of the main players. We’re also watching the compounds of all the militia groups.”
“What are you hoping to see?”
“Alexa moving around one of the compounds. I don’t have the personnel to raid each one. If we spot her, we’ll go free her and bring her home.”
Hopefully, they would rescue Alexa before her parents’ funeral.
After eating another light snack, Rowan changed into the navy dress and matching heels. When she returned, Brent and his operatives were wearing dark suits, conservative ties, and white shirts. “Oh, wow,” she murmured. “You three look like male models.”
All of them grimaced. “Do us a favor, sugar,” Eli said. “Don’t spread that around to our friends.”
Between the three of them, they kept her mind occupied so that she didn’t dwell too much on the ordeal ahead. The drive to the funeral home was filled with funny stories about their time in the military, some of the scrapes they’d gotten into, the practical jokes they’d pulled on each other.
Eli parked in the lot, then he and Jon moved a small distance away to give her and Brent a moment together before facing the people gathering.
“If the crowd becomes too much for you, tell me. We’ll slip away for a few minutes to give you a break.”
The next four hours passed in a haze. At one point, Brent led her to a break room for a soft drink. By the time she was back in the SUV, exhaustion had set in. As they entered the suite, Brent said, “Are you hungry?”
“A little. I need comfort food.”
He thought a minute. “Baked potato sound good?”
“Perfect.”
“I’ll order room service while you change into comfortable clothes.”
She returned to the living room a few minutes later to find Brent on the couch, channel surfing. Jon had taken up a post at the window and Eli was missing. “Where’s Eli?”
“Sleeping. He’ll take over the watch at midnight and Jon will sleep.”
“Food will be here in half an hour,” Jon said.
She dropped down beside Brent. “What are we watching?” Her eyes narrowed. “You better not tell me it’s another cowboy movie.”
He laughed. “Not right now. What are you in the mood for?”
“Sahara.”
With an amused look, he searched through the listings and found the movie. Before she knew it, the food arrived. Once she’d eaten the potato Brent ordered for her, she settled deeper into the couch, her head propped against his shoulder.
She woke to the sound of her cell phone signaling an incoming text message. Rowan pulled her phone from her pocket and swiped the screen. Her blood ran cold at the message. Bring the records to the funeral. No cops or the kid dies.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Brent fastened the watch around Rowan’s wrist. With a plain black band and unremarkable numbers, the timepiece didn’t look special. That was the point. His thumb brushed her sensitive skin. “Don’t take this off for any reason, baby.”
“I already have a watch, Brent.”
“This one has a tracker inside so we can ping your location. If we’re separated, I want to be able to find you quickly.” Probably overkill, but he wasn’t taking chances with the woman he loved. Brent had a bad feeling about this and he didn’t intend to lose Rowan to an oversight on his part.
“You’re worried.”
Perceptive woman. “Yeah, I am. This arrangement to bring the records to the funeral doesn’t feel right. That’s why I’m hedging my bets.” Brent was positive the meeting was a trap. Didn’t know any kidnappers who wanted to leave a hostage alive to testify against them, even one as young as Alexa.
“You’ll have several operatives in and around the funeral home. I don’t see how the kidnappers could touch me.”
“Unexpected things happen. Even my best laid plans could go awry.” He threaded his fingers through hers. “That’s why you won’t have the records with you.”
“But they’ll kill Alexa if I don’t hand them over.”
“What motive would you have for producing the records if they kill Alexa? None. She’s leverage to make you cooperate. They want the records and you want Alexa. Until they get what they want, they’ll keep her alive.”
Rowan was silent a moment, her gaze searching his face. “And after?”
He didn’t want to tell her the truth, refused to lie to her. She deserved the truth no matter how painful. “They’ll try to kill both of you. We won’t allow that to happen. I need you to trust me, baby.”
She gave a short nod. “Who will have the records, then?”
“I will.” He brushed her cheek with his thumb. “If the kidnappers want them, they deal with me. If something goes wrong, know that I will turn the world upside down to find you and Alexa. I’ll never give up until you’re back in my arms.”
Rowan kissed him. “I believe you. More important, I believe in you and your people. If anyone can save us, it’s you.”
He stared, warmth blooming around his heart. How did she do that? A few simple words meant everything to him. At a time when her life was in turmoil and the opportunity to bond with her minimal, Rowan had faith in him. “Time to go.”
Brent wanted to hide her where Carstairs and the kidnappers would never find her. His lips curved.
