Patriot Threat. Steve Berry

señor insists.’

      ‘There was no need to disturb Raúl,’ Gianna protested, only to incur a frown in dissent.

      ‘I respectfully disagree. The señor insists you do not venture away from the villa alone.’

      You have to be joking. Words she didn’t express aloud. Instead, she merely inclined her head. ‘Would you mind waiting? I need to discuss something with the señor.’

      Did she ever!

      The office door was closed, its heavy panelled door an imposing statement which failed to deter her from issuing one brief knock before entering.

      Raúl glanced up from the computer screen, caught the determined look in those blue eyes, and settled back in his chair to view her with deceptive indolence.

      On one level he was amused to discover she imagined she could do battle with him…and win. Yet her barely concealed anger was intriguing.

      He was scheduled to participate in a conference call in five minutes, which didn’t allow much time for the inevitable verbal tussle she intended to perform.

      ‘Miguel has instructions to deliver and collect you from wherever you want to go.’

      Her eyes flared. ‘I don’t need a bodyguard. And don’t you dare refer to Miguel as anything else.’

      He lifted both arms and crossed them behind his head as he regarded her thoughtfully. ‘You’d prefer to drive to a destination you’re unfamiliar with, perhaps even misinterpret directions and end up on a winding mountain road?’

      He almost expected a verbally aggressive denial, and she didn’t disappoint.

      ‘I lived and drove a car in Madrid, remember?’

      ‘Mallorca is not Madrid.’

      ‘In which case I’ll call for a taxi.’

      ‘Doing so won’t necessarily eliminate a possible confrontation involving media attention.’

      He saw her eyes widen, then begin to narrow. ‘What precisely are you saying?’

      ‘Sierra is holidaying on the island.’

      And hunting him.

      Raúl shook his head. ‘Think again.’

      Her? Comprehension occurred swiftly as she envisaged a few scenarios Sierra was capable of manufacturing…none of which were pretty.

      ‘And you were planning on telling me this…when?’

      ‘After dinner, when Teresa retired for the evening.’

      Gianna’s gaze didn’t waver. ‘You believe Sierra will contrive a supposedly chance meeting…and you don’t think I’m capable of handling her?’

      ‘I’d prefer not to see you put in that position.’

      She took a deep breath and expelled it slowly. ‘Don’t underestimate me,’ she warned with silky intent. She longed to fling a verbal barb, only to restrain herself from doing so.

      It irked that he knew, and her eyes flashed blue fire.

      ‘My purpose is to prevent any mud-slinging Sierra may choose to create in order to gain the sort of attention Teresa would find distressing.’ He paused imperceptibly. ‘Not to mention you.’

      ‘Oh, please.’

      She was no longer the emotionally vulnerable young woman of three years ago. Yet his gut instinct warned he implement precautionary measures.

      Sierra was unpredictable at best. A disturbed young woman who had played a deliberate game to which only legal action had brought surcease…by which time his marriage had been in tatters and Gianna had retreated to the other side of the world.

      Sierra had been very clever, ensuring that while she skated to the edge of harassment she didn’t cross it, choosing instead to use her family connections to gain invitations to social events he attended on the Velez-Saldaña conglomerate’s behalf, thereby providing a visual taunt he was powerless to prevent while she abided by the terms of the restraining order. She didn’t call, contact or approach him in any way.

      She didn’t need to, he reflected bitterly. The damage had already been done.

      ‘Miguel or I will accompany you. Choose.’

      Gianna didn’t hesitate. ‘Miguel,’ she nominated sweetly, and glimpsed his faint smile as she turned to exit the office.

      Working out helped ease some of the built-up tension, and when she was done, showered, changed and had alerted Miguel via cellphone that she was ready to return to the villa, she felt refreshed, alert and on top of her game…whatever her game happened to be.

      Staying abreast of Raúl had to figure in there somewhere.

      Let’s not forget Sierra whose presence in Mallorca seemed to indicate she maintained a close eye and ear on every detail regarding Raúl.

      Not exactly difficult to do, Gianna had to admit, when he regularly appeared in the news media, having successfully closed another deal, or attending a social event. Therefore it seemed feasible word had circulated that Gianna was also in residence at his mother’s villa.

      A young woman who had regained her emotional and mental strength…was healed, confident and strong.

      So why did she feel emotionally connected to Raúl when she’d mentally confined him in a locked box and thrown away the key?

      Sure she had. During the daylight hours.

      It was the dark night hours when his image intruded into her dreams…taunting, haunting in a way that made for restlessness and little sleep.

      It was almost frightening that she could still be attracted to him when he’d betrayed her with Sierra.

      She had the proof…didn’t she? Even though he’d denied the affair.

      Except since spending time with him again in Mallorca a glimmer of doubt had intruded, causing her to re-examine for the umpteenth time the facts as she knew them.

      Sierra visiting Argentina at the same time as Raúl had been in Rio on business. Coincidentally staying at the same hotel or so she’d said.

      When Gianna had called him, it had been Sierra who had answered the phone in his suite.

      But had Sierra arrived uninvited on some pretext or other as Raúl had assured her?

      Had he, in fact, been taking a call on his cellphone, unaware Sierra had picked up the landline on the first ring?

      Had Sierra dismissed the call as being in-house…as he had said?

      Gianna had accepted the evidence as being conclusive proof…sure in her mind at the time that it was the truth. Except she’d been experiencing depression over the loss of their babe, vulnerable, sensitive and susceptible…and Sierra had been so convincing in her intention to wreak havoc.

      Oh, God… What if she had been wrong? What if the entire debacle had been a deliberate attempt on Sierra’s part to cause trouble?

      Should she have believed Raúl’s denial? Trusted in him? Seen the situation for what it was?

      The thought she might have played into Sierra’s hands sickened her now, as it had then. Dammit, she’d loved Raúl with every cell in her body, her heart, all that she was. Believed in him, them, the sanctity of their marriage.

      Had he been faithful to her since they’d first met as he’d assured her?

      Think, she cautioned. Only there was danger in too much thought.

      She had a life in Australia, a home, business, friends…plans.

      Yet the lingering