Page 50 of No One But You
“This is a mistake,” I panted because time was quickly running out.“The treasure isn’t real, but if you stop this now, we can pretend none of it ever happened.”
Neither of them paid me any attention.
But then I heard something.
The crunch of tires on gravel.
“Faster.Someone’s coming,” Pro-Murder Guy urged,
A siren wailed, and they both stopped, exchanging a glance.
Pro-Murder Guy was on his feet so fast, I could swear he blurred.With a quick look over his shoulder, he darted into the trees, leaving his chattier accomplice behind.
Tires skidded, and Not-So-Anti-Murder Guy pushed away from me and bolted after his friend.I immediately rolled as far away from the edge as I could, ignoring the twinges as I rolled over a handful of sharp stones.
“Stop!”a male voice yelled.“I’ll shoot if I have to.”
Must be the police because the voice didn’t belong to either of my attackers.Also, even in my shaken state, I knew the police were unlikely to shoot anyone.Shootings rarely happened in New Zealand.
Still, it must have been enough to make the guy stop, because the policeman continued, “We’ve got you for assault, attempted murder, and abduction.If you keep running, we can add charges of evading the police.That’s if you survive being apprehended.”
“Okay, okay.”
No one spoke for a long moment, although I could hear footsteps.I struggled onto my back and sat up just as a second police vehicle sped into the parking area and screeched to a halt, gravel and dust flying everywhere.
Nate leapt out of the passenger seat and rushed over to me.His eyes were wide, his mouth set in a grim line as he dropped to his knees and checked me over.Finally, he sat back on his heels.
“Thank fuck you’re all right,” he breathed, unhooking a multi-tool from his belt and using it to cut the zip ties.He withdrew a small evidence bag from his pocket and tucked them inside.“Are you hurt?”
“Nothing bad,” I assured him as he offered me his hand and pulled me to my feet.
I released an “Oomph” as he hugged me and knocked the air from my lungs.Hesitantly, I wrapped my arms around him.I wasn’t used to receiving affection from Nate.He wasn’t a very demonstrative man.
“Is Max okay?”I asked as he drew back, my insides churning as I remembered the horrible crack of the bat against his head and the way he’d gone down and stayed down while I’d been unable to help him.
If he’d been seriously injured because of me….
Well, it didn’t bear thinking about.
Nate kept an arm around me as he ushered me to his car.Off to the side, a male officer was cuffing one guy while other officers ventured into the forest in search of the other.
“He’s injured.”His tone was taut.“But he should be fine.The fucking idiot insisted on waiting until he knew whether you were okay before going to the hospital.”
My heart swelled, and warmth overflowed into my chest at the evidence of how much he cared for me.“That’s sweet, but please tell him to go to the hospital now.He was hurt far more badly than me.”
Nate inclined his head.“I’ve already sent a message.”
TWENTY-EIGHT
MAX
Footsteps slapped against the vinyl hospital floor, and I turned toward the door, my heart lifting as Bailey hurried into the room, her gaze roving over me as if I was the one who’d been abducted by wannabe murderers.
I sat up, ignoring the pounding in my skull.The painkillers they’d given me were helping, but every time I moved, my head throbbed.
She sobbed, her hand flying to her mouth and her eyes gleaming with tears.Then she rushed to my side and bent awkwardly over me, as if not sure whether to hug me or not.I pulled her into my arms.It didn’t hurt, but I wouldn’t care if it did because holding her and knowing that she was safe mattered far more than any passing pain.
“I’m so glad you’re okay,” I murmured into her hair.“I’m sorry I wasn’t able to stop them from taking you.”
