Her gaze went to where his hands gripped her. As I see it, the only person Im in danger of is you. She looked up at him, her face stony cold. Let go of me.
Hurt tugged at his chest, making it hard to breathe. Ben didnt have time to explain what had happened. He just needed to get her the hell out of there. Look, we dont have much time. Theyll be here any moment. Get your purse and keys. We have to go, now.
Her brows rose on her forehead. Im not going anywhere with you until you tell me whats going on and where youve been.
I was held captive by Nicky Wayne. I escaped. Now hes after you and me. The end. Can we go now? He reached for her arm again, anxiety mounting. Any minute Nickys thugs could storm through the door and
She stepped back, that stubborn look hed always found amusing pinching her lips together into a tight line. And youre just now getting loose? Im supposed to believe you? She snorted. Everyone else must be right. You have gone to work for the Wayne organization. I should have known it.
Ava. I wouldnt lie to you about this. The stakes are too high. He couldnt help glancing at her belly and she noticed his glance, her hand coming up to rest on the swell. Wayne was drugging me. I was in too much of a fog to know until I got sick and couldnt hold down the food hed drugged me with.
What about Julie? Were you responsible for her murder?
Are you crazy? I loved Julie like a sister. I would never have hurt her.
The hard line of her jaw softened briefly before it hardened again. Im sorry. I cant do this. She turned away from him and walked into the kitchen.
Do what? He followed, his ears straining for any sound out of the ordinary. Once in the kitchen, he reached for a loaf of bread and fumbled with the tie, his hunger threatening to overwhelm his other survival skills.
Ava grabbed keys from the counter and her purse. I cant fall back into your plans that easily. I dont know who to trust anymore.
Ben set the loaf of bread aside, all thoughts of food taking second place to what Ava said. You have to trust me on this one, Ava. Your life and the life of our child depend on it.
My child, Ben. Im not the one who disappeared. Im not the one wanted for murder. Im the one carrying this baby. Alone. My baby. Im the one who will be raising it alone if you decide to disappear again. She looped her bag over her shoulder. I cant do it. I cant be your yo-yo, springing back every time you decide to take off.
Anger and frustration swelled in Ben. I didnt take off. I was captured. Im not running out on you or the child. Im here to help keep you two alive. Nicky Wayne is coming for you.
Why? Why would Nicky Wayne want me? Ive done nothing to threaten him.
You have something he wants.
What? Avas eyes widened, both hands going to her protruding belly, her head swaying side to side. Not my baby.
Ben frowned. He hadnt wanted to scare her, but, damn it, she had to cooperate. No, he doesnt want your baby. He wants that necklace I gave you with the medal of St. Joan of Arc on it.
Well, he cant have it.
Why? Whats happened to the medal?
I dont know. I dont have it.
What? He grabbed her shoulders. Where is it?
She looked away, her gaze darting to the corner of the room. I dont remember.
She did, but she wasnt telling him.
Look at me, Ava. He held her, his fingers digging into her arms, the soft scent of spring flowers twisting around his starved senses, making him dizzy. Forcing himself to focus on the seriousness of the situation, Ben stared into Avas eyes, willing her to understand. This is not the secret to keep, Ava.
For the second time, let go of me. Her jaw tightened and she matched him stare for stare until he dropped his hold. Immediately, she stepped out of reach, pulling her purse in front of her like a shield. Im not a puppet you can string along for your own purposes, to pick up when you feel like it and drop when youre bored.
God, he was losing her. Bens knees shook. What did he expect? After so many weeks gone and his previous connection to Del Gardos organization, did he think shed trust him, fall into his arms and be the loving wife hed left?
Hell, yes! Hed been through enough under Waynes treatment, he certainly didnt want more abuse by his own wife. Anger made his muscles stiffen. Youre coming with me.
Like hell. She stomped toward the door.
Where do you think youre going?
Out. She blew through the door, practically running in her own pregnant waddle.
Where are Emily and the boys? Ben asked.
Emilys at work. The boys are at their grandparents. Ava didnt slow until she reached the car.
Dont you care that they could be in danger as well?
I would if I believed you.
If he wasnt so intent on saving her sorry butt, hed laugh at the comical picture she made. Pregnant and angry, she was still the most beautiful, sexy, frustrating woman hed ever met. Ben had his job cut out for him. He ran after her, and tried to grab the keys from her fingers. Youre not driving.
Oh, yes I am. As if to prove him wrong, she eased behind the wheel of her Honda Civic and plunged the key into the ignition.
Ben hit the unlock button on her door before she could close it and jerked the back door open.
Ava had the car in gear and was rolling backward out of the driveway when Ben flung himself into the backseat.
She slammed on the brakes, dumping Ben onto the floorboard, his legs hanging out of the compact car.
Get out, she said, her voice tight and angry.
Why did she have to be so stubborn? Im going with you. You need protection.
The only person I need protection from is you, Ben Parrish.
Chapter Three
Still seething, Ava hit the accelerator and shot down the quiet residential street. She didnt know where she was going. Originally, all shed wanted was to get away from Ben. With him in the backseat, that wasnt likely to happen.
She could abandon the car, but then shed be on foot. After having walked two miles earlier that day, she wasnt sure she was up to another hike. The muscles across her abdomen tightened, reminding her that she needed to be calm. Under no circumstances was she to stress herself or her baby. The fetus needed another good month of gestation to ensure a healthy delivery.
Calm? Who was she kidding? Her disappearing-act husband, whod rather lie than tell her the truth, was picking himself up off the back floorboard. Combine that with the fact that she might be the target of a deranged mobster and the minor detail that she really didnt know where the hell she was going, pretty much summed up the stink-hole her life had become. Which reminded hernext step, shed call Emily and give her a heads-up, just in case Ben was telling the truth and they really were in danger. Calm? Ava stopped short of laughing out loud. She took a corner too fast just as Ben sat up. Centrifugal force did what Ava had hoped, throwing the man across the backseat.