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CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR

A nne lunged, a scream escaping her mouth. But instead of ducking away, Nina leaned in. Now this she would truly enjoy.

Anne’s claws sank into the base of Nina’s neck, cutting through the skin and drawing blood, then Anne pushed her – but Nina clutched Anne’s cocktail dress and tackled her to the ground.

The woman screamed, kicked, and stabbed at Nina using her long red nails. Oh, this was fun. So much fun.

Nina smacked her arms away, then slapped the woman. Hard.

Anne screamed, ‘Someone get her!’

Dickheadson joined the scuffle, pulling Nina off Anne then shoving her face first against the side of the car. ‘You’re under arrest for?—’

‘I wouldn’t do that if I were you,’ a female voice warned the DCI.

Dickheadson’s weight lifted off Nina’s back, and she looked over her shoulder at Cheryl. Joshua, Billy and a group of men stood next to the thugs, ensuring they didn’t make any sudden movement.

Cheryl pressed Dickheadson to the car right as Robert appeared in the alley. A light breeze ruffled his unkempt hair. He was panting, the blood on his exposed muscles making him appear like the incredible warrior he was.

Hot. Hot. Hot.

With a nod at Robert, Cheryl began, ‘You’re under arrest for assault, abduction, attempted murder, human trafficking… What did I miss?’

‘Being an arsehole,’ Robert supplied, shaking his head. ‘Theft of evidence, tampering with evidence.’

‘Oh aye.’ Grinning, Cheryl repeated the offences.

Nina frowned. Why was Robert holding his hands at an awkward angle? Well, he had successfully fought off several thugs, perhaps injuring himself in the process. She would ensure the paramedics assessed him thoroughly. But first, she leaned against the SUV to take a breath – and heard it. A rustle and shuffle heading away from her.

Whipping her head round, Nina spotted something red vanishing round the corner.

Fuck no.

She took off, pumping her legs hard, and skidded round the corner, spilling out onto the High Street. The road lay silent at this time of the night except for the occasional car zooming down the road.

And on the empty street, under the yellow streetlights, Anne stood out like a fucking neon sign. Nina surged forward, her shoes propelling her faster than a pair of heels could.

Anne staggered, then kicked her shoes off and threw them at Nina. Nina dodged the projectiles, urging her legs to go faster – then pounced.

Anne’s head smacked off the ground, and she screeched, wiggling then hurling profanities and threats. Nina twisted the woman’s arms behind her back and squeezed extra hard. When Anne yelled, satisfaction soared through Nina.

This woman had upended her life, used her, framed her for murder and, worse, hurt the man Nina loved. The man who, despite the blood coating his own skin, was running towards her at this very moment.

In the distance, a siren pierced the air, and blue lights painted the silent nightscape.

Nina leaned down so her mouth was right next to Anne’s. Scream as she may, Anne would hear Nina’s words. ‘I should thank you. After all, without your pathetic quest for money and power, I’d never have met Robert.’ Nina tightened her hold on Anne. Anne yelped, and Nina laughed. ‘It’s a pity you’ll never understand what exactly you lost that night.’

When police officers rushed up to them, Nina let go of Anne and stood aside. Now, when the arresting officer chanted the words, ‘Anne Muller, you’re under arrest for abduction, murder, attempted murder, fraud, human trafficking, arson…’ the last of the bridge between her and her past finally withered to ash.

An arm slid around Nina. For the first time that night, it didn’t mean her harm. In fact, the arm pulled her into a very tantalising, very handsome, very muscular chest. Lips pressed into her hair. ‘I’m sorry.’

Nina’s heart gave a squeeze. The lightness she’d been feeling dissolved.

Robert turned her, and she saw the twinge of pain cross his features.

She stepped away and took his hands in hers. And pain practically radiated off him. What the hell? Nina looked at his hands and saw the issue immediately. ‘Robert, your thumbs!’

He shrugged. ‘I broke them to get out of the handcuffs. I wasn’t going to leave you unprotected. Shite, I’m sorry for not keeping you safe in the first place. I should’ve known?—’

Reaching up, Nina pressed her fingers against that kissable mouth. ‘You must be in so much pain! How did you manage to fight all those thugs?’

‘I love you. That surpasses everything else.’

Nina blinked, but the tears cascaded. How did a man so incredible as this one love her? Hell, she was the luckiest woman alive.

Nina gasped, swallowed, then spluttered, ‘It’s done, Robert. I’m here, you’re here, safe. And so are those women – our wee surprise worked.’

‘Thank God,’ Robert replied. ‘I can’t promise no will ever hurt them again, but for now, all that matters is that they’re free of Anne.’ Robert leaned down and rested his forehead against hers. ‘It’s done.’

A smile bloomed on Nina’s face. ‘It is.’ A laugh burst from her. Her first carefree laugh in months. ‘Instead of writing about the human trafficking ring, we brought it down.’

‘No thanks to me. If only I’d?—’

Nina wrapped her arms around him then pressed up on her toes to finally, oh so finally, kiss him. He shut up, his hands sliding along her body, drawing her close.

Nina traced the outline of those lips; memorised his features using her hands. Then she slid away. ‘Without all this, Robert, we wouldn’t be here. Despite how horrifying it’s all been, I’m glad you chased me. Because—’ More tears joined those she’d just dried up. ‘Because if you hadn’t, I’d never have met you, and I…’ Nina swallowed. She opened her mouth; shut it again. She took a breath. ‘You know I’ve never said it and meant it. But for the first time in my life – I love you, all of you, unconditionally.’

Robert blinked. His mouth fell open, then he shut it again. His hands cupped her face, so gently her heart sighed, and he brushed a kiss on her lips. ‘And I’m glad you showed me the error of my ways. Glad you love me because, without you, I swear I’d be lost. I love you.’

The band of anxiety loosened from around her heart. The air she pulled into her lungs this time tasted different.

It tasted of freedom.

And as they leaned in and sealed their love with a kiss, Nina realised – true freedom wasn’t always in flying away, it also existed in the arms of the one you loved.