Forged in Steele (KGI #7)(40)

“And what problem do you need solved?” she asked, afraid of what the answer would be.

“I’m having plastic surgery soon. Again.”

Her eyebrows went up in disbelief. Plastic surgery? He had to be freaking kidding.

“I’m not a surgeon,” she said. “I’m a general practitioner.”

He smiled in amusement. “There isn’t much I don’t already know about you, Maren, including the illicit visits from the man who is undoubtedly the father of your child, which is why I felt pressed to make my move now. And I don’t expect you to do my surgery. In my line of work, it becomes necessary to change my appearance every so often. That way I remain a step ahead of my pursuers—and there are many. The time has come for me to move on from this place and start over somewhere else. I’m starting to feel the heat, as you Americans say. Therefore I’ll be flying to Paris in a few days’ time and you’re going to accompany me and oversee my recovery.”

“Why on earth would you trust me?” she asked incredulously. “You have no reason at all to believe I wouldn’t betray you at the first opportunity.”

“Oh, but I do,” he said softly. “You see, I’m sure you value your unborn child’s life.”

She froze, her blood turning to ice. Fear trickled up her spine as she stared at his very determined expression. “What are you saying?”

“I’m proposing a bargain of sorts. You do as I want and no harm will come to you or your child. Give me any reason to doubt you and you’ll suffer. I can’t be any more clear than that.”

“You bastard,” she seethed. “What gives you the right to take over my life, keep me as a prisoner to act as your personal physician? Only a complete bastard would blackmail me with the safety of my child.”

“Think of me as you wish. But my offer stands firm. Prove yourself indispensable to me or you’ll be disposed of just as the others in my employ will soon be.”

“What do you mean, you’re disposing of the others in your employ?” she demanded.

He smiled. “So caring of others. It’s one of the things I like about you, Maren. But yes, I will be rid of those who serve me. It becomes necessary to disappear, and one can hardly do that when he’s surrounded by dozens of people. Only you and Armand will accompany me into my new life.”

“What will you do with them?” she whispered.

He shrugged. “Nothing directly. Perhaps the organization you have ties to will dispense with them for me when they come to rescue you. But that isn’t the important issue, Maren. Do I have your agreement? Are you going to cooperate or will I have to dispose of you as I do the others?”

She couldn’t believe this. It was absolutely surreal. Like some bizarre dream she couldn’t wake up from. Things like this didn’t happen in her world. Sure, she didn’t have the most normal existence. She’d certainly been in her share of predicaments. Africa came readily to mind. But KGI had gotten her out when she and several other aid workers had been held hostage by a militant rebel group. She just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and was caught up in a hostage situation.

But never had she been singled out like she had been now. She never drew attention to herself. She blended in, did her work and was largely ignored except by people seeking her services. While she couldn’t ever say her life was boring, neither could she say it was anything out of the ordinary. She did her work and spent the rest of her time in her cottage. Reading, drinking tea or other mundane, boring tasks.

“It doesn’t appear I have any real choice,” she said, despair creeping into her voice.

“There’s always a choice. Some are just more desirable than others.”

“What about after?” Her chin came up and she shook some of the paralyzing fear away. She had to be smart about this. Had to look beyond her initial panic and think of some way out of this. “Will you let me go after you’ve recovered from your surgery? And what about when my child is born? Will you let me go before I deliver?”

He pursed his lips and regarded her thoughtfully for a long moment. “That is something we will discuss when the time comes. You can rest assured that I will provide you the best medical care possible when it is time for you to deliver your child. And as long as you uphold your end of the bargain, no harm will come to you or your child. That’s the only guarantee I’m prepared to offer.”

Her heart sank. Would she forever be his prisoner? And maybe he wouldn’t touch her now, when she was pregnant, but what about after? Did he plan to keep her as his mistress? Would he force himself on her after her pregnancy was over?

He’d told her no harm would come to her or her child provided she cooperated. But what did he consider harm? If he was convinced of his sexual prowess, it was entirely possible he planned to make a move on her regardless of whether she was pregnant.

And then another thought hit her and it nearly crippled her. She raised her gaze to his and stared back unflinchingly.

“Promise me that you won’t separate me from my child,” she said. “I’ll agree to your terms if you swear to me that my child stays with me no matter what. And if you swear you won’t hurt either of us.”

The corner of his mouth quirked up into a half smile.

Her eyes narrowed and anger made her reckless. “I’ll make you a promise, Mendoza. If you do anything at all to harm my child or to take it away from me, I’ll kill you. I’ll find a way, and believe me, there are ways to die that you’d never expect. As a doctor I have extensive knowledge, and I wouldn’t hesitate to find a way to make you suffer. Are we understood?”