He hesitated, then nodded and stepped aside so I could get past him. The alarms had been silenced, but the hallway was busy now that someone—likely the newly arrived agents—had deemed the situation contained. Privacy screens had been set up around our two dead men, while nurses and hospital porters ferried patients in the rooms either side and directly opposite elsewhere. The doctor and the nurse had left René’s side, replaced by Gerard and another man I presumed was Ilian’s partner. The former was still in the process of healing while the latter was putting his phone away and rising, having obviously finished taking René’s statement. He nodded at me as he walked past.
I stopped next to Gerard and said, “What’s the damage?”
“Bad, but not deadly.”
“Well, that’s always good.”
“Indeed, because death does not release her souls easily and it would take more energy than I currently have to retrieve said soul had he been walking that path. Of course, I know from experience René here will foolishly not heed medical advice, meaning the reopening of the wound remains a factor.”
“I can hear what you’re saying, you know,” René said without opening his eyes.
“Yes, but will you take any notice of it?”
“He certainly will,” I said. “If he doesn’t, I’ll take his toys away.”
René opened his eyes, his gaze all but consuming mine. It briefly felt like I was drowning in a sea of devilish blue. “You can hardly take away what has not yet been given.”
“No, but I can delay the giving.”
“You would do that to an injured man?”
“If the injured man refuses to be sensible, yes.”
“If only,” Gerard said, his tone dry, “the arbiter of such sage advice would take heed of her own words.”
My eyebrows rose. “Did you see me limping? No? That’s because I heeded.”
“I was referring more to your brother’s warning.”
“I have yet to rush in foolishly anywhere during this investigation.”
“But you plan to?”
I couldn’t help but grin. “The possibility remains ever present.”
Gerard rolled his eyes and glanced at René. “You two are a perfect pairing.”
“My sentiments exactly,” René said, the wickedness back in his eyes. “She, however, refuses the pairing part of that statement.”
“The more you push, the longer the refusal stretches.” I rose. “If he’s cleared to drive, we need to go.”
“He’s cleared to leave, but he can’t drive for the next couple of hours.”
My grin broke free again. “Meaning I’ll have to drive his sports car? That’s a shame.”
“You, my dear Hanna, seem to be under the delusion that I have a problem with a woman taking control.”
The wicked glimmer left me in no doubt hewasn’ttalking about driving. I raised an eyebrow, and the wicked glimmer just grew.
Gerard made a noise that sounded like a mix of a snort and a laugh, and rose. “I’ll leave you two to the flirting. But please, both of you, do try to avoid any more injuries in the next twenty-four hours. I need time to refuel the healing well.”
“Tell my big brother I shall definitely try.”
A smile touched his lips, confirming my suspicion he had been asked to report back. “I will.”
As he left, I offered René a hand. He clasped it with his good arm, his fingers so warm against mine and grip strong without being overpowering. A man who knew his own strength and how to use it.
I pulled him up, but didn’t release him immediately, waiting a couple of heartbeats until I was sure there was no lightheadedness after rising so quickly. Though to be honest, even if there had been, he likely wouldn’t have allowed it to show.
