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Her gaze landed on him. “Rune, did he just say Hoppler? Isn’t that the man that has been after the…”
His head heavy, Rune nodded. “Yes.”
Hoppler laughed, slapping Rune on the back. “Buggers, Rune, you’ve been a naughty boy.”
Elle bolted forward, planting herself in front of Rune, her blue eyes confused, searching. “Rune, what’s going on? He—he’s the man that was after Wes and Laney—the man after us. After the box. You know him? What is happening?”
Rune could see it in her eyes. Sprouts of doubt, of mistrust. And it was only going to get worse.
Hoppler leaned his head in front of Rune, looking at Elle. “You know Rune works for me? Always has? Fool girl.”
“Hoppler.” Rune shoved him to the side.
Elle’s face distorted, staring at Hoppler, her head shaking. “No. No, you’re lying.”
Rune stepped in front of her, blocking Hoppler from her view. “Elle—”
“You didn’t tell her anything, did you? And the chit is in love with you.” Hoppler chuckled. “Fool girl, fool boy.”
“Stop.” Rune glared over his shoulder at Hoppler. “Stop and leave us.”
“I need the box, Rune.”
“Leave us.”
Elle looked up at him, panic and horror in her blue eyes as she gripped the front of his coat. “Rune—no, this is a lie. A lie. Tell me this is a lie. You don’t know this man.”
He stared at her. Stared at the destruction he was causing in her eyes.
Her fingers gripped tighter onto his lapels. “Tell me, Rune.”
“For heaven’s sake, let’s get on with it.” Hoppler hadn’t moved even an inch away. “Rune gets me that box and he gets what he’s been looking for his whole life.”
“Hoppler!” Rune yelled his name, his fists ready to swing.
Hoppler’s hands went up, a smirk on his face. “Just moving things along to the point where I get that box in my hands and can get back to London, mate.”
“Hoppler, so help me.”
“So help you, what, Rune? You’re mine on this score. You agreed to that long ago.”
“Rune?” She shoved herself away from him, tears flooding her eyes.
He looked to Hoppler, motioning with the top of his head to the side. “Hoppler.”
Hoppler shrugged and took five steps away.
Her hands shaking, Elle clasped them across her belly and looked at him. “Tell me. Tell me none of this is true. Tell me you didn’t almost kill Weston and Laney for the box—or let someone else do it.”
“That—that wasn’t all in my control. Those men didn’t listen to orders.”
Her head snapped back, horror contorting her face.
Rune shook his head, stepping in front of her, his chest constricting at the disgust playing on her face. “What Hoppler’s saying…it’s not a lie. I swore I would get the box for him.”
Her head started to shake frantically. “Why would you do that?”
“He has something I need.”
