Page 38 of The Hunted Wife

Then his phone vibrated on the nightstand. The time was six o’clock in the morning. He looked at the caller ID. Adam reached for the phone trying not to jostle Millie and wake her. She needed her sleep.

Benjamin. He was in their Denver office.

This couldn’t be good.

“Hello,” he whispered. “Benjamin. Why are you calling so early? You’ll wake Millie.”

“I’m sorry but this is important. Ricard is in jail but the CBI wants to talk to Millie as soon as possible. They will probably be at the gate soon. I couldn’t stop them.”

“Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll wake Millie.”

“No need,” came a groggy voice from next to Adam. “I’m already awake. Did Benjamin say the CBI wants to talk to me…again? I’ve told them the same thing over and over. I don’t know what my father has planned.”

“Let me put this call on speaker.” Adam pressed the button so everyone could be heard. “Now, tell us everything you know,” he instructed Benjamin.

Benjamin took a deep breath. “Apparently, your father has been informed of the events that happened here and Ricard’s subsequent arrest. He was furious…that Ricard failed. I wouldn’t put it past him to try again with someone else.”

“We’ll have to remain vigilant,” said Adam. “I don’t like the idea of playing the kidnap Millie game.”

“I’ll talk to my father, explain that nothing will change and he will only be losing soldiers and if he ever wants to see his grandchild, he will call off his dogs.” Millie rolled onto her side and put an arm over Adam’s chest, cuddling with him. “Believe me, he’ll leave us alone.”

Adam snorted. “You really think the threat of not seeing his grandchild will stop him?”

“I know it will. It is the only thing he thought I was good for…producing children. Now, he’ll want to see the results of his efforts—and he will say it was only through his efforts to get me married that I am now with child.”

“That bas—” Bile rose in Adam’s throat at what Millie had grown up with. How did his beautiful wife manage to survive and flourish under such conditions.

She reached up and put two fingers over his lips. “No cussing. The baby will hear.”

Benjamin roared with laughter. “She’s got you there big brother. You have to watch your language.”

Millie didn’t laugh. “Remember that goes for the rest of you, too. No cursing around me or the baby after it’s born.”

Benjamin groaned. “You’re stifling our First Amendment rights.”

She snorted. “You’ll survive.”

Adam smiled at Millie. She kept her own with his brothers now. She wasn’t afraid of them at all. In fact, he thought they might be a little afraid of her. “Benjamin do you have any more news?”

“Yes, Viktor is now talking and asking for a deal.”

Millie leaned up, supporting herself on Adam’s chest. “That’s ridiculous. Viktor was a soldier. He knows nothing about the inner workings of the Bratva.”

Adam shook his head. “Sounds like whoever he’s talking to doesn’t know that.”

She huffed out a breath. “When they try to confirm his information, they’ll find out soon enough.”

“Was there any other reason you called, Brother?”

“Yes, I don’t think we should let the security go. I’m afraid her father could come after her and if not him then someone else. Perhaps her father’s enemies. I’d just feel better, for now anyway, if we kept the extra security on the ranch.”

Adam nodded even though Benjamin couldn’t see. “I agree. Until we are certain the ranch is safe again, we keep the extra security.”

Millie huffed out a breath. “My father will not try anything now that I’m expecting. He’ll be afraid to, but we can revisit this after I talk to him.” She leaned back on the pillows and placed her right index finger on her chin. “Although, you might be right about Father’s enemies. If they find out about Ricard’s debacle here, they might try something. It seems highly unlikely since they know I am well protected here.”

Adam wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezed her to his side. “We’re going to do our best to make sure nothing happens to you. I know I fell down on the job with Ricard, but I won’t do it again. You have my word.”

Millie wrapped her hand behind his neck and brought his lips to hers. She kissed him and he returned it with his whole heart. When they broke apart she leaned her forehead against his. “I don’t blame you for Ricard taking me. I didn’t realize how desperate he was and neither did you. We’re human, not perfect.”