Page 182 of Vying Girls

‘Well, hello.’

I snap back to awareness, sensing a heightened alertness in his body.

‘Took your sweet time, didn’t you, oh cousin of mine.’ There’s a smile in his voice but his voice is different now. Sharper. ‘Nice to see you again.’

I pry open my eyes and they well immediately at the sight of Nic’s blurry form. She stands tall, impassive, gaze raking over me.

How much had she heard? Everything, judging by her expression.

Don’t lose it,I beg her.

I feel the coiled energy within, her flexing fists. As much as she’s hated me, I know she’d channel that very hatred into my safety. Throw herself before the bullet. Avenge us using only herself.

Damien pushes me off him, careful to keep one of my arms tightly clamped as he staggers to his feet. He uses the wall to aid him, the metal of the gun glinting off it echoing around the chamber.

Nic’s eyes follow it. I see her swallow.

God, this is worse. I’d been praying she’d find me but now all I want is for her to turn and run. To get the hell away from this devil and this gun, everything that could hurt her.

But when her eyes meet mine again, something like hardened resolve flaring in them, I know she won’t.

‘Come alone?’

Nic raises her arms, looking about herself. ‘What do you think?’

After a charged pause, Damien pulls me across the chamber, making sure to keep me on the other side of Nic. I make eye contact with her as he checks the tunnel left and right. Nic severs it to watch him, something like fear flashing in her gaze. It’s gone as soon as Damien steps back into the chamber, making me think the others aren’t too far behind.

I hope I’m wrong. I can’t bear to think of any of them getting mixed up in this.

‘You can let her go now. Now I’m here.’

Damien huffs, threading his arm across my chest so my arms are pinned to my sides. ‘Hasty. You haven’t given me what I want yet, Nicole.’

‘And what’s that?’

‘I think I’ve been pretty clear. Well—maybe I haven’t. Maybe I made it sound too much like arequest.My apologies.’ He taps the gun against my head and my eyes slam shut. ‘Perhaps this’ll help. Your old little friend. Old friend, new girlfriend. Past likes to catch you up, doesn’t it?’

Nic’s gaze darkens. ‘Stop fucking about, Damien. Let her go and I’ll give you the money. That’s all you want, right?’

‘All?’ There’s a grin in his voice as he says, ‘Never. And you’ve had weeks, Nicole. Weeks. And now—and now it’s too fucking late.’

He gives a choked laugh, tossing his hand holding the gun up into the air. My body jolts against his and I damn myself for not making a break for it.

Nic studies him. It seems to dawn on her that he’s not in his right mind. ‘What are you on?’

Damien sighs, readjusting his grip on me. ‘An old favourite. Think they cut it differently now. Even the air seemed purer back then.’ Another one of those choked laughs. ‘I’m like a cat. Come home to die.’

‘What are you talking about?’

‘They’re out there,’ he says, that crazed humour fled as quick as it had come. ‘Time’s fucking up.’

‘Who?’

Damien jerks, his gun arm loosening. Gripping the handle, he pummels the end against my arm. ‘Doesn’t—fucking—matter.’

The pain is incredible. I try holding it in, for Nic’s sake, but when it doesn’t stop, a scream escapes. Numbness soon follows, that dull, deep pain echoing in my stomach as nausea.

My head feels sweaty when he finally stops, barely able to hold my legs up against the urge to fall to the floor and curl around my arm. I keep crying out, the pulsing sensation in my bicep like he’s still hitting me.