A plate of grilled fish was set in front of her, and as she stared down at it, her stomach rebelled at the mere idea of putting it in her mouth. She sucked in steadying breaths through her nose, willing the nausea to go away.
Pregnancy had made her hypersensitive to smells, and the slightly fishy odor emanating from the plate sent her right over the edge.
“You don’t look well,” Mendoza said.
She glanced up to see him watching her, lazy amusement in his eyes.
“I can’t eat this,” she said, pushing it away.
“Any particular reason?”
“I can think of several. Being held against my will isn’t exactly great for inspiring an appetite,” she snapped.
“And it couldn’t be because you’re carrying a child and the thought of food makes you ill?” he asked mildly.
She couldn’t control her reaction. Her fear had to have been broadcast for the entire world to see. She pushed back from the table in a protective measure, putting as much distance between her and him as possible. How the hell could he know she was pregnant? Then, just as quickly, she dismissed her incredulity. Armand was her constant shadow and knew of her visits to the bathroom in the mornings and her sickness. He’d likely taken a stab in the dark, but she had betrayed herself with her reaction and now he knew his shot had been true.
“There’s no reason to panic. I have no intention of harming you or your child.”
“You’ll pardon me if I don’t believe that,” she said.
“I’ve been watching you for a while now. I’m attracted to you, Maren,” he said unemotionally. They could have been discussing the most mundane topic in the world for as much enthusiasm as was reflected in those words. “At first I sought you out because you were a convenient solution to a problem I needed solved. But I find I rather like the idea of you being where I am.”
“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.