Page 64 of All Mine (The All Mine #1)

Etienne

The air was heavy with the smell of petrol and the echo of those words.

They changed everything. Etienne had held back, thinking the police or fire crew would be there by now, but the street outside was quiet and the restaurant already trashed.

When the money was confirmed, he’d thought for one moment that would be enough.

But now, the look on that man’s face, the way he licked his lips as he leered at her.

Etienne would not let them touch Isabella.

Never while he had breath in his body would that man lay a single finger on her.

He groped about him frantically for a weapon, something he could use to strike.

His hand closed on the shiny metal handle of the fire extinguisher.

He watched her through the crack of the door, barely ajar, his heart in his mouth. She straightened her back, steeling herself.

‘No,’ she said.

Toothpick raised his eyebrows at her and smiled. His teeth were as pointed and yellow as a rat’s as he pulled a revolver from his inside pocket and aimed it directly at her chest.

‘Nobody says no to me,’ he said.

Barrel laughed and his whole belly shook, as if he were watching one of the funniest films he’d ever seen.

‘Maybe I’ll take myself a bonus afterwards too,’ he said, turning his sweaty face to wink at Gabi.

Isabella shot a glance at Etienne, and he silently lifted one finger in front of his face and turned it in a tiny circle. She blinked. God, he hoped she understood. Turn him around. Get his back to the kitchen door. He tightened his grip on the extinguisher and readied himself.

She sidestepped left and the thug mirrored her, moving one step closer to Etienne.

‘It won’t take long,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry, I can be sweet. . .’ He flicked his tongue in and out like a snake, balancing the match on it before tossing it back in his mouth.

Isabella took another step to the left.

Toothpick waved the gun at her and smiled, as though they were dancing. As if this was all part of the fun. Like he had all the time in the world. It was like watching a cat play with a mouse, knowing there was only one way the story was going to end.

Isabella took another step and the man followed, closing the distance between them.

He was so close now and could grab her at any time.

Isabella moved quicker again, darting to the left, and the man turned and lunged for her, his back to the kitchen.

Etienne seized his chance and barged through the door so hard it flew back on its hinges, slamming against the wall.

He hit the back of the man’s head with the fire extinguisher with such force that they both staggered forward and fell in a jumble of arms and legs.

As they hit the floor, the gun went off.