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Baby On The Run
Hope White
SHIELDING THE BABYAfter someone kills her friend, Jenna North flees with the woman’s baby, determined to do whatever it takes to keep little Eli safe. And when undercover FBI agent Matthew Weller comes to her aid, she must accept his help—but she’s not sure she can trust him. Though Matt’s under strict orders to complete his assignment and take down a money laundering operation, he must protect Jenna and the little boy. Even if it means blowing his cover and risking his job. And in a showdown against dirty cops, the most important mission of his career—saving the woman and child he’s falling for—is also the hardest.The Baby Protectors: Keeping innocent children safe
SHIELDING THE BABY
After someone kills her friend, Jenna North flees with the woman’s baby, determined to do whatever it takes to keep little Eli safe. And when undercover FBI agent Matthew Weller comes to her aid, she must accept his help—but she’s not sure she can trust him. Though Matt’s under strict orders to complete his assignment and take down a money-laundering operation, he must protect Jenna and the little boy. Even if it means blowing his cover and risking his job. And in a showdown against dirty cops, the most important mission of his career—saving the woman and child he’s falling for—is also the hardest.
An eternal optimist, HOPE WHITE was born and raised in the Midwest. She and her college sweetheart have been married for thirty years and are blessed with two wonderful sons, two feisty cats and a bossy border collie. When not dreaming up inspirational tales, Hope enjoys hiking, sipping tea with friends and going to the movies. She loves to hear from readers, who can contact her at hopewhiteauthor@gmail.com.
Also By Hope White (#ua053ccce-31ec-58c3-83da-dc2bf9428d41)
Hidden in Shadows
Witness on the Run
Christmas Have
Small Town Protector
Safe Harbor
Baby on the Run
Echo Mountain
Mountain Rescue
Covert Christmas
Payback
Christmas Undercover
Witness Pursuit
Mountain Ambush
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Baby on the Run
Hope White
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-1-474-08059-0
BABY ON THE RUN
© 2018 Pat White
Published in Great Britain 2018
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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He had to get to her. Had to warn her.
As he struggled to get up, his head spun and he collapsed on the pavement. He coached himself to breathe, to think past the throbbing headache long enough to help Jenna.
An innocent woman protecting an innocent child.
“Matthew?”
He looked up. Colorful green eyes sparkled down at him. Jenna.
No, they’d find her; they’d kill her. “You need to...”
What? Be taken into FBI custody? Why? He was in no shape to protect her, and by the time backup arrived, the thugs would have surely found her.
“My keys.” He dug into his jacket pocket and fished them out. As he offered them to her, they slipped through his trembling fingers. “Take the truck. Get out of here.”
He heard the keys scrape against the pavement. Good. She was taking his advice. Looking out for herself and the child.
A few seconds passed, maybe minutes; he couldn’t be sure. What he did know was that if the cops found him they’d ask questions, risking his cover.
Then again, he could tell the truth, to a point. He’d been jumped and beaten, and when he regained consciousness his truck was gone.
“Open your eyes.”
It was Jenna’s voice.
He blinked a few times and found himself looking up at her beautiful face.
Dear Reader (#ua053ccce-31ec-58c3-83da-dc2bf9428d41),
Our past experiences, including traumatic events, shape who we are as human beings. At the time we are going through challenging situations, we might lose hope and wonder if we’ll survive. Yet sometimes we come out of these situations as stronger people with new skills and insights into our lives and the lives of others.
Having survived an abusive marriage and the loss of her unborn child, Jenna North created a new identity and started a life away from the pain of her past. But when her friend’s child is suddenly in danger, Jenna must draw strength from her own personal tragedy and protect little Eli. Throughout the course of the story, Jenna realizes that running doesn’t put the pain behind her, and she can gain strength from facing the fear.
FBI agent Matt Weller is the ideal man to help Jenna find her confidence and strength as he protects her from criminals threatening her life and that of little Eli. Matt’s faith has helped him cope with personal tragedy, and his recovery from the pain is a good example for Jenna to witness.
