You Can’t Have His Baby

‘For the things I said to you last time.’ Gideon looked her in the eye. ‘I shouldn’t have said those things about Austyn. It was stupid and wrong. And it hurt you. I’m sorry.’ ‘Water under the bridge.’ Kira waved a hand dismissively. ‘That’s a relief. Okay, your turn.’ ‘I’m sorry for slapping you in the face.’ Kira looked shamefaced. It had been an uncharacteristic outburst for her. ‘You’re forgiven.’ Gideon tousled her hair. ‘Like you said, water under the bridge. I can never stay mad at you.’ Kira swatted his hand away. ‘You’re messing up my ponytail.’ ‘You are in a good mood today. Is it because of Austyn?’ ‘You heard?’ Gideon nodded. ‘He’s returned to Stamford, right? So I take it everything’s fine with him?’ ‘It is.’ ‘That’s good to know.’ Gideon smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. ‘There’s another piece of good news.’ Kira’s face was flushed with excitement. Other than her father, Gideon was all the family she had left in the world—Helen and Georgina did not count. She had been meaning to call him and share the good news. ‘Oh? What is it?’ ‘I’m pregnant.’ Kira stared at the ground, feeling a little shy. How would Gideon react? Would he be all flustered like Austyn, or suffer a dropped jaw like Giana? Would he be happy for her? With her head lowered, she didn’t catch the murderous rage in Gideon’s eyes. The smile on his face vanished. He clenched his jaw. ‘What?’ ‘I’m…I’m pregnant.’ Kira looked up and was startled by the terrifying look on his face. ‘What’s wrong?’ ‘Austyn’s child?’ Gideon asked through gritted teeth. Kira stared at the veins throbbing on the side of his neck and felt panic rising in her chest. This was not the reaction she expected. And his question was making her uncomfortable. Of course it was Austyn’s child. Who else’s could it be? Kira took a step backwards. She thought Gideon would be thrilled to know he was going to be an uncle soon. But now she regretted telling him about her pregnancy. He didn’t look happy at all. ‘I should, uh, get back. Giana’s waiting for me. Can I take a rain check on the afternoon tea?’ Kira inched towards the main gate. Gideon clutched her wrist and spun her around. ‘What are you doing?’ He dragged her towards the BMW. ‘Gideon! Let go of me!’ Kira struggled. Gideon kept up his vice-like grip on her wrist and said nothing. ‘Gideon Garner!’ Kira shouted. He yanked open the front passenger side door and shoved her into the seat. Kira tried to clamber out but he slammed the door shut in her face. Terrified, Kira fumbled for the door handle. Gideon got into the driver’s seat before she could get out. He wrenched her hand away from the handle. The door lock thunked into place. ‘Gideon Garner!’ Kira shrank back in her seat and kicked out at him. ‘This is kidnapping! What the hell are you doing?’ He started the car. Kira punched his arms. ‘Stop the car! Let me out!’ ‘I’ll let you out at the hospital.’ His voice was deadly calm. ‘I don’t want to go to the hospital!’ Kira was scared by this version of Gideon. It was like he underwent a sudden transformation from Dr Jekyll to Mr Hyde. What set him off? He was fine a minute ago. What he said next made her blood run cold. ‘You’re going to the hospital, and you’re going to get rid of the baby.’ Kira stopped dead. ‘W-what?’ ‘You’re going to get an abortion.’ The car turned onto a boulevard. ‘You’re not having Austyn’s baby,’ Gideon declared. Kira was so shocked by what she heard, her brain shut down. The car was barrelling down the road at a hair-raising speed, but she barely noticed. She blinked. ‘What…what did you say?’ ‘You can’t have his baby, Kira.’ Gideon stared straight ahead. ‘I can tolerate you being with him, for now, but that doesn’t mean I can tolerate you having his baby.’ He had no choice. Kira didn’t give him enough time. He had been willing to wait—wait for Austyn to return, wait for Kira to discover Austyn’s bastard child, wait for their falling-out and the inevitable divorce. But Kira’s pregnancy threw a monkey wrench into his plans. He knew how much value she placed on family. Leland and Helen’s divorce left a traumatising mark in her memory. She abhorred the idea of a broken family. If she gave birth to Austyn’s child, she was never going to leave him. Then Gideon would never get her back. No, the child could not be allowed to exist. Kira couldn’t understand what he was thinking. Gideon’s jaw was set, a sign of his determination. ‘You have no right to decide that!’ She was tempted to wrest the steering wheel from him, but she was afraid it would only end in a car crash. She had her baby to think of now. She couldn’t afford to take any risks. Her hand stole towards her jeans pocket. ‘I thought you would be thrilled to have a niece or a nephew.’ ‘I’m more thrilled to have a son or a daughter.’ He added after a pause, ‘With you.’ Kira’s eyes widened. ‘You told me you’ve let go of the past! You said you’re okay with being my brother! I thought we were family!’ Her hand came up empty. Shit, she must have lost her phone during the struggle. It wasn’t in her pocket. ‘I had to say that because it’s the only way you’ll let me back into your life.’ Gideon caught her movement out of the corner of his eye. He wasn’t concerned. She wasn’t going to find her phone. And she wasn’t getting away.