The Fake Heiress and Her Purrfect Partner novel Chapter 42

**Dreams Rise Again by Braxton**

**Chapter 42**

“Alright then,” Nina declared, her voice steady despite the chaos swirling around her. From the depths of her pocket, she retrieved a pair of handcuffs and a compact stun gun—a gift from Simon intended for her protection.

With a swift motion, she aimed the stun gun at the man sprawled on the ground, delivering another jolt to ensure he was genuinely unconscious and not merely pretending.

Once satisfied, she deftly cuffed his hands behind his back. This man was no member of the killer’s entourage; he was just a hapless fool chasing a stroke of luck.

Yet, the unsettling truth remained: everyone was holed up inside after the murder, and here was this audacious individual following her. ‘What if… someone is pulling his strings?’ Nina pondered, her eyes darting around nervously, scanning the shadows for any lurking threats.

She fished out her phone, desperate to call for assistance, but the signal was as elusive as a wisp of smoke. “Looks like I’ll have to drag this guy to the cops myself later,” she muttered under her breath, frustration bubbling within her.

“Nina, I’m not fast enough to fly,” Chunky, the little bat, chimed in, flapping his wings anxiously. “I’ll stay here and keep an eye on this guy. You go ahead; don’t worry about me.”

“Alright, but keep me posted if anything changes,” Nina replied, steeling herself before following the bat’s wife toward the imposing wall of Pinewood Estate.

As she gazed up at the towering barrier, standing at least six feet high, she hesitated for a brief moment, her heart racing.

“Come on! My husband just sent a signal,” the bat urged, her voice tinged with urgency. “They’re still in the cave, but they could leave any second!”

Nina knew that bats had an extraordinary ability to hear sounds from as far as 300 feet away, and she felt a surge of determination. Gritting her teeth, she began to climb, her muscles straining as she hoisted herself up.

Reaching the top was a feat, but the descent loomed ahead like an ominous shadow. Straddling the edge, she peered down at the six-foot drop and took a deep breath, her heart pounding in her chest.

The exertion of the climb had left her breathless, and only now did she realize how famished she was—she hadn’t even had dinner yet.

“Who’s there?” a deep voice boomed through the relentless rain.

Nina’s head snapped up, her pulse quickening. Quentin was striding toward her beneath a long black umbrella, cutting through the downpour with an air of authority. A cadre of bodyguards followed closely, their leather shoes splashing water with each determined step.

“It’s me, Nina,” she called out, relief flooding through her as she finally felt a sense of safety. ‘What perfect timing. Thank goodness he’s here,’ she thought, her tension easing slightly.

Still awkwardly perched on the wall, she could hear the bat buzzing in her ear, urging her to move. “Hurry! They’re about to leave the cave!”

Nina’s focus narrowed; nothing else mattered at that moment. She shouted to Quentin, “I know where the killer is hiding with the kid!”

Quentin’s brow furrowed, and he quickened his pace, striding toward her with purpose. Standing at 6.2 feet tall, the wall was nothing more than a minor obstacle for him.

He extended one long arm and effortlessly caught Nina by the waist, lifting her off the wall as if she were a child.

Nina felt the heat rise to her cheeks, wishing she could sink into the ground as the bodyguards stared in shock.

As he set her down, the world around her spun, and her legs felt like jelly. She stumbled forward, but Quentin was quick, catching her just in time. His gaze fell on her pale lips, and his expression darkened. “You haven’t eaten, have you?”

Nina nodded, the urgency of the situation leaving little room for explanations.

The bat’s voice echoed in her mind again. “Hurry! They’re leaving the cave. They’re coming out!”

“Follow the bat. It will show you the way,” Nina gasped, waving her hand in the bat’s direction. “Don’t worry about me. The killer is running off with the kid!”

Quentin’s expression hardened, determination etched into his features. Without a moment’s hesitation, he lifted her into his arms, holding her tightly as if she weighed nothing. “Just point the way,” he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Nina felt her ears flush with warmth, but she pushed the sensation aside. “About 150 feet ahead, there’s a path on the west side of the road leading up the mountain,” she directed, her voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions within her.

*****

With Nina leading the charge, the bodyguards quickly honed in on the cave’s location.

Suddenly, a man in a checkered suit emerged, cradling a little boy in his arms.

“That’s him! The killer!” Nina exclaimed, recognition hitting her like a bolt of lightning.

Once everything was under control, the officer removed his helmet, revealing his distinctive features. The shadow cast by his nose fell across his face, and his lips were pressed into a tight line. It was Simon, Nina’s brother.

In that moment, the bodyguards dragged the killer up from the ground, while Thomas’s precious grandson was already being rushed off to receive medical attention at the estate.

Nina’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Simon, what are you doing here?” She couldn’t help but wonder, ‘The mountain road in this torrential rain is perilous. How did he manage to make it up here?’

Upon hearing her voice, Simon looked up, scanning the area until his gaze landed on Nina, who was cradled in Quentin’s arms. His calm demeanor shifted to one of concern and anger in an instant.

“Let her go!” Simon commanded, his voice sharp enough to cut through the rain. He advanced, his boots splashing through puddles as he closed the distance with purpose.

Quentin had nearly set Nina down, but the urgency in Simon’s voice ignited a protective instinct within him. Instead of releasing her, he pulled Nina closer, his muscles tightening beneath his suit as he braced himself. The tension in the air crackled like electricity.

“Officer,” Quentin said, a smirk playing on his lips, “I would love to let her go, but she…” He glanced down at Nina in his arms, adding with a hint of mockery, “She can’t even stand on her own and seems quite attached to me.”

Nina felt a surge of irritation, nearly digging her nails into Quentin’s arm. ‘What the hell? As if I wanted to cling to you! I’m just trying to help the Hayes family catch the killer, and now you’re twisting the truth,’ she thought, frustration boiling inside her.

“Stop twisting things! Just let me down!” Nina snapped, struggling to free herself from Quentin’s hold. But the moment her feet touched the ground, her legs buckled beneath her.

Simon was there in an instant, catching her effortlessly. Without hesitation, he positioned himself between her and Quentin, one steady hand supporting her waist while the other hovered near his baton, ready for any threat.

“Simon,” Nina said, grasping his wrist urgently, “the guy’s caught, and the kid is safe. We need to get back to the estate. I haven’t had dinner, and I’m starving.”

She glanced at Quentin, her expression pleading. “Quentin, let’s head back. I still haven’t had the chance to eat the meal the staff brought me.”

Both men let out a frustrated huff simultaneously, the atmosphere thick with unspoken tension.

Simon pulled a chocolate bar from his pocket and handed it to Nina. “Here, eat this for now.” He always kept snacks for her, knowing her health issues.

Nina accepted the chocolate but froze as her eyes fell on Simon’s bruised face and the scrapes marring his elbows and fingers. “Simon, what happened? How did you get hurt like this?”