Page 47 of Guarded from Treachery

I wish this was my baby, too.

It’s crazy. Unexplainable. But I do.

The doctor spends another few minutes moving the wand around and making notes on the computer. Once she’s done, she sets the wand aside and wipes the gel from Isla’s belly with a white washcloth. She hands a fresh one to Isla and says, “I’ll leave this with you to finish cleaning up. I’ll go print some photos for you, if you’d like?”

“Yes.” Isla nods emphatically. “Please. I would love that.”

After the doctor leaves the room, I send a quick text to Erik letting him know everything’s fine and we’ll be out shortly. Then I turn my attention back to Isla, who’s just sitting up and adjusting her dress.

“Can you believe it?” Her eyes are a bright, sparkling amethyst. Color is back in her cheeks. “It feels real now. And it’s not as scary—this part, at least. Seeing the baby… it’s incredible.”

“It is,” I agree, and I’ve never meant anything more. Something about seeing this little baby in Isla’s belly, so small but so magical…

“I’ll do whatever it takes,” Isla says. Her jaw sets. A fierceness flashes in her eyes. “Anything to make sure the baby’s safe.”

I hadn’t planned on bringing this up until later, but now I’m seized with an almost rabid need to get her to a place Iknowshe’ll be safe.

Clasping her hand between mine, I ask, “Please don’t say no until I explain, okay?”

Her forehead creases. “Say no to what?”

“Well, you said you want to make sure the baby is safe. And I want that, too. I wantyouto be safe.”

“Matt, I told you, it’s not your fault what happened at the doctor’s office.”

I bite my cheek to keep from disagreeing. “That’s not what I’m talking about.” A pause. “Well, it is, but not how you mean. I just… I think it would be safer if you come back to Blade and Arrow.”

Isla spins around on the bed, so her legs are hanging off the edge. Her hand is rigid in mine, but she doesn’t pull it away. “Why do you think I should go to Blade and Arrow?”

“Because it’s clear the risk is escalating. And… shi—shoot. I don’t want to ruin this moment for you, Isles. But I really want you to be safe. And if you go there?—”

“Youkeep me safe, Matt. So do Erik and Rhiannon.”

“Yes.” Sort of. “But with you going to work every day, there’s a risk in that. Plus, we just can’t secure your apartment the same way the B and A ranch is. At the ranch, no one can get to you. We have twenty-five acres of land, ten acres of that with an unscalable perimeter fence around it. Plus another fence directly around the ranch. There are hundreds of cameras and alarms. Motion sensors that can detect humans in the woods. A radar that picks up drone movement. We’ve designed the place to be as safe as any government facility. More than most, probably.”

She stares at me for a second, thoughts working behind her eyes. “But what about my job? I can’t just leave.”

“I can work it out, Isla. Set it up so you work remotely. You know I can. Coming to the ranch won’t hurt your job. I promise.”

Taking advantage of her silence, I press on. “It would be less stressful there. And we can find a referral for a doctor in San Antonio or Seguin. Plus, Rhi and Dante are both medics, so they can help if anything comes up.”

“And you really think it would be a better idea to go there? Than staying in Dallas?”

“I do.” Holding her gaze, I continue, “And I think you’ll like it. You didn’t really get to see much the last time you were there. But the ranch is completely renovated, so everything is new. And we have a gym, and a sauna, and a shooting range.”

“Ashootingrange?”

My ears get hot. Why did I thinkthatwould be a great selling point?

“Well, we use it for practice. And Sarah, she’s Dante’s fiancée, remember, she wanted to learn how to shoot. But you wouldn’t have to, of course. I’m sure with the baby, you wouldn’t. Forget I mentioned it.”

“Matt.” Her expression softens. “It’s nice that you offered. I’m not sure about it, but maybe…”

“The client apartment is really nice,” I offer. “Jade and Rhiannon decorated most of it. But it has two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and you’d be right down the hall from me?—”

Shit. Why am I assuming she’d want to be?

But to my relief, a smile curves Isla’s lips. “You would be nearby?”

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