‘My brother.’
‘What?’
‘He was thirteen.’
Shocked, Phoebe’s breathing shortened. ‘What happened? Is he okay?’
‘We got him back eventually, but he was never the same,’ he said stiffly. ‘I won’t take the risk of it happening to you.’
‘No one is going to want to abduct me,’ she whispered.
‘Unfortunately, you’re very wrong.’
So many questions raced through her head. Why had they targeted his brother? Had they caught the kidnappers? Where had he been held? But the one that popped out was fully needy. ‘Why didn’t you tell me sooner?’
‘I hadn’t the chance before you tried sneaking out of the hotel,’ he snapped.
‘I wasn’t running away entirely,’ she said defensively. ‘I just needed space to think.’
Space from him because he was overwhelming—at least, that was how she felt around him.
‘How was I supposed to know that?’ He breathed hard. ‘This is why we need to talk. And we can’t make arrangements without consulting the other first.’
‘Okay, then tell me where we’re going now.’ She shot him a sharp look.
He hesitated again. ‘Back to the vineyard. There’s both space and privacy there.’
‘It’s also isolated and difficult for me to get to an airport.’
He rubbed his hand over his head. ‘I thought you liked it there.’
She’d loved it there. But returning to the scene of the crime would be a risk to her self-control. This really was about safety. Duty. Not any kind of desire. He didn’twantthe baby. He wanted to do what wasrightfor the baby. She felt the rejection deeply personally. ‘No one needs to know it’s yours,’ she said softly.
‘What?’
‘I can leave the father’s name blank on the certificate.’
‘You would deny my paternity?’ He looked outraged.
‘If it makes my child safer, then yes.’ Phoebe lifted her chin. ‘You’re the one saying they’re in danger. The fact isyou’rethe source of that danger.’
She didn’t really mean it. But his high-handedness infuriated her. He was railroading her. Rushing her. She’d worked hard to rebuild her life and she needed to retain her independence because he was powerful. He had money. And how he made her feel was terrifying.
He paled. ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to ensure the child’s safety. And your safety.’
‘What does that mean?’
‘It means don’t get in my way, Phoebe.’
She glared at him. ‘You’re threatening me?’
He sucked in a sharp breath, clearly trying to calm down. ‘No, I’m telling you that I will keep you safe.’
‘Well, I don’t feel particularly safe, given you’re effectively holding meprisonerhere.’
‘I’m not,’ he growled and set her passport on the seat between them. ‘Truce, okay? Let’s start over.’
She took back her passport. ‘Difficult for me to use the thing when I’m locked in an armoured car.’
