Georgia’s cheeks flamed, but Bennet excused himself to organize the prescription. “Why did he tell you that, and not me?” she asked, her lips twitching.

“He assumed we were a couple.”

One of her brows raised. She gestured at the coveralls she wore. These were a plain grey, not the black that was the standard Elite company issue. “Was it my glamorous outfit that decided him?”

Rainer passed a hand over his face, leaning against the exam table until they were almost touching. “I’m sorry you were hurt.”

“Not your fault.” A fine line appeared between her brows. “At least, I don’t think it was. I’m not entirely sure what happened.”

Georgia reached up to touch the back of her head, wincing. “One minute, we were talking. The next, I was on the ground.”

“So, you don’t remember me tackling you?”

Her rosebud mouth pursed. “Youdidknock me down,” she said, her disbelief mingling with indignation.

“You don’t remember being shot at?”

Her eyes flared wide. “Someone shot at me?”

“No.” He shook his head. “Someone shot atme.”

It took a moment for that to sink in. “Oh.Oh…”

A tiny nod as she began to piece everything together. “You fought them off.”

“The bullet came first. One of the men shot wide, into the garage. The bullet hit the wall.”

It had been a small caliber—something meant to scare and possibly incapacitate him. But it wasn’t a bullet that would do a lot of damage. The kidnappers hadn’t wanted to kill him. Not before they got their ransom.

His instincts about Georgia’s inherent kindness were proven right when she didn’t say ‘I told you so’.

Rainer pulled up a chair, dragging it next to the exam table before sitting. “I want to apologize for bringing those people to your door. Because of my visit today, the kidnappers know where you live.”

Georgia’s lips parted, and she tried to scramble up. “Ephraim.”

A hand on her stomach, he urged her back down. “He’s fine. Ephraim arrived shortly after we left. Powell had a man waiting for him.”

Her lashes fluttered. “Why?”

This was the part that could get sticky. “We’re relocating him.”

Lips parting, she gaped. “Oh.”

“The house has been compromised,” he said, echoing Powell’s assessment. “The kidnappers could come back at any time.”

She nodded slowly. “Did you take him to a hotel or something?”

“No,” he said. “To an apartment in a building that I have part ownership in.”

She shuddered at the wordownership, her glance flicking down. Abruptly, he straightened, removing the hand he’d splayed across her abdomen.

Georgia’s breathing slowed. “So, he’s safe?”

“Yes.” Rainer hesitated. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but, luckily, you’re moving. I would hate to leave you in a vulnerable position. I think it best that we move all your things into the same apartment as Ephraim. It has four bedrooms and an office—there’s plenty of room for you both. Any furniture that doesn’t fit can go in one of the basement storerooms if necessary.”

Her face fell, silent confirmation of his suspicion. Selling the family home hadn’t been voluntary. They were being forced to do it because of the shutdown of Ephraim’s business.

“Are you sure moving is necessary?”