Page 32 of Between the Lies

Robert studied the wound on Nina’s neck, then whispered, ‘Does it hurt?’

Bent so close to her as he was, that floral scent was back. He looked up and found her wide eyes trained on him. The space between her eyebrows furrowed, and her mouth fell open just a bit.

Robert’s heart clenched. She was so beautiful. Vulnerable like this, her features no longer sharp and efficient, that sweet scent of hers… she was a woman you held and loved.

‘Sir?’

The voice broke through their little bubble, startling Robert. What the hell had they been talking about?

Nina straightened and clutched Robert’s wrist. ‘I’m okay.’

Aye, right, the paramedics.

Robert swallowed and gestured to where they were headed. ‘I was told the medics are that way. We’ve no time to lose. She might lose consciousness.’

The constable hesitated, and Robert used the opportunity to put some distance between him and them.

The van driver had now dropped his boxes and was staring at them, hands on hips, mouth agape.

‘Can I see a warrant card, PC Muller?’

Robert shut his eyes. Of course the damned constable would ask for his ID.

Nina took a shaky breath.

He squeezed her even closer, closer than there was need to, and shot over his shoulder, ‘We have to go now!’

‘But I-I will… I’ll come with you.’

Shite!

‘There’s no need for that, Constable.’ A woman stepped from the doorway beside the van. Her heels clicked on the stone pavement as she sauntered onto the road. Cheryl.

She held up her warrant card to the constable. ‘DI Spiers.’ Then she jerked her head to where Robert was headed. ‘Don’t waste time, Constable Muller. We need her to live.’

Not about to argue with a detective inspector, the constable nodded and turned. ‘I’ll get the medics,’ he shouted over his shoulder.

Robert mouthed a ‘thank you’ to Cheryl.

Cheryl leaned closer to Robert, then peeked around him at Nina. ‘Hmm, pictures can be deceiving, eh?’

What was that supposed to mean?

Before he could question her, Cheryl dropped a key into Robert’s hand. ‘All I have is this van. Get what you need, then hand her over to me.’

At Cheryl’s word, Nina pulled, twisting Robert’s arm. Pain snapped through him. ‘Jeez!’ he yelled at Nina. ‘You’re surrounded by cops. Your little escapist streak is over.’

Palming the key, he nodded at Cheryl. ‘Thanks. There will be fallout from this?—’

‘I’ll handle it,’ Cheryl cut him off and gestured to the van. ‘Now scram.’

He moved, dumping Nina into the passenger seat and starting up the car. But as he pulled out onto the road, leaving behind the scores of people hunting for them, a thought rose to his mind. If that constable hadn’t interrupted him back there, would he have leaned in and pressed his lips to Nina’s?

Robert gripped the steering wheel so tight, his fingers ached. But he wanted to erase the sensation of her curves against his palms, and the reaction he’d had when she’d glared at him.

She was his prisoner. An abductor never fell in lust with the abductee. No, whatever was happening to him, he would not give in. Nina Banerjee would face justice. He’d make sure of it.

CHAPTERFIFTEEN

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