She didn’t fight him. What was the use? Right then she felt too raw and exposed, and truthfully, there was comfort in his closeness. She didn’t want to feel that way, not when he was the cause of her total humiliation, but still, he made her feel as if she really were safe, and she hadn’t felt that in a long while, not even as a child. Not since the kidnapping attempts.

There had always been rumors about her grandfather, but even the Feds hadn’t found anything. His businesses all had appeared legitimate. Sometimes she’d been suspicious because the army of men who worked for him clearly carried guns and did little more, it seemed, than watch both her grandfather and her closely. She had come to believe they were bodyguards, there to protect them, and even if they completely ruined any chance of dating, or having friends, they gave her grandfather peace of mind. Now she knew none of that was the truth.

Nothing she had believed had been the truth. Elijah was a part of that world. In fact, the Feds had investigated his family business numerous times. He’d always managed to come out without them finding the evidence they were certain was there, but everyone knew his family’s reputation. She had made herself believe he was just like her grandfather, wealthy, an astute businessman who had made enemies on the way. Her grandfather was guilty, so there was no doubt in her mind that Elijah was guilty.

“I’m not pregnant.” She announced it firmly through her tears, into her clenched fist and the knuckles she’d bitten. Her hands were sore when she curled her fingers but she needed something to focus on.

“Okay, baby.” He pressed a kiss to her nape.

She closed her eyes. If he’d argued, there might have been a possibility he just threw that out there. She didn’t know how many days had passed while the fever raged and she’d been in and out, but she knew some of the bruises had really faded and that meant some time had passed. Still, surely they couldn’t know for certain, but he wasn’t arguing with her. That was just plain scary.

“Elijah.” She said his name softly. A protest. “Please.” Fresh tears burned her eyes. He had to say he was lying. He just had to.

He held her closer, shifting so that her buttocks were pressed tightly against his front. She could feel him, the very male part of him. She should have felt threatened, but instead, something inside of her settled. It was all too much. She couldn’t fight on every front, nor could she process everything that had happened to her. She just couldn’t. If he’d just take it back, tell her it wasn’t true, that she wasn’t pregnant, she could cope—at least for the next few minutes.