Page 97 of The Hunted
Martin placed a hand on his chest. “Careful, Amra Bean, sounds like you care.” He plucked her nose. “And because I can see the wheels turning in your head. Whatever you have planned, leave it alone.” His tone was harsh.
“You won’t—” He cursed when the sound of a phone ringing interrupted him. She wanted to tell him to ignore it and say what he had to say. It almost felt like he was about to warn her off in a threatening manner, but she couldn’t be sure. Was that just her mind and the nature of their conversation playing tricks on her?
He was on his cell phone before she could push for more.
“When?” Martin’s gruff voice had her on high alert. “Give me ten, I’ll be there.”
He hung up. “We have to table this conversation.”
“Let me guess, another body?” Amra was already pushing past him. The need to see what was left behind propelled her body forward, sure she’d find the missing link that connected Alvarez to these murders.
She was already by the front door telling Martin to hurry up when she stopped short. Alvarez was with Silva in front of the café. She thought the woman was long gone after she all but ran out of there.
Amra pulled open the door with Alvarez’s name on her lips. He looked annoyed and angry, but for once, it wasn’t directed at her.
Lovers spat, huh?
Amra wondered if Silva had worn out her welcome with him. Santino wasn’t the type to keep people close. It was something she tried to get Martin to see and why the introduction of a girlfriend had seemed off to her. Looking at them now, she could guess for someone like Alvarez, he no longer had a use for her.
“We need to go. Now,” she snapped, “another body was found. And this time she can’t come.”
Santino looked down at Silva before his gaze flicked to Martin. “She’ll stay in the car like last time.” He maneuvered her so she was standing next to him. He gripped her arm more like he was trying to keep her from running away than in an affectionate type of way. They looked less like a couple now than ever.
Her eyes narrowed. “What happened to your face?” Amra questioned, again. She’d seen him when the bruises first started setting in and his face was swollen. Martin had swooped in again, quick with an excuse that made zero sense, considering Martin’s face and knuckles were clean of any cuts or bruising.
But there was slight bruising on Silva’s hand. It was faint. Amra missed it in the café, but outside under the sun, the slight discoloration was pronounced.
Santino’s jaw ticked, and his grip on Silva’s arm tightened, going by the wince she did nothing to hide. “We’ve been over this, Amra. Martin told you what happened.”
Amra took a step closer. “Yeah, but I’m asking you. Don’t you find it odd that he doesn’t look like you if ya got into a supposed fight?”
“You got into a fight?” There was concern in Silva’s voice as she looked up at Santino. “With him?” Amra could hear the skepticism in her tone when her gaze landed on Martin. “And you lost?”
Amra snorted. Good to know she wasn’t the only one who didn’t believe this bullshit.
“I let him win, princess.” There was a bite in Santino’s words. “We can go over the play by play if both of you need that.” He shrugged. “We got all the time in the world. The body’s not going anywhere.”
And there he was.
A cold shiver ran down Amra’s back as she stared into Santino’s eyes. Those glimpses of him she would catch through their time working together was on full display now. He wasn’t hiding from her anymore.
There was nothing in his eyes except cold detachment. He looked at her like he could snap her in two and wouldn’t break a sweat or feel any regret. The slight twitch in his lips when she reached for her weapon told her he might even enjoy it.
She wished this was enough to take him now, but laws didn’t account for gut feelings or creepy looks. No matter how right she felt she was, she couldn’t do anything until he messed up. But given how out in the open he was, he would no doubt lead her to his crimes.
If not, I’ll just have to snoop.
“As tantalizing as this is.” Martin’s amusement was clear in his tone. He stepped up beside Amra, his fingers teasing her wrist. “Maybe we should wrap this up? We do have killers to catch.”
He took a step forward, closing the distance between him and Silva. “Guess you’ll be alone again.” His gaze flicked to Santino. “She can’t come. I’m sure you two can catch up later, yeah? Let’s go.”
Amra watched Martin walk away, and she had no choice but to follow him. She didn’t know where they needed to be. She spared one last look at Santino and Silva, glad she focused on Silva a second longer. If not, she would have missed the pleading gaze in her eyes she’d only ever seen once before. When she watched an evidence clip of a woman who had been kidnapped by her stalker.
A quick bank stop and the woman’s gaze went directly to the cameras. It was hard to describe, but the second Amra had seen the clip, she knew the woman had been pleading for help. It was the forced smile, the way her eyes had watered. It was something those around her missed, but she had snatched onto like the lifeline it was for that woman.
Instinct had helped save that woman and instinct was what was going to help her nail Santino.
Amra nodded at Silva before she turned around and headed for Martin. She’d be back to save her.
