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Sergio watchedemotions free from my impassive face

He continued, "Your file was closed, but then reopened when you ht manifest or record of how you entered the country, and slotted right back into life with"--his eyes dropped to the paperwork--"Brax Cliffingstone

"You retuned to university, finished your degree, then a es, he said, "Why wasn’t there a wrap-up interview froation on your supposed kidnapping, brought to the attention of the AFP by Brax Cliffingstone? Care to explain how you had the AFP close your file with no conclusion whatsoever?"

The all-consu love I had fora bowl of colourless light, trickling through hed

Q

He tampered with my file Somehow, he had contacts to ensure his anonymity and unique charity re how I cath of my stay at his chateau So he did what he had to He swept it all away

God, I loved hience, or a bigger heart than hi this stupid cop to detain me

I was done

"Quincy Mercer can explain Lethis bottoether? But I don’t see any e announcement or any news related articles of your relationship"

Tick…

Tock…

I didn’t care It no longerlowered, his black eyes battering lowered right back, not backing down

Finally, he huffed "Fine" He stalked to the door, holding it open "This way"

The ation room, my heart leapt froive hiled to keep h a typical police station with cubicle workstations, broalls, and oscillating ceiling fans The reek of burned coffee hung stagnant in the air

He stopped beside a desk streith notes and empty cups He pointed to a phone partially buried beneath manila files "You have two raphic ave me the note hidden in the pocket of the dress I’d worn back to Australia, I’d old on the heavy parch his number, I felt like I’d never be too far froht and went to university by day

I also knew he allowed the office line to link to his home after hours I just hoped either Frederick picked up or Suzette Either would do Both had Q’s power behind the up the receiver, I curled over the handset, punching in the nu

Please pick up Terror squashedThis was et another one Who kne io looked at his watch

Finally the ringing stopped, clicking into connection

"Bonjour?"

Masculine

For a flicker of a second, I suffered a stab of grief I’d wanted to talk to Suzette To lean on the girl as so strong and my friend

"Frederick," I whispered

"Tess?"

My heart bounced, whizzing into action Frederick would get things done He’d get us out

"Yes, it’sall rushed in a quake, obstructingthe wobble in my tone "They took him"

"It’s okay I know It’s all under control"

His soothing voice robbedQ’s network of people were on the hunt It wasn’t justfor his life "Thank God"

At that point, I didn’t care aboutthe resources to find Q I coot about my predicament or why I’d called

My mind shut down as I went into shock

"Tess? You still there?"

I clutched the receiver, wishing I could stuff myself down the phone line and be with him I wanted to be beside the man who Q called his best friend

What about his other best friend?

Shit, Franco

"Frederick I need your help" I pulled h et us out"

I tensed, waiting for a barrage of questions But he just chuckled "You’re about ten minutes too late Already done You’ll be out within the hour"

My s, and contacts in high places is one of them" His voice dropped I pressed the phone harder toas there’s a heartbeat It’s prograes"

My heart seized "What do you mean?"

"Well, we’ll know if they cut it out The frequency would be interrupted We’ll also know if they…"

If they what…

My heart lurched He didn’t have to say any with liquid

Frederickas his heart is beating, the tracker will guide us to hitrafficker and drain them until they turned from human to withered corpse

The sweetness inside rapidly faded in favour of ruthlessness I grew harder--colder

He’s still alive Focus on that

"Do you knohere? Where is he?"

"He’s been moved They’ve taken hied into our suite echoed inhit and then shot to pay any attention to nationality

Sergio waved a hand in front of er for being so cocky and horrible and ruining everything

"Why? Why did they take hihed "Because he pissed off a man called Lynx And now the bastard wants payback"