Page 18 of Guarded from Treachery

“Shit.” The curse slips out, low and rough. “Were you hurt, Isla? Are you okay?”

“Just some bruises on my arm. I was more scared than anything. But I went to the police again after that.”

“And?”

“I told them everything.” Her gaze dips to her lap. “And that’s when they called me a liar. They threatened to bring me up on charges of false accusations. They said I was wasting their time. That I was making up stories to avoid taking responsibility for my actions.”

“What?”

Isla looks back up at me, her twilight eyes drenched with misery. “I told them about the cars and the people outside. And the man grabbing me. But when I told them…”

Her voice cracks. Tears well up. “I found out a week ago. I’m… I’m pregnant.”

What?

The rest of her words come out in a rush. “I’d been feeling sick. Nauseous. But I never imagined… When I went to the doctor, she made me take a test. But I don’t know how it happened. I haven’t been with anyone in over a year. Not even a date. I’ve gone through the last two months over and over, and I can’t think of anything. But I took five tests and they’re all positive.”

Tears are running down her cheeks as she continues, “That’s why the police thought I was lying. They said I got pregnant and didn’t want to take responsibility. The social worker suggested counseling. Or adoption. But I know I wasn’t with anyone, Matt. Iknowit.”

This is so far from anything I was expecting to hear, I’m shocked into silence for a second.

“I’m not saying it’s the immaculate conception,” Isla adds, sniffing back tears. “I don’t think that. But I just don’t know how… And with everything else going on. It just seems like it has to be connected.” Then in an achingly tiny voice, “I’m scared. And I’m not sure what to do.”

Ah, shit.There are plenty of possible answers to this, and none of them are good.

“I have to ask some questions that aren’t going to be very nice,” I finally say. “And I’m sorry. But I have to ask.”

Isla nods miserably. “I know. But Matt, I’ve thought it all through. I haven’t even been someplace where my drinkcouldbe drugged. The most I do is go for one drink after work, and I go home right after. Alone. I haven’t stayed in a hotel, haven’t had surgery, not even the dentist. I live by myself. There just isn’t any way I can think of this happening. But I’m not making it up. I swear. I wish I was. It would be better than this… screwed up Lifetime movie plot come to life.”

“A what?”

“Lifetime movies? You know—” She stops. “Nevermind. I don’t think guys watch them. But my point is, it’s messed up.” A sob slips out. “And I wish like anything thiswasall in my imagination.”

My heart twists.

How can I sit here and watch her cry without offering some sort of comfort?

Although instinct urges me to pull her into my arms, I settle for covering her hand with mine, instead. “It’s going to be okay, Isla. We’ll figure this out.”

Her hand stiffens. Her eyes flicker to mine in surprise.

A second later, she squeezes my hand and doesn’t let go. “You believe me?”

Do I?

Am I just being swayed by her gorgeous eyes and her sweet vulnerability? If it were any of my teammates in this situation, I know that’s what I’d ask.

But I really don’t think so. My gut tells me she’s telling the truth. And that she’s desperately in need of our help.

“I believe you,” I tell her. “And I want to help.”

Shit. Except I can’t make an arbitrary decision like that. No matter how much I want to help Isla, I have to run it by the team. We have to make a decision as a group whether to take her on as a client or not.

Do Ithinkthey’ll all agree with me? Yes. With a team as close as ours, if anyone feels strongly about accepting a case, it’s likely everyone else will go along with it. But I can’t commit without at least having the conversation first.

So it’s with a sick feeling in my stomach that I have to add, “But I have to run this by the rest of the team, first. It’s just what we do. That doesn’t mean I don’t think they’ll agree to take you on?—”

“I get it.” Swallowing hard, she nods. “There are six of you. Of course, you need to discuss it first.”

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