As they rely on each other to protect a toddler from harm, Jenna and Matt exemplify teamwork and the blessing that we need not handle personal challenges alone. I’m ever so grateful for my family, friends and God, who help me along the way.
Peace,
Hope White
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
—Philippians 4:6
Many thanks to expert moms Stephanie Christanson and Cassy Patterson, along with Deputy Sheriff Ryan Sherman and FBI special agent Mike Johnson, for their patience in answering my many questions.
Contents
Cover (#ua44ea383-0d86-5bc6-a6c0-e4a42bf95443)
Back Cover Text (#u63a2557b-71ec-5ada-bb44-7c995ddb38ec)
About the Author (#uce274453-f2d9-5d4d-a030-051a7b888ea4)
Booklist (#u078f5fa6-0f41-5fad-8878-686cddc0d6e4)
Title Page (#u48f4cd01-a6eb-5c0f-b527-8b9a8006a1d8)
Copyright (#u76d801c1-fe9d-5641-8e71-98aca61bcb35)
Introduction (#u3403919d-407c-5ef2-9c53-305ed37362a7)
Dear Reader (#ub7df5eba-42d6-5a9a-83db-ef8a373cea04)
Bible Verse (#u2b965f7f-36e5-5ae1-97a8-60ed18e9c719)
Dedication (#uc6633aba-83c0-5e84-8482-f87d78b33e1d)
ONE (#u25b31173-b22a-5948-bfae-1904d2034f61)
TWO (#u94b48300-e0b6-5e80-9e66-f973a2dc67a9)
THREE (#u999cb8c5-5d64-57c1-9a10-c008a8215408)
FOUR (#u6eaa65bf-545c-5321-8d86-d4ee00a436d0)
FIVE (#litres_trial_promo)
SIX (#litres_trial_promo)
SEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
EIGHT (#litres_trial_promo)
NINE (#litres_trial_promo)
TEN (#litres_trial_promo)
ELEVEN (#litres_trial_promo)
TWELVE (#litres_trial_promo)
THIRTEEN (#litres_trial_promo)
Extract (#litres_trial_promo)
ONE (#ua053ccce-31ec-58c3-83da-dc2bf9428d41)
“You need to protect little Eli.”
Jenna North studied her friend. “What’s this about, Chloe?”
Chloe gazed at her eighteen-month-old son as he clutched a small white polar bear in one hand and ran a wooden train across a coffee table with the other.
Paperwork had kept Jenna late at the Broadlake Foundation, where she worked as development manager, when she received Chloe’s frantic call. Jenna offered to stop by Chloe’s house on the way home, but Chloe rejected the idea. Instead, she came straight over to the school-turned-community-center where the foundation leased space. Jenna hadn’t expected Chloe to bring Eli with her, not at this hour.
“I’ve made some bad choices,” Chloe suddenly confessed.
Haven’t we all? Jenna thought. “God forgives, remember?” The words tasted bitter rolling off her tongue. “Chloe, what’s going on?”
The young mother shook her head.
“Come on. I can’t help unless—”
“I’m scared!”
Eli looked up at his mom with rounded eyes. She pulled him into her arms and rocked slightly. “I’m sorry, sweetie. I’m sorry.” She eyed Jenna. “Promise me you’ll protect him.”
A chill ran down Jenna’s spine. Could she truly make that promise considering she’d been unable to protect her own son?
And even herself?
“Please,” Chloe begged.
Jenna nodded. “I promise.”
Chloe sat back down, clinging to her son. Eli had other ideas. He squirmed against her, so Chloe put him down and he squatted to dig for another toy in his diaper bag. He pulled out a second train and waddled back to the coffee table. Tears formed in Chloe’s eyes as she watched him.
Frustrated, Jenna wondered whom to call for help. Perhaps Chloe’s counselor? Chloe had admitted to struggling with depression in the past.
“Have you called Rosalie?” Jenna asked.
