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My heart lurched Yes, they’d left With Q Hell, this ful My un I could hold one of the

But Franco couldn’t run Shit

"Arrest the wo Take the man to the hospital"

Franco and I yelled at the sao with him" "She has to co Finally, he muttered, "Fine Take them both to the hospital I expect to be able to interview the the horror that had become my life as my arms renched behind my back and the cold lick of handcuffs settled around e policeuns

"Co another wave of nausea Once again--this was ers had seen My little exposé that ended with us being er filled me If these men turned out to be the reason Q died, I would hunt down every last one and murder the hiitive before I let that happen

Franco looked over his shoulder His eems "Ne dis rien Tout est sous contrôle"Don’t say a word I have everything under control

I wanted to trust him I wanted to believe that whatever plan was in action it would save Q even while we rotted in some Italian cell But pessirief tempted, called to me

We were stuffed into the lift side by side Franco bent his head to e--did you not think he’d do the same precaution for himself? Especially when he knew he’d stirred up the attention of fkould try to kill hi me much needed information

I kept my voice loare of the six other ?" Q didn’t wear jewellery And eren’t

Franco shook his head "Not a ring Deeper than that" He tapped the underside of his wrist, raising an eyebrow The puzzle slotted into place

Oh,or soone further than that He’d given hi found even if they stripped hied hiuards could follow his trail and bring him home

He wasn’t lost

It was just up to us to find him before it was too late

Ti, excruciating, teeth-clenching hours

Every second drifted me further away from Q Every minute built a wall I would have to cla forhelplessness?

Tick…

Tock…

Franco had been rushed to surgery to reattach his thu instead with a local anaesthetic to endure the procedure

His list of injuries curdled my stomach

Mild concussion Dislocated shoulder Twisted kneecap Missing thu the multiple contusions, bruises, and scrapes froet to Q

I lived an entire lifetime in those four hours More than one Multiple

I went insane--hemmed in a private roo for Franco At least they’d removed the handcuffs, but I was no less a prisoner

Myhorror and torture of Q’s de nonsense undersuch awfulness

Three times the officers tried to question me Three times I refused I wouldn’t talk--not until I knehat Franco wanted me to say I wasn’t privy to as in roup I didn’t want to ruin Q’s chances any n country and getting arrested

I looked up as the white door swung open Franco heeled into the roo to a thick bandage around his hand Only the tips of his fingers showed

His face was black and yellow as bruises painted hioingclosed behind the man in scrubs "Are you okay? Did it work?" I looked at the bandage, eyeing it for any sign of a thumb tip My eyes widened "But there’s no…"

"They tried, but the way the cocksuckers smashed the joint means it’s pretty much useless Plus, this is a local hospital They don’t have too many specialists on call unless I’m flown elsewhere"

I was torn Completely cleaved down the centre I wanted to run after Q but I didn’t want Franco to live a thuer I would be on o Tell me what the plan is and leave I’ll do the rest"

He shook his head "I signed the paperwork already Even if they did e to attach it, I’d have to stay in for observation for a week This way, I only have to pop in for a check-up in twenty-four hours" His eyes flashed "I refuse to sit on my broken ass Not while he’s out there A thuto hiht as well have been scrawled in per banner It was undeniable which rateful for your loyalty to hied "I’ loaded If I save his scrawny ass, I knoon’t led robot thuood arm, flipped up the footholds, and held out his hand "Now help rabbed his elbow I did the best I could to hoist his bulk from the chair The moment he stood, he limped to the wardrobe where the doctors had put his clothes and with no eown and let it fall