“You’re terrified. Tell me why now.”

She bit her lip. “I can’t. Let’s just say my family is in a situation to hurt the father and while I’m not a fan of his, I don’t want anything to happen to him. I also don’t want my baby growing up without any family since mine will be in prison for murder. You need to just leave.”

Flame watched her and his features softened. “You’re giving me no choice but to do this the way I didn’t intend. I won’t reconsider and leave you this way without a security detail. I was certain I could talk you in to going with me but I see now that you are determined to stay.” He glanced at her stomach once more, took a deep breath, and his gaze hardened when he met her eyes. “I’m so sorry. Don’t be afraid but you are going with me. You’ll see the doctor, have round-the-clock security and that isn’t up for debate. You’re obviously in extreme danger anyway and it was a good thing we found you. Please don’t fight me. Think of your baby.” He moved.

Becca backed up and her ass hit the counter. “No.”

In four long steps he had her and his hands carefully gripped her arms gently. “The helicopter comes. You would have heard it in a moment and known I planned to take you whether you agreed or not. I don’t wish to cause you fright and remember no one is going to hurt you. We are going to Reservation where Trisha will look you and the baby over. You have no choice in this. Remain calm for the baby.”

“Let me go, damn it!” Becca yelled and tried to twist away.

He suddenly released her and easily scooped her up into the cradle of his arms. Becca screamed and clawed at his shirt. “Put me down.” She didn’t struggle, too afraid he’d drop her and he was tall. It would be a long fall to the floor.

“Think of your baby,” he growled loudly. “Relax and slow your breathing. Calm.”

Terror hit Becca but she stopped tearing at his shirt. Her fingers fisted the material though, clung to him and tried to find words that would make the big New Species put her down.

“This is kidnapping! Yeah. It’s illegal and you’re not on NSO property. I’m a US citizen and I refuse to go with you. You can’t do this. It’s against the law.”

He glanced down at her and arched an eyebrow as he carried her through the house. “I’m aware of some of your laws. Possession is nine tenths of it and I have you.” He adjusted her in his hold to secure her tighter against his bulky chest. “You are safe.”

She knew she couldn’t get away from him and he wasn’t going to change his mind. She studied his handsome face, didn’t see anger there, but pure determination was easy to read. Flame was taking her to Reservation come hell or high water. She heard the helicopter approaching as he reached the front door. It was wide open now, something he must have done before startling her in the kitchen, making her suspicious that he had planned to carry her out in the first place.

Please don’t be my dad’s pilot, she prayed silently, watching the helicopter land between the tree line and her rental cabin. She’d met her father’s pilot but couldn’t remember his name. He’d remember her though for sure. Her dad boasted that he kept pictures of her in his office at work. The pilot might have forgotten her from the brief meeting they’d had at her dad’s house but looking at her pictures in an office almost every day tended to make someone learn a face.

Relief swept through her when she saw the helicopter pilot. He was much older than her father’s pilot, not anyone she’d ever seen before. The back doors opened. She tensed again, praying none of the task-team members were inside. It was two Species males who jumped out. No one else was inside the belly of the helicopter and she relaxed. She was still safe and unknown for the moment. Her dad wouldn’t be getting any calls that would trigger a rampage.

Flame carried her down the porch steps and addressed the two NSO officers who stood next to the waiting helicopter. “Get her things and lock up the cabin. She has food on the counter that needs to be put away. The helicopter will return for you in half an hour,” he yelled.

The men nodded. Becca glanced at the new faces, neither familiar, and gasped when they suddenly gripped Flame’s upper arms. They lifted him, with her still resting in his strong arms, off the ground and into the helicopter. Flame ducked his head, carried her to a bench and sat. The doors closed.

He adjusted her to put on his belt but was careful to keep one arm hooked around her ribs at all times in case she bolted. She considered it but the helicopter lifted off. It was too late and she wished it wasn’t so loud inside. She’d love to try to convince him to take her back, even if it was pointless. The guy was stubborn and she knew the type well. Her dad’s image flashed through her mind. He’d murder Brawn, go ballistic and maybe even take out other Species. No way would he believe she hadn’t been forced to have sex with Brawn. Even if he accepted that she’d been attracted to him, in her father’s eyes, the circumstances would have made her consent invalid.

Memory surfaced of two days after she’d been home from her ordeal. Her father had suddenly walked into her home, hugged her and pulled back to study her face. His words still haunted her.

“It put me in a hell of a situation when you were taken, baby. I swore to protect them but damned if I wouldn’t have killed New Species if that had been some kind of breeding project they’d taken you to. I wouldn’t have cared if they’d been drugged or victims. You’re my girl and every single one who touched you would have had to die. I couldn’t sleep nights knowing that you were helpless in there, scared. I couldn’t bear to think that anyone had laid a finger on you.”

She’d lied and assured him nothing had happened but he’d refused to stop going on about what he’d have done. She’d stood there and let him hug her again, knew he’d go to prison to show her his version of love and been terrified of what he’d do if he ever found out she’d had sex with Brawn.

The helicopter hit a little turbulence, pulling her from her thoughts and panic struck. Doctor Trisha would recognize her the second they met. She’d been the doctor who’d examined her after she’d been rescued from that warehouse basement. She turned her head to stare at Flame.

“You can’t do this to me. Let me go, damn it. You don’t understand.” She yelled to be heard, knew he caught the words and it encouraged her. “Please?”

He looked apologetic look but shook his head. His hold on her tightened as if he feared she’d try to get up and rush for the door. She wasn’t stupid or suicidal. More turbulence shook them roughly and Becca felt suddenly sick. She threw her hand up to her mouth to cover it.

Flame cursed and lifted her off his lap, holding her inches above it to lessen the motion of flying. “Close your eyes and breathe through your nose,” he ordered loudly. He adjusted his hold enough to grip her wrist and tapped her skin there with his thumb over her pulse.

It distracted Becca enough that the nausea eased but not by much. His hold on her was very gentle, almost reminded her of Brawn. She closed her eyes and buried her face against his neck. His warm skin, the strong arms and the big body felt eerily similar to Brawn as well.

“We’re almost there,” Flame said loud enough to be heard. “I’ve got you and it’s almost over.”

Becca’s thoughts ran rampant. Brawn was going to find out about the baby soon. Her father had told her he was a council member. He’d be informed she was at Reservation as soon as Doctor Trisha recognized her. Tears filled her eyes and she hated how some of them spilled out against Flame’s neck. He nuzzled her with his head, probably trying to comfort her and that made it worse.

She didn’t want to see Brawn. He hadn’t called and she was still hurt and angry that she’d meant so little to him when she’d believed they had shared something special. He’d be shocked to learn she was pregnant, probably as stunned as she’d been, but she worried he’d be mad too.