Blue Steal by Marnie St Clair

Author:Marnie St Clair [Clair, Marnie St]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises Pty Ltd Australia

Chapter 12

Jack’s eyes flicked to Selina’s face as often as driving would allow. Most of what she was saying he couldn’t understand. A prolonged discussion about attacks and medications and dosages.

One thing was clear: it wasn’t good news.

She shoved the phone back in her bag and returned to staring out the window, shoulders high, jaw tight.

‘Your nonna?’ he asked, hazarding a guess.

‘Yes.’

‘She’s not well?’

She tensed even further. They’d pulled up, waiting to turn off the boulevard that ran along the river and onto the main drag into the city. It gave him time to turn to her, forced her to meet his eyes. ‘Selina?’

‘It’s my sister,’ she replied eventually. Her voice was calm and low, but tense. ‘I need to get home.’

He took in the almost painful stiffness of her back. Whatever was going on, it wasn’t good. ‘Where?’

‘Maribyrnong.’

A working-class suburb in Melbourne’s west. ‘I’ll drive you.’

‘It’s okay. Drop me at a stand. I’ll take a taxi.’

The traffic cleared ahead and he moved forward. There was no way he was dropping her at a taxi stand. He didn’t know where he and Selina stood exactly, but it didn’t matter—he wouldn’t drop anyone this distressed at a cab rank. ‘We’re already in the car. I can get you there faster.’

He could see her weighing it up. She didn’t want a man with whom she had such a dubious relationship entering her personal space. Especially in what he assumed were difficult circumstances. He got that, but he needed to go with her. Not just because of Lewis and the threat he posed. Whatever was happening was serious, and he needed to make sure she was okay. In the end, she gave a quick nod and he softened in relief. He wouldn’t have found a no easy to take.

Negotiating the afternoon traffic took most of his attention, but he got in the odd glance at Selina, tense and unavailable beside him. She didn’t volunteer any information, didn’t talk to him at all apart from answering his occasional question about directions. He concentrated on getting her home as fast as he could.

Three-quarters of an hour later, they pulled up in front of dingy, nineteen-fifties weatherboard. It looked like it might blow over in a stiff breeze. A collapsing gutter, peeling paint and a front yard comprised mostly of concrete completed the picture.

‘Thank you,’ she said distractedly, hand already on the door handle. ‘I’ll see you back at the Empire. Probably. It depends …’ She bit her lower lip instead of finishing her sentence and was out of the car before he could reply.

Head resting back, hands on the wheel, he watched Selina hurry up the front path.

She’d told him to nick off. All but.

He should go, but he couldn’t bring himself to leave her like this. Instead, he found himself following her up the concrete path. Ahead, Selina leaned down to give a miniature black-clad woman a kiss, then passed through into the house. He had no idea if she realised he was trailing along behind her.

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