“I’m taking you to the hospital,” he said as he tried to keep himself from crushing her in his twitching, battle-ready arms.
“I’m fine,” she insisted. “Shaken up, but that photographer will be the one wearing bruises.” She pulled away and stalked into the elevator.
Joaquin waited until they were in the apartment to say, “The baby?”
“Fine, I think.” Her profile turned stiff and wan. “I wasn’t hurt and I was moving furniture before I knew I was pregnant. Nothing happened. I’ll see a doctor if it becomes necessary, but for now, I’d rather be here where I’m safe and comfortable.”
Ifit became necessary. The mere thought of her losing the baby made him sick. If she went through anything more because of his father—
Joaquin closed his eyes. He couldn’t let himself think of it. It made him too murderous. This had to end.Today.
“No, you don’t have to come,” Siobhan was telling her mother over video chat. “I promise I’m fine. This will blow over in a few days— Yes, I know, but now that I know I’m doxxed, I’ll take precautions. Yes. Cup of tea. Feet up. I’m doing it now. Tell the girls I’m fine, but I’m turning off my phone for a while. Thankyou. I love you, too.” She sank onto the sofa and blew out a long breath.
“Will you put the kettle on for me?” Siobhan called while she watched the video. “Oh, come on,” she couldn’t help exclaiming.
“What?” Joaquin asked shortly. “I thought you were turning that off.”
“I was on the phone the whole way here. I hadn’t seen the video.” She sent him a bright grin, then looked back at the screen. “Whenever I took those self-defense classes, they would warn me that it’s different in real life, that I might freeze in shock, but muscle memory works. I look like a freaking action star. And could I have been more camera ready?” She pointed at the hair and makeup that had withstood her tussle and was still on point and tapped Watch Again. “I’m so glad I wore those boots today.”
“It’s not funny, Siobhan,” he near shouted.
“It kind of is.” She couldn’t help her smirk. “The guy looks like a cat that fell in the toilet.”
“Nothing about this is funny.”
She sobered as she took in his hair standing in spikes from his agitated fingers, his grim expression and the light of torment in his eyes.
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” She dropped her phone onto the cushions and rose to hug his waist, finding his body had turned to concrete, but his arms locked tightly around her. “I’m sorry you were worried about me.” She rubbed her cheek on his chest then tilted her head back. “But don’t you find it a little bit reassuring that I can take care of myself?”
“You shouldn’t have to!” He pulled away and shot his hand into his hair again.
“I know, but this isn’t your fault. We don’t even know if your father is behind it. Someone else may have recognized me.”
“No, it was my father,” he said grimly, pacing a few steps. “Henri called me just before you arrived. I’ve been using him as a go-between to buy up some of Lorenzo’s debts. One of the creditors put it together and tipped off my father to my plan.”
“Wait, what? You were using Henri?” Her heart juddered to a stop in her chest. Her whole body went cold.
Joaquin held up a hand. “That was a poor choice of word. I asked Henri at Christmas to let me use his channels, so my father wouldn’t know I was behind the buying of his debts. We were trying to stay ahead of my father learning of your connection to the Sauveterres. I knew he would exploit it once he found out.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” She waved an agitated hand.
“I didn’t want to upset you.”
“And you knew I would be upset,” she said, growing worse than upset. “You knew this was a red line for me. I thought you wantedme. Not Henri and his resources. I thought you and I were growing closer. I thought I could trust you.” She had fallen inlovewith him.
“You can,” he swore, but the shadows of betrayal stayed heavy over her heart.
She shook her head, wondering how she could have been so stupid. Again.
“For God’s sake, Siobhan. This is what he does.” Joaquin’s voice shook. “If he can’t take what I have, he destroys it. Don’t let him do that tous.”
“Whatus? I’m here because I thought we were a team. A partnership.” She had to blink fast because her eyes were welling. “I trusted you soyouwould trustme. I took a chance for our baby. Foryou. I wanted to show you it was safe to loveme so I—” Her throat flexed, nearly closing over the words. “I let myself fall in love with you.”
He drew a rough breath and held out a hand, but she brushed it away.
“Don’t act like that’s news to you. I told you it could happen! I thought at the very least it wassafeto love you, but it’s not.”
A number of emotions flashed across his face before he shuttered his expression, brick by brick.
