“Yes,” Eli said. “But Jared is not its protector. He is yours.”

Jared put his hand on mine. “Ask your question, Eli. Ask the only question left.”

“Can you trust her?” he said.

“Nina?” Jared said. He looked at me, confused.

I could see Eli staring at us. His words were soft and slow. “A mother’s love is everything, Jared. It is what brings a child into this world. It is what molds their entire being. When a mother sees her child in danger, she is literally capable of anything. Mothers have lifted cars off of their children, and destroyed entire dynasties. A mother’s love is the strongest energy known to man. You must trust that love, and its power. Can you do that?”

Jared never took his eyes from mine. “Yes.”

Eli nodded. “Then have confidence to carry out your plans.”

I looked to Eli to tell him goodbye, but he had vanished. I took a deep breath, and threw my arms around my husband. “Do you feel better?”

“Not that I think you incapable, but I’m not practiced in the art of spectating.”

“He just told us we could go to Jerusalem and be safe! He just said everything will be all right! Didn’t you hear him?”

Jared frowned. “I heard him tell me to hand you total control.”

I smiled. “And I heard you say you would.”

Jared nodded, clearly frustrated. “I know. I will.” He took my hand and led me to the Escalade. I shot him a warning glare, and he winced. “I swear.”

“I don’t think he means that I should lead the operation. My love for our child will keep it safe. I take that as a good thing, and it sounds very simple.”

“Too simple. I don’t want you thinking we’re going to land and take a taxi to the Sepulchre and everything work out as planned. It’s going to get messy, very fast.”

I squeezed his hand. “We can do it. We have to.”

Jared took my face in his hands and pressed his lips against mine. I grabbed his blue T-shirt in each of my fists and pulled him closer. My stomach kept us farther apart than usual, but I was as close as I could get for the moment.

“Whoa!” Jared said, backing away.

I grabbed my stomach and laughed. “You felt that?”

“Of course I did. Think Bean’s trying to tell us something?”

“That we’re grossing him out?”

Jared opened my door and helped me in. “Oh, now it’s him?”

“I don’t know,” I said. “I’m playing around with both.”

Jared shut the door and in the next moment, slid into his seat. He shoved the shift into gear and then pulled away, a residual smile on his face.