Dual Release by Tara Nina Read Free Book Online Page A

in her gut told her she’d need his help if she wanted to succeed when they reached wherever it was they were going. “I’m not sure I believe this curse thing. But I know what I saw. So answer me this, how’d you survive if you were locked in stone for hundreds of years? How come you didn’t age?”
    The tall man seemed to relax just a smidgeon as he leaned into the seat, but didn’t let go of the dashboard. His fingers tightened when she took a curve a bit too fast. She almost laughed but swallowed it instead as she waited for him to answer.
    “Milady, I know not how this happened nor how mi brathair and I survived. What the woman spoke…” He paused then continued. She felt his gaze on her and she met his eyes for a moment. “Do ye know if it be truth or a lie?”
    She truly didn’t know. If it wasn’t for her headstrong friend, she’d be on the couch watching a made-for-TV movie and eating popcorn right about now. Instead, she was giving a wild pursuit through the outskirts of London to god knew where with a confused, albeit extremely handsome, man as her copilot.
    “Let’s go with it being the truth.” Jenny forged ahead, turning her eyes back to the van’s taillights in the distance. She was doing her best to keep a satisfactory space between them and the van without losing it. Granted this was Cait’s forte, not hers. Jenny rarely drove during their escapades. “Any idea how you were cursed or who did it?”
    His head shook as he answered, “Nay. Last I remember was getting knee deep in mi cups with mi brathair , then going to bed. Next thing, mi eyes see be ye standing between two men.”
    “I was the first thing you saw?” She couldn’t believe it. Was he hitting on her at a time like this?
    “Aye.” His mouth opened as if to say something else, then closed without the words escaping.
    “Where did you live?” she managed to ask, not sure if she wanted to keep talking to him or not. Part of her was flattered by what he said. Part of her was a bit put off by it.
    “Castle MacKinnon outside of Lochsbury.” He stared into the night. “Tell me, are we still in Scotland?”
    “No. We’re near London. Not exactly sure where we’re headed at the moment.”
    “Which direction be London?”
    She pointed. “That way.”
    He leaned forward, staring at the stars for several long seconds. Then in a matter-of-fact way stated, “We are headed toward Scotland.”
    *
    May hugged herself as she paced. The police arrived within minutes of the van’s departure. They had mere moments to discuss with Jameson’s bodyguard and chauffer, Charles, what had happened. Since he’d seen the transformation, they secured his silence about the event. As far as the police were to be told, a valuable statue had been destroyed during a scuffle with a band of thieves. From the amount of dust, dirt and rock debris in and around the crate, it was plausible.
    As soon as Jameson and Charles explained the basics of what happened, an APB was put out on the van. Charles followed his boss’ lead as he gave details to the officer in charge. It was evident he felt the incident was his fault because he’d left them alone at the warehouse to get gas. From his actions and tone of voice, May knew his loyalty to Jameson was sincere. Apparently, he’d been with Jameson since a couple of months after the accident that left him wheelchair-bound.
    For a few moments, she stopped and watched from the window in the warehouse office. Two of the three hooded thugs were arrested. The other one must have escaped or made it into the van without being seen, because he was nowhere to be found in or around the scene. The man she initially thought she recognized, the one who entered the warehouse first and threatened them, was being loaded onto a gurney. Apparently, he was still unconscious, so an ambulance had been called to escort him to a hospital.
    She wrung her hands as she turned and made another pass around the office. How the hell had