Page 77 of The Forgotten Wife

Nick shrugged. “Sure, why not?”

“Well, Richard was a bit like your wife here. He came to Nawaka on a mission. Except he lost sight of what that mission was. One little fatal slip with a local girl, and he was lost. Fate brought me in, and I rescued him. Just as I intend to rescue my sweet Belle.” Mwana’s arm tightened around her shoulders.

She choked out a moan.

Nick’s gut clenched, but his gaze stayed on his quarry. “I’m not going anywhere. Why don’t you put the knife down?”

“I wish I could. But I’m reluctant to let go of my precious bounty a second time, you see.”

“She’s not yours, Mwana. She never will be.”

An ugly expression crossed the bastard’s face. “That’s where you’re wrong. We had…wehavea connection. She made a promise to me in Nawaka. You’ve tried to brainwash her into believing otherwise, but what we felt for each other is still there, and this time you will not stand in my way. Iwillclaim my prize.”

“So you don’t intend to harm her?”

The rebel leader frowned as if Nick spoke a foreign language. “Of course not. Why would I? She’s mine.”

The words made him sick with nausea, but he forced himself to focus. “Then put the knife down,” Nick suggested again. He took another step forward fighting the fear shuddering through his body. “If she’s truly yours, you have nothing to worry about.”

“No can do. You’ve proved to me time and again that you’re not a gentleman.Youcan’t be trusted. And don’t think I don’t realize what you’re doing. Be assured, I will use this knife on your butler if you come any closer.”

Nick paused. Bertrand was close enough to make the threat a deadly one.

Belle let out a sound of distress.

Black rage roared through Nick’s veins, but he stayed where he was. Fighting to clear the haze of fury before his eyes, he tried to think rationally. There was no way the man was leaving here with Belle, that was a given, but Nick needed to find a way to stop the bastard before he even made a move.

Keep him talking. “You were telling me how you came to be here,” he prompted.

“My puppet turned out to be very resourceful.”

“Francis?”

“It was a bit of a stretch, but he took on the role with aplomb. He offered to go to Dusseldorf in my place, disguised as me. His last hurrah, shall we say? That freed me to be here. But since there’s no more need for this disguise?—”

The arm locked around Belle’s neck tightened as he peeled back the soft prosthetic flesh on his cheek to reveal the jagged scar on his face.

Nick’s fists clenched, willing the man to make a wrong move, but Mwana stayed sharp.

Belle coughed. “You claim you’re an honourable man, and yet you resort to blackmail.”

The arm around her shoulders tightened, and Nick rose to the balls of his feet, ready to lunge.

“I do whatever I need to survive, my dear, especially when I’m pushed, as your husband here has pushed me. Richard had a dirty little habit that caught up with him.” Mwana’s lips curled. “He’s merely making amends for his sins.”

“So, what, he used his connections to get you the names of wealthy women whom you then kidnapped and raped? And then he fed you more information to help you evade the authorities?” Nick’s voice remained calm, almost conversational, as he made his accusations.

“I have never raped anyone!” Mwana took a deep breath. “Belle will testify to that. I never forced her. All the promises she made were of her own free will.”

“While held at gunpoint?” Nick took a casual half-step closer.

Mwana’s smile widened, and he rubbed his cheek against hers. “Only until we were free of the other encumbrances. You see, Nick, we have an undeniable bond. She sensed me at the party tonight, didn’t you, my sweet? You looked for me, but I couldn’t reveal myself, not just then.” He looked straight at Nick, hatred boiling in his eyes. “She was going to help me take Nawaka, but thanks to you, I no longer have my most trusted men, and my funds are dwindling. It’s regrettable, but I’ve learned over the years to adapt.”

“So aside from Belle, you’re here for another reason?” Nick planted his feet firmly on the ground in preparation.

“A small slice of your fortune as reparations for what you took from me, and also to ensure Belle doesn’t suffer a life of drudgery. Surely you’ll want that for her?” His eyes gleamed with an unholy light.

Nick’s heart clenched. Blood pounded at his temples. With difficulty, he fought not react to the man’s twisted words. “Sure I do. But there’s a slight problem with that scenario. You see, there’s no way you’re leaving here with my wife. So why don’t you do everyone a Favor, and put the knife down?”

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