Page 64 of Forbidden Whispers

Maggie frowned. “I don’t understand?”

Valentina sighed. “You don’t need to understand. And the less you know, the better.”

“I don’t know anything!” Noah exploded. “I have no memory of our date on Friday night. The only thing I do know is that we’re being harassed daily by your pal Nick and his buddy. And that I’m under suspicion for your murder.”

Noah noted how Eric’s face paled at his outburst. But Valentina’s icy expression never changed. “That was the goal,” she said. “Until you and Miss Matchmaker here had to mess everything up.”

“Mess what up?” Maggie said. “Valentina, we need to let the police know that you’re alive so Noah doesn’t end up in jail.”

“Absolutely not.” Valentina’s tone was very matter-of-fact.

“Well, I’m going to tell them anyway,” Maggie said, starting to rise from the bed.

“No. You won’t.” Valentina’s hand shot out and she shoved Maggie hard back down onto the bed, causing her to bounce into Noah.

“It’s unfortunate that you found us,” Valentina said. “This wasn’t the original plan. Nobody was supposed to die.”

“Die? Who said anything about dying?” Noah said. “What, you’re going to kill us?”

Eric now rose from his perch on the dresser, his formerly exhausted expression was gone. He stepped up beside Valentina, his eyes focused on her face. “No,” he said calmly. “She’s not going to kill you.

“Tina,” Eric continued, his voice soft. “You know how I’ve felt about this from the beginning. I didn’t even want to frame this innocent man for your murder.” He waved a hand in Noah’s direction. “So, we certainly can’t commit actual murder. We just can’t. That’s not who I am, Tina. And I know it’s not who you are either.”

Noah and Maggie watched in astonishment as Eric reached out and carefully removed the gun from Valentina’s hand. Then, the woman who had been an emotionless machine only moments before seemed to melt before their eyes. Valentina stared into Eric’s eyes and then threw herself into his arms, a sob escaping from her lips.

“It’s all right, love,” he cooed, his free hand stroking her hair as she clung to him. “It will be all right.”

“No, it won’t, Eric,” she cried against his chest. “It’s all over.” And then to Noah’s shock, Valentina began to really weep, her body shaking with spasms of grief. Eric eased her down onto the end of the second bed and held her close.

Although the gun was no longer aimed at him, Noah was glued to his seat. He glanced at Maggie to find her looking on the scene in equal shock.

Boon, in contrast to the day he’d chased after Nick the Knife, had done zero in terms of performing any watchdog skills. Instead, when Noah and Maggie had been ordered to sit on the bed, the dog had simply lain at his feet.

Now, however, Boon rose and went over to Valentina. He laid his large black-and-gold head on her lap, causing her to start in surprise, and she pulled her tear-stained face away from Eric’s shoulder. She looked down at the dog whose liquid brown eyes gazed up at her with concern. He whined softly and thumped his tail against the carpet, giving her hand a lick.

“What a sweet dog,” she said, stroking his head. “Oh!” She was taken by surprise again as Boon leaped onto the bed and knocked Valentina back by laying half of his body across her lap. She struggled to sit up, looking over at Noah and Maggie in confusion.

“Yeah,” Maggie said. “He does that sometimes.”

Noah got up and lifted the big dog off Valentina while Eric pulled a tissue from the pocket of his black joggers and handed it to her. She dabbed at her eyes and then blew her nose. “I can’t believe you still have that dog.”

“What do you mean you can’t believe I still have the dog?” Noah asked. “Where did he come from?”

“I’m actually not sure,” Valentina said. “You just turned up with him after...” She sighed. “It’s a long story.”

“I’m really sorry about all of this,” Eric said, looking over at Maggie and Noah. “We never should have involved you.”

“But there was no other way,” Valentina said defiantly. “You know there wasn’t, Eric.”

Eric looked tenderly at Valentina and gave her lips a soft kiss. “There’s always another way, Tina.”

“You’re just too good, Eric,” she said. “You don’t understand how it is.”

“I know when something feels right and when it feels wrong, love,” he said. “And this has felt wrong from the beginning.”

“I thought you loved me,” Valentina cried, her face looking dangerously close to crumbling into tears again. “You said that you wanted to marry me.”

“I do, but...” Eric cradled her face. “Do you trust me?”

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