Chapter 455
Chapter 455:
She looked back at him. He was drenched in sweat — hair plastered to his forehead, even his lashes wet — and each breath came out shallow and uneven, as though the effort of standing was costing him more than he would ever admit. She held his gaze for a moment and gave him a quiet, steady smile.
Then she turned back to Colton, her expression cooling. “Where are you taking him p>
“Ms. Green—” Davin started.
Kristine raised her hand to stop him and kept her eyes fixed on Colton.
He looked mildly irritated. “The hospital. Obviously p>
“Which one p>
“UG Hospital. The best facility in Evira for gunshot trauma p>
She studied his face carefully, reading it the way she had learned to over years. When she was satisfied he was telling the truth, she stepped aside.
Dіѕ𝖼ov𝘦𝘳 𝘩i𝗱𝖽𝖾𝘯 g𝘦𝗺ѕ 𝘰ո
Davin still fought it. “Ms. Green, I can’t leave you. That’s not p>
“Heal first,” she said quietly, resting her hand briefly on his uninjured arm. “Come back when you can p>
“Ms. Green p>
“Do as I say p>
He went still. The resistance drained out of him, though the reluctance didn’t. The guards moved him away, and then there was only the empty street, Kristine, and Colton.
Kristine crouched beside the fallen man and began going through his pockets and clothing.
“Don’t bother,” Colton said. “Men like this are trained in operational security. You won’t find anything that leads back to whoever hired him p>
“I already have a theory about who that is p>
His eyes sharpened. “Who p>
“Elyse p>
He frowned. “That’s not possible p>
“How can you be so certain?” She tilted her head up to look at him. The sun was sharp and direct, making it difficult to read his expression clearly.
“The level of skill this person operates at — Elyse couldn’t access someone like that p>
“And if she were spending your money, Colton?” Kristine said, with a thin edge of sarcasm.
He was quiet for a moment. “No,” he said. “Still no p>
Kristine gave a soft, humorless laugh and turned back to searching the body.
Watching her dismiss him so completely made something in him grow restless. He reached down and took her hand. “Listen to me. It wasn’t Elyse p>
Kristine looked at where his hand held hers, then back at his face, a faint, mocking smile at the corner of her mouth. “Anyone can say that. Show me evidence p>
“I don’t have evidence,” Colton said. “But my instincts have never been wrong p>
“Then trust your instincts,” she said pleasantly. “I’m not obligated to trust them too.” She tried to pull her hand free, but his grip held and tightened.
Her wrist reddened under the pressure.
Her expression went cold. “Are you trying to stop me from finding proof against her p>
Something in his face shifted — a fractional softening when he met her anger. “I saved your life p>
“You also helped create the situation that put it in danger p>
He drew a slow breath. “You want proof. I’ll give you proof p>
He reached into his pocket and produced a knife. He knelt beside the body and cut the man’s shirt open.
Kristine watched without understanding — and then the tattoo was revealed.