An Unexpected Clue

A chuckle escaped his lips. “It’s where we landed.”

She stared at their tangle of legs. “Did I—?”

Ben’s chest tightened and he turned her to face him, sitting squarely in his lap. “Yes, you dropped like a rock.”

Her dark, coppery brows knitted and she struggled to stand. “I haven’t done that since…”

“Since you were in your first trimester?” He held her steady until she managed to get to her feet and then he stood up behind her. He wanted to laugh out loud at the joy of being with her, but knew that she wouldn’t be as amused, probably thinking she looked huge.

In truth, she hadn’t changed much, other than the roundness of her belly. If anything, her pregnancy made her even more beautiful.

All Ben wanted was to hold her in his arms and make up for all the weeks they’d been apart.

When she turned to face him, he knew folding her into his embrace wasn’t an immediate possibility.

Her green eyes darkened and she crossed her arms beneath her breasts, resting them on her protruding baby bump. “Where have you been?”

He could go into a long discussion about what had happened to him in the past weeks, but he didn’t have clearance to discuss his mission until he talked to his supervisor, Jerry Ortiz.

The important thing was to get Ava to safety. Nicky Wayne had connections and it wouldn’t be long before he discovered her whereabouts, if he hadn’t already. “I’ll answer all your questions later. Right now, we have to get out of here.” He hooked her arm with his hand.

Ava jerked free of his hold, her feet planted firmly in her sister’s Berber carpet. “I’m not going anywhere until I know what the hell happened to you and why you disappeared off the face of the earth.”

The sound of a car door slamming outside made his pulse jump. Ben raced to the front windows and inched the wooden blinds away from the frame. A woman walked up the drive of the neighboring house and entered.

“Expecting someone?” Ava stood behind him, her frown deeper than before.

“Yes. That’s why we need to leave here immediately.” He grasped her shoulders and stared down into her eyes. “You’re in danger.”

Her gaze went to where his hands gripped her. “As I see it, the only person I’m 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 didn’t have time to explain what had happened. He just needed to get her the hell out of there. “Look, we don’t have much time. They’ll be here any moment. Get your purse and keys. We have to go, now.”

Her brows rose on her forehead. “I’m not going anywhere with you until you tell me what’s going on and where you’ve been.”

“I was held captive by Nicky Wayne. I escaped. Now he’s after you and me. The end. Can we go now?” He reached for her arm again, anxiety mounting. Any minute Nicky’s thugs could storm through the door and…

She stepped back, that stubborn look he’d always found amusing pinching her lips together into a tight line. “And you’re just now getting loose? I’m 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 wouldn’t lie to you about this. The stakes are too high.” He couldn’t 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 couldn’t hold down the food he’d 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. “I’m sorry. I can’t 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 can’t fall back into your plans that easily. I don’t 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. I’m not the one who disappeared. I’m not the one wanted for murder. I’m the one carrying this baby. Alone. My baby. I’m the one who will be raising it alone if you decide to disappear again.” She looped her bag over her shoulder. “I can’t do it. I can’t be your yo-yo, springing back every time you decide to take off.”

Anger and frustration swelled in Ben. “I didn’t take off. I was captured. I’m not running out on you or the child. I’m here to help keep you two alive. Nicky Wayne is coming for you.”

“Why? Why would Nicky Wayne want me? I’ve done nothing to threaten him.”

“You have something he wants.”

“What?” Ava’s eyes widened, both hands going to her protruding belly, her head swaying side to side. “Not my baby.”

Ben frowned. He hadn’t wanted to scare her, but, damn it, she had to cooperate. “No, he doesn’t want your baby. He wants that necklace I gave you with the medal of St. Joan of Arc on it.”

“Well, he can’t have it.”

“Why? What’s happened to the medal?”

“I don’t know. I don’t have it.”

“What?” He grabbed her shoulders. “Where is it?”

She looked away, her gaze darting to the corner of the room. “I don’t remember.”

She did, but she wasn’t 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 Ava’s 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. “I’m not a puppet you can string along for your own purposes, to pick up when you feel like it and drop when you’re bored.”

God, he was losing her. Ben’s knees shook. What did he expect? After so many weeks gone and his previous connection to Del Gardo’s organization, did he think she’d trust him, fall into his arms and be the loving wife he’d left?

Hell, yes! He’d been through enough under Wayne’s treatment, he certainly didn’t want more abuse by his own wife. Anger made his muscles stiffen. “You’re coming with me.”

“Like hell.” She stomped toward the door.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

“Out.” She blew through the door, practically running in her own pregnant waddle.

“Where are Emily and the boys?” Ben asked.

“Emily’s at work. The boys are at their grandparents.” Ava didn’t slow until she reached the car.

“Don’t you care that they could be in danger as well?”

“I would if I believed you.”