Page 20 of Fighting Salvation

Bás looked up as the doctor hurried toward him. “And?”

“Black Button Spider.”

“Fuck.”

“Yes, she was very lucky. They’re nasty and not something we keep antivenom for usually but we had a researcher here last week and he was looking into the effects of spider bites.”

“Who?”

The doctor frowned. “Who?”

“Who was the researcher?” Bás didn’t believe in coincidence, and this seemed contrived enough to be Hansen.

“Dr Eric Baumann. He’s a Swiss scientist.”

“Thank you for letting me know.” He turned away and dialled Watchdog.

“Miss me already?”

“I need you to look into a Dr Eric Baumann. Apparently, he’s a Swiss scientist. I want to know every detail about him from the moment he slid into this world.”

“On it.”

“Make this a priority.”

“Sure thing.”

There was too much going on now but one thing was clear, Val was right. This was personal. The fact she’d been bitten by the same spider he’d been bitten by when he was playing rugby with Hansen one afternoon, was a clear message.

Shoving through the door he faced Valentina, who looked so much better than she had when he arrived. He didn’t know what day it was but he knew she’d be okay for now. “I have an update.” He spun the chair beside the bed around and straddled it. “The Spider that bit you was a Black Button Spider. They’re found in South Africa.”

Val’s eyebrows lifted in surprise. “You think he had me in SA?”

“Yes. It’s symbolic to him, a power move.” Bás told them everything else he’d learned, giving Val a few moments to process it all.

“Wow, that is one sick mind.”

“It is which is why I’m sending you home with Rafe until he’s caught.” Bás meant dead but didn’t say it.

Val cocked her head slowly, her face transforming from a beautiful curious expression to absolute thunder. If he were a lesser man he’d be concerned but her anger made him hard and he tried not to shift in his seat and bring attention to his cock.

“Dumb as fuck.” Rafe shook his head and stood, before leaning to kiss her head. “Try to leave his body intact, sis.”

Bás resisted the urge to punch him as he walked past him but only just. “Don’t fight me on this, Val.”

She ignored him as she swept the sheet back, showcasing her smooth, tanned legs that were exposed by the hospital gown. Swinging her legs out she wiggled to the side of the bed and stood, steadying herself before she moved past Bás to the corner of the room.

“What are you doing?” Her silence as she bent to pick up her clothes infuriated him and he shoved the chair away as he strode to her side. Gripping her upper arm, he spun her to face him. “I asked you a question.”

Her jaw moved and her cheeks pinkened with the anger she was obviously trying to hold back. “I’m choosing to ignore you.” She poked his chest hard and he grabbed her finger in his palm, holding it to his chest. “That’s what we do, right? We ignore each other.”

“I’m making a call as your boss, Valentina.”

She snatched her hand away and turned her back as she bent to slip the clean jeans provided by Lucía up her legs. “I quit.”

Bás propped his hands on his hips and closed his eyes, trying to find patience when there was none to find. “You quit?”

“Yes. I’m going to work for Jack again. He said he’d be happy to have me back on his team. I can work the case with him. He values me.”