Volkan jerked his head in a nod at his head of security, then wordlessly pushed Yasmin up the steps and into the plane. She ducked her head as she climbed aboard and glanced around indecisively, unsure where she should sit. When she turned to look at Volkan, he was holding a needle up.

“No!” she gasped, trying to back away from him, but she bumped into the seats behind her. There was no escape from him. “Volkan, you can’t.”

He advanced on her, grabbing her arm and dragging her to him. He held her tight as he pressed the syringe against her bicep. She stood as still as she could so she wouldn’t accidentally push herself onto the needle, though panic threatened to overwhelm her.

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted out. “Please, you might hurt the baby.”

He froze, his eyes lifting to hers. For several long seconds, probably the longest of her life, he didn’t speak, then he said in a tone that suggested if she answered him wrong, he would snap her neck on the spot, “You were trying to run away with my baby?”

She shook her head frantically. “That’s not what happened.”

Ignoring her, he said, “You’ll soon learn that there’s no place on this planet you can hide from me. I will always find you.”

“Please, Volkan, you’re scaring me.”

“You should be scared.” He shoved her into the seat behind her. She caught herself and sat gripping the leather seat cushion. “Put your seatbelt on and do yourself a favour, don’t speak to me again. I can’t answer to what I’ll do if I have to listen to your mewling pleas.”

She gasped but bit her lip to keep from talking. There was no getting through to him while he was in a rage.

She settled into her seat, determined to do exactly as he’d told her, keep her mouth closed. Maybe he’d calm down before they got to wherever they were going.

He closed the door and put a headset on, then started the plane. He didn’t give her a headset and she was glad. It would aid in her vow not to say another word to him until he calmed down.

Takeoff was a blur, and when Yasmin’s panic settled enough, she felt the injustice of how Volkan was treating her. Clearly, Demir and Zeynep had set her up. Yasmin was convinced that, based on the conversation between the couple, Zeynep hadn’t meant her any harm.