Page 142 of Criminally Yours

“We heard a stranger in town was looking for you, and we had to come and find you. That’s when we bumped into Strike,” Merryn explained, but Millie could barely take it all in.

“Keep me updated. I’ll call the lads and police,” he added.

Millie shook as she walked closer to Randolph. She loomed above him. He raised his eyebrow and attempted to stare her down.

Her wooziness made it tricky to focus.

She took a breath, gritted her teeth, and gave Randolph a swift kick to his side like Strike had. “And that’s for treating me like a girl. I’m a fucking woman, you prick.”

As she gripped Elsie’s hand, her legs wobbled, and her knees gave way. Hands reached for her as she fell to the ground and blacked out.

CHAPTER 61

Millie

Millie groaned and squeezed her eyes tighter. Sheets scratched her skin, and her pillow was like lead.

Bright lights penetrated her eyelids. What fresh hell was this? She opened one eye, then the other. There was no mistaking that she was in a hospital, but each one was so generic that she couldn’t tell which.

She touched her throbbing forehead, hissing as the bandage caught on her cuticles.

“Stop touching it, then,” Strike grumbled. Beside the bed sat her beautiful man. His mouth was tight, which highlighted his perfect cheekbones, and stubble lined his jaw. With his red hoodie and grey joggers, he was sex personified.

He locked her stare, but focusing on his face was too much, and soon, she had to close her eyes. She attempted to ask where she was, but her voice was barely a rasp.

His shadow hid the bright lights trying to burn through her eyelids. “Sip this.”

A straw touched her lips, and she sucked. She opened one of her eyes and stared back at him. His spare hand twisted andtwiddled a fidget tool while he held the cup close to her. He offered her a pair of her glasses.

“Are you angry with me?” she croaked as she put them on.

He crouched beside the hospital bed. Tears brimmed his dark-ringed eyes. “No, Sunset. I’m out of control, and it terrifies me, but not as much as seeing you nearly killed. Never do that again.”

“I promise never to be kidnapped by the Deputy Prime Minister after getting his son arrested for stabbing a drug dealer,” she replied hoarsely, but she couldn’t smile. Strike’s suffering brought more agony than nearly dying at the hands of a megalomaniac.

He shook his head. “Fucking smart-arse even now.”

“You love my smart arse,” she said tearily.

“Don’t cry.” He pressed his lips softly against hers. “I love you, you fucking danger seeker. I thought I’d lost you.”

“I’m too strong for that.” Tears slipped down her cheeks.

Strike closed his eyes, and his forehead touched hers. He smelt of lavender and coffee.

“What happened to Randolph and Hugo?”

“They’re both going to jail for a long time. You’re safe. It’s all over.”

The nurse bustled in. “Can you give us a minute, Mr. Moorcroft? I need to check Millie now she’s awake.”

Strike stood by the side of the bed. His brow furrowed.

Millie’s heart went out to him. It must be unbearable to be a man who was always in control when faced with this kind of uncertainty. “Can he stay? It will help him.”

“I’ve never seen anything like you two. He’s not left your bed in the last twenty-four hours. He hasn’t been to the bathroom.”

“Strike!”