Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

stroked her hair. “I don’t know what I would do if anything happened to you. I love you, Bella, I can’t lose you.” A knock at the door had him turning. Liz and Sal stood in the doorway, eager to see for their own eyes if Bella was okay.
    “Hey, sis, you okay?” Sal came forward and placed a loving hand on her leg.
    Liz rushed in and burst into tears when Bella gave them all a weak smile. Sal tried to take Liz in his arms, but she pushed away from him. “We were so worried, Bella. I’m so sorry that we made you go to the spa. I never thought something like this would happen. It’s all my fault! Oh God! You and Tara could have been killed!” Liz cried.
    “It’s not your fault. Slade and I were there, too. We all thought they would be safe inside the spa. Mac, we didn’t see anyone suspicious. He wasn’t there.” Sal scrubbed his hands over his face.
    Bella struggled to surface again. “Tara? Oh God—”
    Jason gently ran his hand down her cheek in a soothing motion. “Tara also ingested some poison when she ate the raspberries. Luckily she recognized the signs when she checked you out and she made herself throw up most of it before it made its way through her system. She is resting in another room but will be fine. I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
    Bella smiled and squeezed his hand reassuringly.
    “Okay now, everyone out. I have to talk to my patient.” Sydney’s voice was serious enough that the others left the room without any argument, except for Jason.
    “No.”
    Dr. Sydney Dixon put her hands on her hips and sighed in exasperation. “Yes, Mac. I may work for you guys, but I am still first and foremost a doctor. That means doctor-patient confidentiality and private exams. You may not like it, but I will give Bella the same courtesy that I afford every one of you and your stubborn colleagues.”
    Sydney’s expression softened as she saw how Jason MacBain hovered over Bella as if he were her shield against the world. She had known him for years but had never seen him like this. It was like he was a different man. She gentled her voice and asked again for a few minutes with Bella. Jason hesitated but finally conceded after Bella shooed him away.
    “But, don’t go far, okay?”
    Jason paused when he heard Bella call out to him and forced a smile. “Darling, I’ll be right outside the door.”
    He shot the doctor a frigid look before quitting the room, grumbling that he would only give them five minutes. Sydney asked him to close the door, making his frown deepen to a scowl, but he closed the glass door. He remained right outside where he watched over Bella, with arms crossed.
    “Dr. Dixon—”
    “Please call me Sydney. It’s nice to finally meet you, Bella, although I wish it were under different circumstances. Please don’t worry. You’re going to be fine,” she hastened to reassure Bella, seeing the panic she tried to hide. “I do want to monitor you for the next few days, but you were very lucky. Please make sure not to talk too much since I know your throat is probably a little raw still. It’s very important that you rest for the next week or so and make sure that you recover completely.”
    “Okay.” Bella’s eyes wanted to close and she had a difficult time listening to the doctor.
    Sydney paused for a moment before she said, “Bella, I did a full workup on you when you came in.” Sydney took a quick peek at Jason’s stationary form right outside the door. Although she knew he couldn’t hear what was being said, she was fully aware that he was capable of reading lips. One always had to be on guard with these agents. She shifted to block his view of Bella with her body and lowered her voice. “Bella, did you know that you’re pregnant?”
    Bella’s eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open in shock.
    “I guess you didn’t. You’re only a few weeks along, but I want to assure you that the baby is fine.” Sydney rushed on in a hushed voice. “I wanted to tell you while Jason was out of the room…in case.”
    “A baby?” Bella was shocked. “Are…are you sure?”
    “Yes, sweetie, I double-checked.”
    “A baby,” Bella whispered in awe then concern came in waves. “Jason and I haven’t really talked about…I don’t even know if…Are you sure everything is okay?” She moved her small hand over her abdomen as if to protect the child that rested inside her body.
    Jason’s child.
    “Everything is fine.” Sydney patted her hand. “But that’s why I