Slade frowned while studying Becca grimly. “She doesn’t seem to be in Europe.”

“Nope,” Trisha agreed. “You should have told us right away, Rebecca. How did you send your dad postcards anyway?”

“My late husband has family over there and I asked a few favors.” Becca blinked back tears. “Just let me leave. I have money and can disappear again. My father…” She paused, pleading with Trisha with her eyes. “He can’t find out about this. He is going to go ballistic and he won’t let this go. He is going to be out for blood and we know whose he’s going to want. He’ll blame him for touching me regardless of it being consensual. He’s never reasonable when it comes to me. Just let me go and let’s end this right now before it’s a full-blown nightmare.”

“We can’t, Rebecca. That baby is going to need to be here where you’re safe. Did Flame tell you anything about what to expect from the pregnancy? A full-term New Species baby develops in about twenty weeks. You’re what? Eight weeks along?” Trisha took a step closer.

“Nine.”

“You’re almost halfway through your pregnancy. It’s why you are showing and can feel the baby move. I have a son with Slade. The New Species’ altered genetics are strong and override everything so the baby will be male and he will have the New Species physical traits. You can’t just have this baby and hide it. Your dad is going to have to find out at some point unless you were going to lie and say you were staying in Europe forever.”

“I sometimes fantasize about making up something about a car crash and possibly faking my death.”

Trisha’s eyebrows arched. Becca shrugged.

“I didn’t have all that planned out. I’ve been kind of trying to live day by day to avoid the stress.” Her hand rubbed her distended belly. “I think about it and yeah, stress. I know that’s not good for the baby.”

“We have to inform the father of the baby, Rebecca.”

“No.” Becca shook her head. “It’s my baby.”

“We have to. Your dad will find out at some point and you know that. He’ll go after him. You said so yourself. He needs to be warned at the very least. Would you like us to bring him here to give you the opportunity to tell him in person?”

Becca shook her head firmly again. “We have nothing to say to each other. I can’t stop you from telling him but if you do, I don’t want anything from him except to stay away from me.”

“You blame him for what happened?” Trisha’s face paled. “He was a victim too.”

“I know that and that’s not why I don’t want to see him. Just tell him I don’t want anything from him but for him to stay away. I was stripped of the choice to come here or not. Please don’t force me to see him too. Please?” Becca hated that tears filled her eyes. Hormones and the fear of what would happen were making her highly emotional and taking their toll. “Don’t I have enough to deal with already?”

Trisha hesitated, looked uncertain, but then blew out a breath. “Let’s go look at the baby and check you out. We’ll worry about that first and the rest later. Why don’t you go inside and strip everything off? I’ll be there in a minute.”

Becca nodded grimly and stepped into the exam room. She shut the door the second she was alone, leaned against it and closed her eyes. They were going to tell Brawn and her father the truth. The thing she’d worked so hard to avoid was a total bust. As in I got busted. Damn. Damn. Damn. She put her hands over her stomach and rubbed. The baby moved and she knew at least one thing was right in her world.

Flame frowned. “You know who the father of her child is?” He peered at Trisha, waiting for an answer.

She nodded. “Don’t tell anyone who the father is until he is informed first. Hell, this information is considered completely classified so he’s the only one you tell. You heard her. She won’t tell him herself. I need you to do it, Flame.” She glanced at Pink. “Not a word to anyone about this. We’re the only ones who will know besides Justice when Slade calls him.”

Pink nodded.

Flame hesitated, looking grim. “Who am I going to go give the happy and shocking news to?”

Trisha glanced at her husband before addressing the Species male. “Find Brawn. He was forced to share a cage with her when he was kidnapped and they shared sex. This is going to be…” Trisha sighed, at a loss for words.

Slade put his arm around her. “Difficult for all.”

“Son of a bitch,” Flame cursed. “I think I know where he is. I heard some of the females discussing something this morning at breakfast, before I left for my work shift. I’ll go now.” He spun, noticed Pink’s shocked expression and totally understood that emotion. He stormed toward the doors.

* * * * *

Brawn danced closer to one of the females, happy to be distracted. He’d spent another sleepless night, a day with too much paperwork and hoped he’d wear his body down enough to rest. Breeze grinned at him, bumped her hip against his and her hand curled around his arm.

“Thank you.”

“For what?” He spun her, dipped her body until her hair nearly reached the floor and yanked her upright.

“For agreeing to come with me. Isn’t this fun?”

He had to admit it beat staring at walls. “Yes.”

“You’re taking me to dinner later.”

He hesitated.

“You are. I learned a new saying. All work and no play makes males boring.” She chuckled. “Or dull. Either way you need to have fun. You are grumpy and snarl at everyone.” She leaned into his chest and peered into his eyes. All humor fled. “I worry about you. We’re friends. You’d do the same for me.”

He couldn’t refute her words. He nodded. “I am aware.”

“Do you have nightmares?”

He forced his gaze from hers. He dreamed but he wouldn’t admit about what. He inched back so space was between their bodies.

“You’re not sleeping well.” She patted his chest through his shirt. “I will help you tonight.”

He tensed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“You’ve avoided everyone since you were rescued.” Her chin lifted and her dark eyes narrowed with determination. “I owe you.”

“Not that.”

She cocked her head. “Just take me out to dinner and allow me to care for you. You need a friend and I’m a good one.”

“You are.”

“Stop talking and dance.”

He pushed his thoughts back and grabbed her hand, spun her and smiled at the way she giggled. To see her experience such joy at such a little thing brightened his day. She was one of his, from his testing facility, and it was his job to keep her happy.

Motion drew his attention as Flame waved his arms from across the room. He stood by the bar, staring directly into Brawn’s gaze. The male had a grim look on his face and he knew instantly that something was wrong. He stopped dancing and released Breeze. Flame walked in his direction, paused ten feet away and all doubt left that the male had something to say to him. Brawn glanced at Breeze.

“I’ll be back.”

“Doubtful,” Flame muttered.

Brawn heard him and shot him a confused look. “Has something bad happened? Has a council meeting been called?”

“No.” Flame backed up to the bar and waved to motion Hound over. “Give me two more please.”

Breeze fisted his shirt. “You will pick me up at six, Brawn. Don’t make me hunt for you.”

He forced a smile and nodded. She released him and he edged around dancers to reach the male. Flame lifted two small glasses that contained dark liquid from the bar where Hound had set them. He met Brawn’s gaze and jerked his head toward the door.

Whatever had happened was bad enough to need privacy. Brawn’s shoulders straightened and he hoped that no Species were hurt. He followed Flame out of the bar. The male kept going, led him through the lobby of the hotel and stayed far ahead of him until they reached the outside. Confusion at Flame’s odd behavior kept him trailing behind him until they walked a good hundred free from the hotel to the grassy area in front of it.